AIRCRAFT DOOR WITH COMPRESSIBLE HEADER

• US 20160114893A1
• Filed: 10/23/2015
• Published: 04/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Inventors: Drew, Dale, Whalen, Patrick Thomas Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,884,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/10 tiltable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2875 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1835 pivoting about an axis located in the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1885 with weight compensating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1892 characterised by a lock
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0696 Means for fastening seats to floors, e.g. to floor rails

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to an aircraft having an in-flight leveling system for a seat onboard the aircraft that includes a swivel mechanism providing selective rotational movement of the a rear portion of the seat to compensate for an angle of inclination of the aircraft during flight. A locking mechanism is coupled to the swivel mechanism to retain the seat in a first position for use on the ground and a second position for use during flight. An actuator moves the locking mechanism between a locked condition and an unlocked condition permitting the seat to move between the first position to the second position enabling the seat to be substantially level when the aircraft is on the ground and during flight.

Claims

1. An in-flight leveling system for a seat onboard an aircraft, comprising:

a swivel mechanism coupled to the seat, the swivel mechanism providing selective rotational movement of the seat to compensate for an angle of inclination of the aircraft during flight;

a locking mechanism coupled to the swivel mechanism to retain the seat in a first position and a second position; and

an actuator for moving the locking mechanism between a locked condition and an unlocked condition permitting the seat to move between the first position to the second position;

whereby, the seat is substantially level when the aircraft is on the ground in the first position and the seat is substantially level during flight in the second position.

2. The in-flight leveling system of claim 1, further comprising a piston coupled to the swivel mechanism to bias the seat from the first position toward the second position.

3. The in-flight leveling system of claim 1, wherein the swivel mechanism comprises:

a front pivot rod extending between a pair of spaced apart support base risers;

a rear slide rod extending between the pair of spaced apart support base risers and guided by arcuate slots formed in the pair of spaced apart support base risers; and

a sector pivotally coupled to one of the pair of spaced apart support base risers, the sector having an arcuate toothed rack and an opening for receiving the rear slide rod.

4. The in-flight leveling system of claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pawl having teeth to selectively engage the arcuate toothed rack of the sector.

5. The in-flight leveling system of claim 4, where the actuator comprises a lever causing a cam to move the pawl toward or away from the arcuate toothed rack of the sector.

6. The in-flight leveling system of claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination of the aircraft during flight is approximately 3-4.5 degrees.

7. The in-flight leveling system of claim 1, wherein an aft portion of the seat is raised approximately one-half inch in the second position.

8. An in-flight leveling system for a seat support base onboard an aircraft, comprising:

a pair of spaced apart support base risers;

a front pivot rod extending between the pair of spaced apart support base risers, the front pivot rod facilitating a front portion of the seat to selectively pivot;

a rear slide rod extending between the pair of spaced apart support base risers and guided by arcuate slots formed in the pair of spaced apart support base risers, the rear slide rod moving in the arcuate slots between a first position and a second position causing a rear portion the seat to rise when the rear slide rod moves from the first position toward the second position;

a track and swivel assembly coupled to the front pivot rod and the rear slide rod;

a sector pivotally coupled to one of the pair of spaced apart support base risers, the sector having an arcuate toothed rack and an opening for receiving the rear slide rod;

a locking mechanism coupled adjacent to the sector for selectively engaging the arcuate toothed rack; and

an actuator for moving the locking mechanism between a locked condition and an unlocked condition permitting the rear slide rod to move within the arcuate slots between the first position and the second position;

whereby, the seat mounting assembly is substantially level when the aircraft is on the ground in the first position and the seat mounting assembly is substantially level during flight in the second position.

9. The in-flight leveling system of claim 8, further comprising a piston coupled to the sector for biasing the sector and rear slide rod to move within the arcuate slots from the first position to the second position.

10. The in-flight leveling system of claim 8, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pawl having teeth to selectively engage the arcuate toothed rack of the sector.

11. The in-flight leveling system of claim 8, wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a lever causing a cam to move the pawl toward or away from the arcuate toothed rack of the sector.

12. The in-flight leveling system of claim 8, wherein the second position compensates for an angle of inclination of the aircraft during flight of approximately 3-4.5 degrees.

13. The in-flight leveling system of claim 8, wherein the rear portion of the seat is raised approximately one-half inch in the second position as compared to the first position.

14. An in-flight leveling system for a seat onboard an aircraft, comprising:

a pair of spaced apart support base risers;

a front pivot rod extending between the pair of spaced apart support base risers;

a rear slide rod extending between the pair of spaced apart support base risers and guided by arcuate slots formed in the pair of spaced apart support base risers;

a sector pivotally coupled to one of the pair of spaced apart support base risers, the sector having an arcuate toothed rack and an opening for receiving the rear slide rod;

a locking mechanism coupled adjacent to the sector for selectively engaging the arcuate toothed rack;

an actuator for moving the locking mechanism between a locked condition and an unlocked condition permitting the rear slide rod to move within the arcuate slots between a first position and a second position.

15. The in-flight leveling system of claim 14, further comprising a piston coupled to the sector for biasing the sector and rear slide rod to move within the arcuate slots from the first position to the second position.

16. The in-flight leveling system of claim 14, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a pawl having teeth to selectively engage the arcuate toothed rack of the sector.

17. The in-flight leveling system of claim 14, wherein the actuator mechanism comprises a lever causing a cam to move the pawl toward or away from the arcuate toothed rack of the sector.

18. The in-flight leveling system of claim 14, wherein the second position compensates for an angle of inclination of the aircraft during flight of approximately 3-4.5 degrees.

19. In an aircraft traveling at an angle of inclination during flight, a method for leveling system an seat onboard the aircraft comprising rising an aft portion of the seat an amount to compensate for the angle of inclination and return the seat to a substantially level position during flight.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising rising an aft portion of the seat compensate for a 3-4.5 degree angle of inclination to return the seat to a substantially level position during flight.