Apparatus for securing a cockpit door

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for protecting the cockpit door (92) of an aircraft (90), particularly a commercial aircraft, and an aircraft (90) equipped with such a security device. The device (1) is used to prevent unauthorized personnel from entering the cockpit (93) of the aircraft (90) when the cockpit door (92) is open, comprising: a curtain (10) fixedly attached to a wall at one edge (11), slidably suspended on a curtain track (95), and having a locking element (20) at its free edge (12) opposite to the attached edge (11); and a locking element (30) attached to the wall, wherein the locking element (20) and the locking element (30) are designed to interact with each other when the curtain (10) is closed, such that opening the curtain (10) requires a specific sequence of actions, and that the locking element (20) and the locking element (30) remain connected to each other if at least one specific sequence of actions is deviated from. The aircraft (90) has a cockpit door (92) that separates the cockpit (93) from the rest of the aircraft cabin (91), including a device (1) according to the invention, which is arranged such that when the curtain (10) of the device (1) is closed, it completely blocks the passage leading to the cockpit door (92) away from the cockpit (93) at a predetermined distance from the cockpit door (92).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a device for the safety protection of cockpit doors of aircraft, particularly commercial aircraft, and an aircraft equipped with corresponding safety protection devices.

[0002] One of the many safety precautions provided on commercial aircraft involves preventing unauthorized personnel from entering the cockpit. To this end, the cockpit door is heavily reinforced so that it cannot be forced open by hand alone. Furthermore, at least while the aircraft is in operation, the cockpit door can generally only be opened from the inside; to allow opening from the outside, a password-protected time lock is in place, preventing the door from being finally opened from the inside of the cockpit while the time lock is in place.

[0003] While a properly designed cockpit door can reliably prevent unauthorized personnel from entering when closed, there is a risk that when the cockpit door is temporarily open—for example, when the pilot, co-pilot, or crew member is leaving or entering the cockpit—an unauthorized third party may rush toward the open door at the opportune moment and catch the person operating the door off guard, thereby gaining entry.

[0004] To avoid this risk, the introduction of a double cockpit door is being considered, allowing access to the cockpit via only one personnel passage. The drawback of this approach is that this personnel passage requires considerable space, which typically cannot be used for any other purpose. Furthermore, adding a second cockpit door would result in a significant increase in weight.

[0005] The present invention aims to create a device for a cockpit door of a safety protection aircraft and an aircraft equipped with the device, wherein the disadvantages of the prior art no longer occur or only occur to a lesser extent.

[0006] This objective is achieved by the device according to claim 1 and the aircraft according to claim 11. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a device for preventing unauthorized personnel from entering the cockpit of an aircraft when the cockpit door is open, comprising: a curtain fixedly attached to a wall at one edge and slidably suspended on a curtain track, having a locking element at its free edge opposite the fixed edge; and a locking element attached to the wall, wherein the locking element and the locking element are designed to interact with each other in the closed state of the curtain such that opening the curtain requires a specific sequence of actions, and that the locking element and the locking element remain connected to each other in the event of deviation from at least one specific sequence of actions.

[0008] Furthermore, the present invention relates to an aircraft having a cockpit door that separates the cockpit from the rest of the aircraft cabin, and a device according to the invention, wherein, when the curtain of the device is closed, it completely blocks the passageway leading to the cockpit door from the cockpit side at a predetermined distance from the cockpit door.

[0009] The present invention recognizes that scenarios involving intrusion into an aircraft cockpit, such as those addressed through personnel access routes, can, in principle, be prevented by a properly designed curtain: if an unauthorized person attempts to take advantage of a brief opening of the cockpit door (e.g., by the pilot or co-pilot), they can be briefly stopped en route to the cockpit door so that the door can be closed quickly and promptly again. This can be achieved using a device according to the invention.

[0010] The device according to the invention is characterized in that a curtain, slidably suspended on a curtain track, is securely attached along one edge to a wall adjacent to the curtain track; this prevents anyone from "slipping" between the curtain and the wall. A locking element is attached to the edge of the curtain opposite to the fixed edge, and when the curtain is closed, this locking element can interact with a locking element arranged on the wall against which the free edge subsequently rests.

