Aircraft Suite Privacy Door With Backup Aisle Access Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing privacy doors in aircraft passenger accommodation units often obstruct aisles when they fail, posing safety hazards and obstructing passenger and crew movement, and they lack reliable backup mechanisms for emergency access.
Innovation Solution
A door mechanism that translates horizontally and vertically between configurations, using guide tracks and a release mechanism to ensure smooth operation and provides an alternative path for emergency access, ensuring unobstructed aisle access even if the primary mechanism fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a privacy door is used to improve passenger privacy, then privacy is improved, but the door may obstruct the aisle when it fails or is in the closed position
Solution Approach 1:
The door mechanism transitions from a single horizontal plane of movement to a two-dimensional path that includes both horizontal translation and vertical movement. The door can move horizontally along a first path and vertically along a second path, allowing it to open fully without obstructing the aisle while maintaining privacy when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The door is designed with dynamic movement capabilities, transitioning between different operational modes: a first configuration for privacy closure and a second configuration for unobstructed access. The mechanism allows the door to pivot and translate between these states, adapting to different operational requirements.
2Ease of operation
If a pivoting or sliding mechanism is used for door movement, then ease of operation is improved, but the mechanism may fail and block passenger access to the aisle
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares alternative access paths in advance by providing a second door mechanism that can be activated if the primary mechanism fails. This preliminary arrangement ensures that if the main sliding or pivoting mechanism fails, passengers still have a functional backup path to the aisle.
Solution Approach 2:
The door access system is divided into separate functional segments: a primary door mechanism for normal operation and a secondary backup mechanism for emergency access. This segmentation ensures that failure of one mechanism does not compromise overall system reliability.
3Reliability
If the door is translated horizontally to maintain privacy, then privacy is maintained, but the door cannot provide alternative emergency access paths
Solution Approach 1:
The door mechanism transitions from a single horizontal plane of movement to a two-dimensional path that includes both horizontal translation and vertical movement. The door can move horizontally along a first path and vertically along a second path, allowing it to open fully without obstructing the aisle while maintaining privacy when closed.
Data Source
Figure 1(a)
Figure 1(b)
Figure 2(a)
AI summary
The invention provides an aircraft passenger accommodation unit (1000) comprising a seat (100), a shell (110) defining an opening (120), and a door (130). The door (130) is translatable along a first path across the opening (120) between a closed position in which passenger egress through the opening (120) is at least partially blocked, and an open position which allows passenger access between a seat (100) and an aisle (300). The door (130) is translatable in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction, between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, the door (130) is translatable across the opening (120) along the first path, and when the door (130) is in the second configuration, the door (130) is translatable across the opening (120) along a second path. The invention also provides a door arrangement and a method of using a door.