초록 ▼

A frameless aircraft cockpit enclosure comprising transparent panels of polycarbonate or other plastics of varying thickness and material properties. The edges of the transparent panels are made thicker than the rest of the panels to engage aircraft canopy and windshield arch sections and aircraft s

A frameless aircraft cockpit enclosure comprising transparent panels of polycarbonate or other plastics of varying thickness and material properties. The edges of the transparent panels are made thicker than the rest of the panels to engage aircraft canopy and windshield arch sections and aircraft sill structures to thus eliminate prior art frames and edge reinforcements. Fibers may be embedded in the thicker edges to add strength. The material properties of the transparent panel may be varied to provide higher static load strength near aircraft sill structures and higher dynamic load strength and plastic behavior near the center of a canopy where bird impact may occur. The material properties of the panel may also be varied to minimize over a pilot's head or near aircraft critical equipment the amplitude of a flexure wave in an aircraft transparency resulting from a bird impact. Direct forming methods, such as injection molding, are discussed as a means for making the frameless aircraft transparencies.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A cockpit enclosure for an aircraft having a cockpit sill structure, comprising: (a) at least one jointless and seamless frameless transparent panel having edges shaped to mate with the cockpit sill structure; and, (b) wherein the material properties of the panel vary over its area so that th

1. A cockpit enclosure for an aircraft having a cockpit sill structure, comprising: (a) at least one jointless and seamless frameless transparent panel having edges shaped to mate with the cockpit sill structure; and, (b) wherein the material properties of the panel vary over its area so that the amplitude of a flexure wave caused by an impact on the panel is minimized at one or more preselected locations on the panel. 2. A cockpit enclosure according to claim 1, wherein the frameless transparent panel has a higher static load strength and less plastic behavior near the edges, and has a higher dynamic load strength and more plastic behavior away from the edges.