Vehicle provided with a sliding door

Abstract

A vehicle having a door slidably mounted on a shell. The vehicle includes at least one assistance device, comprising both a winder carrying a strap and a receptacle, the winder including a brake for braking unwinding of the strap from the winder, one of the winder and receptacle being fastened to the shell and one of the winder and receptacle being fastened to the door, the strap carrying a latchplate suitable for being reversibly attached to the receptacle.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a shell, the shell being provided with an opening in register with a cabin of the vehicle, the vehicle having a door slidably mounted on the shell to slide between a closed position and an open position, the door shutting the opening when in the closed position; wherein the vehicle includes at least one assistance device, the assistance device comprising two elements, the two elements comprising respectively a winder carrying a strap and a receptacle, the winder including a brake braking unwinding of the strap from the winder, one of the two elements being fastened to the shell and one of the two elements being fastened to the door, the strap extending to a free end carrying a latchplate, the receptacle comprising an attachment member that includes a slot and/or a hook for reversibly attaching the latchplate to the receptacle, the winder braking movement of the door during opening of the door and storing energy when the latchplate is attached to the receptacle, the winder assisting an operator to close the door by restoring the energy while closing the door when the latchplate is attached to the receptacle, wherein the door is slidably mounted on the shell by a mechanical operating system that is not motor-driven.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the winder is not motor-driven.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the brake comprises a centrifugal brake.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a jettisoning system for jettisoning the door, the jettisoning system being independent of the at least one assistance device.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a closure system for holding the door on request in the closed position, the closure system being independent of the at least one assistance device.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the opening is defined longitudinally by walls of the shell, the walls being a rear wall and a front wall relative to the direction of advance of the vehicle, the door extending longitudinally from a rear segment to a front segment relative to the direction of advance, the door sliding from the closed position towards the open position in a direction going from the front wall towards the rear wall, and one of the two elements is fastened to the rear wall and one of the two elements is fastened to the rear segment.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the winder is fastened to the rear wall and the receptacle is fastened to the rear segment.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the winder includes deflector means.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the brake comprises a rough face of the deflector means, the rough face being in contact with the strap, at least while the door is in the open position.

10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the brake includes at least two rollers of the deflector means, each roller being provided with a brake system.

11. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the brake comprises at least two rollers of the deflector means, each roller being free to rotate in a single direction corresponding to a closing direction for the door.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the winder comprises a drum having part of the strap wound thereabout, the drum being in connection with passive rewinder means that store energy when the drum rotates in an unwinding direction in which the strap is unwound, and that restore the energy when the drum rotates in a winding direction in which the strap is wound onto the drum.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the rewinder means include at least one spring.

15. A vehicle having a shell, the shell being provided with an opening in register with a cabin of the vehicle, the vehicle having a door slidably mounted on the shell to slide between a closed position and an open position, the door shutting the opening when in the closed position; wherein the vehicle includes at least one assistance device, the assistance device comprising two elements, the two elements comprising respectively a winder carrying a strap and a receptacle, the winder including a brake braking unwinding of the strap from the winder, one of the two elements being fastened to the shell and one of the two elements being fastened to the door, the strap extending to a free end carrying a latchplate, the receptacle comprising an attachment member that includes a slot and/or a hook for reversibly attaching the latchplate to the receptacle, the winder braking movement of the door during opening of the door and storing energy when the latchplate is attached to the receptacle, the winder assisting an operator to close the door by restoring the energy while closing the door when the latchplate is attached to the receptacle, wherein the winder is not motor-driven.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the opening is defined longitudinally by walls of the shell, the walls being a rear wall and a front wall relative to the direction of advance of the vehicle, the door extending longitudinally from a rear segment to a front segment relative to the direction of advance, the winder is fastened to the rear wall and the receptacle is fastened to the rear segment.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the winder includes a deflector.

18. A vehicle having a shell, the shell being provided with an opening in register with a cabin of the vehicle, the vehicle having a door slidably mounted on the shell to slide between a closed position and an open position, the door shutting the opening when in the closed position; wherein the vehicle includes at least one assistance device, the assistance device comprising two elements, the two elements comprising respectively a winder carrying a strap and a receptacle, the winder including a brake braking unwinding of the strap from the winder, one of the two elements being fastened to the shell and one of the two elements being fastened to the door, the strap extending to a free end carrying a latchplate, the receptacle comprising an attachment member that includes a fastener for reversibly attaching the latchplate to the receptacle, the winder braking movement of the door during opening of the door and storing energy when the latchplate is attached to the receptacle, the winder assisting an operator to close the door by restoring the energy while closing the door when the latchplate is attached to the receptacle, wherein the brake comprises a centrifugal brake.

