Aircraft Lavatory Door Mechanism for Contactless Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft lavatory doors that are manually opened and closed pose a risk of transmitting novel coronavirus through contact, necessitating a solution that allows entry and exit without touching the door.
Innovation Solution
A powered door opening mechanism with non-contact sensors, an engaged member, and an engaging member that moves the door from the closed to the open position without manual contact, allowing for easy installation in existing aircraft lavatories.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a manual door opening mechanism is used, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is high, but the transmission of novel coronavirus cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely manual mechanical door opening system with an automated actuator-driven system. The actuator moves the engaging member to open the door without requiring user contact, thereby eliminating the transmission route for viruses while substituting mechanical automation for manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an engaging member as an intermediary between the actuator and the door. This engaging member, with its open shape that engages from the door side, allows the actuator to open the door without the user needing to touch the door, thus preventing virus transmission while maintaining mechanical reliability.
2Ease of operation
If a powered door opening mechanism with engaging member is added, then contactless operation is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging member is designed with multi-functionality: it can be engaged by the actuator for automated contactless door opening, yet it also allows manual door opening when the actuator is not operating. This universal design enables the same component to serve both automated and manual operation modes, reducing the need for separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging member has an open shape that allows dynamic engagement and disengagement. The open configuration enables the member to be engaged by the actuator during automated operation, while still permitting manual manipulation when needed, providing operational flexibility without requiring complex locking mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the engaging member has an open shape that engages from the door side, then manual operation is maintained, but the automation reliability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor is incorporated to detect whether the door is in the closed state. This feedback mechanism ensures that the actuator only operates when the door is closed and needs to be opened, preventing erroneous operation and ensuring reliable automated door opening while maintaining compatibility with manual operation when the sensor indicates the door is already open.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If non-contact sensors and actuators are installed, then virus transmission is prevented, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: the engaging member attached to the door, the actuator mounted separately, and the sensor system. This segmentation allows for modular installation in existing aircraft lavatories, reducing installation complexity while maintaining the contactless operation capability to prevent virus transmission.
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
Prevents transmission of novel coronavirus by enabling contactless entry and exit, maintains user-friendliness, and allows manual operation during maintenance or faults, ensuring convenience and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a non-contact sensor provided inside and outside the lavatory and configured to detect part of a human body
Implementation Method 2
A door for opening and closing an entrance of an aircraft lavatory unit is always biased by a spring to the closed position
Data Source
AI summary
A powered door opening mechanism to move an aircraft lavatory door from the closed position to the open position is provided, which includes a non-contact sensor inside and outside the lavatory to detect part of a human body, an engaged member in the door and extending to an upper side of the door, an engaging member at a section on the upper side of the door inside the lavatory, engageable with the engaged member from a side of the door from the closed position of the door to the open position of the door, and having a shape that is open in a direction away from the door, and an actuator to move the engaging member in a direction away from the entrance in response to a detection signal from the non-contact sensor and move the door from the closed position to the open position through the engaged member.