Aircraft windowed structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11235853-B2
Application number	US-201816161921-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 16, 2018
Priority date	Oct 16, 2018
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

A windowed structure includes a body having a frame with an outer wall extending between a first end and a second end. An inner wall extends from the outer wall. The inner wall is connected to the outer wall at the first end to define a proximal joint of the body delimiting a window opening extending through the body. A window element covers the window opening and defines an outer window surface and an inner window surface. The window element has an overlap segment overlaying the outer wall and attached thereto. An unobstructed portion of the window element is defined between the overlap segment and is unobstructed by the frame between the proximal joint.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aircraft, comprising
a fuselage defining an outer surface and an inner surface, the fuselage having a door opening extending therethrough and providing access to an interior of the fuselage; and
a door mounted to the fuselage about the door opening and displaceable between an open position and a closed position, the door having a door frame with an outer wall extending between a window end and a fuselage end, and an inner wall extending from the outer wall inwardly toward the interior of the fuselage, the inner wall connected to the outer wall at the window end to define a proximal joint of the door frame delimiting a window opening extending through the door, the door having a window element covering the window opening and defining an outer window surface and an inner window surface, the window element having an overlap segment overlaying the outer wall and being attached thereto, an unobstructed portion of the window element defined adjacent to the overlap segment and being unobstructed by the door frame at the proximal joint.

2. The aircraft as defined in claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the door frame has a first segment extending inwardly from the outer wall at the window end, the first segment intersecting the outer wall at a corner defining the proximal joint.

3. The aircraft as defined in claim 1 , wherein the overlap segment overlays the outer wall to cover the outer wall from the window end to the fuselage end.

4. The aircraft as defined in claim 3 , wherein the inner window surface of the overlap segment is bonded to the outer wall.

5. The aircraft as defined in claim 1 , wherein upon the door being in the closed position, the outer wall is spaced inwardly from the outer surface of the fuselage, and the outer window surface is flush with the outer surface of the fuselage.

6. The aircraft as defined in claim 1 , wherein the inner wall of the door frame has a second segment extending inwardly from the outer wall at the fuselage end, the second segment having a distal section being covered by the outer wall at the fuselage end, the door further comprising a fastener extending through the window element, the fuselage end of the outer wall and the distal section of the second segment.

7. The aircraft as defined in claim 6 , wherein a length of the outer wall between the window end and the fastener at the fuselage end is free of another fastener.

8. The aircraft as defined in claim 6 , wherein the distal section includes a distal section edge aligned with a peripheral edge of the window element and with a peripheral edge of the door frame.

9. The aircraft as defined in claim 1 , wherein the overlap segment defines a peripheral window edge of the window element and the fuselage end of the outer wall defines a peripheral door frame joint of the door frame, the peripheral door frame joint and the peripheral window edge being aligned.

10. The aircraft as defined in claim 1 , wherein a finishing coating covers the outer window surface of the overlap segment.

11. The aircraft as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer window surface of the overlap segment is free of a finishing coat and at least one of: the overlap segment is tinted, and an adhesive between the inner window surface and the outer wall is dark.

12. The aircraft as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer wall is an outermost wall of the door frame.

13. The aircraft as defined in claim 1 , wherein the unobstructed portion of the window element is all of the window element except for the overlap segment.

14. The aircraft as defined in claim 1 , wherein the outer wall is a single layer of composite material having a constant thickness between the window and fuselage ends.

15. A windowed structure, comprising:
a body having a frame with an outer wall extending between a first end and a second end, and an inner wall extending from the outer wall, the inner wall connected to the outer wall at the first end to define a proximal joint of the body delimiting a window opening extending through the body; and
a window element covering the window opening and defining an outer window surface and an inner window surface, the window element having an overlap segment overlaying the outer wall and being attached thereto, an unobstructed portion of the window element defined between the overlap segment and being unobstructed by the frame between the proximal joint.

16. The windowed structure as defined in claim 15 , wherein the inner wall of the frame has a first segment extending from the outer wall at the first end, the first segment intersecting the outer wall at a corner defining the proximal joint.

17. The windowed structure as defined in claim 15 , wherein the overlap segment overlays the outer wall to cover the outer wall from the first end to the second end.

18. The windowed structure as defined in claim 17 , wherein the inner window surface of the overlap segment is bonded to the outer wall.

19. The windowed structure as defined in claim 15 , wherein the inner wall of the frame has a second segment extending from the outer wall at the second end, the second segment having a distal section being covered by the outer wall at the second end, the door further comprising a fastener extending through the window element, the second end of the outer wall and the distal section of the second segment, a length of the outer wall between the first end and the fastener at the second end is free of another fastener.

20. The windowed structure as defined in claim 15 , wherein the overlap segment defines a peripheral window edge of the window element and the second end of the outer wall defines a peripheral frame joint of the frame, the peripheral frame joint and the peripheral window edge being aligned.

Assignees

• Textron Innovations Inc

Inventors

• Pelletier Pier-Alexandre
• Noiseux-Boucher Guillaume
• Duval Sebastien

Classifications

• B64C1/1461 Primary

  Structures of doors or surrounding frames · CPC title

• B64C1/1492

  Structure and mounting of the transparent elements in the window or windscreen · CPC title

• B64C27/04

  Helicopters · CPC title

• B64C1/1423 Primary

  Passenger doors · CPC title

• B64C27/06

  with single rotor · CPC title