Folding and telescopic boarding ladder device

Abstract

Provided in the present application is a folding and telescopic boarding ladder device, comprising: a box-shaped base having an accommodating slot, a reel and a button hook lock being mounted at the upper end of the accommodating slot, the reel being connected to a bearing member by means of a pull cord, and a base part being mounted at the lower end of the accommodating slot; a bearing member, hinged to the box-shaped base, wherein a guide rail is fixed to the end of the bearing member hinged to the box-shaped base, a slide rail channel is formed between the guide rail and the bearing member, a sliding pair is provided within the slide rail channel, one end of the sliding pair is hinged to the base part and the other end is connected to the bearing member by means of a buffer spring, a telescopic rod is provided inside the bearing member, and a locking ring adapted to the button hook lock is provided at the lower end of the bearing member; and at least two steps, wherein the steps comprise a lower step and a transition step, the lower step is hinged at the end of the telescopic rod, the transition step is hinged onto the bearing member and, by means of a tension spring, is connected to the bearing member, and, when the telescopic rod is extended relative to the bearing member to a maximum state, the telescopic rod pushes the transition step open and locks same in position.

Description

A flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of aircraft structural design, and specifically relates to a flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device. Background Technology

[0002] Many aircraft are now equipped with built-in boarding stairs for personnel boarding and disembarking. The use of built-in boarding stairs offers several advantages. First, it allows pilots to quickly and independently board and disembark without relying on ground-based stairs or ground crew, reducing the workload and staffing requirements for ground personnel. Second, it eliminates the time required to transport and set up external boarding stairs, thus shortening the time for pilots to board and disembark. Finally, the use of built-in boarding stairs is unaffected by the aircraft's parking situation, improving the convenience of boarding and disembarking. Furthermore, built-in boarding stairs shorten the aircraft's response time to missions, improve its adaptability to airports, and enhance its ease of use, leading to its increasingly widespread use in military aircraft and making it an important indicator of the advancement of land-based and carrier-based military aircraft.

[0003] However, the built-in boarding ladder requires space inside the aircraft, and opening the boarding ladder requires additional operation by personnel. How to make the boarding ladder occupy less space and make the opening and closing of the boarding ladder simple is a problem that needs to be solved in the aircraft structural design. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device to solve or mitigate at least one of the problems in the prior art.

[0005] The technical solution of this application is: a flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device, comprising:

[0006] A box-shaped base with a receiving slot, wherein a roller and a button hook lock are installed at the upper end of the receiving slot, the roller is connected to a carrier via a pull rope, and a base is installed at the lower end of the receiving slot;

[0007] A support member is hinged to the box-shaped base. One end of the support member is fixed with a guide rail, and a slide rail channel is formed between the guide rail and the support member. A sliding pair is provided in the slide rail channel. One end of the sliding pair is hinged to the base, and the other end is connected to the support member through a buffer spring. A telescopic rod is provided inside the support member, and a locking ring adapted to a button hook lock is provided at the lower end of the support member.

[0008] The system has at least two tiers of pedals, including a lower pedal and a transition pedal. The lower pedal is hinged to the end of a telescopic rod, and the transition pedal is hinged to a support and connected to the support via a tension spring. When the telescopic rod is extended to its maximum length relative to the support, the telescopic rod pushes open and locks the transition pedal.

[0009] In an optional embodiment of this application, the box-shaped base has an outer surface adapted to the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft and a flange around the receiving groove, and is connected to the aircraft load-bearing structure through the flange.

[0010] In an optional embodiment of this application, the receiving groove is a rectangular groove.

[0011] In an optional embodiment of this application, the receiving groove of the box-shaped base is provided with an elastic protrusion for limiting and damping the bearing installed in the receiving groove.

[0012] In an optional embodiment of this application, the end of the sliding pair is provided with a rotating shaft formed by a cylindrical head, the base is provided with a guide groove, and the cylindrical head rotating shaft is located in the guide groove and can move along the guide groove.

[0013] In an optional embodiment of this application, the upper side of the guide groove is provided with a bent portion that bends outward, which is used to form a limiting and locking structure when the cylindrical head shaft of the sliding pair enters the bent portion.

[0014] In an optional embodiment of this application, the buffer spring is a tension spring.

[0015] In an optional embodiment of this application, the telescopic rod is provided with a sliding groove, and the bearing member limits the extension of the telescopic rod by a limiting pin that extends into the sliding groove.

