EMERGENCY OPENING DEVICE FOR AN AIRCRAFT DOOR, WITH HANDLE RELEASE

Abstract

An emergency opening device (1) for an aircraft door having: a tubular operating member (2); elastic compression device (3). The operating member (2) has a first end element (10) and a second end element (11) that can move in translation with respect to one another. The first end element (10) includes a removable driving stop (20).

Claims

1. An emergency opening device (1) for an aircraft door provided with an opening mechanism, the emergency opening device comprising: an actuating device for the opening mechanism that switches between a passive state and an active state of activation of the opening mechanism, and comprising: a tubular operating member (2) provided with a first end (5) linking with the door, and a locking second end (6); elastic compression device (3) disposed between a fixed stop element (4) and the operating member (2); a retaining member (7) for the locking second end (6), that moves between a closed position of locking of the locking second end (6), in a position of the operating member (2) corresponding to the passive state of the actuation device in which elastic device (3) are kept compressed, and an open position of releasing of the locking second end (6) allowing the displacement of the operating member (2) on an axis of displacement (X) to a position corresponding to the active state of the actuation device, under the effect of the effort resulting from the expansion of the elastic device (3); activation device (18) for the actuation device suitable for driving the opening of the retaining member (7); wherein the operating member (2) comprises a first end element (10) and a second end element (11) that move in translation with respect to one another on the axis of displacement (X), the first end (5) of the operating member (2) being situated on the first end element (10) and the locking second end (6) of the operating member (2) being situated on the second end element (11); the first end element (10) comprises a removable driving stop (20) having a first face (38) for contacting the second end element (11).

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end element (10) comprises an outer cylindrical portion (49) that fits into an inner cylindrical portion (50) of the second end element (11).

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the removable driving stop (20) is mounted in a groove (48) formed in the outer cylindrical portion (49) of the first end element (10).

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first end element (10) comprises at least one flat section (44), and in that the removable driving stop (20) comprises a flat surface held against the flat section (44).

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first end element comprises two diametrically opposite flat sections (44), and in that the section of the removable driving stop (20) has a circular portion (45) prolonged by two straight portions (46) fitted to the distance between the flat sections (44), and an open portion (47) allowing the removable driving stop (20) to be removed from the first end element (11).

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the removable driving stop (20) comprises an elastic element (43) for retention against the first end element (10).

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the removable driving stop (20) comprises a handle (37).

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second end element (11) comprises a bearing flange (19) for the elastic compression device (3), this flange (19) having a bearing face (40) cooperating with the first contact face (38) of the removable driving stop (20).

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a sliding cylinder (9) coaxial with the axis of displacement (X), the first end element (10) and the second end element (11) being mounted to slide on the sliding cylinder (9).

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the sliding cylinder (9) comprises a travel end stop (33) for the operating member (2).

11. The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first end element (10) comprises a tubular admission chamber (51) for the sliding cylinder (9).

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tubular admission chamber (51) comprises a pressure balancing orifice (52).

13. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sliding cylinder (9) comprises a first hollow portion (53) provided with a pressure balancing orifice (54).

14. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pressure balancing orifice (52) of the tubular admission chamber (51) and the pressure balancing orifice (54) of the sliding cylinder (9) are both aligned on the axis of displacement (X).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0037] Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description given of it hereinbelow, in an indicative and nonlimiting manner, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of an emergency opening device of an aircraft door, according to the invention, in its passive state;

[0039] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 in its active state;

[0041] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 3;

[0042] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 1 illustrating the service opening function;

[0043] FIG. 6 represents a perspective view of the removable stop of the device of FIGS. 1 to 5;

[0044] FIG. 7 represents a cross section of the device of FIG. 3 showing a section at the removable stop;

[0045] FIG. 8 represents a perspective view of the device of FIG. 3 and illustrates the operation of the removable stop in order to switch to released mode;

[0046] FIG. 9 represents the device of FIG. 7 in released mode;

[0047] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] FIGS. 1 and 2 represent an emergency opening device 1 according to the invention in its passive state. This device 1 takes the form of a compact actuator designed to provoke the emergency opening of an aircraft door provided with an opening mechanism. Aircraft doors are generally provided with an opening mechanism comprising, for example, systems of hinges and of support arms allowing the aircraft door to be movable between a closed position and an open position. This opening mechanism is used for a manual or motorized opening of the aircraft door for normal passenger embarkation and debarkation operations. The device 1 allows the automatic emergency opening of the aircraft door. To that end, the device 1 comprises means for actuating the aircraft door opening mechanism, these actuation means comprising a tubular operating member 2 and elastic compression means which are, in the present example, composed of a spring 3 of sufficient rating to provoke the rapid opening of the aircraft door in an emergency situation.

