Aircraft Sliding Door Spindle Layout for Power-Failure Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft sliding doors with electric motor-driven closing mechanisms are unreliable in power failures and require complex structural designs to ensure safe and efficient operation.
Innovation Solution
Aircraft sliding doors equipped with a spindle connected to an electric motor, inclined relative to the opening and closing direction, allowing automatic opening under gravity in power failures, and utilizing a ball screw spindle mechanism for controlled movement without additional gas pressure springs or dampers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If an electric motor-driven closing mechanism is used, then the door can be closed with power assistance, but the system becomes unreliable in the event of power supply failure
Solution Approach 1:
The door system uses the gravitational force of the door leaf itself to automatically open the door when power is failed. The inclined spindle converts the vertical gravitational force into horizontal movement along the guide rail, enabling the door to open itself without external power assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined spindle acts as a mechanical counterweight system by converting the weight of the door leaf into useful opening force. The gravitational potential energy of the door is transformed into kinetic energy for door opening through the inclined plane mechanism.
2Reliability
If a spindle inclined with respect to the opening and closing direction is used, then automatic opening in power failures is enabled, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined spindle serves multiple functions: it guides the door movement along the opening/closing path, converts gravitational force into horizontal motion, and enables automatic opening during power failures. This single component replaces what would otherwise require separate mechanisms for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the natural gravitational potential of the door leaf to drive the opening operation. By inclining the spindle, the design creates a mechanical equilibrium where gravity naturally drives the door open without requiring additional energy input or complex control systems.
3Force
If gas pressure springs are used to assist closing, then the closing force is provided, but the mechanical complexity and additional components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The door system uses the gravitational force of the door leaf itself to automatically open the door when power is failed. The inclined spindle converts the vertical gravitational force into horizontal movement along the guide rail, enabling the door to open itself without external power assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined spindle acts as a mechanical counterweight system by converting the weight of the door leaf into useful opening force. The gravitational potential energy of the door is transformed into kinetic energy for door opening through the inclined plane mechanism.
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
Ensures reliable and safe operation with minimal structural effort, enabling automatic opening in emergencies and controlled closing with reduced mechanical complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the drive device has a spindle, in particular a ball screw spindle, which is connected to the electric motor
Implementation Method 2
the door leaf is automatically transferred into the opened position along the spindle when the electric motor is in a de-energised state
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an aircraft sliding door comprising: a door leaf, which is slidable between a closed position and an open position in the opening and closing direction, respectively, and has a door top part and a door bottom part, which are arranged in a pulled-out state in the closed position and in a pushed-together state in the open position; a guide rail; and a drive device having an electric motor for assisting the movement of the door leaf from the open position to the closed position, wherein the drive device has a spindle that is connected to the electric motor and is inclined with respect to the opening and closing direction such that the door leaf is automatically transferred into the open position along the spindle when the electric motor is in a de-energised state.