[0011] The locking and engaging elements are designed to interact with each other in such a way that once engaged, they can only be separated again through a specific sequence of actions, thus enabling the opening process. Any deviation from this specific sequence of actions means that the connection between the engaging and locking elements remains intact. The act of quickly pushing open the curtain or simply "passing through" it can be prevented by the interaction of the locking and engaging elements, provided that the specific sequence of actions is designed to be impossible or virtually impossible to follow when attempting to do so. As a result, the device according to the invention will at least partially delay an unauthorized third party attempting to enter the cockpit through a briefly open door—at least enough to allow the cockpit door to close in time. More than one specific sequence of actions can be set to release the engaging and locking elements; the key is that if any specific sequence of actions is deviated from, the engaging and locking elements cannot release each other.

[0012] Preferably, the locking and clamping elements are designed such that the locking element can only be released from the clamping element by a specific sequence of actions, preferably by movement substantially perpendicular to the wall to which the clamping element is attached. This movement is typically not achieved when attempting to quickly push open the curtain by reaching between the curtain and the wall above the clamping element, as such movement would also involve vertical movement of the locking element, even very slight movement. When attempting to "pass through" the curtain, the locking element also moves horizontally along the wall. The specific sequence of actions may include other partial movements besides the substantially perpendicular movement, such as tilting the locking element relative to the clamping element.

[0013] The locking and clamping elements are preferably designed such that they interlock with each other when deviating from a specific sequence of actions, meaning they cannot separate from each other and thus prevent the curtain from being opened. For this purpose, the locking and / or clamping elements preferably have a fitted snap-fit ​​structure into which another element can engage when deviating from a specific sequence of actions. For example, if the sequence of actions dictates that the locking element must be moved out of the clamping element in a direction perpendicular to the wall to which the clamping element is attached, then the fitted snap-fit ​​structure on the clamping element can cause the locking element to engage in the clamping element when moving (also) in a direction parallel to the wall.

[0014] To ensure that the engaging element always interacts with the locking element in a releasable manner, the engaging element can be magnetically held within the locking element. This magnetic retainer (for which the locking element and / or engaging element must have a matching magnet) ensures that the engaging element can always be released from the locking element according to a specific sequence of actions. For this, only sufficient force needs to be applied to overcome the magnetic force of the retainer.

[0015] As an alternative or supplement to the above-described solutions, the locking element and / or engaging element may have a locking element for locking the engaging element that interacts with the locking element. The locking element can be designed in any manner. For example, it can be a bolt pivotally mounted on the locking element, which can be placed on the engaging element into which the locking element is inserted. Alternatively, the locking element can be arranged within the engaging element and designed to engage in a suitable opening in the locking element. A button may be provided on the engaging element to open such a locking element.

[0016] Preferably, the locking and / or tightening elements include a handle element that needs to be operated during a specific sequence of actions for opening the curtain. If such a handle element is provided and the predetermined sequence of actions is adapted to it, it generally ensures that the sequence of actions required to open the curtain cannot be accomplished by directly pulling the curtain, thus preventing the locking and tightening elements from separating from each other.

[0017] Further preferably, the handle element and / or locking element are arranged on a predetermined side of the curtain when the curtain is closed. Specifically, the handle element and / or locking element may be arranged on the side facing the cockpit door when the curtain is closed. This reduces the risk of the handle element and / or locking element, and typically the locking element, being operated unnoticed. To still allow operation of the handle element, locking element, and / or locking element from the other side, the curtain preferably has a suitable operating opening for this purpose.

[0018] Magnets for releasable attachment to the wall where the locking element is located are arranged on the edge of the curtain where the locking element is located. These additional magnets ensure that the curtain remains pressed against the wall where the locking element is located when closed, thus providing good privacy. The magnets can be easily detached with appropriate force.

[0019] The locking element and / or engaging element may have a signal output terminal through which a signal is emitted when the engaging element interacts with the locking element and / or when any locking element is in the locked position. In other words, a signal is emitted when the curtain of the device according to the invention is correctly and fully closed. This signal can, for example, be displayed in the cockpit to indicate that the cockpit door is securely protected by the curtain. The device according to the invention can also be integrated into a (semi-)automatic locking device.

[0020] The curtain itself is preferably made of a sufficiently strong and / or reinforced material so that it will not tear even under the force of an unauthorized person attempting to pass through it. In particular, the material will not tear even if a fully developed adult rams into the curtain.

[0021] While a pair of locking and clamping elements is usually sufficient to achieve the desired security for the cockpit door, the curtain may also include two or more locking elements, for which a corresponding number of clamping elements must be provided, such that each locking element can optionally interact with a clamping element as described above.

