Door Patents (Class 244/129.5)
  • Patent number: 8434720
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pressurized aircraft door that minimizes risk of ingress of precipitation inside the aircraft, while maintaining venting of the aircraft before unlocking the door. The purpose of the invention is achieved using a vent flap controlled by a door control member and designed such that the flap successively occupies the following positions during the opening movement of the control member: a closed position when the control member occupies a first end position putting the door in a closed/locked position; at least one partially open position before the door is in a closed/unlocked position; then once again in the closed position when the control member occupies a second end position putting the door in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Alan Depeige
  • Patent number: 8434715
    Abstract: A thrust reverser nozzle for a gas turbine engine nacelle includes opposite and asymmetrically pivoting first and second doors defining a nacelle aft section, first and second trailing edges of the first and second doors adjacent to a propulsive jet nozzle outlet of the nacelle, the doors being pivotable simultaneously between a stowed position and a deployed position such that the first trailing edge is positioned behind the second trailing edge when the doors are in the deployed position, and the first and second fairings attached to the first and second doors in relative fixed positions to the first and second doors respectively. Male contour middle portions of the first fairings may complementarily match female contour middle portions of the second fairings and are received within the female contour middle portion when the doors are in the stowed position. The fairings may be removably attached to the doors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Lair, Paul Weaver
  • Publication number: 20130105630
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cover plate for covering at least portions of a door gap formed between a door covering and a fuselage cell of an aircraft or spacecraft, comprising: a fastening portion by which the cover plate can be mounted on an outer surface of the door covering; a contact portion which rests in a contacting manner against an outer skin of the fuselage cell when the door covering is closed; at least one corner portion associated with a corner of the door covering; and a side portion associated with a side of the door covering, the at least one corner portion and the side portion being configured to press the contact portion with a constant contact pressure against the outer skin of the fuselage cell when the door covering is closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Andrej KLAAS, Michael STOHL, Rolf HINRICHS
  • Patent number: 8427334
    Abstract: A device is provided for early registering of the closing state of a closure element for a compartment opening includes, but is not limited to an inductive proximity sensor, a measuring plate and a movement path guide. By means of the movement path guide the measuring plate is guided parallel to the proximity sensor from a predetermined degree of closing to complete closure of the closure element. In this manner a precise early statement relating to the imminent closure of the closure element can be made, for example in order to activate a locking mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Heeren
  • Patent number: 8418961
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for supporting a door which is pivotably received in a fuselage airframe of an aircraft, with a counter bearing arranged in the region of a doorframe and a thrust bearing located opposite in the region of the door. According to the invention, the counter bearing has a planar counter bearing surface and the thrust bearing has a mounting in which a planar thrust bearing surface which can tilt about at least one spatial axis is received, the counter bearing surface lying against the thrust bearing surface at least in some regions when the door is closed. Because of the thrust bearing surface which can be tilted in at least one spatial direction, the counter bearing always lies against the thrust bearing over the entire surface areas thereof, irrespective of any manufacturing tolerance deviations between the doorframe and the door or the bearing on the fuselage airframe, in such a way that optimal force transfer is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Gastao De Freitas, Martin Sternad
  • Publication number: 20130082143
    Abstract: In another embodiment of the disclosure, there is provided an access door assembly for joining to a structure. The access door assembly has an access door with at least one access door nonlinear edge. The access door assembly further has a support structure with at least one support structure nonlinear edge. The access door assembly further has a doubler element attached to an interior side of the support structure. The support structure nonlinear edge is designed to interlace with the access door nonlinear edge to form an access door assembly for joining to a structure, the access door assembly having an interlaced nonlinear edge interface. A diameter of the doubler element of the access door assembly is preferably reduced as compared to a diameter of a doubler element of an access door assembly having a linear or circular edge, such that the reduced diameter preferably results in an overall reduced weight of the access door assembly and the structure to which the access door assembly is joined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Marc Storozuk
