Door Alignment System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356078-A1
Application number	US-201514729242-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 3, 2015
Priority date	Jun 3, 2015
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A door alignment system may include a door assembly including a first door and a second door, a striker assembly configured to positively align a first mating edge of the first door and a second mating edge of the second door when the first door and the second door are moved into a closed position, the striker assembly including a striker coupled to the first mating edge and a striker receptacle coupled to the second mating edge and configured to receive the striker, and a rail assembly configured to maintain alignment of the first mating edge and the second mating edge when the first door and the second door are in the closed position, the rail assembly including a convex first rail coupled to the first mating edge and a concave second rail coupled to the second mating edge and configured to engage the convex first rail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A door alignment system comprising:
a door assembly comprising:
a first door comprising a first mating edge; and
a second door comprising a second mating edge, wherein said first door and said second door are movable to a closed position;
a striker assembly configured to positively align said first mating edge and said second mating edge when said first door and said second door are moved into said closed position, said striker assembly comprising:
a striker coupled to said first mating edge; and
a striker receptacle coupled to said second mating edge opposite said striker and configured to receive said striker; and
a rail assembly configured to maintain alignment of said first mating edge and said second mating edge when said first door and said second door are in said closed position, said rail assembly comprising:
a convex first rail coupled to said first mating edge; and
a concave second rail coupled to said second mating edge opposite said convex first rail and configured to engage said convex first rail.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
said striker comprises a striker arm projecting outwardly from said first mating edge of said first door, and
said striker receptacle comprises a movable follower mechanism configured to engage said striker arm when said first door and said second door are moved into said closed position.

3 . The system of claim 2 wherein:
said striker arm comprises a first follower surface and a second follower surface extending from said first follower surface to an end of said striker arm,
said second follower surface is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to said first follower surface, and
said follower mechanism comprises a cam engaged to and movable along said second follower surface to said first follower surface to guide said first mating edge of said first door and said second mating edge of said second door into alignment when said first door and said second door are moved into said closed position.

4 . The system of claim 3 wherein:
said striker arm further comprises an apex defined at an intersection of said first follower surface and second follower surface, and
said follower mechanism separates said first mating edge of said first door and said second mating edge of said second door when said cam engages said apex.

5 . The system of claim 4 wherein:
said follower mechanism further comprises a lever coupled to said cam, and
said end of said striker arm engages said lever to disengage said cam from said first follower surface when said first door and said second door are in said closed position.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein said striker assembly is configured to allow lateral movement of said first door and said second door relative to each other when said first door and said second door are in said closed position.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein:
said convex first rail comprises a convex head projecting outwardly from said first mating edge of said first door,
said concave second rail comprises a concave head projecting outwardly from said second mating edge of said second door, and
said concave head is configured to engageably receive said convex head when said first door and said second door are in said closed position.

8 . The system of claim 7 wherein:
said convex head is linearly movable relative to said first mating edge of said first door, and
said convex head is biased outwardly from said first mating edge of said first door.

9 . The system of claim 8 wherein:
said convex first rail further comprises a rail spring operatively coupled to said convex head, and
said rail spring applies a spring force to said convex head suitable to maintain engagement between said convex head and said concave head when said first door and said second door are in said closed position.

10 . The system of claim 1 wherein said rail assembly is configured to allow lateral movement of said first door and said second door relative to each other when said first door and said second door are in said closed position.

11 . The system of claim 1 wherein said rail assembly is configured to prevent non-lateral movement of said first door and said second door relative to each other when said first door and said second door are in said closed position.

12 . The system of claim 1 wherein said first door and said second door are rotatably coupled to a structure.

13 . The system of claim 12 wherein said structure is an aircraft.

14 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of striker assemblies and a plurality of rail assemblies.

15 . The system of claim 14 wherein:
said plurality of striker assemblies comprises a plurality of strikers spaced apart along said first mating edge of said first door and a plurality of striker receptacles spaced apart along said second mating edge of said second door opposite said plurality of strikers, and
said plurality of rail assemblies comprises a plurality of convex first rails extending said first mating edge of said first door between said plurality of strikers and a plurality of concave second rails extending said second mating edge of said second door between said plurality of striker receptacles.

16 . A striker assembly for positively aligning a first mating edge of a first door and a second mating edge of a second door when said first door and said second door are moved into a closed position, said striker assembly comprising:
a striker arm projecting outwardly from said first mating edge of said first door, said striker arm comprising:
a first follower surface;
a second follower surface extending at a non-zero angle from said first follower surface to an end of said striker arm; and
an apex defined at an intersection of said first follower surface and said second follower surface;
a follower mechanism movably coupled to said second mating edge of said second door, said follower mechanism comprising:
a cam configured to engage and move along said second follower surface to said first follower surface to guide said first mating edge of said first door and said second mating edge of said second door into alignment when said first door and said second door are moved into said closed position; and
a lever coupled to said cam and configured to disengage said cam from said first follower surface upon engagement with said end of said striker arm when said first door and said second door are in said closed position.

17 . A rail assembly for maintaining alignment of a first mating edge of a first door and a second mating edge of a second door when said first door and said second door are in a closed position, said rail assembly comprising:
a first rail coupled to said first mating edge of said first door, said first rail comprising a convex head linearly movable relative to and biased outwardly from said first mating edge of said first door; and a second rail coupled to said second mating edge of said second door, said second rail comprising a concave head configured to matingly engage said convex head when said first door and said second door are in said closed position.

18 . A method for aligning a first mating edge of a first door and a second mating edge of a second door when said first door and said second door are moved into a closed position, said method comprising:
moving said first door and said second door from an opened position toward a closed position; engaging a second follower surface of a striker arm projecting outwardly from said first mating edge

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Macaraeg Jr Peter

Classifications

• E05C7/04

  for wings which abut when closed {(pillarless vehicle doors E05B83/38)} · CPC title

• E06B7/16 Primary

  Sealing arrangements on wings or parts co-operating with the wings ({specially adapted for fireproof or similar closures E06B5/164; } E06B7/098 takes precedence {; fixed sealing joints E04B1/68; devices for fitting sealing strips E04F21/00}) · CPC title

• E06B3/362

  Double winged doors or windows · CPC title

• B64C1/1461 Primary

  Structures of doors or surrounding frames · CPC title

• E06B3/365

  Astragals for double doors · CPC title