Vent door system with lever mechanism

An aircraft vent door system includes a vent door for a vent on an aircraft door. A cam, having a groove, is disposed on the vent door. The system also includes a movement assembly, which includes a roller disposed within the groove, and a lever coupled to the movement assembly. A portion of the lever extends beyond and proximate to the perimeter of the vent door. A second lever may also be attached to the aircraft door. The first lever pivots in response to the movement of the movement assembly, and urges the second lever to pivot. The second lever, in turn, urges the vent door open, thereby overcoming the sticking effect of, for example, built up ice or other obstructions.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to vent door systems and, more particularly, to vent door systems that include lever mechanisms to open the vent door against the pressure caused by ice buildup.

BACKGROUND

Vents are used countless applications to provide an entrance or exit for the flow of air. When it is necessary to control whether air flows through a vent, then a vent door is typically used. An example of where vent doors are used is on the passenger doors of commercial aircraft. Vents allow the pressure inside the aircraft to be equalized with the pressure on the outside of the aircraft after the aircraft lands. One problem with conventional vent doors is ice build-up. Ice build-up occurs particularly when the air temperature on one side of the vent door is much lower than the air temperature on the other side of the vent door. This causes ice to build up on the vent door. When the ice builds up around the edges of the door, it can cause the door to become stuck in a closed position. This frequently occurs in commercial aircraft, since the temperatures outside of the aircraft at cruising altitude are usually well below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, it can be seen that there is a need for a vent door system that includes a way of overcoming the problem of ice buildup.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present invention provides a vent door system. The vent door system includes a vent door. A cam is disposed on the vent door. The cam has a groove defined on it. The system also includes a movement assembly, which includes a roller, which is disposed within the groove, and a lever coupled to the movement assembly. A portion of the lever extends beyond and proximate to the perimeter of the vent door.

The lever can be one of at least two levers. The second lever can be attached to a surface beyond the periphery of the vent door.

A first portion of the cam can be attached to the vent door, and a second portion of the cam can pivotally attached to a surface outside of the vent door. The movement assembly can also include a first arm, a second arm, and a rod, with the first and second arms being connected to the rod such that, when the rod rotates about its longitudinal axis, the first and second arms move correspondingly, the first arm being coupled to the lever, the roller being attached to the second arm. Also, the cam can be a first cam, and the system can further include a second cam disposed on the vent door generally parallel to and facing the first cam, the second cam having defined thereon a groove. Also in this arrangement, the movement assembly can include a third arm having a roller that is disposed within the groove, with the third arm being connected to the rod.

In addition, the lever can be pivotally attached to the vent door, and the movement assembly includes an arm that is coupled to the lever when the vent door is opened. During opening of the vent door, the arm urges the portion of the lever that extends beyond the vent door against a surface that is beyond the vent door. Also, when the vent door enters a partially open position, the arm can decouple from the lever.

The vent door can include a generally planar panel, and a wall that surrounds and is generally perpendicular to the panel. In this arrangement, the panel and the wall define a cavity, and a generally planar member is disposed within the cavity and attached to the panel. Furthermore, the cam can be attached to the member. When used in an aircraft door having a vent opening defined therein, when the vent door is in a closed position, the vent door is seated within the opening. The vent door can have at least an open position, a movement assembly linked to the vent door, and a lever attached to the vent door. In this arrangement, the lever is coupled to the movement assembly when the vent door is in its closed position and uncoupled from the movement assembly when the vent door is in its open position. The lever can have a first end that protrudes beyond the periphery of the vent door, and a second end to which the movement assembly is coupled when the vent door is in its closed position.

The movement assembly can include an arm with a hooked end. In this arrangement, the lever can have a first end that protrudes beyond the periphery of the vent door, and a second end. The hooked end of the arm is coupled to the second end of the lever when the vent door is in its closed position. Also, the lever can be pivotally attached to the door. In this arrangement, when the movement assembly pulls the door toward its open position, the hooked end of the arm pulls on the second end of the lever, causing the lever to pivot, and urging the first end of the lever against a surface that is beyond the periphery of the door.

In another arrangement, the vent door system can include a cam attached to the door. The cam can have a groove defined on it, and the movement assembly includes an arm to which the roller is attached, such that when the arm pivots, the roller rolls along the groove and thereby urges the cam and the vent door away from a vent. The cam can have a first portion attached to the vent door, and a second portion pivotally attached to a surface outside of the vent door. Also, the cam can have defined thereon a groove, and the movement assembly can include a first arm, a second arm having a roller attached thereto, and a rod. The first and second arms can be connected to the rod such that, when the rod rotates about its longitudinal axis, the first and second arms move correspondingly. The first arm can be coupled to the lever, and the roller is disposed within the groove.

