GB491358A - Improvements in and relating to cabins for aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

491,358. Aircraft cabins. JUNKERS FLUGZEUG - UND - MOTORENWERKE AKT.-GES. Dec. 14, 1937, No. 34584. Convention date, Dec. 28, 1936. [Class 4] In an aircraft a part of the body enclosing the cabin for the occupants is composed of transparent material in the form of a self-supporting cupola or annulus, the axis of the cupola or of the annulus being the longitudinal axis of the body or an axis parallel thereto, the transparent enclosing part being of such dimensions as to enclose a space of sufficient size to accommodate at least one person. The forepart of a fuselage particularly that of a high altitude aeroplane with a supercharged cabin is constituted by a cockpit 1, Fig. 1, comprising a double-walled ogival body of transparent material of which the inner shell 2 is self-supporting and of much thicker material than the outer shell 3 which is spaced therefrom by radial webs. Two seats 6 for pilots, and flying controls, are carried by a tube 4 mounted in the fuselage and communicating at its forward end with the space 19 between inner and outer shells. A gaseous medium supplied under pressure through this tube to the space 19 serves to conduct heat to prevent ice formation and by reason of its pressure to prevent collapse of the thin outer wall under the action of air forces. The material of the walls 2, 3 may be a plastic artificial resin. Attachment of shell 2 to the main wall 20 of the fuselage, Fig. 3, may be by a channel clamping ring 12 formed with divergent walls 14, 15 expanded to embrace a tapered flange 8<1> on shell 2 and a similar flange 16 on wall 20. A reinforcing band 17 is secured to shell 2. The outer shell 2 is secured to wall 20 by an adhesive and a retaining band 17<1>. Alternatively, shell 2 may terminate in a bulbous rim 8, Fig. 4, which is gripped by bending flanges of a retaining ring 9 from the dotted to the full line position. A layer of rubber 10 is inserted between rim 8 and the flanges of member 9.