Plindow with opaque plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11407485-B2
Application number	US-201816195449-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2018
Priority date	Aug 26, 2015
Publication date	Aug 9, 2022
Grant date	Aug 9, 2022

Abstract

A porthole, a porthole plug in a vehicle, and an aircraft with portholes are provided. The porthole includes an opaque plug with an aperture therethrough.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft, comprising:
a fuselage;
a first window porthole on a first side of the fuselage, the first window porthole comprising:
a first outer pane that is transparent, and
a first opaque plug in a facing relationship with the first outer pane, wherein the first opaque plug comprises a first aperture, which passes through the first opaque plug, and wherein the first opaque plug prevents light from passing from the first outer pane into the fuselage except through the first aperture; and

a second window porthole on a second side of the fuselage of the aircraft, the second window porthole comprising:
a second outer pane that is transparent, and
a second opaque plug in a facing relationship with the second outer pane, wherein the second opaque plug comprises a second aperture therethrough, and wherein the second opaque plug prevents light from passing from the second outer pane into the fuselage except through the second aperture.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein:
the first opaque plug further comprises an outer surface that substantially reflects light passing through the first outer pane, and
a region of the outer surface, surrounding the first aperture, substantially aborbs light.

3. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein:
the first opaque plug further comprises a third aperture, extending through the first opaque plug;
the first opaque plug prevents light from passing from the first outer pane into the fuselage, except through the first aperture and the third aperture;
the second opaque plug further comprises a fourth aperture, extending through the second opaque plug; and
the second opaque plug prevents light from passing from the second outer pane into the fuselage except through the second aperture and the fourth aperture.

4. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein respective surfaces, forming the first aperture and the second aperture in the first opaque plug and in the second opaque plug, each have an elliptical or a circular shape.

5. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein:
the first window porthole comprises a first seal, at perimeters of the first outer pane and the first opaque plug;
the first seal holds the first outer pane and the first opaque plug in a spaced apart relationship to form an air gap therebetween;
the second window porthole comprises a second seal, at perimeters of the second outer pane and the second opaque plug; and
the second seal holds the second outer pane and the second opaque plug in a spaced apart relationship to form an air gap therebetween.

6. A porthole in an aircraft, having a passenger cabin, the porthole comprising:
a transparent outer pane, comprising a first side, establishing an external surface of the aircraft;
an opaque plug in a facing relationship with a second side of the transparent outer pane, wherein the second side is opposite the first side and the opaque plug comprises a first aperture, extending through the opaque plug, the opaque plug preventing light from passing from the transparent outer pane into the passenger cabin, except through the first aperture; and
a seal, at perimeters of the transparent outer pane and the opaque plug, wherein the seal holds the transparent outer pane and the opaque plug in a spaced apart relationship to form an air gap therebetween.

7. The porthole of claim 6 , wherein an outer surface of the opaque plug substantially reflects visible light.

8. The porthole of claim 6 , wherein a region, surrounding the first aperture in the opaque plug, absorbs light.

9. The porthole of claim 6 , wherein the opaque plug further comprises a second aperture, extending through the opaque plug, the opaque plug preventing light from passing from the transparent outer pane into the passenger cabin, except through the first aperture and the second aperture.

10. The porthole of claim 9 , wherein:
the opaque plug further comprises a third aperture, extending through the opaque plug, and
the opaque plug prevents light from passing from the transparent outer pane into the passenger cabin, except through the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture.

11. The porthole of claim 6 , wherein a surface, forming the first aperture in the opaque plug, has an elliptical or a circular shape.

12. The porthole of claim 6 , wherein the first aperture is at a center of the opaque plug.

13. The porthole of claim 6 , further comprising:
a porthole forging, wherein the seal presses and seals against the porthole forging, thereby preventing air from leaking into the passenger cabin past the transparent outer pane and the opaque plug.

14. A porthole plug in an vehicle, having a passenger cabin, the porthole plug comprising:
a transparent outer pane; and
an opaque plug in a facing relationship with the transparent outer pane, and
wherein:
the opaque plug comprises a first aperture, extending through the opaque plug,
the opaque plug prevents light from passing from the transparent outer pane into the passenger cabin, except through the first aperture, and
a surface in the opaque plug, forming the first aperture, has one of a circular or an elliptical shape.

15. The porthole plug of claim 14 , further comprising a seal, surrounding a perimeter of the transparent outer pane and a perimeter of the opaque plug, and wherein the seal is arranged in a porthole of the vehicle.

16. The porthole plug of claim 15 , wherein:
the seal holds the transparent outer pane and the opaque plug in a spaced apart relationship to form an air gap therebetween;
the porthole plug further comprises a porthole forging; and
the seal presses and seals against the porthole forging, thereby preventing air from leaking into the passenger cabin past the transparent outer pane and the opaque plug.

17. The porthole plug of claim 14 , wherein an outer surface of the opaque plug, facing the transparent outer pane, is substantially reflective.

18. The porthole plug of claim 17 , wherein a region around the first aperture on the outer surface absorbs light.

19. The porthole plug of claim 14 , wherein:
the opaque plug further comprises a second aperture, extending through the opaque plug; and
the opaque plug prevents light from passing from the transparent outer pane into the passenger cabin, except through the first and second apertures.

20. The porthole plug of claim 19 , wherein:
the opaque plug further comprises a third aperture, extending through the opaque plug; and
the opaque plug prevents light from passing from the transparent outer pane into the passenger cabin, except through the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Badger Ashley G
• Rhynard Steven E
• Sexton G Frank
• Brockett Craig T
• Pare Shawn M
• Street Ryan A
• Szerlag Andrew F

Classifications

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• H04N23/57

  Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices · CPC title

• B64C1/1492 Primary

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

• H04N7/181

  for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources · CPC title

• B64D2011/0061

  Windows displaying outside view, artificially generated · CPC title