Aircraft privacy door and door frame assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10766596-B2
Application number	US-201815935259-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2018
Priority date	Feb 8, 2018
Publication date	Sep 8, 2020
Grant date	Sep 8, 2020

Abstract

A privacy door assembly for installation in an aircraft relative to a flight deck door of the aircraft includes a door frame having a first post and a second post, where the second post comprises a latch recess. The privacy door assembly also includes a privacy door rotatably coupleable to the first post via a set of hinges, where the privacy door comprises a decompression latch arranged to engage the latch recess when the privacy door is in a closed position within the door frame, and where the decompression latch is configured to disengage from the latch recess in response to a decompression detected on a forward side of the privacy door.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft comprising:
a flight deck door, wherein the flight deck door, when in a closed position, separates a flight deck area of the aircraft from a cabin area of the aircraft;
a privacy door disposed within the cabin area of the aircraft and aft of the flight deck door such that the privacy door, when in a closed position, separates the cabin area into an intermediate cabin area between the privacy door and the flight deck door and a main cabin area aft of the privacy door, wherein the privacy door further comprises a decompression latch;
a door frame comprising a first post and a second post, wherein the privacy door is rotatably coupled to the first post via a set of hinges such that the privacy door is rotatable into the intermediate cabin area to an open position; and
a latch recess positioned within the second post, wherein the latch recess is arranged to engage the decompression latch of the privacy door when the privacy door is in the closed position, and wherein the decompression latch is configured to disengage from the latch recess in response to a decompression of the aircraft detected forward of the privacy door.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the set of hinges includes a hinge spring positioned to bias the privacy door from the closed position to the open position when the decompression latch and the latch recess are disengaged.

3. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the privacy door comprises a slam latch positioned to engage a slot in the first post of the door frame when the privacy door is in the open position and when the slam latch is in a first position, wherein the slam latch is coupled to a lever positioned on a forward side of the privacy door, and wherein the lever is operable to move the slam latch away from the first post to a second position so as to disengage the slam latch from the slot.

4. The aircraft of claim 3 , wherein the privacy door further comprises a slam latch spring positioned to bias the slam latch toward the first post.

5. The aircraft of claim 3 , wherein the first post comprises a cylindrical striker, wherein the cylindrical striker comprises the slot.

6. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the privacy door further comprises a decompression spring positioned to bias the decompression latch toward the first post so as to disengage the decompression latch from the latch recess in response to the decompression of the aircraft detected forward of the privacy door.

7. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the second post includes a gate movable between an open position and a closed position configured to retain the decompression latch within the latch recess, wherein the gate is coupled to a knob positioned on a forward side of the second post, and wherein the knob is operable to move the gate to the open position such that the gate does not retain the decompression latch in the latch recess.

8. The aircraft of claim 7 , wherein the gate is coupled to a flight deck cable extending from the second post to the flight deck area of the aircraft, and wherein the flight deck cable is operable from the flight deck area to move the gate to the closed position so as to retain the decompression latch within the latch recess and lock the privacy door in the closed position, to secure the intermediate cabin area from the main cabin area.

9. The aircraft of claim 7 , wherein the gate is coupled to a flight deck cable extending from the second post to the flight deck area of the aircraft, and wherein the flight deck cable is operable from the flight deck area to move the gate from the closed position to the open position such that the gate does not retain the decompression latch in the latch recess.

10. The aircraft of claim 7 , wherein the gate is coupled to a main cabin cable extending from the second post to the main cabin area of the aircraft, and wherein the main cabin cable is operable from the main cabin area to move the gate from the closed position to the open position such that the gate does not retain the decompression latch in the latch recess, to enable the privacy door to be opened from the main cabin area.

11. The aircraft of claim 7 , wherein the gate comprises a gate spring positioned to bias the gate into the closed position so as to retain the decompression latch within the latch recess when the privacy door is in the closed position.

12. The aircraft of claim 7 , wherein the gate, in the closed position, is configured to lock the privacy door in the closed position to secure the intermediate cabin area from the main cabin area.

13. The aircraft of claim 7 , wherein the knob is accessible from the intermediate cabin area.

14. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the privacy door further comprises a vent having a plurality of openings forming a fluid connection between the intermediate cabin area and the main cabin area when the privacy door is in the closed position, and wherein the plurality of openings comprise an open area sufficient to convey an airflow rate from the intermediate cabin area to the main cabin area in response to a decompression of the aircraft detected aft of the privacy door.

15. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the privacy door further comprises:
an aperture having an open area sufficient to convey an airflow rate from the intermediate cabin area to the main cabin area in response to a decompression of the main cabin area when the privacy door is in the closed position; and
a panel rotatably coupled to the privacy door, wherein the panel comprises a panel decompression latch configured to engage the privacy door and maintain the panel in a closed position such that the panel covers the aperture, wherein the panel is rotatable into the main cabin area from the closed position to an open position, and wherein the panel decompression latch is further configured to disengage from the privacy door in response to a decompression of the aircraft detected aft of the privacy door.

16. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the door frame comprises a connector for coupling the door frame to an adjacent structure of the aircraft, wherein the connector, when coupled to the adjacent structure of the aircraft, provides at least one degree of freedom of movement for the door frame with respect to the adjacent structure.

17. The aircraft of claim 16 , wherein the connector comprises a slip pin positioned at an upper end of the first post and wherein the adjacent structure comprises a ceiling bracket, and wherein the slip pin, when coupled to the ceiling bracket, comprises at least two degrees of freedom of movement for the door frame with respect to the ceiling bracket.

18. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the privacy door further comprises:
an aperture having an open area sufficient to convey an airflow rate from the intermediate cabin area to the main cabin area in response to a decompression of the main cabin area when the privacy door is in the closed position.

19. The aircraft of claim 18 , wherein the privacy door further comprises:
a panel rotatably coupled to the privacy door, wherein the panel comprises a panel decompression latch configured to engage the privacy door and maintain the panel in a closed position such that the panel covers the aperture.

20. The aircraft of claim 19 , wherein the panel is rotatable into the main cabin area from the closed position to an open position, and wherein the panel decompression latch is further configured to disengage from the privacy door in response to a decompression of the aircraft detected aft of the

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Movsesian Sami
• Sauer Steven H

Classifications

• B64D45/0028

  doors or door arrangements specially adapted to restrict unauthorized access · CPC title

• B64C1/1461

  Structures of doors or surrounding frames · CPC title

• B64C1/1469 Primary

  Doors between cockpit and cabin · CPC title

• B64D45/0026

  by creating a secure space between the flight deck and cabin · CPC title

• B64C2001/009

  comprising decompression panels or valves for pressure equalisation in fuselages or floors · CPC title