Patent Application
20250010111
The present disclosure is directed to vehicle design, and more particularly to fire zone protection for aircraft.
Fires are one of many possible dangers in aircraft and other vehicles. Fire zones must be isolated by firewalls or shrouds from personnel compartments, structures, controls, rotor mechanisms, and other parts. In some applications, airframe structure or other heat sensitive parts may be adjacent to the fire zone. For example, in the event of heat flux from a fire transferring through a firewall, aluminum or composite will severely lose significant or all of its stiffness. Another concern is that composite parts could outgas harmful, or combustible vapors. If the insulation lies on the roof panel/engine deck, it will act as a fluid dam, preventing the proper drainage of flammable fluids, or requiring more drains to be added.
One embodiment under the present disclosure comprises a thermal cover for protecting one or more components in an engine bay. The thermal cover comprises one or more hat portions configured to extend across one or more components on a surface in an engine bay and configured to be coupled to the surface along first and second distal edges; and one or more support straps configured to extend across the one or more components and between the first and second distal edges, the one or more support straps configured to sit between the one or more hat portions and the surfaces. The thermal cover further comprises one or more thermal insulation sheets configured to fit between the one or more support straps and the one or more hat portions; and one or more coupling mechanisms configured to couple the one or more hat portions to the surface along the first and second distal edges, the one or more coupling mechanisms configured to allow fluid flow along the surface under the thermal cover.
Another embodiment comprises a method of constructing an engine bay in a vehicle. The method comprises providing a floor and a plurality of walls, the floor comprising one or more holes configured to direct fluid away from the engine bay; and coupling one or more thermal covers to the floor along first and second distal edges of the one or more thermal covers so as to cover at least a portion of the floor. The one or more thermal covers comprises one or more hat portions configured to extend at least a portion of the floor and configured to be coupled to the floor along first and second distal edges; one or more support straps configured to extend across at least a portion of the floor and between the first and second distal edges, the one or more support straps configured to sit between the one or more hat portions and the surface; one or more thermal insulation sheets configured to fit between the one or more support straps and the one or more hat portions; and one or more coupling mechanisms configured to couple the one or more hat portions to the floor along the first and second distal edges, the one or more coupling mechanisms configured to allow fluid flow under the one or more thermal covers to the one or more holes.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Embodiments under the present disclosure include systems and methods for deploying thermal insulation within an aircraft or other vehicle to protect the aircraft/vehicle from an engine or APU (auxiliary power unit) fire, while simultaneously allowing a fluid path for flammable fluids to travel to drain locations. Advantages of the embodiments include protecting a structural load path by shielding parts from heat effects; use of non-metallic components by eliminating the risk of outgas or backside ignition; weight reduction (fewer drains); and allowing for use of composites adjacent to fire zone. Embodiments can utilize thermal blankets to block heat transfer to vulnerable structure adjacent to powerplants, while using risers to suspend the insulation blankets off the deck to allow drainage of corrosive, flammable, or noxious fluids.
Thermal insulation 450 can take a variety of forms. Preferred embodiments can utilize silicon or ceramic insultation blankets, which can have a desirable combination of insulation properties and low weight. Other composites can be used however, such as those stitched with fiberglass. A variety of other insulation materials can be used. The placement of thermal insulation 450 helps prevent an engine or APU (auxiliary power unit) fire from impacting important structural elements, such as seem 490 and the structural elements underneath it. Gap 440 and gap 441 allow for the drainage of undesirable materials away from the engine bay and any possible fire or thermal event.
As described in reference to
In
Welding, sauntering, adhesives, and other similar coupling means can also be used to join any of the components shown in
The exact geometry of a thermal cover, such as shown in
Method 2300 can comprise a variety of additional or alternative steps or components. For example, in some variations, the one or more thermal covers can comprise one or more overhang portions at the first and second distal edges, the one or more overhang portions configured to extend toward the floor and to leave a gap between the one or more overhang portions and the floor to allow for fluid flow. In some embodiments, the one or more thermal covers can comprise one or more overhang portions at the first and second distal edges, the one or more overhang portions configured to extend toward and engage the floor, the one or more overhang portions comprising one or more mouse holes to allow for fluid flow. In some variations the vehicle comprises an aircraft, in others it's a boat. In some embodiments, providing a floor can comprise joining two or more structural components along a seam, wherein the one or more thermal covers are configured to extend across the seam. In another example embodiment, at least one of the one or more thermal covers can comprise a hole configured to receive one or more components therethrough.
