Opening panel of an aircraft with improved deflector

Abstract

The invention relates to an opening panel (A) of an aircraft involving the release of stops (B), the opening panel being provided with a flap (1) flush with the outer surface of the fuselage (F) when in its closed position, the flap being provided with at least one pivotable connection element hinged to an inner edge of an end of the opening panel, characterised in that it comprises, on either side, at least one guideway (10) provided on the inner edge of the fuselage and intended to receive a rotary roller (2) supported by a bracket (12) rigidly connected to the inner wall of the flap (1), the guideway having an upper track (10a) inclined downwards and outwards which corresponds to the closed position of the flap and which is extended, via a bend (10b), by a lower track (10c) which corresponds to the pivoting of the flap outwards and to the release of the stops.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] AIRCRAFT OPENING WITH ADVANCED DEFLECTOR

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The invention relates to the field of aeronautics and, more particularly, the architecture of aircraft openings and concerns an improvement in the means intended to obstruct the space between the opening and the frame on doors of the so-called "semi-plug" type opening outwards by release of stops.

[0005] Generally speaking, aircraft doors, and in particular these "semi-plug" doors, require, when they are opened, to be raised or lowered in order to clear the stops mounted on either side of the door and around the fuselage. This clearing movement is only possible thanks to the presence of a clearance between the door panel and the fuselage. However, for aerodynamic reasons, this intermediate clearance must be filled, in the closed position of the door, by sealing means or protruding deflection means flush with the external wall of the fuselage.

[0006] Generally, these deflection means are formed of elastically deformable parts such as flexible seals or semi-rigid flaps fixed to the door structure and bearing against the outer skin of the fuselage in the closed position. Patent document US 5,931,415 describes an aircraft door structure equipped with sealing seals on its periphery.

[0007] However, both these flexible seals and semi-rigid deflectors are exposed, when the opening is closed, to the aerodynamic flow which causes vibrations and leads to their erosion and / or premature wear. Consequently, structural reinforcement is necessary which leads to a heavier door and generates additional manufacturing costs.

[0008] In this problematic context, the invention aims to propose a solution consisting of replacing the deflectors or joints subjected to aerodynamic flows with a metal part flush with the fuselage of the aircraft and the movement of which is controlled and guided in order to allow, respectively, the retraction of the stops when the door is opened and the engagement of the stops when it is closed.

[0009] This object is achieved, according to the invention, by means of an aircraft opening with stop release provided with a flap flush with the outer surface of the fuselage in its closed position, said flap being provided with at least one pivoting connecting element articulated on an internal end edge of the opening, characterized in that it comprises, on either side, at least one guide ramp arranged on the internal edge of the fuselage and intended to receive a rotary roller carried by a bracket secured to the internal wall of the flap, said ramp having an upper track inclined downwards and outwards which corresponds to the closed position of the flap and which is extended, via an elbow, by a lower track which corresponds to the pivoting of the flap outwards and to the release of the stops.

[0010] According to a specific embodiment of the invention, the pivoting connecting elements are each formed from a hinge with a transverse axis. Preferably, these hinges are coupled to the brackets.

[0011] According to another embodiment, the opening comprises three pivoting connecting elements and one of these three pivoting connecting elements is mounted freely between two brackets.

[0012] According to an advantageous characteristic of the opening of the invention, the lower track has an open lower end allowing the roller to exit.

[0013] According to another advantageous characteristic of the opening of the invention, the upper track has a closed upper end ensuring the stop of the roller.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the lower track is delimited by an upper rib parallel to the upper track and a diverging lower rib.

[0015] According to a first embodiment of the opening of the invention, the shutter is mounted at the lower part of the opening.

[0016] According to a second embodiment of the opening of the invention, the shutter is mounted at the upper part of the opening. According to yet another characteristic of the opening of the invention, the connecting element is coupled to a return spring of the shutter in a coplanar position with the outer surface of the opening. Preferably, this return spring is a leaf or torsion spring.

[0017] Thanks to the invention, the deflection flap pivots in a guided and controlled manner to allow the escape of the stops during the initial phase of opening the opening. Conversely, the flap extends, in the closing position of the opening, in the extension of its outer face. This specific configuration thus avoids the appearance of disturbances in the air flow along the fuselage of the aircraft and consequently eliminates the risks of erosion and wear of a possible deflector.