19. The vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the winder includes a deflector means, and the brake comprises a rough face of the deflector means, the rough face being in contact with the strap, at least while the door is in the open position.

20. The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the winder includes a deflector means, and the brake includes at least two rollers of the deflector means, each roller being provided with a brake system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention and its advantages appear in greater detail from the context of the following description of examples given by way of illustration and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle of the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an assistance device of the invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a receptacle on a door;

(5) FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing a winder of the invention;

(6) FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a door fitted with a receptacle; and

(7) FIGS. 7 to 9 are diagrams showing a method of the invention for opening/closing a door on a vehicle.

(8) Elements present in more than one of the figures are given the same references in each of them.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) Three mutually orthogonal directions X, Y, and Z are shown in some of the figures.

(10) The first direction X is said to be longitudinal. The term longitudinal relates to any direction parallel to the first direction X.

(11) The second direction Y is said to be transverse. The term transverse relates to any direction parallel to the second direction Y.

(12) Finally, the third direction Z is said to be in elevation. The term in elevation relates to any direction parallel to the third direction Z.

(13) FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 1 of the invention. The vehicle has a shell 2 that extends longitudinally from a nose 3 to a rear end 4. Under such circumstances, the vehicle travels forwards in a direction of advance AV going from the rear end 4 towards the nose 3.

(14) The vehicle 1 may be an aircraft. In the example of FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 may be a rotorcraft having at least one rotor.

(15) Nevertheless, the vehicle 1 may be of any other type, such as an airplane, a ship, a car, . . . .

(16) Independently of the nature of the vehicle, the shell 2 is provided with at least one opening 6 that lies between a cabin 5 of the vehicle 1 and a medium outside the vehicle. The term cabin designates a space inside the vehicle, and in particular a space that can be occupied by people.

(17) The opening 6 thus represents an opening in the shell 2 in register with the cabin 5 and the outside medium.

(18) The opening 6 is defined longitudinally from rear to front in the direction of advance AV of the vehicle by a rear wall 8 and a front wall 7. The term wall designates a wall as such and/or beams and/or frames, . . . . The terms front and rear refer to the direction of advance AV of the vehicle towards the front, the front wall 7 extending longitudinally between the rear wall 8 and the nose 3.

(19) The opening 6 is defined in elevation by a bottom 9 and a ceiling 10. The terms bottom and ceiling designate walls as such and/or beams and/or frames, . . . .

(20) In order to close the cabin on request, the vehicle 1 has a door 20. The door 20 is mounted to slide on the shell 2 so as to be able to slide between a closed position POSF and an open position POSO. The door 20 shuts the opening 6 when it is in the closed position POSF, however when it is in the open position POSO, it no longer closes the opening, or it closes it in part only. The closed position POSF is drawn with dashed lines in FIG. 1, while the open position POSO is drawn with continuous lines.

(21) The door 20 extends longitudinally and from the rear towards the front in the direction of advance of the vehicle from a rear segment 22 to a front segment 21. For example, each segment represents one-half of the door. The terms front and rear when associated with the term segment refer to the direction of advance AV of the aircraft.

(22) The door 20 may be mounted to slide on the shell 2 by a mechanical operating system 80 that is not motor-driven. The literature describes operating systems 80 of this type.

(23) By way of illustration, the operating system 80 may have one or more rails 81. The door 20 can then be secured to at least one slider 82 that is slidable along the rails 81.

(24) Furthermore, the vehicle 1 may have a jettisoning system 85 for jettisoning the door 20. The literature describes jettisoning systems 85 of this type.

(25) In the above example, the jettisoning system may comprise retractable fingers 83 that connect the door 20 on request with the sliders 82.

(26) In an aspect, the vehicle 1 may have a closure system 95 for holding the door 20 on request in said closed position POSF and/or a blocking device 96 for holding the door 20 on request in said open position POSO. The literature describes closure systems 95 and blocking devices 96.

(27) End-of-stroke stops 90 and/or end-of-stroke shock absorber devices may be envisaged.

