초록 ▼

An improved apparatus and method are provided for warning a pilot of life-support system failures wherein the life-support system includes at least a pressurization system and a breathing gas supply system. The breathing gas supply system which is contemplated in the presently preferred embodiment o

An improved apparatus and method are provided for warning a pilot of life-support system failures wherein the life-support system includes at least a pressurization system and a breathing gas supply system. The breathing gas supply system which is contemplated in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention is the type wherein breathing gas may be supplied to the pilot from a plurality of on-board sources. The apparatus which is the subject of the present invention is responsive to both the operating conditions of the pressurization system and the breathing gas supply system to provide minimum warnings to the pilot thereby to improve the effectiveness of the warnings. The apparatus includes a plurality of indicators which, during normal operation, are substantially invisible to the pilot. The indicators are illuminated under certain variable conditions of the pressurization system and the breathing gas supply system. Further, a portion of the indicators may be illuminated in first and second formats whereby each format is indicative of a different priority emergency.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for maintaining the life-support systems of the cabin of an aircraft and for warning the pilot of the aircraft of any life-support failures, said apparatus comprising: a cabin pressure sensor for determining the ambient air pressure of the cabin of the aircraft and providing a cabin pre

An apparatus for maintaining the life-support systems of the cabin of an aircraft and for warning the pilot of the aircraft of any life-support failures, said apparatus comprising: a cabin pressure sensor for determining the ambient air pressure of the cabin of the aircraft and providing a cabin pressure signal indicative of the determined cabin air pressure; a cabin altitude sensor for determining the altitude of the aircraft cabin and for providing a cabin altitude signal indicative of the determined cabin altitude; a pressurization system responsive to the cabin pressure and cabin altitude signals for determining a desired cabin pressure and maintaining the cabin air pressure substantially at the desired value; a cabin oxygen sensor for determining the concentration of oxygen in the air of the cabin and for providing a cabin oxygen signal indicative of the concentration of oxygen in the cabin air; a breathing mask adapted to be positioned on the face of the pilot of the aircraft to provide oxygen to the pilot; first and second oxygen sources for providing oxygen to the cabin of the aircraft, said first oxygen source being adapted to generate concentrated oxygen from air outside the cabin and to provide a first oxygen source signal indicative of the operational status of said first oxygen source and said second oxygen source being adapted to provide concentrated oxygen from a quantity of stored oxygen and to provide a second oxygen source signal indicative of the quantity of oxygen available to the pilot; a breathing gas selector valve coupled to receive oxygen from said first oxygen source, said second oxygen source and the cabin, said breathing gas selector valve being responsive to a breathing control signal for providing oxygen to said breathing mask from either said first oxygen source, said second oxygen source or ambient air from the cabin; a breathing system controller responsive to the cabin pressure, cabin altitude and cabin oxygen signals and responsive to the first and second oxygen source signals for providing the breathing control signal; and a multifunctional display responsive to a display signal for providing first and second quantity indicators for indicating the altitude of the cabin and the amount of oxygen remaining in said second oxygen source, respectively, sad multifunctional display being further responsive to the display signal for providing a cabin pressure indicator and first and second oxygen indicators wherein said cabin pressure and said first and second oxygen indicators may each be provided in first, second and third color formats, as determined by the display signal, and wherein each format indicates a different status of said cabin pressure and said first and second oxygen indicators; a display controller coupled to monitor the status of the cabin pressure, cabin altitude and cabin oxygen signals and said first and second oxygen source signals to provide the display signal, said display controller being adapted to provide the display signal such that the cabin pressure indicator is provided in the first color format when the cabin pressure signal and the cabin altitude signal indicator the difference between the effective cabin altitude and the desired cabin altitude is greater than a first predetermined constant, to provide the cabin pressure indicator in the second color format when the cabin pressure signal and the cabin altitude signal indicate the difference between the effective cabin altitude and the desired cabin altitude is greater than a second predetermined constant and to provide the cabin pressure indicator when the cabin pressure signal and the cabin altitude signal indicate the difference between the effective cabin altitude and the desired cabin altitude is greater than a third predetermined constant, said display controller being adapted to provide the display signal such that said first quantity indicator to indicate the effective altitude of said cabin when the cabin pressure signal and the cabin altitude signal indicate the difference between the effective cabin altitude and the desired cabin altitude is greater than the second predetermined constant and when the breathing control signal provided by said breathing system controller controls said breathing gas selector valve to supply cabin air to said breathing mask, said display controller being adapted to provide the display signal such that said second quantity indicator is provided when the breathing control signal controls the breathing selector valve to supply oxygen from said second oxygen source to said breathing mask and when cabin air is provided to said breathing mask and the cabin pressure signal and the cabin altitude signal indicate the difference between the effective cabin altitude and the desired cabin altitude is greater than the first predetermined constant, said display controller being adapted to provide the display signal such that said first oxygen indicator is provided in the first color format when cabin air is provided to said breathing mask and when the cabin pressure signal and the cabin altitude signal indicate the difference between the effective cabin altitude and the desired cabin altitude is less than the first predetermined constant, to provide said first oxygen indicator in the second color format when oxygen is provided to said breathing mask from said second oxygen source and when cabin air is provided to said breathing mask and the cabin pressure signal and the cabin altitude signal indicate the difference between the effective cabin altitude and the desired cabin altitude is greater than the first predetermined constant but less than the second predetermined variable and to provide said first oxygen indicator in the third color format when cabin air is provided to said breathing mask and when the cabin pressure signal and the cabin altitude signal indicate the difference between the effective cabin altitude and the desired cabin altitude is greater than the third predetermined constant, said display controller being further adapted to provide the display signal such that said second oxygen indicator is provided in the second color format when oxygen is provided to said breathing mask from said second oxygen source and when the second oxygen source signal indicates the quantity of oxygen remaining is below a predetermined quantity and to provide said second oxygen indicator when cabin air is provided to said breathing mask and when the cabin pressure signal and the cabin altitude signal indicate the difference between the effective cabin altitude and the desired cabin altitude is greater than the first predetermined constant.