[0018] PRESENTATION OF FIGURES

[0019] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the non-limiting description which follows, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0020] [Fig. 1] is a principle view (overall and in detail) in vertical section of the opening of the invention in the closed position.

[0021] [Fig. 2] is a principle view (overall and detailed) in vertical section of the opening of figure 1 in the open position after release of the stops.

[0022] [Fig. 3] is an exterior view of a first embodiment of the opening of the invention in the partially open position in the fuselage with the flap mounted in the lower part.

[0023] [Fig. 4] is a vertical sectional detail view of the shutter of Figure 3 in the closed position of the opening.

[0024] [Fig. 5] is a vertical sectional detail view of the shutter of Figure 3 in the outward pivoting position when the opening is lowered.

[0025] [Fig. 6] is a detailed view in vertical section of the shutter of Figure 3 in the intermediate position of pivoting outwards during the descent of the opening in order to release the stops.

[0026] [Fig. 7] is a detailed view in vertical section of the shutter of Figure 3 in the inward return position in the plane of the opening when it opens after the stops have escaped.

[0027] [Fig. 8] is an interior view of a second embodiment of the opening of the invention in the closed position in the fuselage with the flap mounted in the upper part.

[0028] [Fig. 9] is an interior view of the opening of Figure 8 in the outward pivoting position when the opening is raised for the release of the stops.

[0029] [Fig. 10] is an interior view of the opening of figure 8 in the inward return position in the plane of the opening when it opens after the stops have escaped.

[0030] For greater clarity, identical or similar elements are indicated by identical reference signs in the following description and in the figures. Naturally, the embodiments of the invention illustrated schematically by the figures presented above and described below are given only as non-limiting examples. It is explicitly provided within the scope of the invention that different embodiments can be proposed and combined with each other to propose others.

[0031] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The invention relates to aircraft openings and is more particularly concerned with openings whose opening is effected by a first movement towards the inside of the fuselage and downwards or upwards to allow the release of stops.

[0033] This movement of disengagement of the stops requires the presence of a clearance between the opening and the fuselage. However, for aerodynamic reasons, this intermediate clearance must be filled, in the closed position of the opening, by means of closure. In addition, these means of closure must avoid generating aerodynamic disturbances and they are therefore generally profiled, sized and positioned to be flush with the external wall of the fuselage in the closed position of the opening.

[0034] Generally speaking, these sealing means are therefore formed of semi-rigid and fixed deflectors or elastically deformable parts such as flexible seals or flaps fixed to the structure of the door and coming to bear against the outer skin of the fuselage when it is closed.

[0035] However, these deflectors are exposed during aircraft flight to significant aerodynamic flows causing detachments, vibrations and leading, in a detrimental manner, to their erosion and / or premature wear.

[0036] In this problematic context, the invention aims to eliminate the current deflectors and replace them with rigid and mobile flaps and to ensure, from a starting position flush with the fuselage, controlled and guided movements allowing, automatically, a retraction of the stops B during the descent of the door A before its opening, as illustrated schematically by figures 1 and 2, and conversely, a return engagement in these same stops during its ascent before complete closure.

[0037] Thus, the invention consists in producing, on either side of the flap 1, at least one guide ramp 10 arranged on the internal edge of the fuselage F and intended to receive a rotary roller 2 carried by a bracket 12 secured to the internal wall of the flap 1, as illustrated by figures 3 to 7 relating to a first embodiment of the invention and figures 8 to 10 relating to a second embodiment. In the first embodiment, the flap 1 is mounted at the lower part of the opening A while, in the second embodiment, the flap is mounted at the upper part of the opening A.

[0038] In Figures 4 to 7, the ramp 10 has an upper track 10a inclined downwards and outwards from the opening A which corresponds to the closed position of the shutter 1 and which is extended, via an elbow 10b, by a lower track 10c which corresponds to the pivoting of the shutter 1 outwards and to the escapement of the stops B. The upper track 10a is blind and therefore has an upper end which is closed to ensure the stop of the roller 2 in the ramp 10 in the closed position of the door A. The dimensions and, in particular, the diameter of the roller 2, is slightly less than the width of the upper track 10a to ensure its wedging in the upper track and the elbow of the ramp 10.

[0039] The lower track 10c has, for its part, an open lower end. The lower track 10c is delimited by an outer rib 100 which, in the first embodiment of Figures 3 to 6, is substantially parallel to the upper track 10a and a diverging inner rib 101. The lower track 10c therefore has a profile that is generally flared downwards, thus facilitating the exit of the roller 2 at the end of opening of the door A.