[0016] In an optional embodiment of this application, the transition pedal has a bent short side near the pivot, and the telescopic rod has an inclined surface on one side opposite the transition pedal. The end of the inclined surface is a plane, which can push the bent short side to rotate. When the bent short side is parallel to the plane, the transition pedal and the load-bearing member are rotated and locked.

[0017] In an optional embodiment of this application, the lower pedal and the transition pedal are spaced apart on the left and right sides along the length direction of the bearing member.

[0018] The boarding ladder device provided in this application consists of a telescopic mechanism and a flip-up slide mechanism. It can be opened and used with simple operation to provide a stable boarding and disembarking step structure, which is convenient for ground staff to maintain the aircraft and for pilots to board and disembark. After use, the boarding ladder can be closed with simple operation. The boarding ladder device can be completely folded and stored inside the aircraft, occupying little space and not affecting the overall aerodynamic shape of the aircraft. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions provided in this application, the accompanying drawings will be briefly described below. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application.

[0020] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device of this application.

[0021] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the installation of the sliding pair in this application.

[0022] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the lower pedal structure in this application.

[0023] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the opening process of the flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device of this application.

[0024] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the fully opened flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device of this application.

[0025] Figure label:

[0026] 10-Box-shaped base

[0027] 101-Receiving Tank

[0028] 11-Elastic protrusion

[0029] 12-Roller

[0030] 13-Button Hook Lock

[0031] 14-Pull rope

[0032] 15-Base

[0033] 151-Guide groove

[0034] 152-Bending section

[0035] 20-Bearing component

[0036] 201-Limit Pin

[0037] 202-Locking Ring

[0038] 21-Guide Rail

[0039] 22-Sliding joint

[0040] 23-Spindle

[0041] 24-Buffer Spring

[0042] 25-Telescopic pole

[0043] 251-Sliding groove

[0044] 31-Down pedal

[0045] 311-Pedal Section

[0046] 312-Support Section

[0047] 32-Transition Pedal

[0048] 321-Bend the short side

[0049] 33-Tension Spring Detailed Implementation

[0050] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0051] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", "lower", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application.

[0052] This application provides a retractable, space-saving, and easy-to-operate built-in flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device, providing two-level stepping points for personnel to board and disembark the aircraft, facilitating quick boarding and disembarking. The boarding ladder can be manually opened and closed by personnel either on the aircraft or on the ground, without the need for electric motors or hydraulic actuators. Furthermore, the boarding ladder device has a simple and compact structure; when retracted, it can be completely stored inside the aircraft, occupying minimal space and not affecting the aircraft's shape.

[0053] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device provided in this application includes: a box-shaped base 10, a support member 20, and at least two steps.

[0054] The box-shaped base 10 is the basic component of the flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device, and all other components are mounted on the box-shaped base 10. The box-shaped base 10 has a receiving slot 101; when the boarding ladder device is closed, all components are stored within the receiving slot 101 of the box-shaped base 10. In some embodiments of this application, the receiving slot 101 is typically configured as a rectangle to facilitate the storage of components and space planning. It is understood that the receiving slot 101 can also be configured in other shapes, such as a semi-circular slot.

[0055] The outer surface of the box-shaped base 10 is configured to adapt to the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft. It is connected to the aircraft skin to form a continuous and smooth aerodynamic surface on the aircraft surface. The receiving groove 101 of the box-shaped base 10 is designed with flange edges around it. It can be connected to the aircraft frame or beam and other load-bearing structures through the flange edges to fix the box-shaped base 10.

[0056] In some embodiments of this application, the receiving groove 101 of the box-shaped base 10 is provided with an elastic protrusion 11, which can limit and dampen the support member 20 installed in the receiving groove 101. In some embodiments, the elastic protrusion 11 can be made of rubber.

[0057] A reel 12 and a button-type hook lock 13 are installed at the upper part of the receiving groove 101 of the box-shaped base 10. The reel 12 is connected to the support member 20 via a pull rope 14. The reel 12 is equipped with a torsion spring mechanism inside. One end of the pull rope 14 is wound around the reel 1, and the other end is fixed to the support member 20, which can realize an elastic extension and retraction function. By pulling the pull rope 14, the personnel on board can drive the support member 12 to rotate upward by pulling the pull rope 14, thereby closing the boarding ladder.

[0058] In this application, the button hook lock 13 and the lower end of the roller 12 form a flat end face. When the boarding ladder is closed, the end of the bearing member 20 cooperates with the flat end face, and the locking ring 202 fixed on the flange side of the lower end of the bearing member 20 is engaged in the locking hook of the button hook lock 13 to lock the boarding ladder. When the boarding ladder needs to be opened, the button of the button hook lock 13 is pressed, the locking hook releases the locking ring 202, and the boarding ladder can be opened.

