Inflatable Enclosure Vision System for Smoke Obscured Cockpits
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Solution Overview
Problem
In emergency situations where smoke or particulate matter obscures vision in aircraft cockpits or similar environments, existing systems fail to provide clear and uninterrupted access to vital visual information necessary for safe operation and landing.
Innovation Solution
An emergency vision apparatus comprising inflatable and expandable enclosures made of airtight fabric, equipped with cameras and displays, which filter out smoke and particulate matter to maintain visibility through the windshield and instrument panels, using either battery-powered blowers or manual pumps for inflation, and coil springs for expansion, allowing flexible positioning and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If inflatable enclosures with viewing panels are used to gap the distance between the pilot's face mask and the windshield, then the pilot can access visual information during smoke emergencies, but the device complexity and setup requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inflatable enclosures made of flexible, airtight material that can be deployed to create a physical barrier between the pilot and smoke. The flexible nature allows the enclosure to conform to the cockpit space while maintaining seal integrity, resolving the contradiction between providing reliable visual access and managing device complexity through flexible rather than rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable enclosure acts as an intermediary device that inserts itself between the pilot and the smoke-filled environment. By creating this intermediate barrier with viewing panels, the system enables visual information access without requiring the pilot to be directly exposed to the smoke, thus improving reliability while the modular nature keeps complexity manageable.
2Reliability
If electronic video display devices are used to provide virtual screen information, then the pilot can maintain control during smoke conditions, but the device complexity and power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses cameras to capture images of the external environment and instrument panels, then displays these visual copies on screens within the inflatable enclosure. This copying approach allows the pilot to view critical information without needing complex electronic overlays or synthetic displays, thereby improving flight control capability while keeping the electronic system complexity relatively low.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic vision correction systems with a simpler mechanical approach: physical enclosures with viewing panels that directly transmit optical information to the pilot. This substitution reduces electronic complexity while maintaining reliable visual access during smoke emergencies.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If airtight fabric enclosures are used to filter smoke, then visibility is maintained, but the manufacturing precision and fit requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The use of flexible, airtight fabric allows the enclosure to conform to the cockpit surface and seal against smoke ingress without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances. The flexibility compensates for variations in fit, maintaining smoke filtration effectiveness while reducing manufacturing precision requirements compared to rigid structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable nature of the enclosure allows it to change its physical parameters (volume, shape, pressure) to achieve proper sealing and fit. By inflating the enclosure to the appropriate pressure, the system achieves the necessary seal against smoke without requiring manufacturing precision at the raw material level, thus resolving the contradiction between smoke filtration and manufacturing precision.
4Adaptability or versatility
If universal fit design is implemented for various aircraft, then adaptability increases, but the manufacturing precision and customization requirements decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable enclosure is designed with universal mounting features and adjustable components that allow it to be installed on various aircraft types without requiring custom manufacturing for each platform. This universality achieves high adaptability across different aircraft while maintaining acceptable performance without the need for precision customization, effectively resolving the contradiction between versatility and manufacturing precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables pilots to maintain clear visual access to essential flight information and controls during emergencies, ensuring safe aircraft operation and landing by filtering out smoke and particulate matter, and providing a universal fit for various aircraft, reducing setup time and manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The inflatable enclosure filters smoke and particulate matter from the air to provide clear visibility for the pilot
Implementation Method 2
coil springs for expansion
Data Source
AI summary
An emergency vision apparatus provides a pilot with visual access to information during a vision-obscuring emergency. The apparatus comprises an expandable first enclosure, having front and rear transparent panels, filled with clear air, so the pilot can see through the first enclosure to a first source of information in front of the front panel, an expandable second enclosure filled with clear air, and having a rear panel and a transparent front panel for being disposed in proximity to a second source of information, a camera disposed at the rear panel of the second enclosure, the camera being directed toward the front panel to image the second source of information through the second enclosure front panel. The camera sends the image to a display on the first enclosure rear panel.