ARRANGEMENT FOR PROJECTIONS ONTO THE EXTERIOR SURF ACE OF AN AIRCRAFT

Abstract

The attachment of a projector under the cowling of a turbofan engine of a modern commercial aircraft allows the illumination of the underside and of the sides of the aircraft fuselage and also of the underside of the wings. With this arrangement it is also possible to project images or even videos onto these areas.

Claims

1. Projection device for aircraft, comprising one or more projectors mounted to, into or under the engine cowling of turbofan engines.

2. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein the projection is directed to the underside of the aircraft fuselage.

3. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein the projection is directed to the sides of the aircraft fuselage.

4. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein the projection is directed to the underside of the wings of the aircraft.

5. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein the projection is directed to the ground.

6. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein the projectors are arranged to be movable and readjustable depending on the loading condition and the flight attitude of the aircraft to assure that there is no undesired movement of the projection on the aircraft exterior surface.

7. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein the power supply is provided through existing power cables in the engine.

8. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein the controls are transmitted by radio signals.

9. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein the projection is activated and deactivated by a twilight switch.

10. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein the switching of the projection is coupled with the switching of another exterior light of the aircraft.

11. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein the projector is covered by a transparent component which is flush to the engine cowling to reduce aerodynamic drag and to protect the device from environmental influences.

12. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein the projector is covered by a transparent component which has an aerodynamic shape to reduce aerodynamic drag and protect the device from environmental influences.

13. Projection device for aircraft as to claims 11 and 12, wherein the transparent component functions as a lens.

14. Projection device for aircraft as to claim 1, wherein a plurality of projectors is directed to one surface area whilst the projections are made in an overlapping mode.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] This invention is independent of the number of engines. On the basis of the current development in the direction of twin-jet aircraft, the invention is explained by a twin-jet aircraft.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of a commercial aircraft with the described projectors under the cowling of the left engine.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows another view of a commercial aircraft with the focus on the described projection areas.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] According to this invention, the term projector means both a light projector for the illumination of existing images on the aircraft fuselage and also a projector for the projection of pictures or videos onto the exterior surface of an aircraft.

[0018] The light projector can consist of any type of light source that emits a beam of light regardless of the colour of the light. LEDs are a suitable light source as they have a compact design, low energy consumption and low heat development. The illuminated image can be a logo, a brand name, an advertisement or any other painted or attached sign on the aircraft exterior surface.

[0019] The projector for the projection of pictures or videos can be a laser, a DLP, a LED, a LCD or any other type of projector which can project picture or videos.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a frontal view of a commercial aircraft 100 with its left wing 101 and left engine 110.

[0021] Due to reasons of noise reduction and air guidance to the engine core there is sufficient space between the outer 111 and inner 112 engine cowling so that one or more projectors 114-117 can be placed there effectively. This meets with the current standard array of large turbofan engines under the wings of low wing aircraft. These engines have a large bypass ratio and accordingly contain a large fan. Consequently the bottom of the engine is lower than the underside of the aircraft fuselage 130 and sufficient distance can be realized between the projector 114 and the underside of the aircraft fuselage 130.

[0022] But it is also possible to project onto the undersides of the wings 131 and 133 or onto the sides of the aircraft fuselage, here the left side 132. The projector 116 projects onto the left side of the aircraft fuselage 132. The projectors 115 and 117 project onto the underside of the left wing 131 and 133. There is enough space under the engine cowling for the projectors so no additional aerodynamic drag is generated by protruding parts.

[0023] Using the curvature of the cowling allows to achieve a suitable angle for the irradiation of the desired area and to accommodate the entire device under the engine cowling. This also means easy upgrading and maintenance unlike mounting it into the aircraft's outer skin or into aerodynamically highly stressed elements. However the attachment to or under the cowling is possible and therefore only the engine cowling has to be exchanged.

[0024] The projector is covered by a transparent component 113 which protects the whole installation from environmental influences. This transparent component is flush with the engine cowling to prevent undesired aerodynamic drag. It can also function as a lens to focus the beam of the projector.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a commercial aircraft 100 from another view with the focus on the irradiated areas. The projections of the projectors 114 and 124 overlap on the underside of the aircraft fuselage 130. The projector 116 under the left engine cowling projects onto the left side of the aircraft fuselage 132. The projector 126 under the right engine cowling projects onto the right side of the aircraft fuselage. The projector 117 projects onto the underside of the left wing 133. The projector 127 projects onto the underside of the right wing 136. By installing the projectors under the engine cowling a large part of the aircraft exterior surface and of the underside of the wings can be used for projections.

[0026] Another advantage is the possibility to equalize the temperature if this is required for the mounted elements. This can be achieved by electric heating or cooling, partly redirecting the airflow, applying waste heat from the engine or using the lines with hot or cold liquids within the engine. This ensures an appropriate operating temperature for the projector.

[0027] The switching of the projector can be combined with the switching of already installed external lights of the aircraft. A combination with the strobe lights is possible which are switched on before entering the runway and are switched off after leaving the runway. Also the combination with the landing lights is possible. They are switched on with the take-off clearance and switched off by passing a certain altitude usually 10,000 feet. In the approach the landing lights are switched on again by usually passing 10,000 feet and are switched off after leaving the runway. Other combinations are possible with the logo, the beacons or the navigation lights.

[0028] There is also an automatic switching possible by using a twilight switch.

[0029] There is no further wiring needed if a twilight switch or a switching by radio signals is used for the switching of the projector and the power supply is achieved by using the existing power lines within the engine. So an easy retrofitting can be achieved.

[0030] To provide the right angle of projection the projectors are movable and can be readjusted depending on the loading condition and the flight attitude of the aircraft. So the projection is always at the desired position on the aircraft exterior surface or on the underside of the wings.