Segmented Aircraft Door With Fold-Out Ramp for Easier Boarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle doors often hinder passengers' ability to utilize space and provide ergonomic comfort during ingress and egress, particularly in aircraft, due to design limitations that require stepping over or under vehicle lips and lack of accommodations for easy access.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle door system featuring an upward-opening upper door and a fold-out lower door with integrated features like a ramp, stair, lighting, and armrests, allowing for ergonomic access and use of cabin space, with synchronized rotation and optional sensors for controlled movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional door design is used, then the door structure is simple, but the passenger cannot make use of space and experiences ergonomic hardships during ingress and egress
Solution Approach 1:
The door is divided into multiple segments: an upper door portion and a lower door portion that can move independently. The lower door portion includes a fold-out section with ramp and stair features, allowing each segment to perform specific functions that collectively improve passenger access while managing overall complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The lower door portion is designed to be dynamic rather than static, featuring fold-out sections with ramp and stair elements that deploy during ingress and egress operations. This dynamic configuration allows the door to adapt its shape and provide ergonomic support only when needed, resolving the contradiction between comfort and complexity
2Weight of moving object
If aircraft doors are kept light and avoid wing structures, then weight is reduced and wing interference is minimized, but passenger comfort and ease of access are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the door into upper and lower portions with the lower section containing fold-out ramp and stair features, the design provides comprehensive passenger support without requiring a single heavy structural element, thus managing weight while improving access comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The fold-out lower door portion extends in multiple dimensions, creating a three-dimensional access pathway with ramp and stair features. This dimensional approach provides ergonomic support for passenger access without requiring additional heavy structural elements that would interfere with wing structures
3Ease of operation
If the door provides comprehensive ergonomic features, then passenger comfort is improved, but the door structure becomes more complex and heavier
Solution Approach 1:
The fold-out sections with ramp and stair features are dynamic elements that deploy only during ingress and egress operations. When retracted, these features do not add to the door's weight or complexity, providing ergonomic support on-demand rather than requiring permanent heavy structures
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle (600, 700) is disclosed. The vehicle (600, 700) includes a body forming a door opening. The vehicle (600, 700) also includes a first hinge (607, 707) coupled to the body. The vehicle (600, 700) further includes a door (608, 708) coupled to the body at the door opening and movable between an open position and a closed position. The door (608, 708) includes a first door portion (608A, 708A) including a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end is coupled to the first hinge (607, 707) and configured to rotate in a first direction in the open position and the second end is coupled to a second hinge (609, 709). The door (608, 708) also includes a second door portion (608B, 708B) coupled to the second hinge (609, 709) and configured to rotate at an angle to the first door portion (608A, 708A) in the open position and form a single surface with the first door portion (608A, 708A) in the closed position.