Flight data recorder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9321540-B2
Application number	US-201314132202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2013
Priority date	Dec 20, 2012
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to a flight data recorder. It is equipped with capsules designed to break at determined depths. The capsules release hydraulic tracing elements, generating a luminous streak in the water, when they are broken, so that the searches for the flight data recorders, or black boxes, are made easier.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A flight data recorder comprising:
a frame,
a recorder, and
one or more cases, each case having one or more housings,
one or more capsules, each capsule being inserted in a corresponding one of the one or more case housings,
each capsule having a body which is substantially cylindrical and defines a leak-tight housing containing a volume of air at a predefined pressure which determines a predetermined pressure externally compressing the capsule at which the capsule ruptures and a hydraulic tracing element, and comprises at least one compression mode rupture zone,
each case housing being arranged in the case along its entire length between a first end and a second end of the case, a plurality of through openings being arranged on the case,
wherein in each capsule when pressure externally compressing the capsule is greater than the predefined pressure of the volume of air in the capsule, the capsule ruptures to thereby releases the hydraulic tracing element.

2. The flight data recorder as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the compression mode rupture zone is a groove.

3. The flight data recorder as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic tracing element is chosen from the following elements: fluorescein, sodium naphthionate or eosine YB.

4. The flight data recorder as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure externally compressing the capsule is provided by a depth of water in which the capsule is immersed.

5. The flight data recorder as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure externally compressing the capsule is provided by a depth of fluid in which the capsule is immersed.

6. A flight data recorder comprising:
a frame,
a recorder, and
one or more cases, each case having one or more housings,
one or more capsules, each capsule being inserted in a corresponding one of the one or more case housings,
each capsule having a body which is substantially cylindrical, defines a leak-tight housing containing a volume of air at a predefined pressure and a hydraulic tracing element, and comprises at least one compression mode rupture zone,
each case housing being arranged in the case along its entire length between a first end and a second end of the case, a plurality of through openings being arranged on the case, and
wherein the case comprises a first capsule, a second capsule and a third capsule inserted respectively into a first case housing, a second case housing and a third case housing, the leak-tight housing of the first capsule containing a first volume of air at a first pressure, a first hydraulic tracing element and a first water-soluble fluorescent element, the leak-tight housing of the second capsule containing a second volume of air at a second pressure, a second hydraulic tracing element and a second water-soluble fluorescent element, the leak-tight housing of the third capsule containing a third volume of air at a third pressure, a third hydraulic tracing element and a third water-soluble fluorescent element, the first, second and third pressures being different from one another and the first, the second and the third hydraulic tracing elements being different from one another.

7. The flight data recorder as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the first, second and third case housings are each substantially cylindrical with a first diameter, the movement of each of the first, second and third capsules in the first, second and third case housings, respectively, being limited by corresponding first and second cylindrical parts arranged respectively at corresponding first and second ends of the respective one of the first, second and third capsules and inserted respectively into the first, second and third case housings, the diameters of each of the first and second cylindrical parts being substantially equal to the first diameter.

8. The flight data recorder as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the three case housings are evenly distributed around a bore passing through the case from the first end of the case to the second end of the case, the case being closed at its first end by a first cap comprising a screw thread and at its second end by a second cap, a stud being arranged in the bore, a first end of the stud being screwed to the screw thread of the first cap and the second end of the stud securing the second cap at the second end of the case.

9. The flight data recorder as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the volume of air at a predefined pressure which determines a predetermined depth in water at which the capsule ruptures, such that in each capsule when water pressure at the predetermined depth in water is greater than the predefined pressure of the volume of air in the capsule, the capsule ruptures to thereby releases the hydraulic tracing element.

10. An aircraft flight data recorder comprising:
a frame,
a recorder mounted on the frame, and
one or more capsules mounted on the frame,
the one or more capsules each comprising a body,
each body defining a leak-tight housing containing both a volume of air at a predefined pressure which determines a predetermined depth in water at which the capsule ruptures and a hydraulic tracing element, each body including at least one compression mode rupture zone,
wherein, when each capsule is immersed to the predetermined depth in water corresponding to the capsule, the water pressure at the corresponding predetermined depth is greater than the predefined pressure of air in the capsule, causing the capsule to rupture, thereby releasing the hydraulic tracing element.

11. A flight data recorder comprising:
a frame,
a recorder, and
one or more cases, each case having one or more housings,
one or more capsules, each capsule being inserted in a corresponding one of the one or more case housings,
each capsule having a body which is substantially cylindrical and defines a leak-tight housing containing a volume of air at a predefined pressure which determines a predetermined depth in fluid at which the capsule ruptures and a hydraulic tracing element, and comprises at least one compression mode rupture zone,
each case housing being arranged in the case along its entire length between a first end and a second end of the case, a plurality of through openings being arranged on the case,
wherein in each capsule when fluid pressure at the predetermined depth in fluid is greater than the predefined pressure of the volume of air in the capsule, the capsule ruptures to thereby releases the hydraulic tracing element.

12. The flight data recorder as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the fluid is water in which the capsule is immersed.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Sas

Inventors

• Barizza Laurent
• Aubespin Frederic

Classifications

• B64D25/20

  Releasing of crash-position indicators · CPC title

• G07C5/0858

  wherein the data carrier is removable · CPC title

• B64D45/00 Primary

  Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64D2045/0065

  Black boxes, devices automatically broadcasting distress signals · CPC title

• H05K5/0213

  Venting apertures; Constructional details thereof · CPC title