Apparatus For Operating A Door Of An Aircraft, An Aircraft Having Such An Apparatus And Method For Operating A Door Of An Aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016019770-A1
Application number	US-201514799685-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 15, 2015
Priority date	Jul 18, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for operating an aircraft door includes an operating handle having a lever and a grip, a slide arming means movable between a first position representing an armed state and a second position representing a disarmed state, a control unit coupled with the slide arming means, warning means arranged in the vicinity of the slide arming means and a sensor. The sensor is adapted for detecting the proximity of a hand of a user in a field around the grip, which field covers a distance of at least 10 cm and not exceeding 50 cm to the grip, and for producing a proximity signal representing the proximity of a hand of a person. The control unit is adapted for operating the warning means on receiving the proximity signal of the sensor to attention to the slide arming means when the slide arming means is in the first position.

First claim

1 . A system for operating an aircraft door, the system comprising:
an operating handle having a lever and a grip; a slide arming means movable between a first position representing an armed state and a second position representing a disarmed state; a control unit coupled with the slide arming means; warning means arranged in the vicinity of the slide arming means; and a sensor for detecting the distance to or the proximity of an object, wherein the slide arming means is adapted for producing a first control signal representing a movement of the slide arming means between the first and second position, wherein the sensor is arranged at a distance to the grip, which distance does not exceed 60 cm when the operating handle is closed, wherein the sensor is adapted for detecting the proximity of a hand of a user in a field around the grip, which field covers a distance of at least 10 cm and not exceeding 50 cm to the grip and for producing a proximity signal representing the proximity of a hand of a person, and wherein the control unit is adapted for operating the warning means on receiving the proximity signal of the sensor to raise attention to the slide arming means when the slide arming means is in the first position.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a girt bar coupled with an evacuation slide located at the aircraft door; and an actuator coupled with the girt bar, wherein the control unit is adapted for operating the actuator on receiving the first control signal.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is arranged on the aircraft door facing to the operating handle.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is arranged in at least one of a slide armed indication light attached to the aircraft door and a window funnel of an observation window in the aircraft door.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is arranged on the lever of the operating handle.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the warning means comprises at least one of an optical warning means for providing a visible optical indication and an acoustic warning means for providing a noticeable acoustic warning sound.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the warning means additionally comprises at least one warning light arranged in or on the grip.

8 . The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the grip comprises a longitudinal shape adapted for being gripped by a hand of a user, wherein the grip is movably supported on the lever, and wherein the slide arming means comprises a rotational sensor for detecting a position of the grip relative to the lever.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the grip is lockable in a first relative position and a second relative position.

10 . The system of claim 8 ,
further comprising a spring loaded locking mechanism arranged between the lever and the grip, wherein the locking mechanism is adapted for locking the position of the grip and for releasing the grip through a release means.

11 . An aircraft comprising:
a fuselage; at least one access opening positioned in the fuselage; at least one aircraft door for closing the at least one opening; and a system for operating the at least one aircraft door, the system comprising:
an operating handle having a lever and a grip;
a slide arming means movable between a first position representing an armed state and a second position representing a disarmed state;
a control unit coupled with the slide arming means;
warning means arranged in the vicinity of the slide arming means; and
a sensor for detecting the distance to or the proximity of an object,
wherein the slide arming means is adapted for producing a first control signal representing a movement of the slide arming means between the first and second position,
wherein the sensor is arranged at a distance to the grip, which distance does not exceed 60 cm when the operating handle is closed,
wherein the sensor is adapted for detecting the proximity of a hand of a user in a field around the grip, which field covers a distance of at least 10 cm and not exceeding 50 cm to the grip and for producing a proximity signal representing the proximity of a hand of a person, and
wherein the control unit is adapted for operating the warning means on receiving the proximity signal of the sensor to raise attention to the slide arming means when the slide arming means is in the first position.

12 . A method for operating an aircraft door, the method comprising:
detecting a position of a slide arming means movable between a first position representing an armed state and a second position representing a disarmed state of an evacuation slide, through receiving a first control signal by a control unit, the first control signal being produced by the slide arming means and representing a movement of the slide arming means between the first position and the second position; detecting the proximity of a hand of a person in a field around the grip, which field covers a distance of at least 10 cm and not exceeding 50 cm to the grip by a sensor for detecting the distance to or the proximity of an object, which produces a proximity signal; and operating warning means on receiving the proximity signal of the sensor to raise attention to the slide arming means when the slide arming means is in the first position.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
operating an actuator coupled with a girt bar coupled with an evacuation slide located at the aircraft door on receiving the first control signal.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein detecting the proximity of the hand is conducted from a distance to the grip, which distance does not exceed 60 cm when the operating handle is closed.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein producing the first control signal is conducted through detecting a relative position of the grip to the lever, wherein the grip is movably supported on the lever.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Bredemeier Kai
• Raszpir Fred
• Teichmann Sven

Classifications

• B64C1/1423 Primary

  Passenger doors · CPC title

• E05B17/226

  Displays on locks, e.g. LED or LCD screens (on handles E05B1/0084; on keys E05B19/0088) · CPC title

• E05C3/165

  the handle or member moving substantially parallel to the wing or frame (E05C3/167 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B64D25/14

  Inflatable escape chutes · CPC title

• B64D25/08

  Ejecting or escaping means · CPC title