Aircraft Door System and Method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024034455-A1
Application number	US-202318362735-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 31, 2023
Priority date	Jul 29, 2022
Publication date	Feb 1, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aircraft door system and related closure method. The system involves the use of a ball transfer device as an initial contact made in the closing of an aircraft door. The closing door next encounters guiding and fitting arrangements are also employed to laterally align the lower portion of the aircraft door with the corresponding portion of the frame upon the closing. Finally, the closing door then encounters load path ties which are employed about the door. The arrangement above allows the door refit the door within what is a deformed doorframe due to weight and structural considerations.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An aircraft fuselage door system, the system comprising:
a doorframe for an aircraft door, the doorframe located in an aircraft fuselage wall, the door being hingedly connected to a top of the doorframe, the door being configured to pivot downward or upward relative to a top edge of the door; a force-transferring unit being established between an inside edge of a side of the doorframe and an outside edge of an adjacent side of the door, the force-transferring unit, upon a closing of the door, compelling the door in a lateral direction relative to the doorframe; one or more door guiding and fitting arrangements on a bottom edge of the door, the one or more a door guiding and fitting arrangements each configured to laterally align a bottom portion of the door upon the closing of the door; and a latching arrangement configured to secure the door into the doorframe after the force-transferring unit and the one or more door guiding and fitting arrangements have already been engaged.

2 . The door system of claim 1 comprising:
one or more shear tie arrangements disposed on an inside edge of the doorframe, the one or more shear tie arrangements located at one or more respective positions, each shear tie arrangement configured to establish a structural load path from the door to the doorframe at each of the respective positions.

3 . The door system of claim 2 wherein the force-transferring unit includes a rotating ball contained in a housing portion, the housing portion being located on one of the door or the frame, the ball being receivable into a receiving area defined into a receptacle located adjacent the ball on the other of the door or the frame.

4 . The door system of claim 3 wherein the force-transferring unit is a ball-transfer unit.

5 . The door system of claim 3 wherein the force-transferring unit is configured to provide initial contact between the door and the door frame.

6 . The door system of claim 3 wherein the force-transferring unit is located on a forward side of doorframe.

7 . The door system of claim 6 wherein the rotating ball in the force-transferring unit is on the doorframe and is configured to push the door aft upon the closing.

8 . The door system of claim 7 wherein the ball remains in contact with and is received into the receptacle upon the closing.

9 . The door system of claim 2 wherein the one or more door guiding and fitting arrangements each include load fittings each received into a respective load-fitting receptacle.

10 . The door system of claim 9 wherein the load fittings are outwardly tapered towards a point relative from where they are mounted on the bottom edge of the door to reach a tip.

11 . The door system of claim 9 wherein the one or more door guiding and fitting arrangements are configured to modifies contact between the bottom of the door and a lower portion of the doorframe such that, on the closing the shape of doorframe adjusted to the shape of the door.

12 . The door system of claim 9 wherein each load fitting in the one or more door guiding and fitting arrangements is mounted on a lower edge of the door, and each respective load-fitting receptacle exists on a lower portion door frame.

13 . The door system of claim 12 wherein each load-fitting receptacle includes opposing upright rollers between which a pair of angled faces of each load fitting are received.

14 . The door system of claim 9 wherein one or more load path tie arrangements are provided between an outer door edge and a frame portion to transfer weight from the door to the frame.

15 . The door system of claim 14 wherein the one or more load path tie arrangements each include a tie post and a shear tie.

16 . The door system of claim 15 wherein upon the closing, the tie post fits and is secured into the shear tie accomplishing a transfer of a weight from the door to the doorframe and a location of the load path tie arrangement and adjusting the shape of the door.

17 . The door system of claim 14 wherein the force-transferring unit, one or more door guiding and fitting arrangements, and one or more load path tie arrangements are configured to reshape the doorframe and position the door leaf inside the doorframe during the closing.

18 . An aircraft door closure process comprising:
locating a force-transferring unit between a forward inside edge of an aircraft doorframe and a forward outside edge of an adjacent side of the door to make initial contact with and locate an aircraft door within the doorframe; and configuring a lower portion of the aircraft door and a corresponding portion of the aircraft doorframe to include one more door guiding and fitting arrangements to laterally align the lower portion of the aircraft door with the corresponding portion of the frame upon the closing.

19 . The process of claim 18 comprising:
establishing one or more load-path tie arrangements between the aircraft door and the aircraft door frame to transfer a weight from the aircraft door to the doorframe and adjust a shape of the door.

20 . The process of claim 19 comprising:
configuring the force-transferring unit to initially engage the door upon the closing;
configuring the one more door guiding and fitting arrangements to engage the door after the force-transferring unit has already been engaged;
configuring the load-path tie arrangements to engage the door after the force-transferring unit and the one or more door guiding and fitting arrangements have already engaged the door; and
providing a latch arrangement enabling the door to be secured in the frame for a flight.

Assignees

• Textron Aviation Inc

Inventors

• Smarsh Joseph Allan
• Johnson Evan Michael
• Bachman Timothy
• Conkling Richard S

Classifications

• B64C1/1461 Primary

  Structures of doors or surrounding frames · CPC title

• E05B77/30

  allowing opening by means of an inner door handle, even if the door is locked · CPC title

• E05B83/36

  Locks for passenger or like doors · CPC title

• B64C1/1415

  Cargo doors, e.g. incorporating ramps · CPC title