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.
Aircraft with a drag neutral vehicle window
2020-04-07
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60J WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES , Fenster, Windschutzscheiben und bewegbare Dächer, Türen oder Ähnliches für Fahrzeuge / B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge / B32B LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM , Schichtkörper, d.h. aus Ebenen oder gewölbten Schichten, z.B. mit zell- oder wabenförmiger Form, aufgebaute Erzeugnisse / E06B Feste oder bewegliche Abschlüsse für Öffnungen in Bauwerken, Fahrzeugen, Zäunen oder ähnlichen Einfriedungen allgemein, z.B. Türen, Fenster, Läden, Tore , FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES, OR LIKE ENCLOSURES, IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES |