Variable width door for cockpit secondary barrier and other aircraft cabin applications

A method of controlling access to an area within an aircraft fuselage, the method comprising:

• providing a bulkhead within the fuselage, the bulkhead having an opening formed therein;
• and
• attaching an auxiliary access control barrier (AACB) adjacent and/or within the opening of the bulkhead, the AACB comprising:
• laterally extendable door panels, wherein
• the door panels comprise a first door panel and a second door panel;
• and
• the first door panel comprises fingers that interlock with fingers of the second door panel in an alternating manner in a direction of a height of the AACB;
• a hinge by which the door panels are pivotably attached within the opening of the bulkhead;
• and
• one or more locks;
• sliding the fingers of the second door panel in a lateral direction, orthogonal to the vertical direction, relative to the fingers of the first door panel to vary a width of the AACB and to open a first row of viewports between adjacent fingers of the first door panel and a second row of viewports between adjacent fingers of the second door panel;
• engaging the one or more locks to prevent relative motion between the door panels and fix the width of the AACB;
• and
• pivoting the AACB between and including a deployed position, in which the door panels are positioned across the opening to prevent passage through the opening and in which the AACB has a first width, and a stowed position, in which the door panels are positioned to allow passage through the opening and in which the AACB has a second width, wherein the first width is greater than the second width.

An aircraft comprising:

• an aircraft fuselage;
• a bulkhead secured within the fuselage, the bulkhead having an opening formed therein;
• and
• at least one auxiliary access control barrier (AACB) adjacent to the opening of the bulkhead, the AACB comprising:
• laterally extendable door panels that are slidably attached to each other to vary a width of the AACB;
• a hinge by which the door panels are pivotably attached to the bulkhead by one or more of the door panels, such that the door panels are pivotable between a deployed position, in which the door panels are positioned across the opening to prevent passage through the opening and in which the AACB has a first width, and a stowed position, in which the door panels are positioned to allow passage through the opening and in which the AACB has a second width, wherein the first width is greater than the second width;
• and
• one or more locks configured to prevent relative motion between the door panels to fix the width of the AACB and/or to secure the AACB within the opening in the bulkhead;
• wherein:
• the door panels comprise a first door panel and a second door panel;
• the first door panel comprises fingers that interlock with fingers of the second door panel in an alternating manner in a direction of a height of the AACB;
• and
• when the fingers of the second door panel slide in a lateral direction, orthogonal to the vertical direction, relative to the fingers of the first door panel to vary the width of the AACB, a first row of viewports are opened between adjacent fingers of the first door panel and a second row of viewports are opened between adjacent fingers of the second door panel.