Flight deck barrier apparatus
The present disclosure is directed to a flight deck barrier apparatus or device including a frame having a first jamb, a second jamb, and a header. A foldable barrier mechanically coupled to the second jamb. An edge beam mechanically coupled to the foldable barrier. The edge beam configured to mechanically cooperate with strikers along the first jamb and mechanically cooperate with strikers along the second jamb. The edge beam including a plurality of catches. Respective ones of the plurality of catches interlock with corresponding ones of the strikers along the first jamb when the foldable barrier is in a stowed position such that a flight deck of an aircraft is accessible. Respective ones of the plurality of catches interlock with corresponding ones of the strikers along the second jamb when the foldable barrier is in an expanded position limiting access to the flight deck barrier of the aircraft.
1 . A device, comprising:
a frame having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the frame including:
a first jamb at the first side, the first jamb includes:
a top first jamb striker at the top end of the first jamb; and
a bottom first jamb striker at the bottom end of the first jamb;
a second jamb at the second side, the second jamb includes:
a bottom end opposite to the top end of the second jamb;
a top second jamb striker at the top end of the second jamb;
a bottom second jamb striker at a bottom end of the second jamb; and
an intermediate second jamb striker at a location between the top end of the second jamb and the bottom end of the second jamb; and
a header at top ends of the first jamb and the second jamb, the header extends from the top end of the first jamb to the top end of the second jamb, the header including a track;
a foldable barrier having a third side mechanically coupled to the first jamb, a fourth side opposite to the third side, the foldable barrier including:
a stowed position; and
an expanded position;
an edge beam mechanically coupled to the fourth side, the edge beam having a top end and a bottom end opposite to the top end, the edge beam having a wheel at the top end in mechanical cooperation with the track; and
a pulley system configured to distribute a load applied to the edge beam at a location along the edge beam offset from a center of the edge beam between the top end and bottom end of the edge beam inversely proportional to distances the location is from the top end and bottom end of the edge beam,
wherein the edge beam is in mechanical cooperation with the top second jamb striker, the bottom second jamb striker, and the intermediate second jamb striker when the foldable barrier is in the expanded position, and
wherein respective ones of a plurality of catches of the edge beam are in mechanical cooperation with the top first jamb striker and bottom first jamb striker when the foldable barrier is in the stowed position.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the pulley system includes:
a first, second, and third pulley positioned in the first jamb and between a bottom end of the first jamb and the top end of the first jamb, the first pulley closer to the bottom end of the first jamb than the second and third pulleys, the second pulley between the first pulley and the third pulley, and the third pulley closer to the top end of the first jamb than the first and second pulleys;
a fourth pulley at the bottom end of the first jamb;
a fifth pulley at the top end of the first jamb;
an extension spring in the first jamb between the first pulley and the fourth pulley; and
a cable mechanically coupled to the fourth pulley and the fifth pulley.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the cable is mechanically coupled to the top end of the edge beam and is mechanically coupled to the bottom end of the edge beam.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the pulley system is configured to evenly distribute a load applied to the edge beam at a location along the edge beam offset from a center of the edge beam.
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the edge beam includes a combination lock in mechanical cooperation with respective ones of a plurality of catches within the edge beam, the plurality of catches configured to mechanically cooperate with the top second jamb striker, the bottom second jamb striker, and the intermediate second jamb striker when the foldable barrier is in the expanded position; and
the combination lock, the plurality of catches, the top second jamb striker, the bottom second jamb striker, and the intermediate second jamb striker configured to lock the edge beam in place when the foldable barrier is in the expanded position.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the edge beam further includes a push down handle in mechanical cooperation with the combination lock.
7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the edge beam includes a combination lock in mechanical cooperation with the respective ones of the plurality of catches; and
the combination lock, the top first jamb striker, the bottom first jamb striker, and the respective ones of the plurality of catches configured to lock the edge beam in place when the foldable barrier is in the stowed position.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the edge beam further includes a push down handle in mechanical cooperation with the combination lock.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the header is curved.
