US3584567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic shutter
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1969-11-12
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Granted: 1971-06-15
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Expires: 1989-11-12
Abstract
Abstract An automatic shutter for use in a window in a pressurized cabin of an aircraft for preventing rapid decompression of the cabin in event of rupture of one or more of its windows. The shutter is of the louvered type, the louvers being hinged at their trailing edges which are lower than their leading edges, and connected at their forward edge by a link. Upon window breakage the inside air pressure builds up a lift under the louvers'' lower side to rotate them to a closed position and then keep them in the closed position as long as air pressure exists in the cabin.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles D Roach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:52
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64C; B64C1/00; B64C1/14; B64C1/1476; B64C1/1484; B64C2001/009
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An automatic shutter for rapid decompression in a pressurized aircraft cabin having at least one potentially rupturable pane closing said opening, said shutter comprising a plurality of vertically spaced louvers in said opening and disposed on the pressurized side of said pane, means rotatably mounting the trailing edges of said louvers for free rotation to the walls of said opening and means pivotally connecting the forward edges of said louvers together and above their trailing edge whereby when said pane is ruptured outside air will develop a lift on the lower sides of said louvers to rotate then in unison towards a closed position and whereby the air pressure in said cabin will act to maintain them in said closed position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An automatic shutter for rapid decompression in a pressurized aircraft cabin having at least one potentially rupturable pane closing said opening, said shutter comprising a plurality of vertically spaced louvers in said opening and disposed on the pressurized side of said pane, means rotatably mounting the trailing edges of said louvers for free rotation to the walls of said opening and means pivotally connecting the forward edges of said louvers together and above their trailing edge whereby when said pane is ruptured outside air will develop a lift on the lower sides of said louvers to rotate then in unison towards a closed position and whereby the air pressure in said cabin will act to maintain them in said closed position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
An automatic shutter as set forth in claim 1 wherein each said louver is of airfoil contour in cross section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An automatic shutter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for rotatably mounting said louvers comprises a shaft extending longitudinally through the trailing end of each said louver, each said shaft being mounted at its opposite ends to the sidewalls of said opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automatic shutter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting the forward edges of said louvers comprises at least one vertically disposed bar pivotally connected to the forward edge of each said louver whereby said louvers will rotate in unison.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
142 words
In combination with a pressurized chamber having a potentially rupturable wall portion, a shutter for automatically preventing rapid decompression of the chamber as a result of a sudden break in the potentially rupturable wall portion, said shutter having an airfoil configuration and being pivotally mounted on the high-pressure side of the chamber wall, adjacent to the rupturable portion thereof; means associated with said airfoil to position it in a posture that is suBstantially normal to the rupturable wall portion and the path of gas flow when rapid decompression occurs, with the forward portion thereof projecting inwardly of the compartment and the rearward edge effecting the pivot mounting whereby upon the rapid outflow of gas across the shutter an aerodynamic lift will be effected upon it, causing a pivoting of the shutter about its rearward edge to block the path of gas egress.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
142 words
In combination with a pressurized chamber having a potentially rupturable wall portion, a shutter for automatically preventing rapid decompression of the chamber as a result of a sudden break in the potentially rupturable wall portion, said shutter having an airfoil configuration and being pivotally mounted on the high-pressure side of the chamber wall, adjacent to the rupturable portion thereof; means associated with said airfoil to position it in a posture that is suBstantially normal to the rupturable wall portion and the path of gas flow when rapid decompression occurs, with the forward portion thereof projecting inwardly of the compartment and the rearward edge effecting the pivot mounting whereby upon the rapid outflow of gas across the shutter an aerodynamic lift will be effected upon it, causing a pivoting of the shutter about its rearward edge to block the path of gas egress.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 5 in which the shutter has its pivotally mounted rearward edge in a plane that is below the plane of the forward edge.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-14 | 1974-12-14 | 1975-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-14 | 1978-12-14 | 1979-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-14 | 1982-12-14 | 1983-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |