Patent ID: 11939040
Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
Field: Transport (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 16:
17. An aircraft comprising:
a system for operating a door, the system comprising a plurality of hinge assemblies, each of the hinge assemblies comprising:
a bracket secured to a structure of the aircraft, the bracket including a first forward joint and a first aft joint separated by a first distance;
a forward link coupled to the first forward joint;
an aft link that is longer than the forward link, the aft link coupled to the first aft joint; and
a door coupler secured to a top surface of the door at a forward edge of the door, the door coupler including a second forward joint and a second aft joint separated by a second distance that is less than the first distance, wherein the second forward joint is forward and below the first forward joint, and wherein the second aft joint is forward and below the first aft joint, the forward link is further coupled to the second forward joint, and the aft link is further coupled to the second aft joint, wherein rotation of the forward link and the aft link causes rotation of the door coupler and the door between a stowed position in which a gap between a forward edge of the door and an outer skin of the aircraft is less than a predetermined distance, wherein the first distance is along a first line, and wherein the second distance is along a second line that is parallel to the first line in the stowed position, and an open position in which the gap is less than the predetermined distance, and wherein rotation of the forward link and the aft link causes rotation of the door about a pivot axis that is at or proximate to a forward edge of the door, and wherein the pivot axis is at an outer mold line of the aircraft; and

a seal disposed between the outer skin of the aircraft and the door, wherein the seal extends over the gap.