Self-closing access door

#The present invention relates generally to access doors and more particularly to access doors for aerospace vehicles that are opened by an external umbilical for purposes such as pre-launch environmental control.

#Aerospace launch vehicles such as rockets comprise a plurality of access doors and covers through their outer moldline surfaces for access to internal structure and subsystems. One type of access door of the known art provides internal access to a launch vehicle, which may include an internal manifold and ducting, for pre-launch environmental control such as air conditioning. In operation, an external detachable umbilical forces the access door open and induces a flow of air from the umbilical into the launch vehicle through the internal manifolds and ducting. When the air flow must be discontinued, the umbilical is removed from the launch vehicle and the access door automatically closes.

#The access door must be capable of closing automatically because the umbilical is removed during lift-off of the launch vehicle. Accordingly, the access doors must be opened by an external umbilical and must further be self-closing or closed by a remote device. Moreover, the access doors must be capable of remaining closed during launch, thereby withstanding the dynamic, thermal, and pressure environments induced during flight.

#The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is an orthogonal view of a self-closing access door in the open position in accordance with the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is an orthogonal view of a self-closing access door in the closed position in accordance with the present invention;

#The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

#Referring to the drawings, the self-closing access door of the present invention is illustrated and generally indicated by reference numeral 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown, the self-closing access door 10 comprises a first door panel 12 and a second door panel 14, which are joined by a spring-loaded hinge 16. Generally, the door panels 12 and 14 are opened by applying an external source in the direction of arrow A to either or both of door panels 12 and 14. When the external source is removed, spring-loaded hinge 16 forces the door panels 12 and 14 closed against surrounding structure such as the cover plate 18 as illustrated.

#The application of the self-closing access door 10 to an aerospace vehicle should not be construed as limiting the invention; rather, the application to aerospace is merely illustrative of one structure and one operating environment in which the present invention has particular utility. The self-closing access door 10 of the present invention can further be employed with a wide variety of applications that require a self-closing access door.