[0040] In the two embodiments shown in the figures, the pivoting connecting elements are formed of hinges 3 with transverse axis X. Preferably, these hinges are coupled to the brackets 12. In the second embodiment shown in figures 8 to 10, the opening A comprises three hinges 2, one of which is mounted freely between the two lateral brackets 12.

[0041] The hinges 3 are advantageously coupled to springs 4 intended to return the shutter 1 to a coplanar position with the outer surface of the opening A. Preferably, this spring 4 is a leaf spring (figures 4 to 6) or a torsion spring in helical form (figures 8 to 10).

[0042] The cooperation between the rotating rollers 2 and the ramps 10 is illustrated in detail in figures 4 to 7 in the successive phases of the opening of the door A carrying the shutter in the lower part.

[0043] In Figure 4, door A is closed and wedged in the fuselage frame F in engagement with the stops. The flap 1 of the deflector is located in the coplanar and substantially vertical extension of the opening panel. In this position, the roller 2 is wedged at the upper end of the upper track 10a of the ramp 10 and keeps the leaf springs 4 slightly under tension.

[0044] In Figure 5, door A is pushed towards the outside of the fuselage and simultaneously performs a slight downward movement by means of a mechanism not shown. At the same time, roller 2 is also moved downwards by being guided in the upper track 10a of ramp 10. Roller 2 then drives, via bracket 12, flap 1 to pivot outwards relative to the panel of opening A and around the transverse axis X of hinge 3. Spring 4 tends to press roller 2 into the ramp and rotates flap 1 counterclockwise. The pivot angle of the flap is minimized in order to limit the dimensions and mass of the parts involved. By escaping from the frame of fuselage F, the lower edge of flap 1 allows door A to continue descending.

[0045] In Figure 6, the descent of door A continues and roller 2, after passing through elbow 10b, engages in the flared low track 10c while still being guided by rib 101. Spring 4 has slightly released while remaining under tension. Shutter 1 is once again in the coplanar extension of the opening panel.

[0046] In Figure 7, door A and flap 1 are in the lowest position and are offset relative to the fuselage frame F so as to free themselves from the stops. Roller 2 is then at the exit of ramp 10 and spring 4, still under tension, holds flap 1 in the coplanar extension of the opening. Door A is ready for full opening. Closing of door A can then be carried out by inverse kinematics.

[0047] The cooperation between the rotating rollers 2 and the ramps 10 is illustrated in detail in Figures 8 to 10 in the successive phases of the opening of the door A carrying the deflector in the upper part. The pivoting kinematics of the shutter 1 is carried out here by a movement of the door A upwards from its closed position (Figure 8) passing through an intermediate position (Figure 9) and up to the escape of the stops (Figure 10) before its complete opening (not shown).

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Opening (A) with release of stops (B) intended for an aircraft fuselage (F), said opening being provided with a flap (1) flush with the outer surface of the fuselage (F) in its closed position and being provided with at least one pivoting connecting element articulated on an internal end edge of the opening, said opening comprising, on either side, at least one guide ramp (10) arranged on the internal edge of the fuselage and intended to receive a rotary roller (2) carried by a bracket (12) secured to the internal wall of the flap (1), said ramp having an upper track (10a) inclined downwards and outwards which corresponds to the closed position of the flap and which is extended, via an elbow (10b), by a lower track (10c) which corresponds to the pivoting of the flap outwards and to the release of the stops, characterized in that it comprises three pivoting connecting elements, one of which is mounted freely between two gallows (12).

2. Opening according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting connecting elements are each formed from a hinge (3) with a transverse axis (X).

3. Opening according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said hinges (3) are coupled to the brackets (12).

4. Opening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower track (10c) has an open lower end allowing the roller (2) to exit.

5. Opening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper track (10a) has a closed upper end ensuring the stop of the roller (2).

6. Opening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower track (10c) is delimited by an upper rib (100) parallel to the upper track (10a) and a diverging lower rib (101).

7. Opening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shutter (1) is mounted at the lower part of the opening (A).

8. Opening according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said shutter is mounted at the upper part of the opening (A).

9. Opening according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said connecting element is coupled to a spring (4) for returning the shutter (1) to a coplanar position with the outer surface of the opening (A).

10. Opening according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said return spring (4) is a leaf or torsion spring.

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