[0049] The operating member 2 is provided with a first end 5 linking with the door and the spring 3 is disposed between a fixed stop element 4 and the operating member 2. The spring 3, in the active state of the device 1, provokes a separation between the fixed stop element 4 and the first end 5 of the operating member. Thus, the device 1 can be mounted in the aircraft door opening mechanism, by a first fixing at the first end 5 of the operating member 2 and by a second fixing at the fixed stop element 4 in an arrangement in which the separation between these two fixings provokes the opening of the door.

[0050] The operating member 2 further comprises a so-called locking second end. This second end 6 is designed to cooperate with a retaining member here composed of a rotary hook 7 for holding the device in its passive state, ready to be activated, the spring 3 being compressed. The second end 6 of the operating member 2 comprises an axial retaining finger 8 fixed transversely to the second end 6 and the rotary hook 7 is designed to retain this finger 8 when the device 1 is in its passive state. The rotary hook 7 thus retains the operating member 2 by keeping the spring 3 compressed.

[0051] The rotary hook 7 is associated with a lever 18 which, when it is actuated in order to obtain the emergency opening, drives the rotation of the hook 7 and the releasing of the finger 8 then allowing the expansion of the spring 3 and consequently the switching of the device 1 to its active position.

[0052] The device 1 comprises a sliding cylinder 9 fixed onto the fixed stop element 4 and constituting an axis allowing the operating member 2 to slide with respect to the fixed stop element 4, on an axis of displacement X.

[0053] The operating member 2 is, here, produced in two parts: a first end element 10 on which the first end 5 is situated, and a second end element 11 on which the second end 6 is situated.

[0054] The sliding cylinder 9 comprises a first tubular portion 13 and a second tubular portion 14. In the present example, the second portion 14 has a greater diameter than the first portion 13. The second portion 14 also has an open-ended groove 15 in which the finger 8 is engaged.

[0055] The sliding of the operating member 2 over the sliding cylinder 9 is ensured on the one hand by a friction ring 16 guiding the sliding of the second end element 11 over the second portion 14, and, on the other hand, by a friction ring 17 guiding the sliding of the first end element 10 over the first portion 13. The rotary hook 7 is also mounted to rotate on the sliding cylinder 9.

[0056] The second end element 11 comprises, at its end opposite the second end 6, a bearing flange 19 for the spring 3. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the spring is therefore compressed between the flange 19 and the fixed stop element 4.

[0057] The first end element 10 comprises a removable stop 20 provided with a handle 37. The removable stop comprises a first contact face 38 with the second end element 11. The first contact face 38 is disposed in line with a bearing face 40 of the flange 19 so that the translation of the first end element 11 along the axis of displacement X, when the device is triggered, also drives the first end element 10 in translation via the removable stop 20. In the configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2, the removable stop 20 is in position on the second end element 11. Upon the operation of the lever 18 by a user in order to trigger the emergency opening, the rotary hook 7 releases the finger 8 and allows the expansion of the spring 3. Under the load of the spring 3, on the flange 19, the second end element 11 is translated on the axis of displacement X. The second end element 11 drives the removable stop 20 with it in translation by virtue of the first contact face 38. As for the removable stop 20, it drives the first end element 10 by means of a second contact face 39 disposed against a driving surface 41 of the first end element 10.

[0058] The force allowing the emergency opening of the aircraft door is thus transmitted from the spring 3 to the flange 19, then to the removable stop 20 by the first contact face 38, and to the first end element 5 by the second contact face 39.

[0059] Activation of the device 1 then leads to the position of FIGS. 3 and 4 corresponding to the total opening of the aircraft door. This position has been reached by virtue of the pressure of the flange 19 on the removable stop 20 and of the removable stop 20 on the first end element 10. However, at end of travel, as represented in FIGS. 3 and 4, the axial retaining finger 8 comes into abutment against the end 33 of the groove 15. This end 33 of the groove 15 constitutes an end-of-travel stop for the expansion movement of the spring 3.

[0060] According to a preferred feature, the operating member 2 thus comprises an end-of-travel stop 33 limiting its displacement under the effect of the thrust of the spring 3, which releases the pressure on the removable stop at the end of activation of the device so as to allow the withdrawal of the removable stop 20. In the end-of-travel position of FIGS. 3 and 4, the spring 3 is contained between the flange 19 and the fixed stop element 4 by virtue of the finger 8 being held against the end of the groove 15. The spring 3 therefore no longer exerts pressure on the removable stop 20.

