Drag neutral vehicle window

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9926068-B2
Application number	US-201214364206-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2012
Priority date	Dec 21, 2011
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A window for a vehicle includes at least one transparent pane suspendable within a frame. The transparent pane comprises a deformable material. The transparent pane defines a first surface position h 1 when not subjected to a pressure differential thereacross and a second surface position h 2 when subject to the differential pressure thereacross. The first and second surface positions are defined with reference to an outside mold line. The first surface position h 1 defines a reverse curvature with respect to the outside mold line. In response to the differential pressure ΔP, the second surface position h 2 includes bulging of the transparent pane by a predetermined distance Δh. The frame is constructed to be positioned within the vehicle such that the transparent pane presents a surface, when subjected to the pressure differential ΔP, that is substantially consistent with the outside mold line of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A window for a pressurized vehicle having an outside mold line comprising:
a frame for the window;
at least one transparent pane suspended within the frame,
wherein the transparent pane comprises a deformable material,
wherein the transparent pane defines a first surface position hi when not subjected to a pressure differential thereacross and a second surface position h 2 when subject to the pressure differential thereacross, wherein the first and second surface positions are defined with reference to the outside mold line, wherein the first surface position hi defines a reverse curvature with respect to the outside mold line,
wherein, in response to the pressure differential ΔP, the second surface position h 2 includes bulging of the transparent pane by a predetermined distance Δh from the first surface position h 1 ,
wherein the frame is constructed to be positioned within the pressurized vehicle such that the transparent pane presents a surface, when subjected to the pressure differential ΔP, that is substantially consistent with the outside mold line of the pressurized vehicle, and
wherein the first surface position h 1 lies between 0.17 and 0.06 inches (4.32 and 1.52 mm) from the outside mold line.

2. The window for a pressurized vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first surface position h 1 lies between 0.16 to 0.07 inches (4.06 to 1.78 mm) from the outside mold line.

3. The window for a pressurized vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first surface position h 1 lies between 0.15 to 0.08 inches (3.81 to 2 mm) from the outside mold line.

4. The window for a pressurized vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second surface position h 2 lies between 0.08 and -0.03 inches (2 and -0.76 mm) from the outside mold line.

5. The window for a pressurized vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the second surface position h 2 lies between 0.07 to -0.02 inches (1.78 to -0.51 mm) from the outside mold line.

6. The window for a pressurized vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the second surface position h 2 lies between 0.06 to -0.01 inches (1.52 to -0.25 mm) from the outside mold line.

7. The window for a pressurized vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second surface configuration is substantially drag neutral.

8. The window for a pressurized vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one transparent pane comprises:
a first transparent pane;
a second transparent pane; and
an air gap separating the first transparent pane from the second transparent pane.

9. The window for a pressurized vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising:
a seal surrounding the first and second panes and providing an intermediate section disposed between the first and second panes.

10. The window for a pressurized vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one transparent pane comprises:
a first transparent pane;
a second transparent pane; and
a transparent, solid interlayer between the first transparent pane to the second transparent pane.

11. The window for a pressurized vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the first transparent pane, the second transparent pane, and the interlayer are formed as a unitary structure.

Assignees

• Bombardier Inc

Inventors

• Desroches Alexandre
• Lencz David
• Dervault Franck

Classifications

• B32B17/10165

  Functional features of the laminated safety glass or glazing · CPC title

• B60J1/007

  received in frames to be attached to vehicle · CPC title

• B32B17/10055

  with at least one intermediate air space · CPC title

• B64C1/1484 Primary

  Windows (B64C1/1492 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64C1/1492 Primary

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