FR2886969A1 - Door of baggage compartment used in aircraft cabin, has guide system which extends vertically in different orientation using vertical guide rail and slideway - Google Patents

Abstract

Multiple guiding structures (20,22) provided on both sides of an opening of the compartment, guides the movement of the door (2) in vertical translational direction. The guiding structure has a guiding system with a vertical guide rail (20) to form a projecting male structure, and with a slideway (22) to receive guide rail for allowing sliding movement. The guide system extends vertically with different orientation.

Description

The present invention relates to a door for a compartment such by

  example a trunk. It relates more particularly to a luggage compartment disposed in an aircraft cabin at the floor of this cabin.

  Generally, the luggage compartments in an aircraft cabin are arranged in height and are fixed to the ceiling of the cabin. A door pivoting about a substantially horizontal axis is disposed at the top of the opening for access to the luggage compartment and allows closing said opening.

  It is also known to integrate a luggage compartment in a module for receiving a passenger in an aircraft cabin. This trunk is then for example at the floor of said cabin. Such a module incorporating a luggage compartment of this type is disclosed for example by the document WO-2005/035360. The luggage compartment revealed here has a sliding door horizontally. This solution allows a good guiding of the door, it can rest on the floor of the cabin of the aircraft. However, when this sliding door is open, it is in some cases in the corridor for the passage of passengers and aircrew. This door is therefore an obstacle in this passage.

  The present invention therefore aims to provide a door closing a compartment, such as a luggage compartment disposed at the ground level of an aircraft cabin, the door, in the open position, not impinging on the neighboring space . In the case of an aircraft luggage compartment, it is necessary to prevent the open door from encroaching on the corridor from which it is possible to access said trunk. Of course, the proposed door can open and close reliably a large number of times. The door should preferably be well maintained, both in the open position and in the closed position.

  To this end, the invention provides a door for a compartment, such as an aircraft luggage compartment, movable between a first position in which it closes an opening of the compartment and a second position in which said opening is accessible.

  According to the invention, said door has on both sides of the opening of the compartment guiding means so as to guide the door in a substantially vertical translation movement.

  Such a door opens while remaining in the same vertical plane. When opened and closed, it does not move horizontally and therefore does not encroach on the adjacent space at the height of the compartment. Thus, in the case of a luggage compartment of an aircraft cabin, the trunk being disposed on the floor of this cabin, the door of the luggage compartment, when it opens and closes, does not encroach on the neighboring space intended for passage of passengers and aircrew.

  The invention proposes for example an embodiment in which the guiding means comprise, on each side of the opening of the compartment, a guiding system comprising on the one hand a substantially vertical guide rail forming a protruding male piece and on the other hand a slide shape complementary to that of the rail so as to receive the guide rail and to allow its sliding.

  To improve the rigidity of the door, especially in its open position, it is advantageously provided that the guide means comprise, on each side of the compartment opening, a guide system and that the guide systems extend vertically but with a different orientation. In this case, the guide systems are preferably oriented perpendicular to each other.

  In the case of a guide rail and slide mechanism, to allow to have a compact assembly and a door barely larger than those of the opening to be closed, each guide system comprises for example further a room intermediate disposed between the guide rail and the slide.

  For greater ease of use, a door according to the invention comprises for example on the one hand return means in its open position and on the other hand locking means in its closed position. Thus, as soon as the locking means are unlocked, the door opens automatically. In this embodiment, the return means comprise, according to a first variant embodiment, a metal strip wound at least partially elastically and in a second variant embodiment a hydraulic and / or pneumatic cylinder.

  To prevent the door from opening too quickly, especially when return means in a position (open or closed) are provided, this door advantageously comprises means for limiting its sliding speed.

  The present invention also relates to: - a module comprising a seat and a wall at least partially surrounding the seat, characterized in that it further comprises a luggage compartment, and in that a door as described hereinafter above it makes it possible to close access to this boot, - an aircraft cabin, characterized in that it comprises at least one module as defined above, and - an aircraft, characterized in that has at least one module as defined above.

  Details and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a luggage compartment and a door according to the invention in position Figure 2 shows the luggage compartment of Figure 1 with the door in the open position. Figures 3 and 4 are side views corresponding to Figures 1 and 2, respectively. Figure 5 is a partial sectional view in accordance with FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a return mechanism and a locking mechanism for the trunk door of FIGS. 1 to 4, and FIGS. 7A and 7B, respectively, show schematically, reduced scale and in front view, a door opening mechanism in closed and open position respectively.