  • Publication number: 20130075527
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for manoeuvring, on the ground, a door of an aircraft landing gear, the door being linked with door manoeuvring means and uplock means for locking the door when it reaches the closed position, at least one unlocking electromechanical actuator arranged to act upon the uplock means with a view to deactivating them during opening of the door in flight. According to the invention, the device comprises control means 17 which can be operated by an operator on the ground in order to control at least: an opening sequence during which the unlocking electromechanical actuator is actuated in order to deactivate the uplock means, a closing sequence during which the manoeuvring means are actuated in order to close the door again.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
    Inventor: MESSIER-BUGATTI-DOWTY
  • Publication number: 20130075528
    Abstract: An aircraft fuselage includes at least one opening that can be closed by a flap or door, which comes to abut against at least one door stopper that is arranged on a fuselage-side door frame bulkhead and transfers the impact forces into an intermediate costal for diversion into an aircraft structure that encompasses bulkheads, wherein the door frame bulkhead exhibits an opening, through which an impact section of the door stopper extends, wherein a fastening plate section adjoining the latter comes to abut the rear side of the door frame bulkhead, which interacts with means for directly introducing the impact forces from the door stopper into the intermediate costal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Airbus Operations GmbH
  • Patent number: 8403265
    Abstract: Disclosed is an aircraft door including a handle-activated pressure relief system that avoids potentially dangerous pressure differences between the cabin and the atmosphere outside the aircraft. A flow path is created between the inboard and outboard handles on the door. A pressure vent door is located in the flow path. The vent door being is opened when either of the inboard and outboard handle assemblies are activated. Once either handle is rotated beyond a particular point, a spring in the supporting mechanics becomes over-center. At the same time, the vent door comes under the influence of a magnet, snapping the vent open. After the door has been opened, it can be relatched by operating the handles in the reverse direction. The magnet and spring hold the vent door open until the aircraft door is fully latched, sealed, and secured. Only then does the vent door sealingly close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Textron Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Greg Gowing, Scott Weber, Elisabeth Archibald, Shad Plante, Matt Wiley
  • Patent number: 8403264
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air intake valve for an aircraft and a method for the production of an air intake valve. The air intake valve has an opening region for letting ambient air through into a fuselage inner region of the aircraft and a flap for opening and closing the opening region, the opening region and the flap each having a shape which is capable of forming air vortices on edges of the opening region when ambient air flows through the air intake valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Thorsten Schiek, Markus Petrac, Thomas Scherer
  • Patent number: 8398025
    Abstract: A security system adapted for use on an aircraft to prevent unauthorized access into a cockpit area of the aircraft via a cockpit door. The system includes a keypad accessible by individuals in a cabin area of the aircraft. A logic system is in communication with the keypad and also with a switch disposed inside the cockpit. Occupants of the cockpit, via the switch, have the ability to manually unlock the cockpit door, to deny the request for entry, or to do nothing, in which case the door will be automatically unlocked after the expiration of a predetermined time interval. A pressure sensor in communication with the controller allows the electronic door locking member to be automatically overridden, and the door immediately opened, in the event of a decompression condition occurring in the cockpit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Mitchell J Piorkowski, Paul W Bandy, Darrell W Gaston, Jr., Binh C Truong, Dwight R Schaeffer, Shannon J Kupfer, Steven D Flickinger, Julie M Shinn, James J Johnson, Steven L Wehr, Mark E Smith
  • Patent number: 8398026
    Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a frame and a door. The door may be moveably connected to the frame. The door may be capable of being rotated in the frame between a closed position and an open position to provide access to an opening of a vehicle body without moving the door outside of a mold line of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Jennifer Marie Walton, Timothy Mark Garrett, James Vincent Eveker
  • Patent number: 8393577
    Abstract: A decompression device for an aircraft includes a cabin lining element, which has a first aperture for discharging exhaust air in normal operation of the aircraft and a second aperture for discharging a decompression air flow. The device also includes an unlockable closure element, which is fixable in a closing position in such a way that the second aperture is closed for air flow, and which after unlocking, can take a releasing position so that the second aperture is opened for air flow. The device also includes a locking device designed to fix the closure element in normal operation of the aircraft in the closing position, and is designed in the case of decompression to release the fixing of the closure element, so that the closure element can take the releasing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventors: Ingo Roth, Timo Philipp Heidorn