[0061] The switching of the device 1 from its passive state of FIGS. 1 and 2 to its activated state of FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrates the operation of the device 1 when it is triggered for an emergency opening of the aircraft door.

[0062] FIG. 5 illustrates an additional function of the device 1 according to which the device 1 fulfils a service opening function. According to this service opening function, the first end element 10 slides freely along the first portion 13 of the sliding cylinder 9 while the second end element 11 is held in place by the rotary hook 7. During this sliding allowing the service opening function, the elements 10, 11 can be nested together and taken apart in the zone 12.

[0063] This possibility of sliding of the first end element 10 allows the opening and the closing of the door in the normal conditions of operation, without the device 1 being triggered.

[0064] The device 1 further fulfils another, so-called release function, allowing, when the device 1 is in its end-of-travel position of FIGS. 3 and 4 following the triggering of the emergency opening of the door, the aircraft door to be immediately reclosed.

[0065] FIG. 6 represents a perspective view of the removable stop 20. This stop 20 comprises a body 42 and a handle 37. The first and second contact faces are situated on either side of the body 42.

[0066] The body 42 also comprises a groove 55 on its inner surface. A leaf spring 43 is mounted in the groove 55 and fixed by rivets 56.

[0067] FIG. 7 illustrates the cooperation of this removable stop 20 with the rest of the device 1. FIG. 7 shows the section of the removable stop 20 and the section of the first end element 10 which cooperates with the removable stop 20. The concept of section refers to a cross section on the axis of displacement X.

[0068] The removable stop 20 is mounted in a groove 48 formed in an outer cylindrical portion 49 of the first end element 10, this groove 48 having two flat sections 44. The section of the removable stop 20 has a circular portion 45 and two straight linear portions 46 fitted to the distance between the flat sections 44. The section of the removable stop also has an open portion 47 allowing the removable stop 20 to be removed from the first end element 10.

[0069] The leaf spring 43 keeps the removable stop 20 in place on the first end element 10.

[0070] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate the release function of the emergency opening device. The switching of the device 1 from its activated position at end of travel following an emergency opening (FIG. 3) to a release position in which the closure of the aircraft door is possible despite the activation of the device 1 (FIG. 8) is performed by simple operation of the removable stop 20.

[0071] From the position of FIG. 3, the user pulls on the removable stop 20 by the handle 37 with a force that is sufficient to elastically deform the leaf spring 43 in order to extract the removable stop 20.

[0072] The second end element 11 comprises a release opening 30 which is surrounded by the flange 19. The profile of the first end element 10 is fitted to this release opening 30 such that the first end element 10, when it has no removable stop 20, can slide freely in the opening 19.

[0073] The second end element 11 comprises an inner cylindrical portion 50 into which the outer cylindrical portion 49 of the first end element 10 can slide.

[0074] From the position of FIG. 8, the first end element 10 can therefore slide freely in the release opening 30 such that the aircraft door can be fully reclosed which corresponds to the position of FIG. 9.

[0075] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the device 1 in its position of FIG. 9. In this position, the first end element 10 has slid along the first portion 13 of the sliding cylinder 9. To this end, the first end element 10 has a tubular admission chamber 51 into which the sliding cylinder 9 can go. The tubular admission chamber 51 comprises a pressure balancing orifice 52 preventing the formation of an overpressure in the admission chamber 51, which would hamper the closing of the door in released mode. Likewise, the first portion 13 of the sliding cylinder 9 comprises a first hollow portion 53 which is also provided with a pressure balancing orifice 54. The two pressure balancing orifices 52, 54 are aligned on the axis of displacement X.

[0076] The sliding cylinder 9 combines the functions of: [0077] guiding of the operating member 2 in translation on the axis of displacement X; [0078] guiding of the first end element 10 in translation with respect to the second end element 11 both in the service opening function and during the releasing of the device 1; [0079] guiding of the rotary hook 7 in rotation; [0080] angular holding of the operating member 2 preventing the latter from turning about the axis of displacement X with respect to the fixed stop element 4; [0081] end-of-travel stop for the operating member 2, the finger 8 coming into abutment against the end 33 of the groove 15 when the device 1 is in its activated state (see FIG. 4).

[0082] Variant embodiments of the device 1 can be implemented without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the locking of the second end 6 of the operating member 2 can be done by any mechanical means. Likewise, the outer cylindrical portion 49 and the release opening 30 can have any form that can be fitted into one another when the removable stop 20 has been removed.