Passenger door operation control set

• US 5,881,973 A
• Filed: 10/08/1997
• Issued: 03/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Original Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation (The Boeing Co.)
• Inventors: Topf, William Clement, Agajanian, Dale Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Mojica, Virna Lissi
• Application Number:
  US08/946,724
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.1, 244/129.3, 244/129.4, 244/137.1, 49/24, 49/31, 200/61.62, 705/348
• US Class Current: 244/129.5
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/00 Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means electric permutation locks E05B49/00

Abstract

A passenger door control set simulates the electrical sequencing and control circuits that controls the operation of an aircraft'"'"'s passenger doors, allowing the door to be opened and/or closed, and substitutes for the normal sequencing and control circuits that were removed from the aircraft during its conversion to a freighter configuration. The set contains a portable equipment box and a portable door switch box, and a set of adapter cables in a kit. The equipment box is connected by selected cables to the overhead equipment panel connectors and the door switch box is connected to the door bulkhead connectors for the selected aircraft door. Indicators are provided at each box to perceptibly indicate the correctness of the hook up and availability of electrical power.

Claims

1. A door control apparatus for controlling the positioning of locked electrically controlled doors of a reconfigurable aircraft that is in a freighter configuration, said aircraft containing at least one right side door and at least one left side door and an electrical operated door motor mechanism associated with each said door for positioning the associated door, and wherein said apparatus comprises:

a first control unit in electrical connection with said electrical operated door motor mechanism, wherein said first control unit includes a first multi-position selector switch for selecting one of the right side and left side doors for repositioning movement; and

a second control unit remote from and in communication with said first control unit for providing positional control input to said first control unit for positioning of said doors, wherein said second control unit comprises a second multi-position selector switch having a neutral position, first position and second position, said second multi-position switch capable of issuing a command to said first control unit for opening a door in response to movement of said selector switch to a first position, and further capable of issuing a command to said first control unit for closing said door in response to movement of said selector switch to a second position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second control unit further comprises a circuit for enabling said second multi-position selector switch to issue the command for repositioning a door only when said first control unit is connected with said electrical operated door motor mechanism.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first control unit comprises a third electrical switch for issuing a lock pin release command to a solenoid of said electrical operated door motor mechanism for unlocking of said door.

4. A door control apparatus for controllably positioning a door of a reconfigurable aircraft, wherein the aircraft includes an electro-mechanical system that controllably positions said door and that is at least partially disconnected for reconfiguration of the aircraft, and wherein said apparatus comprises:

a first control unit for at least partially reconnecting the electromechanical system associated with said door that was disconnected during reconfiguration; and

a second control unit, remote from said first control unit, for providing positional control input to said first control unit via an input port near said door such that said door can be appropriately positioned in response to the positional control input.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the electro-mechanical system controllably positions a plurality of doors that are positioned on opposing sides of said aircraft, and wherein said first control unit comprises a first selector switch for operatively configuring said apparatus to control doors on one of said opposing sides of said aircraft.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first control unit is in electrical connection with a power supply of said aircraft.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first control unit further comprises a first power indicator for indicating when said first control unit is in electrical connection with said power supply.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second control unit further comprises a second selector switch for selectively providing positional control input to said first control unit for positioning of said door.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said second selector switch defines a-plurality of switch positions, wherein a first switch position provides input to said first control unit to at least partially open said door, and wherein a second switch position provides input to said first control unit to at least partially close said door.

10. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said second control unit further comprises a second indicator for indicating when said first control unit has at least partially reconnected said electro-mechanical system.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said door comprises a locking system for locking the aircraft door, and wherein said first and second control units and said electromechanical system cooperate to controllably release said locking system of said door in response to movement of said second selector switch of said second control unit to either the first or second position.

12. A door control apparatus for controllably positioning a door of a reconfigurable aircraft, wherein the aircraft includes an electro-mechanical system that controllably positions said door and that is at least partially disconnected during reconfiguration of the aircraft, and wherein said apparatus comprises a first portable control unit, mounted within the reconfigured aircraft, for at least partially reconnecting the electro-mechanical system, to permit said door to be controllably positioned following reconfiguration of the aircraft.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the electro-mechanical system controllably positions a plurality of doors that are positioned on opposing sides of said aircraft, and wherein said first control unit comprises a first selector switch for operatively configuring said apparatus to control doors on one of said opposing sides of said aircraft.

14. A door control apparatus for controllably positioning a door of a reconfigurable aircraft, wherein the aircraft includes an electro-mechanical system that controllably positions said door and that is at least partially disconnected during reconfiguration of the aircraft, and wherein said apparatus comprises a portable attendant control unit for at least partially reconnecting the electro-mechanical system associated with said door that was disconnected during reconfiguration, wherein said portable attendant control unit provides positional control input to said electro-mechanical system via an input port near said door such that said door can be appropriately positioned in response to the positional control input.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said portable attendant control unit further comprises a selector switch for selectively providing positional control input to said electromechanical system for positioning of said door.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said selector switch defines a plurality of switch positions, wherein a first switch position provides input to said electro-mechanical system to at least partially open said door, and wherein a second switch position provides input to said electromechanical system to at least partially close said door.