Aircraft Passenger Suite Sliding Door With Pivoting Panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard passenger suite openings in commercial aircraft present challenges for passengers with restricted mobility, preventing the use of mobility aids and failing to meet regulatory requirements for emergency passage from both inside and outside the suite.
Innovation Solution
A door assembly with a movable door and partition system that allows for sliding and pivoting movements, providing a standard and enlarged opening for improved accessibility while ensuring compliance with emergency passage regulations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a standard opening size is used for passenger suite doors, then the door structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but passengers with restricted mobility cannot access the suite and mobility aids cannot be used
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly incorporates a movable partition with a movable panel that can dynamically change the opening size. The panel transitions between a first position (standard opening) and a second position (enlarged opening), allowing the structure to adapt its configuration based on accessibility requirements while maintaining a relatively simple base design.
2Reliability
If a standard door opening is used, then the door structure remains simple, but the emergency passage requirement from both inside and outside the suite cannot be met
Solution Approach 1:
The movable panel serves multiple functions: it creates an enlarged opening for accessibility when moved to the second position, and simultaneously provides an emergency passage feature when positioned appropriately. The single structural element addresses both accessibility requirements and emergency egress requirements, reducing the need for separate emergency exit mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the opening size is enlarged for accessibility, then passengers with restricted mobility can access the suite, but the door and partition structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The partition is divided into a fixed panel and a movable panel, allowing the movable section to be independently manipulated to create the enlarged opening. This segmentation enables the accessibility feature to be achieved without redesigning the entire partition structure, isolating the complexity to only the necessary movable component.
Data Source
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AI summary
A passenger suite (106) for an aircraft (102). The passenger suite (106) includes a partition (116, 216) and a door (112, 212). The partition (116, 216) includes a fixed panel (136, 236) and a movable panel (134, 234). The movable panel (134, 234) is pivotally connected to the fixed panel (136, 236). The door (112, 212) is slidably connected to the fixed panel (136, 236). The door (112, 212) and the partition (116, 216) separate the passenger suite (106) from a passenger cabin aisle (104, 408) of the aircraft. The door (112, 212) is movable between a closed position (302), a first open position (402), and a second open position (502) relative to the partition (116, 216). The passenger suite (106) provides improved access for passengers with restricted mobility while also serving as a functional emergency passage feature.