Device for locking a moving element such as an aircraft door and aircraft equipped with said locking device

A locking device which includes a hook and a dual control for locking the hook. The dual control includes a first shaft and a second shaft. The first shaft incorporates a section and is rotationally mobile between a hooked position, in which the section is accommodated in a housing of the hook and an unhooked position, in which the section is outside the housing of the hook. The second shaft incorporates a section and is rotationally mobile between a locked position, in which the section of the second shaft is accommodated in a notch in a flange of the first shaft and an unlocked position, in which the section of the second shaft is outside the notch in the flange of the first shaft.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the French patent application No. 1559034 filed on Sep. 25, 2015, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by way of reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for locking a moving element such as an aircraft door and to an aircraft equipped with said locking device.

FIG. 1shows an opening10in a fuselage12of an aircraft,FIG. 3shows part of a door14configured for occluding the opening10, andFIGS. 2, 3, 4A to 4Cshow a locking mechanism allowing the door14to be held in the closed position.

According to an embodiment of the prior art, the locking mechanism includes a keeper16integral with the fuselage12and a hook18integral with the door14.

The keeper16is fixed and includes a cylinder20, which has an axis oriented along a longitudinal direction and a clevis22, which is integral with the fuselage and which supports the cylinder20.

As illustrated onFIGS. 4A to 4C, the hook18is rotationally mobile around a first shaft24whose axis is parallel to the longitudinal direction, said hook18being mobile between a hooked state (visible onFIGS. 4B and 4C), in which the hook18cooperates with the keeper16so as to hold the door14in the closed position and an unhooked state (visible onFIG. 4A) in which the hook18is distanced from the keeper16in order to allow the door14to open.

According to an embodiment visible onFIGS. 4A to 4C, the locking mechanism also includes a control system26configured for making the hook18pivot and for holding it in the hooked state, said control system26being mounted on a support28fastened to the door14.

This control system26includes:

a first control30integral with a blocking shaft32mounted to pivot on the support28and oriented along the longitudinal direction,

a first link34, which is placed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a first extremity34.1of the first link34being connected to the hook18and a second extremity34.2of the first link34being connected to the first control30,

a second control36integral with a locking shaft38mounted to pivot on the support28and oriented along the longitudinal direction, and

a second link40, which is placed in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, a first extremity40.1of the second link40being connected to the first control30, the second extremity40.2of the second link40being connected to the second control36.

The control system26includes actuators for controlling the rotational movement of the blocking and locking shafts32,38.

The shafts24,32,38and the links34and40are arranged so as to form a toggle joint mechanism. The hook18therefore successively occupies an unhooked state visible onFIG. 4A, a hooked unlocked state visible onFIG. 4Band a hooked and locked state visible onFIG. 4C.

On account of its design, a locking device according to the prior art is relatively complex due to the large number of parts and has a relatively high weight when the hook18has large dimensions to the extent that the control system26and the support28are dimensioned notably on the basis of the dimensions of the hook18. These disadvantages are all the more detrimental in the case of a door of an aircraft hold since the door includes several locking mechanisms, each including a hook with large dimensions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This application therefore aims to remedy the disadvantages of the prior art.

To that effect, an object of the invention is a device for locking a first mobile element of an aircraft in relation to a second fixed element, the locking device including a first part integral with one of the two elements among the mobile element and the fixed element, and a second part integral with the other element, the first part including a hook with a housing.

According to the invention, the locking device is characterized in that the second part includes:

a first shaft, which incorporates a flange with a notch and a section configured for cooperating with the housing of the hook, the first shaft being rotationally mobile between a hooked position, in which the section is accommodated in the housing of the hook and an unhooked position in which the section is outside the housing of the hook, and

a second shaft, which incorporates a section configured for cooperating with the notch in the flange, said second shaft being rotationally mobile between a locked position, in which the section of the second shaft is accommodated in the notch in the flange of the first shaft such that the rotation of the first shaft is immobilized, and an unlocked position, in which the section of the second shaft is outside the notch in the flange of the first shaft such that the first shaft is free to rotate.

The invention makes it possible to obtain a locking device with a dual control based on pivoting elements (the first and second shafts), without links. This design makes it possible to reduce the number of parts and consequently to simplify the locking device and to reduce its weight.

According to another advantage, the fact of using only pivoting elements and of doing away with the links makes it possible to obtain a more compact assembly and to limit the risks of malfunctioning in the event of icing.

According to another advantage, since the dual control formed by the first and second shafts is no longer connected to the hook, its dimensioning is independent of that of the hook. This contributes to reducing the weight of the locking device.

Finally, the locking device is compatible, subject to minor adjustments, with the actuators of the locking devices of the prior art.

The second part preferably includes a clevis, which incorporates a base, and the hook includes an extremity with a height smaller than the distance between the base of the clevis and the section of the first shaft when said first shaft is in the unhooked position, and greater than the distance between the base of the clevis and the section of the first shaft when said first shaft is in the hooked position.

Advantageously, the hook has a minimum height equal to the distance between the base and the section of the first shaft when said first shaft is in the hooked position.

According to one embodiment, the section of the first shaft is a half disc and the hook includes a peripheral edge, which incorporates a profile with a radius equal to the radius of the section of the first shaft, said profile delimiting the housing of the hook.

The base of the clevis preferably includes a side, which is oriented towards the first shaft and which includes at least one shim for adjusting the distance between the base and the section of the first shaft.

According to another characteristic, the flange includes, at the periphery, a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion, the second cylindrical portion having a diameter greater than that of the first cylindrical portion, the first cylindrical portion and the second cylindrical portion being separated by the notch and a radial stop.

According to one embodiment, the notch and the radial stop are diametrically opposite.