10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the wheel of the edge beam is configured to slidably travel along the track of the header.
11 . A device, comprising:
a frame having a header, the frame including:
a first side;
a second side opposite to the first side;
a first jamb at the first side, the first jamb including:
a top end and a bottom end opposite to the top end; and
a top first jamb striker at the top end of the first jamb and a bottom first jamb striker at the bottom end of the first jamb;
a second jamb at the second side, the second jamb including:
a top end and a bottom end opposite to the top end; and
a top second jamb striker at the top end of the second jamb, a bottom second jamb striker at the bottom end of the second jamb, and an intermediate second jamb striker between the top end of the second jamb and the bottom end of the second jamb;
a foldable barrier including:
a stowed position; and
an expanded position;
an edge beam mechanically coupled to foldable barrier and in mechanical cooperation with a track of the header; and
a pulley system configured to distribute a load applied to the edge beam at a location along the edge beam offset from a center of the edge beam between a top end of the edge beam and a bottom end of the edge beam inversely proportional to distances the location is from the top end of the edge beam and bottom end of the edge beam,
wherein the top first jamb striker and the bottom first jamb striker are in mechanical cooperation with the edge beam when the foldable barrier is in the stowed position, and
wherein the top second jamb striker, the bottom second jamb striker, and the intermediate second jamb striker are in mechanical cooperation with the edge beam when the foldable barrier is in the expanded position.
12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the header is curved.
13 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the edge beam further includes a wheel at the top end of the edge beam in mechanical cooperation with the track of the header.
14 . A flight deck barrier apparatus of an aircraft having an aisle, comprising:
a frame having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, the frame including:
a first jamb at the first side and coupled to a structure of the aircraft, the first jamb including one or more first jamb strikers;
a second jamb at the second side and coupled to the structure of the aircraft, the second jamb including one or more second jamb strikers and one or more notches; and
a header at top ends of the first jamb and the second jamb and coupled to the structure of the aircraft, the header extending from the top end of the first jamb to the top end of the second jamb, wherein the first jamb, the second jamb, and the header delimit the aisle of the aircraft;
a foldable barrier including reinforced materials sized and shaped to resist breakage of the foldable barrier to restrict access to a flight deck of the aircraft, the foldable barrier further including a plurality of folds in an accordion structure, such that the plurality of folds are configured to fold up when the foldable barrier is in a stowed position and are configured to extend when the foldable barrier is in an expanded position;
an edge beam mechanically coupled to the foldable barrier, the edge beam including:
a handle including an opening sized and shaped to enable gripping of the foldable barrier to move the foldable barrier between the stowed and expanded positions;
a lock configured to lock the foldable barrier when the foldable barrier is in the expanded position such that access to the flight deck is restricted;
a latch that is moveable between a first position and second position, the latch configured to engage the one or more notches of the second jamb when the foldable barrier is in the expanded position and to disengage the one or more notches of the second jamb when the foldable barrier is to be moved to the stowed position;
wherein the latch is in mechanical cooperation with one or more of the first jamb strikers when the foldable barrier is in the stowed position, and
wherein the latch is in mechanical cooperation with one or more of the second jamb strikers when the foldable barrier is in the expanded position.
15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein:
the edge beam includes at least one catch, respective ones of the at least one catch interlocks with the one or more second jamb strikers when the foldable barrier is in the expanded position, and respective ones of the at least one catch interlocks with the one or more first jamb strikers when the foldable barrier is in the stowed position.
16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein:
the lock in mechanical cooperation with the at least one catch, the lock configured to lock and unlock respective ones of the at least one catch with the second jamb strikers when the foldable barrier is in the expanded position, and the lock configured to lock and unlock respective ones of the at least one catch with the first jamb strikers when the foldable barrier is in the stowed position.
17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the edge beam further includes a push down handle in mechanical cooperation with the lock.