[0022] Regarding the description of the aircraft according to the invention, reference is made first to the above description. The device according to the invention is used to completely block the passageway leading to the cockpit door on the side opposite to the cockpit—that is, from wall to wall—so that unauthorized personnel attempting to enter during the brief opening of the cockpit door are delayed by the curtain for a sufficient time to allow the cockpit door to close safely again.

[0023] The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to advantageous embodiments and accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0024] Figure 1 a, Figure 1 b: A schematic diagram showing the device according to the invention in the curtain open and closed states; and

[0025] Figure 2 a, Figure 2 b: Shown Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the locking and engaging elements of the device.

[0026] Figure 1 The diagram shows the device 1 according to the invention installed on an aircraft 90. Only a portion of the aircraft cabin 91, namely the cockpit door 92 and some surrounding walls, is shown of the aircraft 90. The cockpit of the aircraft 90 is located in... Figure 1 The other side of cockpit door 92 shown.

[0027] At a certain distance from the cockpit door 92, a curtain rail 95 is provided in the upper area of ​​the cabin 91, extending between two opposing walls. This curtain rail 95 can be the curtain rail 95 originally installed in the aircraft 90. If such a curtain rail 95 is not available, it can be added, for example, as part of device 1.

[0028] Device 1 includes a curtain 10, which is movably attached to a curtain track 95. At one side edge 11— Figure 1 The curtain 10 is securely attached to the wall adjacent to the curtain track 95 along its entire height, as shown only in dashed lines. In this embodiment, the curtain is securely tightened to the wall (not shown), for example, at regular intervals.

[0029] The locking element 20 is securely integrated into the curtain 10 at the opposite edge 12. Furthermore, magnets 13 are sewn into the curtain 10 along the edge 12; when the curtain 10 is closed, these magnets 13 are releasably adhered to the wall against which the edge 12 subsequently rests, thereby completely obscuring the cockpit door 92 (see [link to article]). Figure 1 b).

[0030] The locking element 30 of device 1 is also fixedly arranged on the wall. When the curtain 10 is in the open state (e.g., Figure 1 (as shown in a) Move to the off state (as shown in a) Figure 1 As shown in (b), the locking element 20 and the clamping element 30 interact in such a way that releasing these two elements 20, 30 requires a specific sequence of actions. The curtain 10 can only be reopened after following this specific sequence of actions. In the illustrated embodiment, the locking element 20 can only be released from the clamping element 30 when it moves almost entirely along a direction perpendicular to the wall to which the clamping element 30 is attached. If any movement deviates from this movement beyond a certain tolerance range, such as, in particular, movement resulting from arbitrarily pulling the curtain 10 or attempting to "rush" through the curtain 10, the locking element 20 cannot be released from the clamping element 30.

[0031] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A more detailed schematic diagram of the locking element 20 and the fastening element 30 of the device 1. Figure 2 A shows the locking element 20 and the tightening element 30 separately, while Figure 2 b illustrates the interaction between the locking element 20 and the clamping element 30.

[0032] The locking element 30 has a recess 31 with a central protrusion 32. The edges of the recess 31 and the central protrusion 32 both have protruding profiles 33, each profile forming an undercut structure 34 relative to the recess 31.

[0033] Magnets 35 are disposed at the bottom of the recess 31, and the locking element 20 inserted into the recess 31 can be magnetically held by these magnets 35.

[0034] Furthermore, the locking element 30 also includes a pivotable locking element 36. By properly pivoting the locking element 36, the locking element 20 inserted into the locking element 30 can be locked to prevent it from being released from the locking element 30 (see [link]). Figure 2 b, the position indicated by the dashed line of locking element 36).

[0035] The external dimensions of the locking element 20 correspond to the opening of the recess 31 left by the contour 33 of the locking element 30. In addition, a through opening 21 is provided, the shape of which is adapted to the contour 33 on the central protrusion 32 of the locking element 30, and is only slightly larger than the latter.

[0036] Due to the design of the locking element 20 to fit the locking element 30, the locking element 20 can move along... Figure 2 The movement direction indicated by the double arrow 40 is fully inserted into the recess 31 of the locking element 30, and in principle, it can also be pulled out again by a corresponding reverse sequence of movements. However, even a slight deviation from the movement direction indicated by the double arrow 40 can cause the locking element 20 to become stuck in one of the inverted structures 34 created by the contour 33, and then it cannot be removed from the locking element 30. The latter situation also occurs when attempting to remove the locking element 20 from the locking element 30 by pulling the curtain 10.

