Aircraft security door and method and apparatus for security door handling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11396357-B2
Application number	US-201916245976-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2019
Priority date	Jan 11, 2019
Publication date	Jul 26, 2022
Grant date	Jul 26, 2022

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an aircraft security door as well as methods, systems and apparatus for handling an aircraft security door. In one implementation, a method for installing an aircraft security door onto an aircraft is disclosed. The method includes transferring the aircraft security door to an aircraft service stair, supporting the aircraft security door by a bridge crane coupled to the aircraft service stair, positioning the aircraft service stair in proximity to a fuselage of the aircraft adjacent to an opening in the fuselage, positioning the aircraft security door relative to the opening using the bridge crane, and securing the aircraft security door to the opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bridge crane for supporting an aircraft security door on an aircraft service stair, the bridge crane comprising:
a frame supported by a plurality of posts;
two first rail members coupled to the frame that extend in an X direction in a substantially parallel relationship, wherein first ends of each of the first rail members are coupled to a first end rail extending in a Y direction and second ends of each of the first rail members are coupled to a second end rail extending in the Y direction, the Y direction substantially orthogonal to the X direction, each of the first and second end rails being substantially parallel to each other;
a trolley positioned on a trolley frame, the trolley frame is movable along the first rail members in the X direction and the trolley is movable in the Y direction; and
a brake assembly for immobilizing the trolley frame relative to the first rail members and the first and second end rails, the brake assembly including a locking bracket that is coupled to a sidewall of the trolley frame and a plurality of pins that selectively interact with the locking bracket.

2. The bridge crane of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the first rail members and the first and second end rails include a plurality of grooves formed between corner structures.

3. The bridge crane of claim 2 , wherein one or both of the first rail members and the first and second end rails include a circular web.

4. The bridge crane of claim 1 , wherein the brake assembly further comprises:
a locking mechanism coupled to one of the first or second end rails.

5. The bridge crane of claim 4 , wherein
the plurality of pins that selectively interact with the locking bracket are movable in a Z direction into and out of engagement with the locking bracket.

6. The bridge crane of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gear motor and a shaft positioned on the trolley frame, wherein the gear motor is coupled to the shaft and a pulley.

7. The bridge crane of claim 6 , wherein a chain is coupled to the pulley.

8. The bridge crane of claim 7 , wherein the chain has a first hanging portion and a second hanging portion, and the pulley is rotated in a clockwise direction when the first hanging portion is pulled downward.

9. A bridge crane for supporting an aircraft security door on an aircraft service stair, the bridge crane comprising:
a frame supported by a plurality of posts;
two first rail members coupled to the frame that extend in an X direction in a substantially parallel relationship, wherein ends of each of the first rail members are coupled to an end rail extending in a Y direction, which is substantially orthogonal to the X direction, each of the end rails being substantially parallel to each other;
a trolley positioned on a trolley frame, the trolley frame is movable along the first rail members in the X direction and the trolley is movable in the Y direction; and
a brake assembly for immobilizing the trolley frame relative to the first rail members and the end rails, the brake assembly including a locking bracket that is coupled to a sidewall of the trolley frame and a plurality of pins that selectively interact with the locking bracket.

10. The bridge crane of claim 9 , wherein the locking bracket includes a plurality of notches, each of the notches adapted to receive a portion of one of the plurality of pins.

11. The bridge crane of claim 9 , wherein the brake assembly includes a pull cord operably coupled to the pins.

12. The bridge crane of claim 11 , wherein the pull cord moves the pins vertically.

13. The bridge crane of claim 9 , further comprising:
a gear motor and a shaft positioned on the trolley frame, wherein the gear motor is coupled to a shaft and a pulley, and wherein a chain is coupled to the pulley.

14. A method for installing an aircraft security door onto an aircraft, the method comprising:
transferring the aircraft security door to an aircraft service stair;
supporting the aircraft security door by a bridge crane coupled to the aircraft service stair, wherein the bridge crane comprises:
a frame supported by a plurality of posts;
two first rail members coupled to the frame that extend in an X direction in a substantially parallel relationship, wherein first ends of each of the first rail members are coupled to a first end rail extending in a Y direction and second ends of each of the first rail members are coupled to a second end rail extending in the Y direction, the Y direction substantially orthogonal to the X direction, each of the first and second end rails being substantially parallel to each other;
a trolley positioned on a trolley frame, the trolley frame is movable along the first rail members in the X direction and the trolley is movable in the Y direction; and
a brake assembly for immobilizing the trolley frame relative to the first rail members and the first and second end rails, the brake assembly including a locking bracket that is coupled to a sidewall of the trolley frame and a plurality of pins that selectively interact with the locking bracket;

positioning the aircraft service stair in proximity to a fuselage of the aircraft adjacent to an opening in the fuselage;
positioning the aircraft security door relative to the opening using the bridge crane; and
securing the aircraft security door to the opening.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the transferring further comprises attaching the aircraft security door to a transport pallet and lifting the transport pallet to the aircraft service stair.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein positioning the aircraft service stair in proximity to the fuselage further comprises locking the aircraft security door to the bridge crane using the brake assembly.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of pins are movable in a Z direction into and out of engagement with the locking bracket.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the locking bracket includes a plurality of notches, each of the notches adapted to receive a portion of one of the plurality of pins.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the brake assembly includes a pull cord operably coupled to each of the pins that moves the pins vertically.

20. The bridge crane of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pins are movable in a Z direction into and out of engagement with the locking bracket.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Prendergast Matthew L
• Brimlow Nicholas J
• Whitson Jr Arthur E
• O'Connor Ryan J
• Swanson Gregory W

Classifications

• B64F1/30

  for embarking or disembarking passengers · CPC title

• B66C5/02

  Fixed or travelling bridges or gantries, i.e. elongated structures of inverted L or of inverted U shape {or tripods} · CPC title

• B64F1/305 Primary

  Bridges extending between terminal building and aircraft, e.g. telescopic, vertically adjustable · CPC title

• B64C1/1461 Primary

  Structures of doors or surrounding frames · CPC title

• B64F5/50

  Handling or transporting aircraft components · CPC title