Buoyancy system for an aircraft, and an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9469398-B2
Application number	US-201514607372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2014
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

A buoyancy system for an aircraft, the buoyancy system being provided with at least two floats, said buoyancy system including a connection device for each float, each connection device attaching each float to a structure of an aircraft. Each connection device includes at least one stretchable connection and at least one non-stretch connection that are fastened to the float and that are suitable for being fastened to said structure, each non-stretch connection being folded while the float is against the fuselage so as to enable it to be lengthened, each non-stretch connection limiting the amplitude of the movement of the float under the effect of buoyancy thrust, and each stretchable connection exerting a return force on the float.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A buoyancy system for an aircraft, the buoyancy system being provided with at least two floats suitable for being arranged on either side of a fuselage of the aircraft, said buoyancy system including a connection device for each float, each connection device being suitable for attaching a float to a structure of an aircraft and for allowing the float to move relative to the fuselage, wherein each connection device includes at least one stretchable connection and at least one non-stretch connection that are fastened to the float and that are suitable for being fastened to said structure, each non-stretch connection being folded while the float is against the fuselage so as to enable it to be lengthened, each non-stretch connection limiting an amplitude of a movement of the float under an effect of buoyancy thrust, and each stretchable connection exerting a return force on the float.

2. A buoyancy system according to claim 1 , wherein each non-stretch connection presents a first extended length in an unfolded state, and each stretchable connection presents a second extended length absent any force being exerted on the stretchable connection, said first extended length being longer than said second extended length.

3. A buoyancy system according to claim 1 , wherein each stretchable connection reaches a maximum length before breaking under a traction force, and each non-stretch connection presents a first extended length, said first extended length being shorter than or equal to said maximum length.

4. A buoyancy system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one non-stretch connection and at least one stretchable connection are fastened to a common fastener point of a float.

5. A buoyancy system according to claim 1 , wherein each connection device includes at least two stretchable connections situated on the outside relative to two non-stretch connections.

6. A buoyancy system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one connection device include at least one pair of connections comprising a non-stretch connection and a stretchable connection.

7. A buoyancy system according to claim 1 , wherein at least one connection device comprises a pair of connections constituting a “top” pair situated above a pair of connections constituting a “bottom” pair.

8. A buoyancy system according to claim 1 , wherein said buoyancy system includes at least one inflator for inflating said floats and at least one inflator control device connected to at least one inflator for requesting inflation of the floats.

9. An aircraft having a fuselage and a buoyancy system, the buoyancy system being provided with at least two floats arranged on either side of the fuselage, wherein said buoyancy system is a system according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Airbus Helicopters

Inventors

• Dijaux Nicolas

Classifications

• B64C25/54 Primary

  Floats · CPC title

• B64C25/56 Primary

  inflatable · CPC title

• B64C2025/325

  specially adapted for helicopters · CPC title

• B64D25/18

  Flotation gear · CPC title