Multi-spectral air inlet shield and associated inlet structure
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B64D-033/02
B64D-033/00
출원번호
US-0958481
(2004-10-05)
발명자
/ 주소
Means,James L.
출원인 / 주소
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Alston & Bird LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
3
초록▼
A multi-spectral shield and associated inlet structure is provided for reducing the signature of an air inlet port defined within an exterior wall of an aircraft, ship, or land-based vehicle across radar and infrared wavelengths. The multi-spectral inlet shield includes a plate disposed in front of
A multi-spectral shield and associated inlet structure is provided for reducing the signature of an air inlet port defined within an exterior wall of an aircraft, ship, or land-based vehicle across radar and infrared wavelengths. The multi-spectral inlet shield includes a plate disposed in front of the air inlet port. The plate is sized to visibly eclipse the air inlet port, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the plate. The plate is supported in this position by a plate mount or splitter that extends from within the air inlet port and attaches to the plate. A support may optionally combine with the splitter to support the plate in this position. Air passes behind the plate and into the air inlet port via a channel defined around at least a portion of the plate.
대표청구항▼
That which is claimed is: 1. A shield for disguising an air inlet port, comprising: a plate disposed in front of said air inlet port, wherein said plate is sized to visibly eclipse said air inlet port, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to said plate; and a splitter extending from within sa
That which is claimed is: 1. A shield for disguising an air inlet port, comprising: a plate disposed in front of said air inlet port, wherein said plate is sized to visibly eclipse said air inlet port, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to said plate; and a splitter extending from within said air inlet port for supporting said plate a distance from said air inlet port, thereby defining a channel around at least a portion of said plate through which air may pass into said air inlet port, said splitter defining a reflecting portion comprising a length, first and second reflecting surfaces extending from said plate, and a substantially non-uniform thickness defined between the first and second reflecting surfaces along at least a portion of the length of the reflecting portion, wherein at least one visible surface of said plate or said splitter is structured to suppress radar signal return or infrared radiation. 2. A shield as recited in claim 1, wherein said shield projects a radar cross section, and wherein said channel is sized to reduce said radar cross section, while maintaining a sufficient flow of air to at least one onboard system. 3. A shield as recited in claim 1, wherein said plate is structured to intercept radar signals originating from an expected threat direction. 4. A shield as recited in claim 1, wherein said air inlet port includes an inner wall and wherein said plate, said splitter and said channel are structured to intercept impinging radar signals prior to contacting said inner wall of said air inlet port. 5. A shield for disguising an air inlet port defined in an exterior surface of a vehicle, the shield comprising: a plate disposed in front of said air inlet port, wherein said plate is sized to visibly eclipse said air inlet port, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to said plate; and a splitter extending from within said air inlet port for supporting said plate a distance from the exterior surface of the vehicle, thereby defining a channel around at least a portion of said plate through which air may pass into said air inlet port, said splitter defining a reflecting portion comprising a length, first and second reflecting surfaces extending from said plate, and a substantially non-uniform thickness defined between the first and second reflecting surfaces along at least a portion of the length of the reflecting portion, and wherein at least one visible surface of said plate or said splitter is structured to suppress radar signal return. 6. A shield as recited in claim 5, wherein at least one visible surface of said plate or said splitter is structured to suppress infrared radiation. 7. A shield as recited in claim 5, wherein at least one of said plate, said splitter and said air inlet port are structured to absorb an impinging radar signal. 8. A shield as recited in claim 5, wherein at least one of said plate, said splitter and said air inlet port are structured to scatter an impinging radar signal. 9. A shield as recited in claim 5, wherein said air inlet port feeds at least one heatable onboard component, and wherein at least one of said air inlet port, said splitter and said plate are structured to reduce specular infrared reflections produced by said at least one heatable onboard component. 10. A shield as recited in claim 5, wherein said air inlet port is disposed in an exterior wall of a vehicle, and wherein said shield further comprises at least one support attached to said exterior wall for further supporting said plate a distance from said air inlet port. 11. A shield as recited in claim 10, wherein said vehicle is a ship and said air inlet port is sized to extend over at least two ship decks, and wherein said at least one support extends from the at least two ship decks to support said plate in front of said air inlet port. 12. An inlet structure, comprising: an air inlet port; a plate disposed in front of said air inlet port, wherein said plate is sized to visibly eclipse said air inlet port, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to said plate; a plate mount for supporting said plate a distance from said air inlet port, thereby defining a channel around at least a portion of said plate through which air may pass into said air inlet port; and a splitter extending into said air inlet port from said plate in a substantially cantilevered manner, wherein at least one visible surface of said plate, said plate mount, said splitter or said air inlet port is structured to suppress radar signal return or infrared radiation. 