Barrier Door Hinged Lock for Delayed Flight Deck Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft flight deck doors are vulnerable to unauthorized access when opened during flight, necessitating a system to inhibit and delay unauthorized entry from the cabin area.
Innovation Solution
A hinged lock mechanism for a multiple-panel door with a strike section and latch section, allowing selective pivoting movement and locking configurations, combined with a time-delayed unlocking mechanism to secure the flight deck door.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flight deck door is opened during flight, then the flight crew can access the cabin area for legitimate purposes, but unauthorized persons can gain entry to the flight deck
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier door is deployed in advance before the flight deck door is opened, creating a physical obstacle that delays unauthorized access. This preliminary protective measure ensures that even if the flight deck door is opened, unauthorized persons cannot immediately enter the flight deck
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier door acts as an intermediary element between the cabin area and the flight deck. It is positioned in the cabin area to create a secondary security layer, mediating the access control function and providing additional time for security protocols to be executed
2Reliability
If a barrier door is deployed in the cabin area, then unauthorized access is delayed, but the door mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is divided into two separate sections: a strike section mounted on the first panel and a latch section mounted on the second panel. This segmentation allows each section to be independently positioned and function, simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining security effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge connection between the strike and latch sections allows the barrier door to transition between deployed and stowed positions dynamically. The hinge enables relative pivoting movement, allowing the barrier door to be deployed when security is needed and stowed when access is required, providing adaptability without permanent complexity
3Productivity
If the barrier door is folded to a stowed position, then access to the cabin area is enabled, but the lock must be reliably disengaged
Solution Approach 1:
The bolt is positioned in advance within the latch section, ready to engage with the receptacle. When the barrier door is deployed, the bolt automatically extends into the receptacle to secure the door, ensuring reliable locking without requiring additional action at the moment of deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge replaces a more complex pinned connection system, providing a simpler mechanical solution that enables relative pivoting movement between panels while maintaining secure engagement when locked. The hinge's natural pivoting action facilitates smooth deployment and stowing motions
Data Source
AI summary
A lock for a multiple panel door. The lock includes a strike section configured to be mounted to a first panel and with the strike section having a receptacle. A latch section is configured to be mounted to a second panel and with the latch section having a bolt selectively movable between an unlocked position that is away from the receptacle and a locked position that is positioned in the receptacle. A hinge pivotally connects the strike section and the latch section. The strike section and the latch section are selectively movable about the hinge to enable relative pivoting movement between the first panel and the second panel.