System for operating an aircraft door
Systems and methods for operating an aircraft door including an airstair are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a hinge configured to pivotally couple a lower portion of the door to a fuselage of an aircraft, a lift mechanism and an interlock. The lift mechanism causes a movement of the door relative to the hinge between a lowered position and a lifted position. The interlock is configurable between: a locked configuration where the movement of the door relative to the hinge is prevented; and an unlocked configuration where the movement of the door relative to the hinge is permitted.
1. A system for operating an aircraft door including an airstair, the system comprising:
a hinge configured to pivotally couple a lower portion of the aircraft door to a fuselage of an aircraft;
a lift mechanism operatively coupled to cause a movement of the aircraft door relative to the hinge between a lowered position where opening and closing of the aircraft door is prevented and a lifted position were opening and closing of the aircraft door is permitted;
an interlock configurable between: a locked configuration where the movement of the aircraft door from the lifted position toward the lowered position relative to the hinge is prevented; and an unlocked configuration where the movement of the aircraft door from the lifted position toward the lowered position relative to the hinge is permitted; and
wherein:
the interlock includes a lock shaft rotatably supported on the aircraft door;
the lock shaft is rotatable between a locked position corresponding to the locked configuration of the interlock and an unlocked position corresponding to the unlocked configuration of the interlock; and
a rotation of the lock shaft is driven by a movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage.
2. The system as defined in claim 1 , comprising a handle drivingly coupled to the lift mechanism so that:
a movement of the handle toward a door-open position causes a movement of the aircraft door toward the lifted position; and
a movement of the handle toward a door-closed position causes a movement of the aircraft door toward the lowered position.
3. The system as defined in claim 2 , wherein:
the interlock prevents the movement of the handle toward the door-closed position when the interlock is in the locked configuration; and
the interlock permits the movement of the handle toward the door-closed position when the interlock is in the unlocked configuration.
4. The system as defined in claim 2 , comprising:
a rotatable handle shaft drivingly coupled to the handle so that a movement of the handle causes a rotation of the handle shaft;
a rotatable lift shaft rotatably supported on the aircraft door and drivingly coupled to the handle shaft so that the rotation of the handle shaft causes a rotation of the lift shaft; and
one or more lift rods drivingly coupled to the lift shaft and to the hinge so that a rotation of the lift shaft causes the movement of the aircraft door relative to the hinge via the lift rods.
5. The system as defined in claim 2 , comprising an intermediate shaft drivingly coupled to the handle, the interlock interfering with a rotation of the intermediate shaft when the interlock is in the locked configuration.
6. The system as defined in claim 5 , comprising:
an intermediate pawl attached to the intermediate shaft and rotatable with the intermediate shaft; and
a lock pawl attached to the lock shaft and rotatable with the lock shaft, the lock pawl interfering with a rotation of the intermediate pawl when the interlock is in the locked configuration.
7. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
an opening movement of the aircraft door causes the rotation of the lock shaft toward the locked position; and
a closing movement of the aircraft door causes the rotation of the lock shaft toward the unlocked position.
8. The system as defined in claim 7 , comprising:
an arm attached to the lock shaft and rotatable with the lock shaft; and
a guide attached to the fuselage, the guide being configured and disposed to interact with the arm during movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage and cause a rotation of the arm.
9. The system as defined in claim 8 , wherein:
the arm defines a cam surface; and
the guide includes a roller configured to interact with the cam surface of the arm.
10. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
the hinge is pivotally coupled to a hinge link;
the hinge link is pivotally coupled to the aircraft door, and
the system comprises:
a lock crank attached to the lock shaft and rotatable with the lock shaft; and
a lock link having a first end coupled to the lock crank and a second end coupled to the hinge link so that a rotation of the hinge link is prevented when the lock shaft is in the locked position.
11. The system as defined in claim 10 , wherein:
the lock link has a length variable between a short length and a long length; and
the lock link has the short length when the lock shaft is in the locked position.
12. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein:
the hinge is pivotally coupled to a hinge link;
the hinge link is pivotally coupled to the aircraft door; and
the interlock interferes with a movement of the hinge link when the interlock is in the locked configuration.
13. The system as defined in claim 1 , wherein the interlock is configurable between the unlocked and locked configurations in response to a movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage.
14. A system for operating an aircraft door including an airstair, the system comprising:
a hinge configured to pivotally couple a lower portion of the aircraft door to a fuselage of an aircraft;
a handle configured to facilitate an opening of the aircraft door, the handle being movable between a door-closed position and a door-open position; and
an interlock configurable between an unlocked configuration and a locked configuration in response to a movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage, wherein:
a movement of the handle toward the door-closed position is permitted when the interlock is in the unlocked configuration;
the movement of the handle toward the door-closed position is prevented when the interlock is in the locked configuration; and
wherein:
the interlock includes a lock shaft rotatably supported on the aircraft door;
the lock shaft is rotatable between a locked position corresponding to the locked configuration of the interlock and an unlocked position corresponding to the unlocked configuration of the interlock; and
a rotation of the lock shaft is driven by the movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage.
15. The system as defined in claim 14 , wherein an opening movement of the aircraft door causes the rotation of the lock shaft toward the locked position.
16. The system as defined in claim 15 , comprising:
an arm attached to the lock shaft and rotatable with the lock shaft; and
a guide attached to the fuselage, the guide being configured and disposed to interact with the arm during movement of the aircraft door relative to the fuselage and cause a rotation of the arm.
17. The system as defined in claim 16 , wherein:
the arm defines a cam surface; and
the guide includes a roller configured to interact with the cam surface of the arm.
18. The system as defined in claim 14 , comprising:
a handle shaft drivingly coupled to the handle; and
an intermediate shaft drivingly coupled to the handle shaft, wherein
the interlock interferes with a rotation of the intermediate shaft when the interlock is in the locked configuration.