Door system with a deceleration mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11208837-B2
Application number	US-201916687910-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2019
Priority date	Feb 28, 2019
Publication date	Dec 28, 2021
Grant date	Dec 28, 2021

Abstract

A door system with a deceleration mechanism may be adapted to control an opening of a door module that separates compartments of an aircraft and includes a door panel and a door frame. During the opening of the door module, the door panel performs a rotational movement 389 above a floor structure of the aircraft. The deceleration mechanism is operable in a normal operation mode and a deceleration mode and comprises a hinge, a wedge-shaped component that is rotatably attached to the hinge, and an activation device. The activation device is coupled to the wedge-shaped component and switches the deceleration mechanism from operating in the normal operation mode to operating in the deceleration mode when a difference in pressure between the compartments exceeds a predetermined threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A door system adapted to control an opening of a door module that separates compartments of an aircraft, the door module comprising a door panel and a door frame, wherein the door panel performs a rotational movement above is floor structure of the aircraft during an opening of the door module, the door system comprising:
a deceleration mechanism that is operable in a normal operation mode and a deceleration mode and comprises:
a hinge, and
a wedge-shaped component that is rotatably attached to the hinge, wherein during the rotational movement of the door panel from a closed position to any open position:
the wedge-shaped component is embedded in the floor structure of the aircraft to prevent an interaction with the door panel in the normal operation mode, and
the wedge-shaped component protrudes from the floor structure of the aircraft and interacts with the door panel such that the rotational movement of the door panel is decelerated at least between a first open position and a second open position in the deceleration mode; and

an activation device that is coupled to the wedge-shaped component and that switches the deceleration mechanism from operating in the normal operation mode to operating in the deceleration mode when a difference in pressure between the compartments exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The door system of claim 1 , wherein the door module further comprises:
a door closer that biases the door panel into the closed position.

3. The door system of claim 2 , wherein the door closer further comprises:
a door damper that coupled to the door panel;
a first pivot arm that is coupled to the door frame; and
a second pivot arm that is coupled between the first pivot arm and the door damper.

4. The door system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pressure sensor that monitors a pressure in at least one of the compartments; and
a controller that is coupled to the pressure sensor, monitors the difference in pressure between the compartments of the aircraft, and generates an activation signal when the difference in pressure between the compartments exceeds the predetermined threshold.

5. The door system of claim 4 , wherein the activation device receives the activation signal from the controller and switches the deceleration mechanism from operating the normal operation mode to operating in the deceleration mode based on the activation signal.

6. The door system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a door locking system that maintains the door panel in the closed position.

7. The door system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a door release system that overrides the door locking system and releases the door panel from the closed position when the difference in pressure between the compartments exceeds the predetermined threshold.

8. The door system of claim 7 , wherein the door release system overrides the door locking system based on the activation signal from the controller.

9. The door system of claim 1 , wherein the wedge-shaped component further comprises:
a first segment that interacts with the door panel between the closed position and the first open position in the deceleration mode; and
a second segment that interacts with the door panel between the first open position and the second open position in the deceleration mode.

10. The door system of claim 9 , wherein the first segment further comprises:
a smooth surface that limits interaction with the door panel to ensure a predetermined reduction of the difference in pressure between the compartments within a predetermined time period.

11. The door system of claim 9 , wherein the second segment further comprises:
at least one of a wave-shaped or concave-shaped surface that interacts with the door panel such that the rotational movement of the door panel is decelerated.

12. The door system of claim 1 , wherein the activation device further comprises:
a movable pin that pushes against the deceleration mechanism; and
at least one of solenoid or a pyrotechnical device, wherein the at least one of the solenoid or the pyrotechnical device pushes the movable pin against the wedge-shaped component such that the deceleration mechanism switches from operating in the normal operation mode to operating in the deceleration mode.

13. The door system of claim 1 , wherein the deceleration mechanism further comprises:
a mechanical end stop that stops the door panel at the second open position of the door panel.

14. The doer system of claim 13 , wherein the mechanical end stop is attached to the door frame.

15. A method for controlling an opening of a door module using the door system of claim 1 , wherein the door module separates first and second compartments of an aircraft and comprises a door panel and a door frame, wherein the door panel performs a rotational movement above a floor structure of the aircraft during an opening of the door module, the method comprising:
determining whether a difference between a first air pressure of the first compartment and a second air pressure of the second compartment exceeds a predetermined air pressure difference threshold;
in response to determining that the difference between the first air pressure of the first compartment and the second air pressure of the second compartment exceeds the predetermined air pressure difference threshold,
overriding a door locking system that keeps the door panel in a closed position, and activating an activation device;

with the activation device, pushing against a wedge-shaped component that is embedded in the floor structure of the aircraft such that the wedge-shaped component protrudes from the floor structure of the aircraft and interacts with the door panel;
with a smooth surface of the wedge-shaped component, limiting interaction with the door panel to ensure a predetermined reduction of the difference between the first air pressure of the first compartment and the second air pressure of the second compartment within a predetermined time period; and
with at least one of a wave-shaped or concave-shaped surface, interacting with the door panel such that the rotational movement of the door panel is decelerated.

Assignees

• Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH

Inventors

• Tendyra Thomas
• Renner Uwe
• Pascoe Xaver
• Buehlmeyer Markus
• Ward Stephen
• Borchers Guido

Classifications

• E05Y2800/30

  inclined, angled · CPC title

• E05Y2400/44

  Sensors not directly associated with the wing movement · CPC title

• B64C1/00

  Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like · CPC title

• E05F5/00 Primary

  Braking devices, e.g. checks; Stops; Buffers (construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices E05F3/00; braking devices, buffers or end stops on drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture A47B88/473; combined with devices for holding wings open E05C17/00; devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing E05C17/04) · CPC title

• B64C1/1469 Primary

  Doors between cockpit and cabin · CPC title