  In FIG. 1, a compartment closed by a door 2 is recognized. In the context of this description, it is considered that this compartment is a luggage compartment designed to equip a module for an aircraft passenger. Such a module is for example of the type disclosed by the document cited in the preamble, namely WO-2005/035360. This luggage compartment is then at ground level 4 of an aircraft cabin. This floor 4 thus constitutes the bottom wall of the luggage compartment. The latter also comprises a right side wall 6, a left side wall 8, an upper wall 10 and a bottom 12 (Figure 2).

  The door 2 is a sliding door which, in an original way, moves in a vertical translation movement. Access to the luggage compartment is through the opposite side to the bottom 12 which is open. The door 2 allows the opening and closing of this open face 14.

  The door 2 has a main panel 16 and a flange 18. The main panel 16 is rectangular in shape, larger in size than the corresponding opening of the open face 14 to which it faces in the closed position of the door.

  The rim 18 extends at right angles to the main panel 16 over the entire height of the latter and is on the side of the luggage compartment. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, this flange 18 is, in the closed position of the door 2, facing the right side wall 6 of the luggage compartment.

  Guiding means are arranged on either side of the open face 14 to guide the door 2 from its closed position (Figures 1 and 3) to its open position (Figures 2 and 4) and vice versa. There are thus two guidance systems which are, in a preferred embodiment, both identical. Each of these guiding systems comprises on the one hand a guide rail 20 and on the other hand a guide rail 22.

  The slides 22, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, are fixed to the closed compartment by the door 2. A first slide 22 is fixed at the open face 14. It extends vertically close of the left side wall 8. The second slide 22 is fixed on the right side wall 6. It also extends vertically and is disposed near the open face 14 and so as to face the rim 18.

  The guide rails 20 are fixed on the door 2 so as to cooperate with the slideways 22. Thus a first guide rail is fixed vertically on the main panel 16 near the free edge thereof opposite the flange 18. L Another guide rail 20 is attached to the flange 18 and extends vertically as well.

  Various shapes can be given to the guide rails and slides. These two elements are of complementary shapes and form, for example, a tenon / mortise type assembly. For better sliding of the door 2, bearings may be provided between the guide rails 20 and the corresponding slides 22.

  It is noted in Figures 1 to 4, and in the foregoing description, that both guide systems both extend vertically and thus define a vertical sliding axis. We also note that these two systems are oriented differently. In the example described, the systems are perpendicular to one another. This advantageous arrangement allows a better maintenance of the door 2, especially in its open position. Thanks to this arrangement of the guiding systems, the latter can withstand both stresses exerted in the normal direction of the panel 16 and stresses exerted in a direction parallel to this panel 16.

  To better withstand the various constraints that can be exerted on the door 2, especially when it is in the open position, and especially also to have a more compact door opening system, it is proposed here to add advantageously a room intermediate 24 between each guide rail 20 and the corresponding slide 22. The length of this intermediate piece 24 corresponds substantially to the length of a guide rail 20 or a slide 22. In the closed position of the door 2, the three elements of the guide system, the guide rail 20, the slide 22 and the intermediate piece 24, are all three at the same height. When the door 2 is open, the intermediate piece 24 of a guide system is at a substantially median altitude between the corresponding fixed slide 22 and the corresponding guide rail 20 which is movable since it is connected to the door 2.

  Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of such a guidance system. The embodiment illustrated here comprises rolling balls 26 each time between firstly the guide rail 20 and the intermediate piece 24 and secondly between the intermediate piece 24 and the slideway 22.

  Providing an intermediate part 24 in the guiding system makes it possible to have a more compact assembly in height in the closed position of the door 2. In order to obtain a comparable rigidity without an intermediate part, it would be advisable to extend the slideways and guide rails which would lead to a larger footprint of the door.

  Figure 6 illustrates a return mechanism for returning the door 2 in its open position. This mechanism comprises a metal strip 28 wound around a fixed axis 30 relative to the luggage compartment. One end of the metal strip 28 is fixed to the axis 30 while its other end is fixed to the door 2. The axis 30 on which is wound the metal strip 28 is for example mounted using bearings 31 , as illustrated in Figure 6, on the underside of the upper wall 10 of the luggage compartment. The stroke of the door 2 is such that the metal ribbon always remains hidden by said door.

  Depending on the dimensions of the metal strip 28, the weight of the door 2, and other possible parameters, provision can be made for the presence of a second metal strip identical to the metal strip 28 and mounted in parallel with respect thereto.

