Aircraft Suite Door Quick-Release Lock Pin for Emergency Egress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency egress solutions for aircraft passenger suites require passengers to locate and operate inconspicuous release levers during emergencies, which is unreasonable and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A door assembly with a lock pin mechanism that allows the door to be easily decoupled from its rail system by applying force, eliminating the need for a release lever, and featuring a spring-loaded clamp to retain the lock pin in the receiver during normal use and facilitate quick release in emergencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional lever-actuated egress mechanism is used, then the door can be locked securely during normal use, but the passenger must locate and operate an inconspicuous release lever during emergency, which increases complexity and difficulty of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional release lever from the system entirely. Instead of hiding a lever inside the door, the invention extracts the locking function and replaces it with a simple push-button mechanism that either locks or unlocks the door directly, eliminating the need for passengers to locate and manipulate inconspicuous levers during emergencies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional locking mechanism by using a push-button system where pressing the button locks the door, and pulling the handle unlocks it. This is opposite to traditional mechanisms where a separate release lever must be found and operated, making the egress process more intuitive and easier during emergencies
2Ease of operation
If a simple push-button lock mechanism is used, then emergency egress becomes easier and more conspicuous, but the door may be more susceptible to accidental unlocking or unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the push-button mechanism conspicuous and accessible only in specific locations (such as near the door or in the aisle), while maintaining secure locking through the button's mechanical engagement. The button is positioned and designed so that it is easily accessible during emergencies but cannot be accidentally pressed or unauthorized access is prevented through its mechanical locking action
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
Enables quick and effortless door egress from passenger suites by allowing manual decoupling without tools or actuatable levers, ensuring safety and ease of use during emergencies.
Implementation Method 1
a spring-loaded clamp rotatably mounted to the base and configured to exert a retaining force on the lock pin to retain the lock pin in the receiver
Implementation Method 2
a rear portion that engages a compression spring disposed between the rear portion of the spring-loaded clamp and a spring seat formed in the carriage subassembly
Data Source
AI summary
A door assembly for an aircraft passenger suite includes a stationary wall, a rail mounted to the stationary wall, a carriage translatably mounted to the rail, a movable door, and a lock pin mounted to the door. The door assembly further includes a carriage subassembly mounted to the carriage including a receiver for receiving the lock pin, and a spring-loaded clamp for exerting a retaining force on the lock pin to retain the lock pin in the receiver. In embodiments, the lock pin has a configuration in which a force required to disengage the lock pin from the receiver is greater than a force required to engage the lock pin in the receiver. In use, in the event of mechanism failure, force can be applied to the door to decouple the lock pin from the receiver to move the door to facilitate egress.