Access door for possible use with a helicopter fuel tank

An access door assembly configured to move between an open position and a sealed position, wherein, when in the sealed position, the access door assembly seals an interior of a compartment from areas external to the compartment, the access door assembly comprising:

• a door;
• a ring;
• a seal between the door and the ring that radially seals the door and the ring around the access door assembly;
• at least one retaining strip, wherein each of the at least one retaining strips is configured to be received within a channel of either the door or the ring such that the at least one retaining strip extends from a first end of the channel to a second end of the channel;
• and
• at least one release mechanism coupled to the at least one retaining strip,
• wherein the access door assembly is configured such that release of the at least one release mechanism from an installation position releases the at least one retaining strip from the channel and moves the access door assembly from its sealed position to its open position,
• wherein the at least one retaining strip is configured to absorb stresses acting on the access door assembly from the external areas.

An access door assembly comprising:

• a ring;
• a door comprising a top surface, at least a portion of which abuts at least a portion of a lower surface of the ring;
• a seal configured to extend through a groove of the ring or the door, the seal forming a radial seal between the ring and the door;
• at least one retaining strip, wherein each of the at least one retaining strips is configured to be received in a channel and configured to absorb a first set of stresses acting on the access door assembly;
• wherein the abutment between the at least a portion of the top surface of the door and the at least a portion of the lower surface of the ring is configured to absorb a second set of stresses acting on the access door assembly, wherein the first set of stresses is different from the second set of stresses;
• wherein the access door assembly is configured such that the first set of stresses is not transmitted to the abutment between the at least a portion of the top surface of the door and the at least a portion of the lower surface of the ring and the second set of stresses is not transmitted to the at least one retaining strip;
• and
• wherein the at least one retaining strip is coupled to a release mechanism and wherein activation of the release mechanism releases the at least one retaining strip from the channel to move the access door assembly from a sealed position to an open position.

An access door assembly configured to seal an interior of a helicopter fuel tank from areas external to the fuel tank, the access door assembly comprising:

• a door;
• a ring;
• a radial seal that extends substantially around a circumference of the access door assembly to form an air and fuel tight seal between the door and the ring;
• a first component configured to absorb stresses acting on the access door assembly from the interior of the helicopter fuel tank;
• and
• a second component configured to absorb stresses acting on the access door assembly from the external areas, wherein the second component is at least one retaining strip coupled to a release mechanism,
• wherein the access door assembly is configured such that release of the release mechanism from an installation position releases each of the at least one retaining strips from a channel of the door or the ring and moves the access door assembly from a sealed position to an open position that provides access to the fuel tank.