Aircraft sliding door system
AssigneeSikorsky Aircraft Corporation
InventorsMichael H. Ambrose, Kenneth J. Russo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft door is slidable along a door path between open and closed positions. The door is guided by one or more tracks. Riders carried by the door are engaged to the tracks. Each rider includes a roller held for rotation about a roller axis which is fixed relative to the door. Each roller axis extends generally horizontally and generally transverse to the track. Each track includes a first portion extending generally parallel to the aircraft fuselage and a second portion having a continuously curving transition to the first portion and extending partially inboard from the first portion. The second portion of the track guides the door into and out of the opening in the fuselage, allowing the door to achieve a substantially flush condition when in its closed position.
Claims22
A system for bearing the weight of an aircraft door and guiding the door along a door path between an open position and a closed position comprising:
- a track;
- a rider carried by the door in engagement with the track and moveable along a length of the first track between first and second positions as the door moves between its respective open and closed positions, the rider including at least a first roller held for rotation about a first roller axis fixed relative to the door and in rolling engagement with the track for supporting the door, the first roller axis extending generally horizontally and generally transverse to the track, wherein the track comprises:
- a first portion, extending along a majority of the length, and extending generally parallel to the fuselage;
- and
- a second portion having a continuously curving transition to the first portion and extending partially inboard from the first portion toward the second position of the rider along the track.
A door system for selectively closing an opening in an aircraft fuselage, the opening having a top, a bottom and fore and aft sides, the system comprising:
- at least a first door moveable between an open position and a closed position;
- a first track, secured to the fuselage and located generally proximate the top of the opening;
- a first rider carried by the first door in engagement with the first track and moveable along the first track between first and second positions as the first door moves between its respective open and closed positions;
- a second track, secured to the fuselage and located substantially aside of the opening, aside a first of the fore and aft sides and located at a height proximate the top of the opening;
- a second rider carried by the first door in engagement with the second track and moveable along the second track between first and second positions as the first door moves between its respective open and closed positions;
- a third track, secured to the fuselage and located substantially aside the first of the fore and aft sides of the opening and located at a height below a longitudinal bottom edge of the first door;
- and
- a third rider carried by the first door in engagement with the third track and moveable along the third track between first and second positions as the first door moves between its respective open and closed positions,
- wherein during movement of the first door between its open and closed positions, substantially the entire weight of the first door is borne by one or both of the first and second tracks.
A door system for selectively closing an opening in an aircraft fuselage, the opening having a top, a bottom and fore and aft sides, the system comprising:
- (a) an upper door moveable between a closed position in which the upper door blocks an upper portion of the opening and an open position in which the upper door is substantially clear of the upper portion;
- (b) a lower door moveable between a closed position in which the lower door blocks a lower portion of the opening and an open position in which the lower door is substantially clear of the lower portion;
- and having:
- (i) a first side, oriented facing exterior to the aircraft when the lower door is in its closed position;
- and
- (ii) a second side, oriented facing interior to the aircraft when the lower door is in its closed position and facing partially upward when the lower door is in its open position, the second side including stairs which are positioned for ascent and descent by human users to respectively enter and exit the aircraft when the lower door is in its open position;
- (c) a first track, secured to the fuselage and located generally proximate to the top of the opening;
- (d) a first rider carried by the upper door in engagement with the first track and moveable along the first track between first and second positions as the upper door moves between its respective open and closed positions;
- (e) a second track, secured to the fuselage and located substantially aside a first of the fore and aft sides of the opening and at a height proximate to the top of the opening;
- (f) a second rider carried by the upper door in engagement with the second track and moveable along the second track between first and second positions as the upper door moves between its respective open and closed positions;
- (g) a third track, secured to the fuselage and located substantially aside the first of the fore and aft sides of the opening and at a height proximate a lower edge of the upper door;
- and
- (h) a third rider carried by the upper door in engagement with the first track and moveable along the third track between first and second positions as the upper door moves between its respective open and closed positions.
A door system for selectively closing an opening in an aircraft fuselage, comprising:
- an upper door moveable between an open position and a closed position substantially via a substantially longitudinal translation along said fuselage;
- and
- a lower door moveable between an open position and a closed position substantially via a substantially transverse movement,
- wherein, with the upper door and lower door in their respective closed positions, the upper door and lower door in combination substantially seal the opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.