  • Publication number: 20130043349
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a door for a transport means, which structurally provides the largest possible door width. Using a movable carrier arm device, the width of the door aperture can be reduced with little complexity from about 42 inches (Type “A”) as an additional equipment option to about 34 inches (Type “C”). To this end, the movable, for example, foldable, carrier arm device is provided which, when the door opens, automatically moves from a retracted position to an extended position in order to reduce the door aperture width to a value which has been predetermined for evacuation. Afterwards, the extended carrier arm device can be folded in again. In this manner, it may be possible to increase the comfort for the passengers and the crew when the aircraft is in the normal operating state since the carrier arm device provides a greater aperture width in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Thorsten RUPPIN
  • Patent number: 8376818
    Abstract: A thrust recovery valve has two flaps, with each flap controlled independently via its own rotary actuator. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a cabin pressure control system that includes one or two thrust recovery valves and the controls architecture to efficiently operate the valves. On each thrust recovery valve, only one door can be operated during flight, making less effective area change per unit time (relative to the operating both doors at the same time), allowing higher resolution of valve control. Further, the valve doors can be made such that the primary door that is operated in flight is smaller than the other door (mostly only operated on the ground). Because the doors of the thrust recovery valve can be operated independently, the forward door of each valve can be rotated such that the door creates a ram air “scoop” to ingress air to prevent negative pressure from building up beyond a specified limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Darrell Horner
  • Publication number: 20130032660
    Abstract: A loads interface (1) of an aircraft structure with an edge member (6) and a background structure both preferably made from fiber reinforced plastics. A loads transferring flange (2) is adapted and mounted to said edge member (6) to transmit bending moments into the background structure. Said loads transferring flange (2) is provided with two angled upper and lower planes (8, 9). Said edge member (6) is provided with two angled edge member's upper and lower transfer planes (10, 11). The two angled upper and lower planes (8, 9) and the two angled edge member's upper and lower transfer planes (10, 11) are paired essentially parallel and respectively oriented to each other with an angle of approximately 90° . The invention relates as well to applications of such a loads interface (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Wolf, Hanno Niemann, Matthias Hopf, Patrik Schmiedel
  • Publication number: 20130032661
    Abstract: A loads interface (1), particularly a loads interface (1) of an aircraft door with an edge frame (13), an outer skin (15) and a beam (14). A loads transferring flange (11) is designed to transmit transverse, circumferential and/or longitudinal forces, is provided with at least three flanges (18, 19, 20) for distribution of the loads in the edge frame (13), the outer skin (15) and the beam (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Tim Roser, Kamran Rah, Christian Steppich
  • Patent number: 8342920
    Abstract: An outflow valve is provided for use in conjunction with an actuator. In one embodiment, the outflow valve includes a frame and a first door rotatably coupled to the frame. The outflow valve is configured to be moved by the actuator between an open position and a closed position. The first door includes: (i) a main body having a sealing edge, and (ii) a J-shaped bellmouth fixedly coupled to the main body proximate the sealing edge. The J-shaped bellmouth is configured to condition fluid flow through the outflow valve when the first door is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Justin A. Tanner, William A. Facinelli, Albert Kang
  • Patent number: 8328137
    Abstract: The invention relates to an emergency exit hatch for exiting a cabin module for an aircraft in an emergency and entering the cabin module. Said emergency exit hatch comprises a first mechanism for visually inspecting a zone below the emergency exit hatch by at least partly opening the emergency exit hatch by means of the first mechanism, and a second mechanism for entirely opening the emergency exit hatch . The first mechanism is not the same as the second mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Sütthoff, Alexander Stendel
  • Publication number: 20120305708
    Abstract: The integrally stiffened panel includes one or more stiffeners oriented in one direction, and one or more stiffeners oriented in a different direction. The stiffeners are integral with a sheet member and intersect at a joint. The joint is configured to incorporate a pocket at the stiffener intersections. The pocket geometry is inverse to the stiffener geometry, and thereby provides moment and stiffness continuity across the joint and between adjacent intersecting stiffeners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