Also, the lever can be pivotally attached to the vent door. In this arrangement, the movement assembly includes an arm that is coupled to the lever when the vent door is opened and, during opening of the vent door, urges the portion of the lever that extends beyond the vent door against a surface that is beyond the vent door. The vent door can have a generally planar panel, and a wall that surrounds and is generally perpendicular to the panel. The panel and the wall define a cavity, and a generally planar member can be disposed within the cavity and attached to the panel. Furthermore, the movement assembly can be attached to the generally planar member. Hence, in an arrangement where an aircraft door has a vent opening defined therein, when the vent door is in a closed position, the vent door is seated within the opening.

Hence, in an aircraft door venting system according to an embodiment of the present invention, the aircraft door can have a vent and a vent door having an open position and a closed position. The vent door is seated within the vent when the vent door is in the closed position. The system also includes a rod disposed proximate to the vent door, and a first arm and a second arm attached to the rod. The first and second arms are generally perpendicular to the rod. The first arm has a hooked end and the second arm has a roller attached to it. The system also includes a cam having a first portion that is attached to the vent door and a second portion that is pivotally attached to a surface of the aircraft door. Defined on the cam is a groove, in which the roller is disposed. The system further includes a lever pivotally attached to the vent door, with one end of the lever being coupled to the hooked end of the first arm when the vent door is in the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present invention described herein is generally directed vent door system having a lever.FIGS. 1-8illustrate examples of the vent door system according to various embodiments of the present invention. The system, generally labeled10, is integrated with an aircraft door8in this example. The aircraft door8has a vent opening9(shown inFIG. 6), around which a vent door frame12is disposed. The vent door frame12is attached to the aircraft door8. The system also includes a vent door14, which has an open position and a closed position. A flexible seal13is attached to the vent door14. When in its closed position, a peripheral lip15of the vent door14is seated against the seal13and within the opening around which the vent door frame12is disposed. The vent door14includes a front panel18and a wall20. The front panel18and the wall20define a cavity22. The vent door14further includes a first generally planar member24and a second generally planar member26that are integrally formed with the front panel18and run along the length of the vent door14. The vent door14further includes a first rib27and a second rib28, also integrally formed with the first panel18. Attached to the vent door14are two brackets62and64. The brackets62and64are fastened to the vent door14by bolts.

The vent door system10further includes a first cam16and a second cam17. Both the first and second cams16and17are shown inFIG. 1. InFIGS. 2,3, and7, only the second cam17is shown. InFIGS. 4,5,6, and8, only the first cam16is shown. The first cam16is attached to the vent door14at points16aand16b, while the second cam17is attached to the vent door14at points17a&17b. The vent door frame12also includes a hinge19. The first cam16is attached to the hinge19at point16c, which the second cam17is attached to the hinge19at point17c. The first cam16has defined thereon a groove16d. Similarly, the second cam17has defined thereon a groove17d. The vent door14moves from its open position to its closed position and vice versa via the movement of the first and second cams16and17. Specifically, the first and second cams16and17pivot about the hinge19, taking the attached vent door14with them.

Also included in the vent door system10is a lever50. The lever50is an elongated member that has a first end52, a middle portion54and a second end56. The first end52has two generally planar members52aand52bthat face one another and are generally parallel to each other. Between the two planar members52aand52bis a gap. A pin58connects the two planar members52aand52bacross the gap. The middle portion54of the lever50is generally solid. Between the middle portion54and the second end56is a rounded portion60. The second end56of the lever50is generally solid and hooks at about a 90 degree angle. The lever50is attached to the vent door14by a bolt58that extends through a sleeve51that passes through a hole in the rounded portion60of the lever50and is anchored by the brackets62and64. The lever50pivots about the sleeve51.

