System for securing an aircraft door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9889919-B2
Application number	US-201715444719-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2017
Priority date	Nov 19, 2015
Publication date	Feb 13, 2018
Grant date	Feb 13, 2018

Abstract

Systems and methods for securing an emergency exit door on an armrest of a seat are provided. A system includes a latch connected to an armrest of a seat of a vehicle. The latch is moveable relative to the armrest between a stowed position and a deployed position. The latch is structured and arranged to engage an edge of a door that is associated with an exit of the vehicle to hold the door on the armrest.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle, comprising:
an overwing exit in a fuselage;
a door associated with the overwing exit;
a seat in an exit row associated with the overwing exit, the seat comprising an armrest; and
an element, in the armrest, that is structured and arranged to engage and hold an edge of the door when the door is removed from the overwing exit and placed on the armrest;
wherein the element comprises a latch connected to the armrest, the latch being moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position; and
further comprising an actuation system that automatically moves the latch to the deployed position based on a detected action at the door.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the element comprises a notch in an upper surface of the armrest, the notch having a size and shape that specifically corresponds to a size and shape of an edge of the door.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein, based on the detected action at the door, the actuation system is configured to perform at least one of:
rotate a distal end of the armrest downward; and
move the seat to increase a size of an egress path of the exit row.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft.

5. A vehicle, comprising:
an overwing exit in a fuselage;
a door associated with the overwing exit;
a seat in an exit row associated with the overwing exit, the seat comprising an armrest; and
an element, in the armrest, that is structured and arranged to engage and hold an edge of the door when the door is removed from the overwing exit and placed on the armrest,
wherein the element comprises a latch connected to the armrest, the vehicle further comprising:
a sensor configured to detect an action at the door; and
an actuation system that automatically moves the latch from a stowed position to a deployed position based on the sensor detecting the action at the door.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein:
in the stowed position, the latch does not extend higher than an upper surface of the armrest; and
in the deployed position, the latch extends upward from the upper surface of the armrest.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the detected action at the door comprises one of:
movement of a handle of the door beyond a threshold position; and
movement of the door out of the exit.

8. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein, based on the sensor detecting the action at the door, the actuation system automatically moves a distal end of the armrest downward.

9. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein, based on the sensor detecting the action at the door, the actuation system automatically moves the seat in an aft direction along a floor of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein, based on the sensor detecting the action at the door, the actuation system automatically moves another seat in a forward direction along the floor of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the latch is locked in the deployed position.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Childress Rhonda L
• Eckert Kim A
• Kuang Jente B
• Kumhyr David B
• Mcnair Ryan D

Classifications

• B64C1/143

  of the plug type · CPC title

• E05F15/40

  Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions · CPC title

• B64C1/1423 Primary

  Passenger doors · CPC title

• E06B7/00

  Special arrangements or measures in connection with doors or windows ({arrangements against burglary at the edges of the wings E06B5/113} ; screening or similar protective devices E06B9/00) · CPC title

• E05C19/02

  Automatic catches, i.e. released by pull or pressure on the wing (E05C19/06 takes precedence {; with locking means E05B63/22}) · CPC title