    Inventor: Robert L. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8317135
    Abstract: A flexible mounting assembly allows relative movement between a top and a bottom structural member of an air frame, for instance, a helicopter. The flexible mounting assembly comprises a vertical frame member and an isolation frame member where one of the vertical frame member and the isolation frame member has a pin and the other of the vertical frame member and the frame isolation member has an aperture adapted to slidingly receive the pin in a way to accommodate relative vertical motion therebetween while substantially restraining lateral movement therebetween. The flexible mounting assembly may also include a horizontal shear wall assembly extending between adjacent vertical frame members that accommodates relative vertical motion between top and bottom structural members while substantially restraining lateral movement therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Sabreliner Corporation
    Inventors: Don E. Carter, Randy L. Barton
  • Publication number: 20120292447
    Abstract: An attachment assembly for securing a secondary door to a mating structure may include a door frame and at least one telescoping structural pin disposable within a side of the door frame. The structural pin may be extendable from a retracted position to a deployed position into the mating structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Harold G. Erickson, Rolando G. Taguinod
  • Patent number: 8298055
    Abstract: In a process and a system for controlling the pressure in an aircraft cabin the status of at least one aircraft door is detected by at least one detection device by transmitting a signal indicative of the status of the aircraft door to a unit for controlling an avionics ventilation system which is controlled in dependence upon the signal indicative of the status of the aircraft door in such a way that a build-up of pressure in the aircraft cabin is prevented when the signal indicative of the status of the aircraft door indicates that the aircraft door is not fully closed and secured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten Schiek
  • Patent number: 8292229
    Abstract: An aircraft capable of hovering, and having a fuselage defining an access opening; driving means for operating a rescue cradle; and a first wall movable between a closed position engaging a first portion of the opening, and a first open position allowing access to the first portion of the opening. The aircraft has a member connected functionally to the first wall and in turn having at least one flat surface; and the member is movable with respect to the wall into a first position, in which the flat surface defines a supporting surface for the cradle when the first wall is in the first open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Agusta S.p.A.
    Inventors: Santino Pancotti, Dante Ballerio
  • Publication number: 20120261511
    Abstract: Ground-accessing elevator systems and methods are provided for transporting personnel between the ground level and one or more decks of multi-level vehicle such as a fixed-wing aircraft. The vehicle elevator systems and methods may be implemented using a multi-track guide rail system configured to guide an elevator car between the ground and two or more levels within a vehicle. The multi-track guide rail system may include an intra-vehicle track fixed to the vehicle structure and configured to guide the elevator car between decks of the vehicle, and a separate deployment track may be configured to telescope downward from the intra-vehicle guide rail track to guide the elevator car during deployment to the ground from the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Wayne J. Ehlert, Michael G. Glenn, James R. Grimes, Loyd R. Hamilton, Christopher M. Jackson, Mark A. McCoy, Richard R. Pardun, Paul H. Peterson, Albert W. Ruggles, Scot A. Stephens
  • Patent number: 8286916
    Abstract: An aircraft provided with a wall having an exterior surface in contact with air flows external to the aircraft, an internal cavity in the aircraft, recessed relative to the exterior surface of the wall, at least one mobile trapdoor, which in closed position prolongs the exterior surface in such a way as to shut off the cavity from the exterior, and which in open position projects relative to the exterior surface in such a way as to open the cavity to the exterior, and provided with at least one mobile aerodynamic deflector, whose movement is slaved to that of the at least one trapdoor, the at least one aerodynamic deflector projecting relative to the exterior surface in a zone thereof situated outside the zone covered by the at least one trapdoor when the at least one trapdoor is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Bernard Pauly, Bruno Chauveau
  • Publication number: 20120228429
    Abstract: A vehicle has a passenger section, a control section and a door positioned between the passenger section and the control section. The door has an indented region on a side of the door facing the control section when the door is in a closed position, where the indented region has a surface. The vehicle also includes a second surface. A locking mechanism has a first locking portion, a second locking portion and a connecting portion connecting the first locking portion and the second locking portion. The locking mechanism locks the door in the closed position when the first locking portion engages the surface of the indented region and the second locking portion engages the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: TARGET BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Oliver Colin Hanson, Richard David Sedgwick
