Apparatus for eliminating gaps in an aircraft

• US 5,979,828 A
• Filed: 04/30/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas
• Original Assignee: Mcdonnell Douglas
• Inventors: Geiger, Micael Watson, Jacobs, Jack Howard, Wille, Robert Henry, Gruensfelder, Cynthia Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen L.
• Application Number:
  US08/848,228
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 244/130, 244/117 R, 244/119, 244/129.1, 244/129.4, 244/129.5, 244/131, 244/213, 277/26, 277/589, 277/277, 277/901, 277/921, 49/477.1, 49/316, 49/489.1, 49/475.1, 49/480.1
• US Class Current: 244/129.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 10/244 inflatable or deflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/14 Windows; Doors; Hatch covers or access panels; Surrounding frame structures; Canopies; Windscreens accessories therefor, e.g. pressure sensors, water deflectors, hinges, seals, handles, latches, windscreen wipersfairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements B64C25/16; bomb doors B64D1/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 277/921 Closure or weather strip seal

Abstract

An apparatus (30) for eliminating gaps (20) in a door of an airplane has an elastaueric bladder (32) bonding along an edge (24) of a door gap (20). The elastomeric bladder (32) includes a port providing for access to an interior cavity (34). A pneumatic actuator is coupled to the port.

Claims

1. An apparatus for eliminating gaps in a door of an airplane comprising:

an elastomeric bladder bonding along an edge of a door gap;

a metal coated woven cloth covering the elastomneric bladder;

a port providing access to an interior cavity of the elastomeric bladder;

a pneumatic actuator coupled to the port; and

a plurality of shape memory alloy ribs in the elastomeric bladder.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of shape memory alloy ribs have a retracted position and an expanded position.

3. An apparatus for sealing a door gap on an aircraft, comprising:

an elastomeric bladder;

a base inside the elastomeric bladder;

a rigid member inside the elastomeric bladder, the rigid member having a slat; and

a shape memory alloy spring attached to the base and sliding along the slat of the rigid member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the elastomeric bladder is bonded to the edge.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further including a conductive material that is elastic and covers the elastomeric sock.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, further including an envirormental coating over the conductive material.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the environmental coating is impervious to a plurality of chemical solvents.

8. An apparatus for closing a gap in an airplane, comprising:

a hollow elastomeric strip connect to an edge of the gap;

an elastic environmental coating covering an exterior surface of the hollow elastomeric strip; and

a plurality of shape memory alloy ribs extending along the length and inside of the hollow elastomeric strip.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further including a conductive elastic material between the exterior surface and the elastic environmental coating.

10. An apparatus for eliminating gaps, comprising:

a structural block;

an elastomer panel attach to an edge of the structural block;

a plurality of reinforcing members attached to the structural block and extending through the elastomer panel;

a plurality of shape memory alloy ribs connected to the structural block; and

a second structural block attached to the elastomer panel and attached to the plurality of shape memory alloy ribs.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the plurality of shape memory alloy ribs have a first state and a second state.