(28) Independently of the presence or absence of the above-mentioned members, the vehicle 1 includes at least one assistance device 30. FIG. 1 shows a single assistance device 30, however the vehicle could have a plurality of assistance devices 30 on a single door.

(29) Each assistance device 30 comprises two elements 40 and 70 that are suitable for fixing respectively to the door 20 and to the shell 2. Thus, one of the two elements comprises a winder 40 having a strap 60, and the other element without the winder comprises a receptacle 70. The winder 40 includes a brake 46 for braking unwinding of the strap 60 from the winder 40.

(30) For example, the winder 40 is fastened to the shell 2 and the receptacle is fastened to the door 20.

(31) Optionally, with the door 20 sliding from its closed position POSF towards its open position by being moved towards the rear in an opening direction OUV going from the front wall 7 towards the rear wall 8, the other element of said elements is fastened to the rear wall 8 and one of said elements is fastened to the rear segment 22.

(32) In the example of FIG. 1, the winder 40 is fastened to the rear wall 8, and the receptacle 70 is fastened to the rear segment 22. Under such circumstances, the strap does not obstruct the opening 6 when the door is in the open position POSO.

(33) FIG. 2 shows an assistance device 30 of the invention.

(34) The assistance device 30 may be totally independent, in that it does not depend on any jettisoning system 85 and/or operating system 80 and/or closure system 95 and/or blocking device 96.

(35) In addition, the assistance device 30 may be a passive device, i.e. without any motor and/or actuator. In FIG. 2, the winder 40 presents a casing 41 that is fastened on an inside face of the shell 2, e.g. the rear wall 8. The winder 40 then extends transversely into the cabin 5 from the shell 2. Furthermore, the winder 40 may project longitudinally from the shell 2 towards the opening 6 that is closed by the door 20.

(36) In addition, the strap 60 is wound in part inside the casing 41. The strap 60 then extends to a free end 62 that is situated outside the casing 41. This free end 62 is secured to a latchplate 63. Such a latchplate 63 may be a conventional latchplate, e.g. of the type including a ring 64 like on a safety belt.

(37) When the door is closed, the receptacle 70 may be situated longitudinally in line with the winder 40, substantially in the opening 6. The receptacle 70 has a body 71 that is fastened in the example of FIG. 2 to the rear segment 22 of the door 20. The receptacle 70 may be situated close to the center of gravity of the door. For example, the receptacle 70 may be situated substantially halfway up the door 20.

(38) The body 71 may include a conventional attachment member 74, e.g. of the safety belt type.

(39) Thus, the attachment member 74 may include a slot 72 into which the latchplate 63 is inserted. Furthermore, the attachment member 74 may include a movable hook or the equivalent for releasably holding the latchplate 63 so as to secure it to the receptacle 70. For example, a spring may tend to urge the hook into a position in which the hook can hold the latchplate 63, with a pushbutton 73 enabling the hook to be moved in order to release the latchplate 63.

(40) FIG. 3 shows a winder 40 by representing one of the faces of the casing 41 on being transparent.

(41) In the casing 41, the winder 40 has a drum 42. The drum 42 is arranged around a rod 43 secured to the casing 41. The drum 42 can thus turn about the rod 43.

(42) Furthermore, the strap 60 extends from a first end 61 secured to the winder 40 to the free end 62 that is movable relative to the winder 40. The first end 61 may be arranged on the drum 42 or indeed it may be fastened to the drum 42. Rotation of the drum 42 in an unwinding direction ROT1 tends to unwind the strap 60 from the winder 40, while rotating the drum 42 in a winding direction ROT2 tends to wind the strap 60 around the drum 42.

(43) In one aspect and with reference to FIG. 4, the winder 40 need not have a motor.

(44) In the example shown, the drum 42 is in connection with rewinding means 44. The rewinding means 44 store energy while the drum 42 is rotating in the unwinding direction ROT1 and they restore that energy while the drum 42 is rotating in the winding direction ROT2. For example, the rewinding means 44 comprise at least one spring 45. By way of example, such a spring 45 may be a coil spring interposed between the casing 41 and the drum 42 while being arranged around the rod 43. One end of the spring may be fastened to the casing 41, and/or another end of the spring may be fastened to the drum 42.

(45) Independently of this aspect, the winder 40 may include a brake 46 for braking rotation of the drum 42 and thus braking winding and unwinding of the strap 60.