  An alternative embodiment is shown in Figures 7A and 7B. In these figures, the metal strip 28 is replaced by a cylinder 44. The latter controls the vertical translation movement of the door 2. This cylinder 44 and mounted at an angle. This is for example a gas cylinder. However another type of cylinder could be used here. This jack 44 comprises a body 46 fixed by means of a head 48 on a fixed point disposed above the open face 14. This head 48 may be fixed for example by means of a support not shown on the top wall 10. The head 48 is disposed near a first guide system. The cylinder 44 also comprises a rod 50 fixed with a head 52 in the immediate vicinity of the lower edge of the door 2. The head 52 is also close to the other door guide system.

  When the rod 50 of the cylinder 44 enters and leaves the body 46 of the cylinder 44, the door 2 goes up and down as shown in Figures 7A and 7B.

  FIG. 6 also shows a locking device making it possible to keep the door 2 closed despite the restoring force exerted by the metal strip 28. Such a locking device can also be used with the jack 44 (or another restoring device). This locking device comprises a bolt 32 cooperating with a striker 34. It is proposed here to use a bolt 32 which snaps into the striker 34 and which is released from the striker 34 when pressure is exerted on the bolt 32 in the direction of the strike 34. Such a spring locking system is known to those skilled in the art and is not described in more detail here.

  In order to control the translational speed of the door, particularly when opening it, it is proposed to equip it with a mechanical speed control device. Such a device is shown schematically in Figure 5. The idea here is to create a friction limiting the sliding speed of the door. This mechanism has a rack 36 fixed to the door so as to be parallel to the guide rails 20. A wheel 38 meshes with the rack 36. The wheel 38 is carried by an axis 40 itself mounted in a bearing 42. The latter is advantageously fixed on (or under) the upper wall 10 of the boot. Such a mechanism, thanks to the generated friction, makes it possible to regulate the speed of rise of the door 2.

  The door described above can open and close while remaining in the same vertical plane. Thus, when used to close a boot of an aircraft, this door does not encroach in the adjacent corridor. The guiding systems described allow to provide a door whose dimensions are barely greater than the dimensions of the corresponding opening. By mounting the two guide systems one perpendicular to the other (another relative orientation could be chosen) the door has a high rigidity even when in its open position.

  The mechanisms for returning, locking and regulating the speed of displacement have been described by way of nonlimiting examples and are optional. They allow, each in its own way, to increase the comfort of use of the door. Thus, to open the door, a simple downward pressure on the top of the door allows the unlocking of the locking device and thanks to the return device, the door opens without having to pull it upwards . To close it, simply press down on the door until the pin is engaged in its keeper.

  The present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above by way of non-limiting examples. It also relates to all embodiments within the scope of the skilled person, within the scope of the claims below.

Claims (12)

  A door (2) for a compartment, such as an aircraft luggage compartment, movable between a first position in which it closes an opening (14) of the compartment and a second position in which said opening is accessible, characterized in that said door (2) has on both sides of the opening (14) of the compartment of the guide means (20, 22, 24) so as to guide the door (2) in a substantially vertical translational movement.   2. Door (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide means comprise, on each side of the opening (14) of the compartment, a guide system comprising on the one hand a guide rail (20) substantially vertical forming a protruding male piece and secondly a slide (22) of complementary shape to that of the rail (20) so as to receive the guide rail (20) and to allow its sliding.   3. Door (2) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide means comprise, on each side of the opening (14) of the compartment, a guide system, and in that the systems of guide (20, 22, 24) extend vertically but with a different orientation.   4. Door (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide systems (20, 22, 24) are oriented perpendicularly relative to each other.   5. Door (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each guide system (20, 22, 24) further comprises an intermediate piece (24).   6. Door (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it further comprises on the one hand return means (28; 44) in its open position and on the other hand means of locking (32, 34) in its closed position.   7. Door (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the biasing means comprise a metal strip (28) elastically wound at least partially.   8. Door (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the return means comprise a hydraulic cylinder and / or pneumatic (44).   9. Door (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it further comprises means (36, 38, 40, 42) for limiting its sliding speed.   10. Module comprising a seat and a wall at least partially surrounding the seat, characterized in that it further comprises a luggage compartment, and in that a door (2) according to one of claims 1 to 9 allows to close the access to this luggage compartment.   11. Aircraft cabin, characterized in that it comprises at least one module according to claim 10.   12. Aircraft, characterized in that it comprises at least one module according to claim 10.