Active vent and re-inflation system for a crash attenuation airbag

摘要

A crash attenuation system has an airbag inflatable generally adjacent to an exterior of the aircraft. The system includes a gas generator in fluid communication with an interior of the airbag. The system also includes a vent system having a vent passage supported by the aircraft, the vent passage being configured to allow gas to escape from within the airbag during an impact. The vent system also includes an actuator door for sealing the vent passage, thereby preventing gas from leaving the airbag. The actuator door is actuated by an actuator, the actuator being in fluid communication with the gas generator through an actuator duct. The system operates such that deployment of gas from the gas generator causes the actuator to inflate, thereby causing the actuator door to seal the vent passage. The gas generator is configured to re-inflate the airbag after the actuator door seals the vent passage.

主权项

1. A crash attenuation system for an aircraft, the system comprising:
an airbag inflatable generally adjacent to an exterior of the aircraft; a first gas generator in fluid communication with an interior of the airbag for inflating the airbag with gas; and a vent system, the vent system comprising:
a vent passage being configured to allow gas to escape from within the airbag during an impact;an actuator door configured to selectively seal the vent passage, thereby preventing gas from leaving the airbag;an actuator located proximate to the actuator door; andan actuator duct that provides fluid communication between a second gas generator and the actuator;wherein deployment of gas from the second gas generator causes the actuator to inflate, thereby causing the actuator door to seal the vent passage.