System for operating an aircraft door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11560212-B2
Application number	US-201916705438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2019
Priority date	Dec 7, 2018
Publication date	Jan 24, 2023
Grant date	Jan 24, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods for operating an aircraft door including an airstair are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a hinge configured to pivotally couple a lower portion of the door to a fuselage of an aircraft, a lift mechanism and an interlock. The lift mechanism causes a movement of the door relative to the hinge between a lowered position and a lifted position. The interlock is configurable between: a locked configuration where the movement of the door relative to the hinge is prevented; and an unlocked configuration where the movement of the door relative to the hinge is permitted.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for operating an aircraft door including an airstair, the system comprising:
a hinge configured to pivotally couple a lower portion of the aircraft door to a fuselage of an aircraft;
a lift mechanism operatively coupled to cause a movement of the aircraft door relative to the hinge between a lowered position where opening and closing of the aircraft door is prevented and a lifted position were opening and closing of the aircraft door is permitted;
an interlock configurable between: a locked configuration where the movement of the aircraft door from the lifted position toward the lowered position relative to the hinge is prevented; and an unlocked configuration where the movement of the aircraft door from the lifted position toward the lowered position relative to the hinge is permitted; and
wherein:
the interlock includes a lock shaft rotatably supported on the aircraft door;
the lock shaft is rotatable between a locked position corresponding to the locked configuration of the interlock and an unlocked position corresponding to the unlocked configuration of the interlock; and
a rotation of the lock shaft is driven by a movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 , comprising a handle drivingly coupled to the lift mechanism so that:
a movement of the handle toward a door-open position causes a movement of the aircraft door toward the lifted position; and
a movement of the handle toward a door-closed position causes a movement of the aircraft door toward the lowered position.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 , wherein:
the interlock prevents the movement of the handle toward the door-closed position when the interlock is in the locked configuration; and
the interlock permits the movement of the handle toward the door-closed position when the interlock is in the unlocked configuration.

4. The system as defined in claim 2 , comprising:
a rotatable handle shaft drivingly coupled to the handle so that a movement of the handle causes a rotation of the handle shaft;
a rotatable lift shaft rotatably supported on the aircraft door and drivingly coupled to the handle shaft so that the rotation of the handle shaft causes a rotation of the lift shaft; and
one or more lift rods drivingly coupled to the lift shaft and to the hinge so that a rotation of the lift shaft causes the movement of the aircraft door relative to the hinge via the lift rods.

5. The system as defined in claim 2 , comprising an intermediate shaft drivingly coupled to the handle, the interlock interfering with a rotation of the intermediate shaft when the interlock is in the locked configuration.

6. The system as defined in claim 5 , comprising:
an intermediate pawl attached to the intermediate shaft and rotatable with the intermediate shaft; and
a lock pawl attached to the lock shaft and rotatable with the lock shaft, the lock pawl interfering with a rotation of the intermediate pawl when the interlock is in the locked configuration.

7. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
an opening movement of the aircraft door causes the rotation of the lock shaft toward the locked position; and
a closing movement of the aircraft door causes the rotation of the lock shaft toward the unlocked position.

8. The system as defined in claim 7 , comprising:
an arm attached to the lock shaft and rotatable with the lock shaft; and
a guide attached to the fuselage, the guide being configured and disposed to interact with the arm during movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage and cause a rotation of the arm.

9. The system as defined in claim 8 , wherein:
the arm defines a cam surface; and
the guide includes a roller configured to interact with the cam surface of the arm.

10. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
the hinge is pivotally coupled to a hinge link;
the hinge link is pivotally coupled to the aircraft door, and

the system comprises:
a lock crank attached to the lock shaft and rotatable with the lock shaft; and
a lock link having a first end coupled to the lock crank and a second end coupled to the hinge link so that a rotation of the hinge link is prevented when the lock shaft is in the locked position.

11. The system as defined in claim 10 , wherein:
the lock link has a length variable between a short length and a long length; and
the lock link has the short length when the lock shaft is in the locked position.

12. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
the hinge is pivotally coupled to a hinge link;
the hinge link is pivotally coupled to the aircraft door; and
the interlock interferes with a movement of the hinge link when the interlock is in the locked configuration.

13. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the interlock is configurable between the unlocked and locked configurations in response to a movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage.

14. A system for operating an aircraft door including an airstair, the system comprising:
a hinge configured to pivotally couple a lower portion of the aircraft door to a fuselage of an aircraft;

a handle configured to facilitate an opening of the aircraft door, the handle being movable between a door-closed position and a door-open position; and
an interlock configurable between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration in response to a movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage, wherein:
a movement of the handle toward the door-closed position is permitted when the interlock is in the unlocked configuration;
the movement of the handle toward the door-closed position is prevented when the interlock is in the locked configuration; and
wherein:
the interlock includes a lock shaft rotatably supported on the aircraft door;
the lock shaft is rotatable between a locked position corresponding to the locked configuration of the interlock and an unlocked position corresponding to the unlocked configuration of the interlock; and
a rotation of the lock shaft is driven by the movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage.

15. The system as defined in claim 14 , wherein an opening movement of the aircraft door causes the rotation of the lock shaft toward the locked position.

16. The system as defined in claim 15 , comprising:
an arm attached to the lock shaft and rotatable with the lock shaft; and
a guide attached to the fuselage, the guide being configured and disposed to interact with the arm during movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage and cause a rotation of the arm.

17. The system as defined in claim 16 , wherein:
the arm defines a cam surface; and
the guide includes a roller configured to interact with the cam surface of the arm.

18. The system as defined in claim 14 , comprising:
a handle shaft drivingly coupled to the handle; and
an intermediate shaft drivingly coupled to the handle shaft, wherein
the interlock interferes with a rotation of the intermediate shaft when the interlock is in the locked configuration.

Assignees

• Bombardier Inc

Inventors

• Savidge John Richard
• Lyver Peter
• Demers Jean-Philippe
• Riviere David
• Crozier Remi
• Kalaba Goran
• Serres Patrick

Classifications

• E05C3/006

  about an axis parallel to the surface on which the fastener is mounted · CPC title

• E05C3/08

  the handle or member moving essentially towards or away from the plane of the wing or frame · CPC title

• B64C1/24

  Steps mounted on, and retractable within, fuselages · CPC title

• B64C1/1423 Primary

  Passenger doors · CPC title

• E05Y2900/502

  for aircraft or spacecraft · CPC title