13. An inlet structure as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of said plate, said plate mount, said splitter and said air inlet port are structured to absorb an impinging radar signal. 14. An inlet structure as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one of said plate, said plate mount, said splitter and said air inlet port are structured to scatter an impinging radar signal. 15. An inlet structure as recited in claim 12, wherein said plate projects a radar cross section, and wherein said channel is sized to reduce said radar cross section, while maintaining a sufficient flow of air to at least one onboard system. 16. An inlet structure as recited in claim 12, wherein said air inlet port feeds at least one heatable onboard component, and wherein at least one of said air inlet port, said plate mount, said splitter, and said plate are structured to reduce specular infrared reflections produced by said at least one heatable onboard component. 17. An inlet structure as recited in claim 12, wherein said plate is structured to intercept radar signals originating from an expected threat direction. 18. An inlet structure as recited in claim 12, wherein said air inlet port includes an inner wall and wherein said plate, said plate mount, said splitter, and said channel are structured to deflect an impinging radar signal prior to contacting said inner wall of said air inlet port. 19. An inlet structure as recited in claim 12, wherein said air inlet port is disposed in the exterior wall of a vehicle and wherein said plate mount comprises at least one support for attaching said exterior wall of said vehicle to said plate and supporting said plate a distance from said air inlet port. 20. An inlet structure as recited in claim 19, wherein said vehicle is a ship and said air inlet port is sized to extend over at least two ship decks, and wherein said at least one support extends from the at least two ship decks to support said plate in front of said air inlet port. 21. An inlet structure as recited in claim 12, wherein said splitter defines a reflecting portion comprising a length, first and second reflecting surfaces extending from said plate, and a substantially non-uniform thickness is defined between the first and second reflecting surfaces along at least a portion of the length of the reflecting portion. 22. A shield for disguising an air inlet port, comprising: a plate disposed in front of an inlet port having an inner wall, wherein said plate is sized to visibly eclipse said air inlet port, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to said plate; a plate mount for supporting said plate a distance from said air inlet port, thereby defining a channel around at least a portion of said plate through which air may pass into said air inlet port; and a splitter attached to said plate and extending within said air inlet port in a substantially cantilevered manner, and wherein said plate, said splitter, and said channel are structured to deflect an impinging radar signal prior to contacting said inner wall of said air inlet port, and wherein at least one visible surface of said plate, said plate mount or said splitter is structured to suppress radar signal return. 23. A shield as recited in claim 22, wherein said shield projects a radar cross section, and wherein said channel is sized to reduce said radar cross section, while maintaining a sufficient flow of air to at least one onboard system. 24. A shield as recited in claim 22, wherein said air inlet port feeds at least one heatable onboard component, and wherein at least one of said air inlet port, said plate mount, said splitter and said plate are structured to reduce specular infrared reflections produced by said at least one heatable onboard component. 25. A shield as recited in claim 22, wherein said air inlet port is disposed in an exterior wall of a vehicle, and wherein said plate mount comprises at least one support that is attached to said exterior wall for further supporting said plate a distance from said air inlet port. 26. A shield as recited in claim 24, wherein said vehicle is a ship and said air inlet port is sized to extend over at least two ship decks, and wherein said at least one support extends from the at least two vessel decks to support said plate in front of said air inlet port. 27. A shield as recited in claim 22, wherein said splitter defines a reflecting portion comprising a length, first and second reflecting surfaces extending from said plate, and a substantially non-uniform thickness is defined between the first and second reflecting surfaces along at least a portion of the length of the reflecting portion. 28. An air inlet structure comprising: an exterior wall defining a first vertical plane; a recessed wall defining a second vertical plane positioned inwardly relative to the first vertical plane, said recessed wall comprising a first portion, a second portion, and an air inlet port defined therebetween, wherein the second portion of said recessed wall defines a recessed corner positioned substantially inwardly relative to the first vertical plane defined by said exterior wall; a plate disposed in front of the air inlet port, wherein said plate is sized to visibly eclipse the air inlet port when viewed from a direction perpendicular to said plate, and wherein said plate is positioned a distance in front of the air inlet port to thereby define a channel around at least a portion of said plate through which air may pass into the air inlet port; and a splitter extending from said plate at least partially into the air inlet port, wherein at least one visible surface of said plate or said splitter is structured to suppress radar signal return. 29. The vehicle of claim 28, wherein said splitter defines a reflecting portion comprising a length, first and second reflecting surfaces extending from said plate, and a substantially non-uniform thickness defined between the first and second reflecting surfaces along at least a portion of the length of the reflecting portion.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (3)
Yazici Muammer,CAX ; Richarz Werner,CAX, Air handling structure for fan inlet and outlet.
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