To assist in understanding the scope and content of this written description and the appended claims, a select few terms are defined directly below. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.
The terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially,” as used herein, represent an amount or condition close to the specific stated amount or condition that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount or condition that deviates by less than 10%, or by less than 5%, or by less than 1%, or by less than 0.1%, or by less than 0.01% from a specifically stated amount or condition.
Various aspects of the present disclosure, including devices, systems, and methods may be illustrated with reference to one or more embodiments or implementations, which are exemplary in nature. As used herein, the term “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments disclosed herein. In addition, reference to an “implementation” of the present disclosure or invention includes a specific reference to one or more embodiments thereof, and vice versa, and is intended to provide illustrative examples without limiting the scope of the invention, which is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the following description.
As used in the specification, a word appearing in the singular encompasses its plural counterpart, and a word appearing in the plural encompasses its singular counterpart, unless implicitly or explicitly understood or stated otherwise. Thus, it will be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, reference to a singular referent (e.g., “a widget”) includes one, two, or more referents unless implicitly or explicitly understood or stated otherwise. Similarly, reference to a plurality of referents should be interpreted as comprising a single referent and/or a plurality of referents unless the content and/or context clearly dictate otherwise. For example, reference to referents in the plural form (e.g., “widgets”) does not necessarily require a plurality of such referents. Instead, it will be appreciated that independent of the inferred number of referents, one or more referents are contemplated herein unless stated otherwise.
As used herein, directional terms, such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “up,” “down,” “upper,” “lower,” “proximal,” “distal,” “adjacent,” and the like are used herein solely to indicate relative directions and are not otherwise intended to limit the scope of the disclosure and/or claimed invention
It is understood that for any given component or embodiment described herein, any of the possible candidates or alternatives listed for that component may generally be used individually or in combination with one another, unless implicitly or explicitly understood or stated otherwise. Additionally, it will be understood that any list of such candidates or alternatives is merely illustrative, not limiting, unless implicitly or explicitly understood or stated otherwise.
In addition, unless otherwise indicated, numbers expressing quantities, constituents, distances, or other measurements used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified by the term “about,” as that term is defined herein. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the specification and attached claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the subject matter presented herein. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the subject matter presented herein are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical values, however, inherently contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.
Any headings and subheadings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims.
The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention itemed. Thus, it should be understood that although the present invention has been specifically disclosed in part by preferred embodiments, exemplary embodiments, and optional features, modification and variation of the concepts herein disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of this invention as defined by the appended items. The specific embodiments provided herein are examples of useful embodiments of the present invention and various alterations and/or modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applications of the principles illustrated herein that would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the items and are to be considered within the scope of this disclosure.
It will also be appreciated that systems, devices, products, kits, methods, and/or processes, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure may include, incorporate, or otherwise comprise properties or features (e.g., components, members, elements, parts, and/or portions) described in other embodiments disclosed and/or described herein. Accordingly, the various features of certain embodiments can be compatible with, combined with, included in, and/or incorporated into other embodiments of the present disclosure. Thus, disclosure of certain features relative to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting application or inclusion of said features to the specific embodiment. Rather, it will be appreciated that other embodiments can also include said features, members, elements, parts, and/or portions without necessarily departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Moreover, unless a feature is described as requiring another feature in combination therewith, any feature herein may be combined with any other feature of a same or different embodiment disclosed herein. Furthermore, various well-known aspects of illustrative systems, methods, apparatus, and the like are not described herein in particular detail in order to avoid obscuring aspects of the example embodiments. Such aspects are, however, also contemplated herein.
All references cited in this application are hereby incorporated in their entireties by reference to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the disclosure in this application. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that methods, devices, device elements, materials, procedures, and techniques other than those specifically described herein can be applied to the practice of the invention as broadly disclosed herein without resort to undue experimentation. All art-known functional equivalents of methods, devices, device elements, materials, procedures, and techniques specifically described herein are intended to be encompassed by this invention.
When a group of materials, compositions, components, or compounds is disclosed herein, it is understood that all individual members of those groups and all subgroups thereof are disclosed separately. When a Markush group or other grouping is used herein, all individual members of the group and all combinations and sub-combinations possible of the group are intended to be individually included in the disclosure. Every formulation or combination of components described or exemplified herein can be used to practice the invention, unless otherwise stated. Whenever a range is given in the specification, for example, a temperature range, a time range, or a composition range, all intermediate ranges and subranges, as well as all individual values included in the ranges given are intended to be included in the disclosure. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the items are to be embraced within their scope.
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.
