Aircraft Door Lock Lever Monitoring via Camera

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft doors lack a practical and reliable method for direct visual inspection to determine if they are fully closed, latched, and locked, as existing solutions are either aesthetically unpleasing or impractically complex, and current security systems do not adequately address the latched and locked state determination.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle door with a real-time monitoring device featuring an image formation device, such as a camera system, that provides a real-time representation of the lock lever and counterpart status, allowing for secure and reliable determination of the locked state, which can be displayed on a screen within the vehicle cabin or cockpit, reducing space and weight requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a viewing port is provided to allow direct visual inspection of the door locking mechanism, then the reliability of visual inspection is improved, but the aesthetic appearance and practical feasibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual inspection reliabilityVSAvoidpractical feasibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical viewing port system with an electronic image formation device (camera) that captures images of the lock lever and counterpart. This substitution eliminates the need for physical viewing ports while providing reliable visual inspection capability through electronic imaging, thereby improving practical feasibility while maintaining inspection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a visual copy (image) of the lock lever and counterpart through the image formation device. This copy can be displayed on a screen without requiring direct visual access through viewing ports, thus maintaining inspection reliability while improving aesthetic appearance and practical feasibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If a mechanical arrangement with levers, shafts, and drive pins is used to determine mechanism status, then the reliability of status indication is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatus indication reliabilityVSAvoidmechanical arrangement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex mechanical arrangement (levers, shafts, drive pins, indicator flags) with an electronic image formation device. This substitution maintains reliable status indication by capturing actual images of the lock lever and counterpart engagement state, while dramatically reducing device complexity and weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the essential function of status indication from the complex mechanical system and implements it through a simple image capture device. By taking out the core requirement (visual confirmation of lock status) and implementing it electronically, the patent eliminates unnecessary mechanical components while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If viewing ports are provided for visual inspection, then the reliability of door status determination is improved, but the weight and cost of the aircraft door increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor status determination reliabilityVSAvoidaircraft door weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes heavy mechanical viewing port structures with a lightweight electronic image formation device. This replacement maintains reliable door status determination while significantly reducing the weight of the aircraft door, as electronic components are much lighter than the mechanical structures required for traditional viewing ports.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 a simplified, secure, and reliable determination of the locked state with reduced space and weight, allowing for safe and efficient aircraft operation by providing a clear visual representation of the lock lever and counterpart engagement, thus ensuring the door is safely closed, latched, and locked.

Implementation Method 1

an image formation device (8b) that is rigidly attached to the associated door structure (5) by means of a fixation member (8a)... for generating a real-time representation (12) of the at least one lock lever (6) and the counterpart (7)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10711487B2Aircraft with a plurality of aircraft doors

Publication Date: 2020.07.14 AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUT GMBH

AI summary

An aircraft with a plurality of aircraft doors, each aircraft door comprising at least one lock lever that is provided for engaging a counterpart in an engaged state for locking a respective aircraft door relative to the aircraft, wherein a real-time monitoring device is provided for generating a real-time representation of the at least one lock lever and the counterpart, the real-time representation being suitable for determining whether the at least one lock lever is in the engaged state.