Aircraft Washroom Door Lock Actuator Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current door arrangements for aircraft washrooms require manual operation and lack efficient automatic locking mechanisms, which can compromise hygiene and accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A door arrangement with a locking mechanism featuring a blocking element and a closure element, actuated by mechanical pressure through a non-connected actuating system, allowing for contactless operation and integration with an electric drive device for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual operation of door is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation and hygiene are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical operation with an electric drive device that automatically actuates the locking mechanism. The electric motor-driven actuating element moves the blocking element without requiring manual intervention, thereby improving ease of operation and hygiene while maintaining acceptable device complexity through integrated design.
2Productivity
If automatic locking mechanism is added, then productivity and hygiene are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the locking mechanism with the door actuation system by integrating the blocking element into the existing door structure. The electric drive device combines door opening/closing functionality with locking/unlocking functionality in a single integrated system, improving productivity and hygiene while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional consolidation.
3Reliability
If blocking element is connected to actuating element, then reliability of force transmission is improved, but ease of manufacture is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a locking device as an intermediary component between the actuating element and the blocking element. This locking device includes a recess that receives the actuating element, providing reliable force transmission through a simple receptacle-based connection rather than complex mechanical coupling, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while ensuring reliability.
4Ease of manufacture
If non-connected actuating system is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but force transmission reliability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device serves as a mediator that enables reliable force transmission from the non-connected actuating element to the blocking element. The recess in the locking device provides a precise mechanical interface that ensures consistent force transfer without requiring a permanent connection between components, thus maintaining both ease of manufacture and force transmission reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables automatic and contactless operation of aircraft washroom doors, improving hygiene and accessibility while ensuring secure locking and unlocking mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
The actuating element is not connected to the blocking element and is designed to transfer the blocking element from the movement position to the blocking position or from the blocking position to the movement position by mechanical contact pressure
Implementation Method 2
The second actuating element is set up to transfer the closure element from the unlocking position to the locking position and/or from the locking position to the unlocking position by mechanical contact pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
A door arrangement contains a door (4) for a room (3) with a door leaf (30a, b), a wall portion (44) of a wall structure (45) laterally adjacent to the door (4), and a locking arrangement (9) for the door (4) containing: a locking device (43) in the door leaf (30a, 30b) with a blocking element (47), which can be moved in and contrary to a blocking direction (B) in order to block or release the door (4); and a lock actuator (6) in the wall portion (44) with a first mechanical actuating element (27), which is unconnected to the blocking element (47) in order to shift the blocking element (47), by means of mechanical contact pressure, from the movement position into the blocking position and vice versa. A control and information system (1) contains the door arrangement (9), a control device (7) for the lock actuator (6), a human/machine interface (10, 11) for capturing a triggering action (18a, 18b) of a user (15) of the door (4) and for transmitting same as a triggering signal (19a, 19b) for the lock actuator (6) to the control device (7), and a communication interface (21) for an authorised body (22) different from the user (15). A room (3) contains the door arrangement or the control and information system (1). An aircraft (2) contains the door arrangement or the control and information system (1) or the room (3).