Device for articulating a door of a nacelle of an aircraft and nacelle provided with said articulation device

• US 20070278345A1
• Filed: 05/21/2007
• Published: 12/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Societe Par Actions Simplifiees
• Inventors: Oberle, Patrick, Bourgault, Joel
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/53.R
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/06 Attaching of nacelles, fairings or cowlings
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 29/08 Inspection panels for power plants
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/1005 the wing being supported on arms movable in horizontal planes
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/28 supported on arms movable in horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/502 for aircraft

Abstract

An articulation device connects a door (46) of an aircraft nacelle (30), the nacelle (30) including an external wall called a fairing including at least one opening (44) adapted to be closed by at least the door (46). The articulation device includes at least one arm (56) connected by a first pivotal axle (58) to the nacelle (30) and by a second pivotal axle (60) to the door (46), the two pivotal axles (58, 60) being substantially parallel.

Claims

1. Articulation device connecting a door (46) to an aircraft nacelle (30), said nacelle (30) comprising an external wall called fairing comprising at least one opening (44) adapted to be closed by at least said door (46), said articulation device comprising at least one arm (56) connected by means of a first pivotal axle (58) to the nacelle (30) and by means of a second pivotal axle (60) to the door (46), the two pivotal axles (58, 60) extending substantially parallel, characterized in that said at least one arm (56) comprises two portions movable relative to each other.

2. Articulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first pivotal axle (58) is offset inwardly of the nacelle and in that the arm (56) is elbowed, such that the door is adapted to be disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to the fairing of the nacelle in the open position.

3. Articulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm (56) comprises a first portion (70) articulated to the nacelle, a second portion (72) articulated to the door and a third pivotal axle (74), connecting the two substantially parallel portions (70, 72) to the pivotal axles (58, 60).

4. Articulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm (56) is telescopic.

5. Articulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivotal axles are substantially vertical such that the center of gravity of the door moves in a substantially horizontal plane.

6. Articulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that pivotal axles are slightly inclined relative to the vertical so as to obtain a stable open position of the door and/or to facilitate the opening of the door thanks to the weight of said door.

18. Articulation device according to claim 2, characterized in that the arm (56) comprises a first portion (70) articulated to the nacelle, a second portion (72) articulated to the door and a third pivotal axle (74), connecting the two substantially parallel portions (70, 72) to the pivotal axles (58, 60).

19. Articulation device according to claim 2, characterized in that the arm (56) is telescopic.

20. Articulation device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pivotal axles are substantially vertical such that the center of gravity of the door moves in a substantially horizontal plane.

7. Aircraft nacelle comprising an external wall called fairing comprising at least one opening (44) adapted to be closed by at least one door (46) connected to said door by an articulation device, the articulation device comprising at least one arm (56) connected by means of a first pivotal axle (58) to the nacelle (30) and by means of a second pivotal axle (60) to the door (46), the two pivotal axles (58, 60) being substantially parallel, characterized in that said at least one arm (56) comprises two portions movable relative to each other.

8. Aircraft nacelle according to claim 7, characterized in that the first pivotal axle (58) is offset inwardly of the nacelle and in that the arm (56) has an elbowed shape, such that the door will be adapted to be disposed substantially parallel and adjacent to the fairing of the nacelle in the open position.

9. Aircraft nacelle according to claim 7, characterized in that the arm (56) comprises a first portion (70) articulated to the nacelle, a second portion (72) articulated near the door and a third pivotal axle (74), connected to the two portions (70, 72), substantially parallel to the pivotal axles (58, 60).

10. Aircraft nacelle according to claim 7, characterized in that the arm (56) is telescopic.

11. Aircraft nacelle according to claim 7, characterized in that the first pivotal axle (58) is disposed at the level of the front lateral edge(48) of the opening (44).

12. Aircraft nacelle according to claim 7, characterized in that the front lateral edge of the door (46) and/or the front lateral edge of the opening (44) comprise means to prevent relative radial movement between these two element and the rear lateral edge of the door (46) and/or the rear lateral edge of the opening (44) comprise means to prevent relative longitudinal movement between these two elements.

13. Aircraft nacelle according to claim 12, characterized in that the front lateral edge (48) of the opening comprises a first throat (62) whose opening is oriented rearwardly, adapted to receive the front lateral edge (64) of the door (46).

14. Aircraft nacelle according to claim 13, characterized in that the front lateral edge (64) of the door comprises a slight recess such that said edge (64) is disposed within the first throat (62), the rest of the surface of the door being disposed in prolongation of the fairing of the nacelle.

15. Aircraft nacelle according to claim 12, characterized in that the rear lateral edge (50) of the opening comprises a second throat (66) whose opening is oriented radially outwardly of the nacelle, adapted to receive the incurved rear lateral edge (68) of the door (46).

16. Aircraft nacelle according to any claim 7, characterized in that it comprises bolts to hold the door in closed position.

17. Aircraft comprising a nacelle according to claim 7.