Assemblies and methods for reconfiguring aircraft fuselage doors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017129584-A1
Application number	US-201514937011-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 10, 2015
Priority date	Nov 10, 2015
Publication date	May 11, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Assemblies and methods are provided to allow a temporary alternate door (e.g., an observation door for use during search and rescue (SAR) missions) may be placed in a fuselage opening normally closed by a dedicated personnel door. The assembly may be provided with a central support pole attachable to interior structure of the aircraft fuselage so as to be disposed in an upright position within an interior of the aircraft fuselage (e.g., within the aircraft's cargo hold), and at least one stand-by alternate door (e.g., an observation door) which is sized and configured to be operatively accepted by the aircraft fuselage door opening when the dedicated primary aircraft door is in an opened and stowed condition. Typically a pair of stand-by alternate doors are removably connected to the central support pole so as to be capable of being movably deployed into a position to close the aircraft fuselage opening when disconnected from the central support pole.

First claim

1 . An assembly to allow reconfiguration of an aircraft fuselage door opening which is associated with a dedicated primary aircraft door comprising:
a central support pole comprising at least one lower mounting clip, the central support pole being attachable to interior structure of an aircraft fuselage so as to be disposed in an upright position within an interior of the aircraft fuselage; at least one stand-by alternate door which includes a door frame sized and configured to be operatively accepted by the aircraft fuselage door opening when the dedicated primary aircraft door is in an opened condition, and upper and lower mounting assemblies for removably mounting upper and lower portions of the door frame to the central support pole, wherein the lower mounting assembly comprises at least one lower mounting arm associated with the lower portion of the door frame which is removably connected to the at least one lower mounting clip of the central support pole such that the at least one stand-by alternate door is removably connected to the central support pole so as to be capable of being movably deployed into a position to close the aircraft fuselage opening when disconnected from the central support pole.

2 .- 3 . (canceled)

4 . The assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the upper mounting assembly comprises:
at least one upper mounting arm associated with the upper portion of the door frame, and a mounting carriage slideably coupled to the central support pole for rectilinear movements between raised and lowered positions thereof, wherein the mounting carriage includes at least one upper mounting clip removably connected to the at least one upper mounting arm.

5 . The assembly as in claim 4 , wherein the at least one stand-by alternate door includes a pair of wheels journally mounted to the lower portion of the door frame for rolling movements along a surface.

6 . The assembly as in claim 5 , wherein the lower portion of the door frame includes a pair of spaced-apart support brackets, and wherein each of the wheels is journally mounted to a respective one of the support brackets.

7 . The assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the central support pole comprises a tubular main pole and an extension pole received telescopically within the tubular main pole so as to be extendible relative to the main pole and thereby allow lengthwise extension of the central support pole.

8 . An assembly to allow reconfiguration of an aircraft fuselage door opening which is associated with a dedicated primary aircraft door comprising:
a central support pole attachable to interior structure of an aircraft fuselage so as to be disposed in an upright position within an interior of the aircraft fuselage; and at least one stand-by alternate door which is sized and configured to be operatively accepted by the aircraft fuselage door opening when the dedicated primary aircraft door is in an opened condition, wherein the at least one stand-by alternate door is removably connected to the central support pole so as to be capable of being movably deployed into a position to close the aircraft fuselage opening when disconnected from the central support pole, and wherein the at least one stand-by alternate door includes a door frame, and a pair of wheels journally mounted to a lower portion of the door frame for rolling movements along a surface.

9 . The assembly as in claim 8 , wherein the lower portion of the door frame includes a pair of spaced-apart support brackets, and wherein each of the wheels is journally mounted to a respective one of the support brackets.

10 . The assembly as in claim 9 , wherein the support brackets comprise a connection claw for engagement with a stationary mounting pin associated with the fuselage door opening.

11 . The assembly as in claim 9 , wherein
the central support pole comprises at least one lower mounting clip, and wherein the at least one stand-by alternate door comprises a lower mounting assembly which includes at least one lower mounting arm associated with the lower portion of the door frame, the at least one lower mounting arm being removably connected to the at least one lower mounting clip of the central support pole.

12 . The assembly as in claim 11 , wherein the at least one lower mounting arm is positioned between the spaced-apart pair of support brackets.

13 . The assembly as in claim 1 , wherein the at least one stand-by alternate door is an observation door which includes a transparent observation bubble window.

14 . An aircraft which comprises an assembly as in claim 1 .

15 . An aircraft comprising:
an interior cargo hold and a cargo deck within the cargo hold; a dedicated primary aircraft personnel door which is moveable into an opened condition to expose a fuselage door opening; and an on-board assembly to allow reconfiguration of the fuselage door opening to be closed by a temporary observation door while the dedicated aircraft personnel door is in the opened condition thereof, wherein the assembly comprises:
(i) a central support pole having opposed ends attached to interior fuselage structure of the aircraft so that the central support pole is positioned to extend substantially vertically upright from the cargo deck of the aircraft within the interior cargo hold adjacent to the fuselage door opening;
(ii) at least one stand-by observation door which includes a door frame sized and configured to be operatively accepted by the aircraft fuselage door opening when the dedicated personnel aircraft door is in the opened condition thereof, and
(iii) upper and lower mounting assemblies for removably mounting upper and lower portions of the door frame to the central support pole, wherein
(iv) the lower mounting assembly comprises at least one lower mounting arm associated with the lower portion of the door frame which is removably connected to the at least one lower mounting Clip of the central support pole such that the at least one stand-by observation door is removably connected to the central support pole so as to be capable of being movably deployed into a position to close the aircraft fuselage opening when disconnected from the central support pole.

16 .- 17 . (canceled)

18 . The aircraft as in claim 15 , wherein the upper mounting assembly comprises:
at least one upper mounting arm associated with the upper portion of the door frame, and a mounting carriage slideably coupled to the central support pole for rectilinear movements between raised and lowered positions thereof, wherein the mounting carriage includes at least one upper mounting clip removably connected to the at least one upper mounting arm.

19 . The aircraft as in claim 18 , wherein the observation door includes a pair of wheels journally mounted to the lower portion of the door frame for rolling movements along the cargo deck.

20 . The aircraft as in claim 19 , wherein the lower portion of the door frame includes a pair of spaced-apart support brackets, and wherein each of the wheels is journally mounted to a respective one of the support brackets.

21 . The aircraft as in claim 15 , wherein the central support pole comprises a tubular main pole and an extension pole received telescopically within the tubular main pole so as to be extendible relative to the main pole and thereby allow lengthwise extension of the central support pole.

22 . An aircraft comprising:
an interior cargo hold and a cargo deck within the cargo hold; a dedicated primary aircraft personnel door which is moveable into an o

Assignees

• Embraer Sa

Inventors

• Da Silva Jorge Luiz Ribeiro
• Souza Henrique Cezar
• De Magalhães Carlos Alberto Vilela

Classifications

• B64C1/14

  Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens {accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipers}(fairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06) · CPC title

• B64C1/1423

  Passenger doors · CPC title

• B64C1/1461 Primary

  Structures of doors or surrounding frames · CPC title

• B64F5/40

  Maintaining or repairing aircraft · CPC title

• B64C1/1484

  Windows (B64C1/1492 takes precedence) · CPC title