GB2225368A - Aircraft windows - Google Patents

Abstract

An aircraft has double glazed windows (40, 41), with a sealed chamber between the window glass which are pressurised at a pressure intermediate those inside and outside the aircraft. The pressurization is provided by air pressure preferably at a level mid-way between the pressure inside the aircraft cabin and outside the hull. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AIRCRAFT This invention relates to improvements in aircraft.

The windows of a pressurised passenger aircraft represent a structural weakness in the body of the craft, and must be kept relatively small so as not to weaken the body too much. The invention aims to reduce this as a problem and make possible larger windows for such craft.

According to the invention, there is provided an aircraft which is intended to be pressurised, having windows in the hull which are double-glazed to form sealed chambers, the chambers being intercommunicating and connected to means for pressurising them at a pressure intermediate the intended pressure differential between inside and outside the aircraft.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached drawing. The drawing represents two adjacent passenger windows 40. 41 which are double glazed, the spaces 42 between the glazing in each case being hermetically sealed. Adjacent spaces are linked by sealed pipe or tube 43 which forms a continuous sealed system. This system is then pressurised by air pressure at a level approximately midway between the pressures inside the cabin and outside the hull.

By reducing the pressure differential across both the outer glass and also across the inner glass, the overall pressure differential is safely divided so that the danger of damage and depressurisation is reduced, allowing perhaps for larger windows on very high altitude crusing supersonic transport aircraft.

In principle there is no reason why such an intermediate pressurisation might not be extended to other parts of the hull, or even to the whole hull, provided an inner sealed shell is located within the main hull.

Claims (1)

1. Claims

   1. An aircraft which is intended to be pressurised, having windows in the hull which are double-glazed to form sealed chambers, the chambers being intercommunicating and connected to means for pressurising them at a pressure intermediate the intended pressure differential between inside and outside the aircraft.