  • Publication number: 20120217347
    Abstract: An aircraft fuel tank access cover comprises an inner door, an outer door and a clamping arrangement for clamping the doors together about an access aperture in the skin of the fuel tank. The clamping arrangement comprises a bolt in-moulded in a generally central part of the inner door and or external nut. The doors have reinforcing rib arrangements to spread the clamping load to the peripheral edges thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Chetan KORYA, Timothy J. SANDERSON
  • Patent number: 8251314
    Abstract: A cargo receiving arrangement for an aircraft hold with a cargo receiving area provided therein with at least one folding loading bridge (4, 5, 6) and a loading door (20) which closes the aircraft hold in a swivelling manner in the region of the loading bridge, characterized in that a loading door inner face (23) of the loading door is designed in such a way that, when the loading door is swung to, the folding loading bridge folds upwards as a result of the contact with the inner face of the loading door. This is important especially in regions of varying aircraft width, since the loading bridge collides there with the loading door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Oliver Bittner
  • Patent number: 8245976
    Abstract: A door assembly has a first door integrated with a second door. The first door has a first door cowl. The second door is pivotably mounted to the first door and has a second door cowl forming at least a portion of the first door cowl. The door assembly includes at least one actuator coupled to the first and second doors. Each one of the first and second doors is pivotable between open and closed positions and defines an opening when moved to the open position. The openings of the first and second doors face in opposite directions. The actuator is operative to pivotably move at least one of the first and second doors between the open and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Seiya Sakurai, Matthew D. Fevergeon
  • Patent number: 8240608
    Abstract: A fastening device for at least one pair of window panes, especially aircraft windshield window panes, each having a window pane retainer equipped with a frame that is applied to the borders of receptacle openings for the window panes, wherein the frames have a pair of posts facing one another provided with matching profiles that can mate the aforementioned posts, one inside the other, in a fastening line of the window pane retainer on the common border to the openings that receive the pair of panes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Patrick Lieven
  • Patent number: 8234753
    Abstract: A hinge assembly may be provided to hingeably couple two substrates together to allow one of the substrates to pivot about the center plane of the other substrate. The hinge assembly may include two separable hinge components that are manufactured from lightweight materials and that are configured to provide up to about 180 degrees of swing for a door or other hingeably-coupled substrate. Polymer bushings may be employed to preclude the need for lubrication of the hinge assembly, and a spring loaded tab may be provided on a hinge pin of the hinge assembly to provide for ease of installation, removal or replacement of a hingeably coupled substrate. Flow channels with injection ports may be defined within each of the separable hinge components of the hinge assembly, and configured to evenly distribute injected bonding material around the components of the hinge assembly while they are positioned within respective substrate cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: L-3 Communications Integrated Systems L.P.
    Inventor: Jay W. Cook
  • Publication number: 20120193472
    Abstract: A stairway used for gaining access from a theoretically horizontal lower level to a theoretically horizontal higher level, and including a succession of intermediate steps between these two levels. A subassembly of intermediate steps corresponding to the steps closest to the lower level is mobile between a first deployed position at which the lower intermediate steps are in the extension of other intermediate steps, and a raised position at which the lower intermediate steps are in a substantially vertical position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS (Societe par Actions Simplifiee)
    Inventors: Bernard GUERING, Jonathan GUERING
  • Publication number: 20120187247
    Abstract: A manhole assembly in the lower skin (37) of an aircraft wing made of a composite material for giving access to an installation placed inside said aircraft wing such as a fuel tank, comprising an inner cover (31) and an outer cover (33) joined by first fastener means (35); the lower skin (37) being configured with a rebated edge (45) around the manhole so that the outer cover (33) can be mounted over the lower skin (37) maintaining the aerodynamic continuity in the aircraft wing surface; the inner cover (31) being mounted over the lower skin (37) by its inner surface with a sealing profile (41) between them and being joined to the lower skin (37) by second fastener means (47).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Airbus Operations S.L.