The vent door system10also includes a movement assembly, which imparts the force to the first and second cams16and17necessary to move the vent door14from its open to its closed position and vice versa. The movement assembly, generally labeled30, includes a rod32(shown inFIG. 1) that is rotatable around its longitudinal axis, a first arm34, second arm36and third arm38that are attached to the rod30. The first arm34has a first end35, which is attached to the rod32, and a second end37, which is hooked. The second arm36has a first end and a second end. The first end of the second arm36is attached to the rod32. Disposed on the second end of the second arm is a roller40. Similarly, the third arm38has a first end and a second end. The first end of the third arm38is attached to the rod32. Disposed on the second end of the third arm38is a roller42. The roller40of the first arm36is disposed in the groove16dof the first cam16, and the roller42of the second arm38is disposed within the groove17dof the second cam17.

The functionality of the vent door system in an embodiment of the invention will now be described. To move the vent door14from its closed position to its open position, the following exemplary steps occur. First the rod32rotates (counterclockwise from the perspective ofFIGS. 4-6). This rotation causes the first arm34, the second arm36and the third arm38to rotate at or near 5 degrees (also counterclockwise from the perspective ofFIGS. 4-6). The rotation of the first arm32pushes the lever50against the frame12, thereby forcing the vent door14open approximately 2.5 millimeters, thereby breaking ice that may have been formed between the vent door14and the frame12. As the second arm36and third arm38rotate, the rollers40and42rotate against the profile of the respective grooves16dand17dof the first cam16and the second cam17, and the first and second arms36and38pull the first and second cams16and17in proportion to the profile of the grooves. This pulling force causes the cams16and17, along with the vent door14, to pivot counterclockwise (from the perspective ofFIGS. 4-6) about the hinge19. As the vent door14pivots, the first arm34decouples from the lever50. When the first, second and third arms34,36and38have rotated at or about 75 degrees, the vent door14will have opened about 45 degrees. To close the vent door14, the rod32rotates clockwise (from the perspective ofFIGS. 4-6), thereby moving the first, second and third arms34,36and38clockwise. The action of the second and third arms36and38along with the rollers40and42force the first and second cams16and17to rotate clockwise (from the perspective ofFIGS. 4-6) about the hinge19, which moves the vent door14into its closed position. As the vent door14closes, the first arm34reconnects with the lever50.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 8, another embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment, the vent door system10includes a second lever70that is attached to the aircraft door8by a pivot72. The second lever70has a first section74and a second section76. The first section74is disposed between the second section76and the door8and has a hole through which the pivot72passes. The second section76is disposed on top of the first section74and is between the first section74and the second end56of the lever50. The first section74has a first portion78that slopes at an acute angle relative to the door8, and a second portion80that curves upward to a point that is substantially vertical relative to the door8. The second lever70is disposed within a depression82of the door8, so that it sits below the lever of the vent door14. When the vent door14is in the closed position, the tip of the second portion80is just below or touches the peripheral lip15of the vent door14. The remaining portions of the vent door system10have the same structures shown inFIGS. 1-6and previously described.

To move the vent door14from its closed position to its open position, the following steps occur. First the rod32rotates (counterclockwise from the perspective ofFIGS. 7-8). This rotation causes the first arm34, the second arm36and the third arm38to rotate at or near 5 degrees (also counterclockwise from the perspective ofFIGS. 7-8). The rotation of the first arm32pushes the first lever50against the first portion78of the second section74second lever70. The second lever70rotates clockwise about the pivot72. The second portion80of the second section74of the second lever70pushes upward against the lip15of the vent door14thereby breaking ice that may have been formed between the vent door14and the frame12. As the second arm36and third arm38rotate, the rollers40and42rotate against the profile of the respective grooves16dand17dof the first cam16and the second cam17, and the first and second arms36and38pull the first and second cams16and17in proportion to the profile of the grooves. This pulling force causes the cams16and17, along with the vent door14, to pivot counterclockwise (from the perspective ofFIGS. 7-8) about the hinge19in the same fashion as shown in the description of the previous embodiment inFIGS. 4-6. As the vent door14pivots, the first arm34decouples from the lever50. When the first, second and third arms34,36and38have rotated at or about 75 degrees, the vent door14will have opened about 45 degrees. To close the vent door14, the rod32rotates clockwise (from the perspective ofFIGS. 7-8), thereby moving the first, second and third arms34,36and38clockwise. The action of the second and third arms36and38along with the rollers40and42force the first and second cams16and17to rotate clockwise (from the perspective ofFIGS. 7-8) about the hinge19, which moves the vent door14into its closed position. As the vent door14closes, the first arm34reconnects with the first lever50.

It can be seen from the foregoing that a new and useful vent door system with a lever has been described. The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.