Flight Deck Door Assembly With Lever-Plunger Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a risk of unauthorized access to the flight deck during flight operations due to the opening of the flight deck door for reasons such as crew members using the lavatory or delivering food/drinks, which existing systems fail to adequately inhibit or delay unauthorized entry.
Innovation Solution
A door assembly with a lever and plunger mechanism that moves between configurations to control access, using a gear assembly to extend the plunger into the opening, securing the door in an extended position to prevent unauthorized access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flight deck door is opened during flight for crew members to use the lavatory or receive deliveries, then the ease of operation is improved, but the security against unauthorized access deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is divided into multiple panels (first panel, second panel) that can be independently positioned. The engagement mechanism with lever and plunger operates separately from the main door operation, allowing authorized crew members to open the door while maintaining a security barrier that would prevent unauthorized access even if the door is opened
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement mechanism is pre-configured to automatically engage when the door is in the extended position. The lever is positioned to extend outward in the folded configuration, and the plunger is pre-positioned to engage with the opening when the door transitions to extended configuration, providing automatic security engagement before any unauthorized access attempt
2Device complexity
If a simple door locking mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to delay unauthorized entry is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement mechanism uses movable components (lever that moves between extended and retracted positions, plunger that moves between engaged and disengaged states) rather than fixed locking elements. The gear assembly provides dynamic transmission of motion, allowing the mechanism to automatically transition between locked and unlocked states based on door position, thereby providing time delay functionality without requiring complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The gear assembly acts as an intermediary mechanism between the lever and plunger. It translates the lever's movement into plunger movement, creating a mechanical linkage that provides time delay and motion transformation without requiring electronic controls or complex programming
Data Source
AI summary
A door assembly configured to be mounted in an opening and configured to control movement of persons through the opening. The door assembly includes a door within pivoting first and second panels. A lever is mounted to the second panel and is movable between a first lateral position with an end extending outward from the inner edge of the second panel and a second lateral position that is laterally offset from the first lateral position. A plunger is mounted to the second panel and is movable between a first vertical position with the plunger end disengaged from the opening and a second lateral position with the plunger end extending outward from the second panel and engaged with the opening. A gear assembly is configured to move the plunger to the first vertical position when the lever is in the first horizontal position and to move the plunger to the second vertical position when the lever is in the second horizontal position.