    Inventors: José Luis Delgado Jareño, Ignacio Outon Hernández
  • Patent number: 8226037
    Abstract: An aircraft door assembly of an aircraft, having a fuselage with a door opening and a door frame, encompassing an aircraft door fittable in the door frame. The door includes a door structure having an outer skin and is liftable from a locked closed position into a unlocked closed position, pivotable into an open position located outside the door frame and outside the fuselage, pivotable from the open position back into the unlocked closed position, and lowerable into the locked closed position such that in the locked closed position, a door gap is present between the door frame and a door edge. The gap defines a space for lifting and lowering the door. The door also includes, on its outer side and on a door edge region, a door gap covering element that extends over the door gap onto the outer side of the aircraft fuselage and covers the door gap, when the door is in the locked closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Steffen Obst
  • Patent number: 8201777
    Abstract: An external door for use in accessing a cargo area of an aircraft fuselage. The door includes a locking system, a latching system, a lock monitoring system, an uplock used to secure the door in an open position, and an actuating system that assists in at least one of opening and closing the door. The locking system works by interfering with the movement of the latching system components. The locking system includes a monitoring device that prevents the aircraft from being pressurized in case of a malfunction in the locking system. The latching system includes a handle locking system that prevents operation of the latch handle by accident or by ground loading or flight forces. The systems of the door are preferably manually operated, and utilize rigid members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Wilson, Steven Paul Walker, Andrew Bourne
  • Patent number: 8167241
    Abstract: A system for opening and closing the flap of a casing for the landing gear of an aircraft includes a mechanical connection between the landing gear and the flap. The connection includes a first connecting rod which is fixed to the landing gear, and a second connecting rod which is fixed to the flap, the first and second connecting rods being connected by an articulation mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventor: Didier Reynes
  • Patent number: 8157215
    Abstract: A door opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the door from the inside of a fuselage. A door pivotally supported at an opening portion of the fuselage includes first and second position restricting links each having one end pivotally supported on the fuselage with a door driving link having one end pivotally supported on the door. The other end of the second position restricting link is pivotally supported on a middle portion of the door driving link. The door opening/closing operation lever is provided at one end with a grip with the other end pivotally supported on the other end of the door driving link. The middle portion of the door opening/closing operation lever is pivotally supported on the other end of the first position restricting link. By pulling the grip toward the inside of the fuselage and thereafter pushing downward, the door can be closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Patents & Technologies, North America, LLC
    Inventors: Wataru Yada, Hiroshi Yamanouchi, Hidetaka Nagano
  • Publication number: 20120085865
    Abstract: A door assembly, in particular for a helicopter, has a post; a door fitted to the post by a first and second hinge arranged on an outer wall of the post, so as to rotate about a hinge axis to open and close a door opening; and an emergency release device having a release handle, and a stem which extends through the post along a release axis substantially perpendicular to the hinge axis, rotates axially, in response to operation of the release handle, from a first to a second angular position to detach the door from the post, and is fixed at one axial end to the first hinge; the release handle being connected to the stem to rotate together with the stem about its release axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: AGUSTAWESTLAND S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Gorgoglione
  • Patent number: 8146864
    Abstract: A locking device having a door catch system for helicopter doors, which are embodied as sliding doors, which are to be additionally moved (flush-fitted) into the closed position at right angles to the plane of the door opening in response to their closing movement, consisting of a catch (15a), which is associated with the latch (13) and which is in active connected therewith, by which catch (15a) the sliding door is “caught” directly in front of its locked position in response to a manual closing process until the sliding door has been transferred into its final closed position via the latch (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Köppel, Alexander Rowbut
  • Patent number: 8146863
    Abstract: The invention concerns a doorway in an aircraft fuselage comprising a door frame in which a door is mounted, this frame comprising an outer framework, an inner framework and a core placed between the inner framework and the outer framework, capable of absorbing energy from an impact, the core being a stiffener made of composite material having an accordion shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventor: David Larcher
  • Patent number: 8141821
    Abstract: An aircraft capable of hovering, and having a fuselage in turn having a nose, a tail portion at the opposite end to the nose, and a cabin interposed between the nose and the tail portion; the cabin has a loading opening at the opposite end to the nose, and a first wall movable between a closed position engaging at least one portion of the loading opening, and an open position allowing free access to the portion of the loading opening; and, working from the tail portion towards the nose, the first wall in the open position extends on the opposite side of a first edge of the loading opening with respect to a second edge, opposite the first edge, of the loading opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Agusta S.p.A.