(46) The brake 46 need not have a motor or an actuator. For example, the brake 46 may be a centrifugal brake 47. In the example shown diagrammatically, the centrifugal brake 47 has at least one flyweight 48 mounted on the drum 42 to move radially. Each flyweight can slide along a pin. Optionally, a spring 49 is arranged radially between each flyweight 48 and the drum 42. Under such circumstances, each flyweight 48 moves radially relative to the drum 42 while the drum 42 is rotating, with the movement of the flyweight 48 being proportional to the speed of rotation of the drum 42. As from a threshold speed, the flyweight 48 comes into contact with the casing 41, thereby tending to brake the drum 42.

(47) Furthermore, and with reference to FIG. 3, the winder 40 may include deflector means 50 for guiding the strap to the outside when the door is open.

(48) In FIG. 3, such deflector means 50 may comprise 180 degree deflector means situated between the drum 42 and the receptacle 70.

(49) Thus, the deflector means 50 may be C-shaped, presenting a first circularly arcuate wall 51 extending the drum 42 in an unwinding direction for the strap, followed by a plane wall 52 and then by a second circularly arcuate wall 53.

(50) Thus, when the strap 60 escapes from the winder 40, the strap slides in succession over the first circularly arcuate wall 51 in order to turn through 90 degrees towards the outside, over the plane wall 52, and then over the second circularly arcuate wall 53 in order to turn through 90 degrees and be pulled rearwards outside the shell 2.

(51) Optionally, at least one wall of the deflector means has a rough face 54 in contact with the strap 60 in order to constitute a friction brake.

(52) In FIG. 5, the deflector means may include at least two rollers 55, each roller 55 having a respective axis of rotation AX1, AX2 parallel to the axis of rotation AX3 of the drum 42.

(53) The deflector means may also include a plane wall 52 between the rollers 55.

(54) Thus, when the strap 60 escapes from the winder 40, the strap passes in succession over the first roller in order to turn through 90 degrees towards the outside, possibly over the plane wall 52, and then over the second roller in order to turn through 90 degrees so as to be stretched rearwards outside the shell 2.

(55) The brake 46 may comprise these two rollers 55 of the deflector means 50. For example, each roller 55 is then provided with a braking system 57, possibly a centrifugal system, and/or may be free to rotate in one direction only ROTF corresponding to closing the door 20.

(56) FIGS. 7 to 9 explain the operation of the assistance device.

(57) In FIG. 7, the casing 41 and the body 71 are shown as being partially transparent for explanatory purposes.

(58) With reference to FIG. 7, when the assistance device 30 is in use, an operator attaches the strap 60 to the receptacle 70. For this purpose, the operator takes hold of the latchplate 63 and pushes it into the body 71 in order to secure it to the receptacle 70. The operator then opens the door at least by moving it rearwards in the opening direction OUV. For example, in the situation shown concerning a door for a rotorcraft, the movement begins with an outward movement since the door is a flush door, followed by rearward movement.

(59) The strap is unwound from the winder, possibly being braked by the winder brake. The brake serves to limit the speed at which the door moves. The door then reaches end-of-stroke stops 90 under good conditions.

(60) While it is moving rearwards, the rear winder means store energy. For example, a spring is compressed.

(61) Where applicable, the door is blocked by a blocker device 96 once the open position POSO is reached.

(62) With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, by positioning the winder 40 and the receptacle on the rear wall 8 and the rear segment 22, the strap does not obstruct the opening 6 when the door 20 is open.

(63) In order to close the door 20, the operator unblocks the blocker device 96, if any. Thereafter, the operator pulls on the door in order to move it in a closing direction FERM opposite to the opening direction OUV. Since the rewinder means have stored energy, the winder 40 winds in the strap 60 about a drum while exerting a force on the strap in order to assist the operator. More precisely, the rewinder means restore the stored energy by tending to cause the drum to rotate in its winding direction ROT2. For example, a spring that was compressed during opening of the door now relaxes.

(64) The brake also makes it possible to limit the travel speed of the door.

(65) Naturally, the present invention may be subjected to numerous variations as to its implementation. Although several embodiments are described, it will readily be understood that it is not conceivable to identify exhaustively all possible embodiments. It is naturally possible to envisage replacing any of the means described by equivalent means without going beyond the ambit of the present invention.