A versatile door system for a vehicle having a frame with an opening. The door system includes a door assembly including a hingeable door and a slidable door. The hingeable door is hingeably coupled to the frame proximate the opening. The slidable door is slidably coupled to the hingeable door. A rail system includes a segmented upper rail having a first portion coupled to the frame and a second portion formed on an exterior side of the hingeable door. The slidable door includes a slider bearing configured to sequentially engage the first and second portions of the segmented upper rail along a path of travel of the slidable door. In a closed configuration, the hingeable door and the slidable door are securably disposed within the opening. The hingeable door and the slidable door are configured to collectively provide access to selectable portions of the opening.

A door assembly (2) for an aircraft is moveable between a closed position and a disengaged position and comprises a door frame (6), a hinge arm (12) pivotally coupled to the door frame (6), and a door (4). A support bracket (14) pivotally supports the door (4) on the hinge arm (12). The door frame (6) and door (4) each comprise at least one stop (8, 10) configured to engage with each other to retain the door (4) within the door frame (6) in the closed position. At least one pin (18, 20; 38) is mounted on each side of the door (4) and at least first and second guides (28, 30; 40) are coupled to the sides of the door frame (6). Each guide (28, 30; 40) comprises a channel (24, 26; 43) receiving a pin (18, 20; 38).

A system for an automated cabin-divider door for an aircraft includes a door, a motor for moving the door to an open position, a limit switch configured to detect when the door is in a fully open position and to stop the motor, and electronics coupling the motor and the limit switch to an avionics system. The avionics system determines when the door is to be opened and provides a signal to the motor for moving the door to the fully open position. A method for automatically opening the cabin-divider door includes determining whether the aircraft is on the ground or in flight, determining whether the aircraft is taxiing, and determining whether the aircraft is in a final phase of approach. When the aircraft is taxiing or in the final phase of approach, the method includes sending a command signal to the motor for opening the cabin-divider door.

The invention relates to an opening system (10) for an auxiliary door (20) of an airplane in a fuselage (30), the door and the fuselage having skins in the extension of one another. In one exemplary embodiment, the system (10) includes a framing lintel (11) integrated into the fuselage, an upper beam (2S) of the door structure arranged opposite the lintel (11), and a set of three lever links (4A, 4B, 4C). Each link is connected, on the one hand, to the lintel (11) by a lever articulation (5a, 6a) fixed relative to the fuselage (30) and, on the other hand, to the upper beam (2S) by a lever articulation (5b, 6b) mobile with the door (20), the articulations (5a, 5b; 6a, 6b) being connected respectively to the lintel (11) and to the upper beam (2S) by fittings (41, 43; 42, 44). The set of links includes two types of link mounted alternately, in which the mobile articulation (5b, 6b) remains positioned respectively close to the fuselage skin (30) and further from this skin (30), the articulations (5a, 5b; 6a, 6b) of two adjacent levers (4A, 4B; 4B, 4C) forming an evolving quadrilateral.

A dampened hinge construction for braking pivoting movement of one structure relative to another. The dampened hinge construction can be utilized in a folding table assembly in an aircraft passenger suite including a base panel and at least one folding panel pivotally attached to the base panel by multiple dampened hinges. Each dampened hinge includes a first assembly attachable to a first structure and a second assembly attachable to a second structure such that the first structure is pivotable relative to the second structure between a first condition and a second condition, such as a folded condition and a planar condition, and at least one damper that brakes pivoting movement of the first structure relative to the second structure as the first condition or second condition is approached.

A hinge assembly for an aircraft overhead storage bin that includes a housing having a hinge space and a hinge opening defined therein, an arm pivotably connected to the housing within the hinge space, and a dampener. The hinge opening communicates the hinge space with an exterior of the housing. The arm is pivotable between a closed position and an open position and extends through the hinge opening such that the first end of the arm is positioned outside of the housing. The dampener includes first and second ends. The first end is connected to the housing and the second end is connected to the arm. The dampener biases the arm from the closed position to the open position.

A device for assisting the opening and closing of a door in a structure. The device may comprise: a door shaft configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof in both a first direction and in a second opposite direction, and configured to be mounted to the structure to form a hinge about which the door may rotate in the both the first and second directions relative to the structure; a first actuator linked to the door shaft and configured to control a speed of rotation of the door shaft in the first direction; and a second actuator linked to the door shaft and configured to drive rotation of the door shaft in the second direction. The second actuator is an electromechanical actuator.

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft provides transportation to users of a network system. The network system may include multiple aircraft or other types of vehicles to provide multi-model transportation. An aircraft may include a fuselage, a truss coupled to the fuselage, and multiple distributed electric propellers coupled to the truss. The distributed electric propellers may be positioned on at least two different planes. The fuselage may include a cabin having one or more seats for the passengers arranged in a configuration that has a compact footprint, provides legroom, provides visibility to surroundings of the aircraft, or facilitates convenient ingress or egress of passengers. The aircraft may open a port cabin door and starboard cabin door for simultaneous ingress or egress of passengers.

A linear actuator includes a screw shaft comprising a screw thread and having a longitudinal axis A, a nut movable along the screw shaft from a retracted position to an extended position, and a plurality of rollers movable with the nut. Each roller includes a cylindrical surface configured to roll along one or more flanks of the screw thread, such that rotation of the screw shaft causes the rollers to roll along the flank(s) so that the nut translates in an axial direction along the screw shaft. The screw thread has a variable lead angle. The actuator can be part of a power door opening system of an aircraft.

A vibration-reducing apparatus for an assembly comprising a first member including a latch and a second member including a striker may include a threaded post having arm members extending outwardly therefrom, the threaded post being rotatably advanceable in discrete increments in a threaded opening extending through the first member such that, in a closed position of the first and second members, a distal portion of the threaded post extending through the first member contacts the second member upon rotational advancement of the threaded post in the threaded opening; and a locking region arranged to interact with at least a portion of the arm members, the rotational advancement of the threaded post in the threaded opening and contact with the second member reducing an engagement distance between the latch and the striker with the first and second members in the closed position, and attenuating vibrations between the latch and the striker.