    Inventors: Santino Pancotti, Dante Ballerio, Fabio Nannoni
  • Patent number: 8141820
    Abstract: An aircraft manhole including a skin panel of an aircraft structure, wherein an outer door and an inner door of the aircraft manhole are positioned on the skin panel. The aircraft manhole further includes stringers installed on the skin panel positioned on and attached to the skin, and fixing edges partially projecting through the manhole on the side for positioning the outer door and the inner door. The aircraft manhole also includes reinforcements arranged between the outer door and the inner door of the manhole that are attached to the skin, the reinforcements forming the fixing edges on one of its sides, and a cavity arranged in the skin to allow installing the outer door, thus maintaining the aerodynamic surface of the assembly as well as its tightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Espana, S.L.
    Inventor: Juan Zúñiga Sagredo
  • Publication number: 20120061517
    Abstract: An aircraft capable of hovering, and having a fuselage in turn having a nose, a tail portion at the opposite end to the nose, and a cabin interposed between the nose and the tail portion; the cabin has a loading opening at the opposite end to the nose, and a first wall movable between a closed position engaging at least one portion of the loading opening, and an open position allowing free access to the portion of the loading opening; and, working from the tail portion towards the nose, the first wall in the open position extends on the opposite side of a first edge of the loading opening with respect to a second edge, opposite the first edge, of the loading opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventors: Santino Pancotti, Dante Ballerio, Fabio Nannoni
  • Publication number: 20120032028
    Abstract: An actuating mechanism (1) for a vent door (2) in an aircraft door (3) comprising an electric motor (4) driving the vent door (2) in a closing position towards the aircraft door (3), a control unit (9), controlling said electric motor (4), and a flight lock actuator, driven by the electric motor (4). A return spring biases the vent door (2) to an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Pritzen, Markus Bühler, Thomas Tendyra
  • Publication number: 20120025022
    Abstract: A fuselage structure, particularly an aircraft door (1) of composite material comprising at least one panel (2) and at least one beam (3) mounted to each other and the panel (2) with the panel (2) being formed of at least one group of composite layers (5, 6, 20). The at least one beam (3) is provided at least at one of its respective ends (10, 11) with a flange (13) suitable for adhesive engagement with the at least one panel (2). The at least one group of composite layers (5, 6, 20) of the panel (2) is in form locking engagement with this flange (13) of the beam (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Buchs, Gabriele Dreher, Umberto Girard, Steffen Kunze, Thomas Thiess
  • Patent number: 8100363
    Abstract: A hatch provided with at least one locking socket, equipped with a first actuator to urge a flexible linear pulling member, connected to the socket, in an unlocking direction, by abutting against a stop member secured to the member, at a distance from a second member end of the member, in which the actuator can be controlled from a first side of the hatch, and equipped with second actuator to urge the member in the unlocking direction, the second actuator being connected to the second end and being controllable from a second side of the hatch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Jaouen Ponsart, Jerome Gras
  • Patent number: 8096498
    Abstract: An inlet door assembly includes an inlet door rotatable about an axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Jay M. Francisco
  • Patent number: 8096505
    Abstract: A deceleration device for a movable component in an aircraft, the device having a deformation component, wherein the deformation component includes a deformation tool, a deformation body with a deformable region, and a guide device. The deformation tool and the deformation body can be made to engage each other in such a manner by means of the guide device that in the case of movement of the deformation body and of the deformation tool relative to each other the deformable region of the deformation body can be deformed by the deformation tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Arne Klarmann, Nick Chignell-Stapleton
  • Patent number: 8091831
    Abstract: A door arrangement for tightly closing a door opening comprises a door frame, a door which, when closed, is arranged in the door frame, and inner and outer sealing lips. The inner and outer sealing lips run next to each other along a periphery of the door opening between a first surface of the door and a second surface of the door frame, wherein the first and second surfaces face each other. The inner and outer sealing lips bound a space formed between them. The door arrangement further comprises a pressure-reducing device configured to reduce pressure in the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Thorsten Roming