[0037] To enable active release of the locking element 20 from the locking element 30, or to simplify the release operation, the locking element 20 has a handle element 22 that extends laterally along the center of the locking element 20. By pulling the handle element 22 vertically, the locking element 20 can be pulled out of the locking element 30, requiring only overcoming the magnetic force of the magnet 35. Because the handle element 22 is positioned relative to the center of the locking element 20, the risk of misalignment of the locking element 20 is reduced.

[0038] The handle element 22 and therefore the locking element 20 are arranged on the side of the curtain 10 facing the cockpit door 92 when the curtain 10 is closed (see...). Figure 1 b). In order to allow the curtain 10 to be opened from the other side, the curtain 10 is provided with an operating opening 14.

[0039] The curtain 10 itself is made of textile material that will not tear even under the force of an unauthorized person attempting to pass through the closed curtain 10.

[0040] The locking element 30 has a signal output terminal 37, through which a signal is emitted when the locking element 20 is located in the recess 31 of the locking element 30.

[0041] Although the illustrated embodiment requires a specific vertical movement of the locking element 20 relative to the wall to which the locking element 30 is attached, any other sequence of actions is possible. For example, to release the locking element 20 from the locking element 30, it may be necessary to tilt the locking element 20 relative to the locking element 30 in a predetermined direction to release the locking element 20 and open the curtain 10. If the curtain 10 is attached to the locking element 20 in such a way that the required tilting movement cannot be achieved simply by pulling the curtain 10, then the safe closure of the curtain 10 is guaranteed.

Claims

1. A device (1) for preventing unauthorized personnel from entering the cockpit (93) of an aircraft (90) when the cockpit door (92) is open, said device comprising: A curtain (10) is fixedly attached to a wall at one edge (11) and slidably suspended on a curtain track (95), having a locking element (20) at a free edge (12) opposite to the fixed edge (11); and a locking element (30) attached to the wall, wherein the locking element (20) and the locking element (30) are designed to interact with each other in the closed state of the curtain (10) such that opening the curtain (10) requires a specific sequence of actions, and that the locking element (20) and the locking element (30) remain connected to each other if the action deviates from at least one specific sequence of actions.

2. The device according to claim 1, Its features are, The locking element (20) and the locking element (30) are designed such that the locking element (20) can only be disengaged from the locking element (30) by a specific sequence of actions, which is preferably substantially perpendicular to the wall to which the locking element (30) is attached.

3. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The locking element (20) and the locking element (30) are designed such that they engage with each other when deviating from the particular action sequence. For this purpose, the locking element (20) and / or the locking element (30) preferably have a matching snap structure (34) into which another element (20) engages when deviating from the particular action sequence.

4. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, A magnet (35) is provided on the locking element (20) and / or the locking element (30) for magnetically holding the locking element (20) in the locking element (30).

5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The locking element (20) and / or the locking element (30) have a locking element (36) for locking the locking element (20) that interacts with the locking element (30).

6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The locking element (20) and / or the locking element (30) include a handle element (22) which needs to be operated during the specific sequence of actions for opening the curtain (10).

7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The handle element (22) and / or the locking element (20) are arranged on a predetermined side of the curtain (10) when the curtain (10) is closed, wherein the curtain (10) preferably has an operating opening (14) for operating the handle element (22) and / or the locking element (20).

8. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, A magnet (13) is provided on the edge (12) of the curtain (10) on which the locking element (20) is arranged, for releasable connection to the wall on which the locking element (30) is arranged.

9. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The locking element (20) and / or the locking element (30) have a signal output terminal (37) that emits a signal when the locking element (20) interacts with the locking element (30) and / or when the locking element (36) is in the locked position.

10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, Its features are, The curtain (10) is made of a sufficiently strong and / or reinforced material so that it will not tear even under the force of an unauthorized person attempting to pass through it.

11. An aircraft (90) having a cockpit door (92) separating a cockpit (93) from the rest of the aircraft cabin (91), Its features are, The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims is provided, and the device is arranged such that when the curtain (10) of the device (1) is closed, the passage leading to the cockpit door (92) on the side opposite to the cockpit (93) is completely blocked at a predetermined distance from the cockpit door (92).

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