Security bulkhead and door construction

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to the construction of security barriers, including security doors and security bulkheads. More particularly the invention concerns the construction of security barriers for use in commercial aircraft.

#2. Discussion of the Prior Art

#FIG. 1 is a front view of one form of the anti-intrusion apparatus of the invention for use in connection with an aircraft.

#FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1

#Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, one form of the security barrier of the invention is there shown for preventing unauthorized access to a first sensitive area, such as the pilot's compartment of a commercial aircraft, from a second adjacent area, such as the passenger compartment of a commercial aircraft. In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the security barrier includes a security bulkhead 30 and a security door assembly 32 that is hingedly connected to a steel frame 33 that is securely mounted within the bulkhead (FIG. 1). As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the security bulkhead is disposed between the first sensitive area 34, such a pilot's compartment and a second, adjacent area 36, such as a passenger compartment of a commercial airliner. The security bulkhead is provided with an opening 38 that receives the steel frame 33 and the hingedly mounted security door assembly 32, the construction of which will presently be described.

#As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the security bulkhead 30 of the present form of the invention is uniquely made up of a plurality of sealably interconnected, specially configured segments 39. Each of the segments 39 is of a laminate construction that includes a stainless steel layer 40 that can be suitably interconnected with a conventional wall or bulkhead “B” by a plurality of threaded connectors 42. The security bulkhead 30 also includes a first, nonmetallic composite layer 44, such as a first fiberglass layer that is disposed adjacent steel layer 30, and a second, spaced-apart, nonmetallic layer 46, such as a second fiberglass layer. Non-metallic layers 44 and 46 can be constructed from various materials, but materials such as “S” glass or “S2” glass such as that manufactured by Owens Corning or an equivalent thereof have proven satisfactory for present purposes. Disposed intermediate layers 44 and 46 is a ridged, opaque armor layer generally designated by the numeral 48. Armor layer 48 is preferably constructed of layers of woven ballistic cloth and high-strength tinsel fiber including aramid fibers manufactured and sold by E.I duPont de Nemours Corp. under the name and style KEVLAR (p-phenyleneterephthalamide). or any other combination of high tensile strength fibers including, without limitation, such metal, graphite, metallic glass, or similar fibers, prepared with an oil starch binding impregnated with a resin. In the preferred form of the invention, the ridged armor layer 48 is formed of layers of woven ballistic cloth that are interconnected with the KEVLAR fibers by a resin that sets up with heat and time. The preferred resin hardener, such as isopropyl or polyester resin hardens in approximately one hour at a temperature range of about 250° to about 270° Fahrenheit.

#As indicated in FIG. 2, each of the bulkhead segments 39 includes a concave edge portion 50 and a convex edge portion 52 that is configured to sealably mate with a concave edge portion 50. With the construction shown on the drawings, the edges of the segments can be closely fitted together in a tongue and groove fashion to form a gas seal between the interconnected segments. When the segments are interconnected in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the completed bulkhead 30 has the general configuration shown in FIG. 1 and is securely of fixed to an existing bulkhead by the plurality of connectors 42. When the completed bulkhead 30 is in place it provides a formidable barrier to aggressors attempting to enter the sensitive area and an unauthorized manner.