Aircraft with a drag neutral vehicle window

• Main Authors: Desroches, Alexandre, Lencz, David, Dervault, Franck
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.04.2020
• Subjects: AEROPLANES; AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, OR ROLLER BLINDS IN GENERAL; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES,FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS,BLINDS, GATES; HELICOPTERS; LADDERS; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FORVEHICLES; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILARDEVICES FOR VEHICLES

An aircraft includes a fuselage defining a mold line, at least one frame disposed in the fuselage, at least one transparent pane suspended within the frame. The transparent pane is a deformable material that defines a first surface position h1 when not subjected to a differential pressure ΔP thereacross and a second surface position h2 when subject to the differential pressure ΔP thereacross. The first and second surface positions are defined with reference to the outside mold line. The first surface position h1 defines a reverse curvature. In response to the differential pressure ΔP, the second surface position h2 includes bulging of the transparent pane by a predetermined distance Δh. The frame is constructed to be positioned within the aircraft 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.