[0059] In this application, a base 15 is fixed at the bottom of the receiving groove 101 of the box-shaped base 10. The base 15 is roughly in the shape of a semi-I-beam, forming a double-ear structure. Guide grooves 151 are provided on the surfaces of the double-ear structure on both sides. The upper end of the sliding pair 22 can slide within the guide grooves 151. In a preferred embodiment of this application, the guide groove 151 is a non-linear groove. The root of the guide groove 151 (the upper part shown in FIG2) is provided with a bent portion 152. The bent portion 152 is used to limit and lock the cylindrical head shaft of the sliding pair 22, thereby securely locking the bearing member 20. Furthermore, the bent portion 152 is configured to bend outward.

[0060] The carrier 20 is used to support the pilot during boarding and disembarking. The upper end of the carrier 20 is hinged to the base 15 via a pivot 23, allowing it to rotate around the pivot 23. When rotated upwards to the closed position, it can seal the box-shaped base 10. The carrier 20 has flanges around its perimeter that adapt to the receiving groove 101, and its outer surface (bottom surface in Figure 1) is adapted to the aircraft's shape. In this embodiment of the application, the carrier 20 is generally a rectangular structure adapted to the receiving groove 101.

[0061] The upper end of the support member 20 is provided with guide rails 21 on both sides. The guide rails 21 are fixedly connected to the support member 20 to form two slide rail channels through which the sliding pair 22 can pass. The sliding pair 22 is disposed in the slide rail channel, and its upper end is provided with a cylindrical shaft. The cylindrical shaft is disposed in the guide groove 151, and its lower end is connected to the side of the support member 20 through a buffer spring 12, wherein the buffer spring 12 is a tension spring. In some embodiments of this application, in order to reduce weight, one or more weight-reducing holes or weight-reducing grooves may be provided along the length direction of the sliding pair 22.

[0062] The support member 20 has a hollow internal structure, and a telescopic rod 25 is installed inside. In this embodiment of the application, the support member 20 has a rectangular hollow internal structure, and correspondingly, the telescopic rod 25 has a rectangular cross-section. The telescopic rod 25 can slide within the support member 20, thereby extending the service length of the support member 20. To limit the movement of the support member 20 and the telescopic rod 25, a sliding groove 251 is provided on the telescopic rod 25 along its length direction. A limiting pin 201 that can be inserted into the sliding groove 251 is fixedly provided on the support member 20. When the telescopic rod 25 slides to its lowest point relative to the support member 20, the limiting pin 201 limits the telescopic rod 25, preventing it from sliding out of the support member 20. In this embodiment of the application, the sliding groove 251 is on the plane in which the support member 20 and the box-shaped base 10 rotate relative to each other. It can be understood that the sliding groove 251 can also be provided on the plane perpendicular to the plane in which the support member 20 and the box-shaped base 10 rotate relative to each other. Furthermore, the limiting pin 201 is located near the lower end of the support member 20. This position is usually a certain distance from the lower end of the support member 20. This distance can be set according to requirements, such as the distance that the telescopic rod 25 slides relative to the support member 20 (i.e., the total length of the boarding ladder), the connection strength between the telescopic rod 25 and the support member 20, etc.

[0063] The pedals include at least a lower pedal 31 and a transition pedal 32. The lower pedal 31 is fixed to the end of the telescopic rod 25 via a pivot, and can rotate 90° relative to the telescopic rod 25. The rotation range extends from a position flush with the telescopic rod 25 to a position perpendicular to the telescopic rod 25, thus forming a step for the pilot to board and disembark. As shown in Figure 3, the lower pedal 31 includes a pedal portion 311 and a support portion 312. The pedal portion 311 has a flat structure, and the support portion 312 has a semi-I-shaped structure. The pedal portion 311 and the support portion 312 are integrally formed. The lower pedal 31 is hinged to the telescopic rod 25 by a pin passing through the support portion 312 near the pedal portion 311. At the same time, the right side of the support portion 312 forms a limiting mechanism that supports the end of the telescopic rod 25, thereby enabling the lower pedal 31 to support the pilot.

