Patent · US Expired

External airbag protection system for helicopters

US5992794A · kind A · utility

46Cited by

3References

12Claims

0Family size

Assignee

State of Israel-Ministry of Defense Armament Development Authority-Rafael · IL

Inventors

Israel Rotman · Nofit, IL
Gideon Rosenberg · Kiryat Tivon, IL

Key dates

Filing date	Jan 20, 1998
Grant date	Nov 30, 1999
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jan 20, 2018

Classification

Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
CPC primaryB64D2201/00
WIPO fieldTransport
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An airbag protection system for helicopters. Airbags are inflated either automatically or manually, or a combination of both, prior to the helicopter striking the ground, thus avoiding or ameliorating a crash. Proximity sensors detect a fast descent to trigger inflation of the airbags located beneath the helicopter fuselage so that they can cushion the impact with the ground. Venting of the gas from the airbags is also provided to release the gas from the airbags so as to prevent rebound of the helicopter from the ground.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.