Overhead panel for an aircraft cockpit and aircraft including such a panel

Abstract

The invention relates to an overhead panel able to be positioned in an aircraft cockpit, which includes an assembly of independent submodules ( 67 ), each of which is associated with a particular system or a particular function of the aeroplane, incorporated in a rigid self-supporting module ( 60 ), including a front face ( 65 ) to which the submodules ( 67 ) are attached, and two side faces fitted with peripheral electrical connectors ( 63 ) intended to be connected to different systems of the aeroplane. The invention also relates to a method of manufacture of such a panel.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An overhead panel for provision in an aircraft cockpit, the overhead panel comprising:
 an assembly of independent submodules, each of which is associated with a particular system or a particular function of the aircraft; and 
 a rigid self-supporting module comprising a front plate to which the assembly of independent submodules is attached, and two side faces fitted with peripheral electrical connectors for connection to different systems of the aircraft. 
 
     
     
       2. The overhead panel according to  claim 1 , in which the rigid self-supporting module is parallelepipedic in shape and less than 100 mm thick. 
     
     
       3. The overhead panel according to  claim 1 , in which the module includes:
 a rear plate including an integrated circuit plate to which central electrical connectors and the peripheral electrical connectors are welded; 
 a perimeter frame forming a junction between the rear plate and the front plate, over an entire periphery of the module; and 
 micro-harnesses, each making a connection between a submodule and a central connector positioned on the rear plate. 
 
     
     
       4. The overhead panel according to  claim 1 , wherein an illuminated label is positioned on the front plate. 
     
     
       5. The overhead panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the front plate includes a metal sheet in which weight reduction and accessibility holes are made. 
     
     
       6. the overhead panel according to  claim 3 , further comprising dampening pins positioned on the rear surface of the rear plate. 
     
     
       7. The overhead panel according to  claim 3 , wherein the rear plate comprises an integrated circuit plate the final layer of which is an anti-condensation layer. 
     
     
       8. The overhead panel according to  claim 3 , wherein the rear plate includes a small panel made of a thermoplastic anti-condensation material. 
     
     
       9. An aircraft including a cockpit in which an overhead panel according to  claim 1  is installed. 
     
     
       10. A method for manufacturing the overhead panel according to  claim 3 , which includes:
 integration of mini-harnesses on the submodules, 
 clipping the mini-harnesses on the corresponding central connectors previously welded on the integrated circuit plate of rear plate, 
 attachment of the assembly formed in this manner to the perimeter frame, 
 docking the front plate, ensuring that each of the submodules is centered in a corresponding recess of the front plate, 
 attachment of the submodules on the front plate.