[0064] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the transition pedal 32 is mounted on the carrier 20 via a pivot and can rotate relative to the pivot. To enable automatic opening and folding of the transition pedal 32, a bent short side 321 is provided on the inner side of the transition pedal 32, forming a bent "7"-shaped structure, with its pivot located at the bend of the "7"-shaped structure. Simultaneously, a slope 252 is provided on the side of the telescopic rod 25 opposite to the transition pedal 32. When the telescopic rod 25 approaches its maximum extension relative to the carrier 20, the slope 252 engages with the bent short side 321, thereby pushing the transition pedal 32 to unfold. At this time, the flat surface at the end of the slope 252 on the telescopic rod 25 supports the bent short side 321 of the transition pedal 32, thus forming a pedal for the pilot to step on.

[0065] In this application, a tension spring 33 is provided on the transition pedal 32. One end of the tension spring 33 is fixed to the support member 20, and the other end is fixed below the transition pedal 32, which can force the transition pedal 13 to rotate downward and close.

[0066] It should be noted that the transition step 32 can be set to two or more depending on the height of the boarding ladder.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment of this application, the lower pedal 31 and the transition pedal 32, or two or more transition pedals 32, are distributed at intervals in the left and right directions along the length of the support member 20, making it convenient for the pilot to step on them.

[0068] The installation process of the tilting telescopic boarding ladder device of this application is as follows:

[0069] First, assemble the relevant components on the carrier 20. Insert the telescopic rod 25 into the carrier 20. The limiting pin 201 passes through the sliding groove 251 in the middle of the telescopic rod 25 and is limited on the carrier 20. Then, fix the lower pedal 31 and the transition pedal 32 to the telescopic rod 25 and the carrier 20 respectively with a rotating shaft. Fix both ends of the tension spring 33 to the carrier 20 and the transition pedal 32. Fix the locking ring 202 to the flange edge at the end of the carrier 20. Second, assemble the tilting slide rail mechanism. Fix the carrier 20 to the base 15 through the rotating shaft 23. Next, fix the two sliding pairs 22, the two guide rails 21, and the two buffer springs 24 to both sides of the carrier 20. The upper end of the sliding pair 22 with the cylindrical head shaft is inserted into the guide groove 151 of the base 15. Finally, fix the base 15 to the lower part of the receiving groove 101 of the box-shaped base 10. Then, install the roller 12 and the button hook lock 13 on the upper part of the receiving groove 101 of the box-shaped base 10, and fix the lower end of the pull rope 14 to the carrier 20. After the boarding ladder is installed, fix the box-shaped base 10 in the appropriate position on the aircraft for use.

[0070] The working process of the tilting telescopic boarding ladder device in this application is as follows:

[0071] When pilots or ground crew board or disembark the aircraft, they press the button hook lock 13 to unlock the boarding ladder. The carrier component 20 then flips downwards around the pivot 23 under gravity. The sliding pair 22 moves relative to the base 15 and the guide rail 21. The sliding pair 22 and the base 15 form a rotating mechanism, and the sliding pair 22 and the guide rail 21 form a sliding mechanism, thus forming a flipping slide rail device. When the carrier component 20 is open, the upper pivot of the sliding pair 22 slides upwards within the guide groove 151 of the base 15. The main body of the sliding pair 22 slides relative to the guide rail 21 fixed to the carrier component 20. The tension of the buffer spring 12 acts on the moving pair, slowing its sliding speed. After the load-bearing component 20 is fully opened, the upper end of the sliding pair 22 slides to the uppermost bent portion 152 of the guide groove 151 of the base 15. The stop flange at the other end of the sliding pair 22 also fits against the end face of the guide rail 21 and cannot continue to slide. Therefore, the lowering position of the load-bearing component 20 is restricted, thereby controlling the opening angle of the boarding ladder. When people step on the boarding ladder, the load-bearing component 20, the base 15 and the sliding pair 22 form a triangular structure to transmit the load acting on the load-bearing component 20.

[0072] After the support member 20 is flipped downwards, the telescopic rod 25 extends under the action of gravity. Figure 4 shows the boarding ladder in its partially extended state, and Figure 5 shows it in its fully extended state. When the telescopic rod 25 is extended to its maximum position, the limiting pin 201 will engage with the upper end face of its sliding groove 151, thus limiting the extension position of the telescopic rod 25. The transition step 32 is designed in a bent shape. When the telescopic rod 25 is not fully extended, its bent short side 321 will not interfere with the left side of the telescopic rod 25, and it will remain closed under the action of the tension spring 33. The upper end of the left side of the telescopic rod 25 is set as an inclined surface 252. When the telescopic rod 25 is extended to near its maximum extension, the inclined surface 252 will compress the bent short side 321 of the transition step 32, forcing the transition step 32 to rotate until it rotates 90°. At this point, the left side of the telescopic rod 25 becomes flat and fully engages with the end face of the transition step 32, limiting the position of the transition step 32. The lower pedal 31 rotates downwards by 90° under the action of gravity, and its position is restricted by the lower end face of the telescopic rod 25.

[0073] Once the boarding stairs are fully deployed, passengers can step down on step 31 and transition step 32 to board the aircraft.

[0074] After use, the boarding ladder can be closed by personnel on the ground or on the aircraft. On the ground, personnel push the support member 20 towards the box-shaped base 10 and close it manually. During closure, the telescopic rod 25 and the lower step 31 automatically retract and fold under gravity, while the transition step 32 rotates and folds under the action of the tension spring 33. Finally, personnel apply slight force to press the locking ring 202 at the lower end of the support member 20 into the button hook lock 13, completing the closure and locking of the boarding ladder. On the aircraft, personnel pull the pull rope 14 upwards. The pull rope 14 causes the support member 20 to rotate upwards. After rotating to a certain angle, personnel can grasp the support member 20 to complete the same retraction action as on the ground.

[0075] The boarding ladder device provided in this application consists of a telescopic mechanism and a tilting slide mechanism. It can be easily opened and used, providing a stable boarding and disembarking structure, facilitating aircraft maintenance by ground staff and pilot boarding and disembarking. After use, the boarding ladder can be easily closed. The device can be completely folded and stored inside the aircraft, occupying minimal space and not affecting the overall aerodynamic shape of the aircraft.

[0076] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device, characterized in that, include: A box-shaped base (10) with a receiving groove (101) is provided, wherein a roller (12) and a button hook lock (13) are installed at the upper end of the receiving groove (101), the roller (12) is connected to the support member (20) by a pull rope (14), and a base (15) is installed at the lower end of the receiving groove (101); A support member (20) is hinged to the box-shaped base (10). One end of the support member (20) is hinged to the box-shaped base (10) and a guide rail (21) is fixed thereon. A slide rail channel is formed between the guide rail (21) and the support member (20). A sliding pair (22) is provided in the slide rail channel. One end of the sliding pair (22) is hinged to the base (15) and the other end is connected to the support member (20) through a buffer spring (24). A telescopic rod (25) is provided inside the support member (20). A locking ring (202) adapted to a button hook lock (13) is provided at the lower end of the support member (20). The pedal has at least two steps, including a lower pedal (31) and a transition pedal (32). The lower pedal (31) is hinged to the end of a telescopic rod (25), and the transition pedal (32) is hinged to a support member (20) and connected to the support member (20) by a tension spring (33). When the telescopic rod (25) is extended to its maximum state relative to the support member (20), the telescopic rod (25) pushes open and locks the transition pedal (32).

2. The flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The box-shaped base (10) has an outer surface adapted to the aerodynamic shape of the aircraft and a flange around the receiving groove (101), which is connected to the aircraft load-bearing structure.

3. The flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The receiving groove (101) is a rectangular groove.

4. The flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The box-shaped base (10) has an elastic protrusion (11) in its receiving groove (101) for limiting and damping the bearing (20) installed in the receiving groove (101).

5. The flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the sliding pair (22) is provided with a rotating shaft formed by a cylindrical head, and the base (15) is provided with a guide groove (151). The cylindrical head rotating shaft is located in the guide groove (151) and can move along the guide groove (151).

6. The flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The upper side of the guide groove (151) is provided with a bent portion (152) that bends outward, which is used to form a limiting and locking structure when the cylindrical head shaft of the sliding pair (22) enters the bent portion (152).

7. The flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The buffer spring (24) is a tension spring.

8. The flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The telescopic rod (25) is provided with a sliding groove (251), and the bearing member (20) limits the extension of the telescopic rod (25) by a limiting pin (201) that extends into the sliding groove (251).

9. The flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The transition pedal (32) has a bent short side (321) near the pivot. The telescopic rod (25) has an inclined surface (252) on one side opposite to the transition pedal (32). The end of the inclined surface (252) is a plane. The bent short side (321) can be rotated through the inclined surface (252). When the bent short side (321) is parallel to the plane, the transition pedal (32) and the bearing member (20) are locked in rotation.

10. The flip-up telescopic boarding ladder device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The lower pedal (31) and the transition pedal (32) are spaced apart on the left and right sides along the length of the support member (20).

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