According to another characteristic, the first part of the locking device includes a third shaft with an axis parallel to the axes of the first and second shafts, said third shaft being accommodated in a bore of the hook such that said hook pivots around the axis of the third shaft.

Advantageously, the third shaft has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the bore of the hook and the first part of the locking device includes a ring with an eccentric bore interposed between the third shaft and the bore of the hook.

Another object of the invention is an aircraft, which includes an opening closed by a door, the opening and the door being equipped with a locking device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 5shows an opening42in a fuselage44of an aircraft. As an example, this opening42is configured for allowing access to a hold of an aircraft.

This opening42is substantially rectangular with rounded corners and is delimited by a first edge46.1, a second edge46.2parallel to the first edge46.1, a third edge46.3and a fourth edge46.4parallel to the third edge46.3.

FIG. 6shows a part of a door48configured for occluding the opening42in the closed position.

According to one embodiment, the door48is connected to the first edge46.1of the opening by a pivoting link materialized by an axis50onFIG. 5.

The aircraft includes at least one locking device52for holding the door48in the closed position. As illustrated onFIG. 5, in the case of a door of an aircraft hold, a plurality of locking devices (eight devices in the example shown) are provided.

Each locking device52includes a first part54integral with the fuselage44(visible onFIG. 6) and a second part56integral with the door48(visible onFIG. 7).

The first part54includes a hook58.

According to one embodiment, the hook58is delimited by two sides60.1and60.2(referenced onFIG. 8), parallel and placed in transverse planes, and a peripheral edge62(notably visible onFIGS. 9A and 14), which extends between the two sides60.1and60.2, perpendicular to said sides60.1and60.2.

For the further description, a longitudinal direction is a direction perpendicular to the sides60.1and60.2of the hook. A transverse plane is a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A shaft is a revolving part and an axis corresponds to an imaginary line around which a part pivots.

The axis50of the pivoting link between the door and the fuselage is preferably oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction.

As illustrated onFIG. 14, the hook58includes a body64, an extremity66and an interposed portion68positioned between the body64and the extremity66. The interposed portion68has a minimum height H1smaller than a height H2of the extremity66. A height corresponds to the dimension of the hook in a transverse plane.

The body64includes a bore70, which opens in the two sides60.1and60.2.

According to one configuration, the peripheral edge62includes a first flat part72, which extends from the body64up to the extremity66and a second curved and concave part74, which also extends from the body64up to the extremity66. This second part74delimits a housing75, notably visible onFIG. 9A.

According to an embodiment visible onFIG. 8for example, the second part56of the locking device includes a clevis82, a first shaft84configured for immobilizing the hook58and a second shaft86configured for immobilizing the rotation of the first shaft84. The first and second shafts84and86are supported by the clevis82. The first and second shafts84and86have axes A84and A86parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal direction.

According to an embodiment visible onFIG. 11, the clevis82includes a base88and two flanks90.1and90.2parallel to each other and positioned in transverse planes. The two flanks90.1and90.2are spaced by a distance greater than the thickness of the hook58in order to allow it to penetrate between the two flanks90.1and90.2. The thickness of the hook58corresponds to a dimension of the hook58taken along the longitudinal direction.

Each flank90.1and90.2includes a first bore92, which forms a bearing for the first shaft84and a second bore94, which forms a bearing for the second shaft86.

According to an embodiment visible onFIG. 12, the first shaft84includes a cylindrical body96, which has a diameter equal to that of the first bores92of the flanks90.1and90.2, a flange98, which has a diameter greater than that of the body96and which extends in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and a flat indent100.

The flat indent100has a length greater than or equal to the thickness of the hook58. The flat indent preferably has a length substantially equal to the distance which separates the two flanks90.1and90.2. The flat indent100preferably has a depth P (visible onFIG. 8) substantially equal to the radius of the body96. At the flat indent100, the body96therefore has a residual section102in the shape of a half disk.

The flat indent100is separated from the flange98by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the flank90.1or90.2against which the flange98is pressed during functioning

The first shaft84is mounted to pivot in the first bores92of the flanks90.1and90.2and alternately occupies, depending on its angular position, an unhooked position in which the flat indent100is oriented towards the base88of the clevis82and a hooked position in which the residual section102of the first shaft84is oriented towards the base88of the clevis82.

The first shaft84is separated from the base88of the clevis82by a distance such that:

in the unhooked position, the height H2of the extremity66of the hook58is smaller than the distance between the base88of the clevis82and the residual section102of the first shaft84, and

in the hooked position, the height H2of the extremity66of the hook58is greater than the distance between the base88of the clevis82and the residual section102of the first shaft84.

In the hooked position, the minimum height H1of the interposed portion68of the hook58is preferably substantially equal to the distance between the base88and the residual section102of the first shaft84. This configuration makes it possible to limit deflections of the hook58in the hooked position. According to one embodiment, the second curved and concave part74of the peripheral edge62of the hook58includes a cylindrical profile with a radius equal to that of the body96of the first shaft84.

As illustrated onFIG. 14, the base88of the clevis82includes a side104oriented towards the first shaft84. This side104advantageously includes at least one shim105for adjusting the distance between the base88and the first shaft84to the minimum height H1of the interposed portion68of the hook58.

This side104of the base88preferably includes a lining105′, for example a wear covering, applied directly to the side104in the absence of the shim105, or to the shim105.

The flange98of the first shaft84includes, at the periphery, at least one cylindrical portion106and at least one notch108. The flange98preferably includes a single notch108, which corresponds to the hooked position.

According to an embodiment visible onFIGS. 9A and 9B, the flange98includes, at the periphery, a first cylindrical portion106and a second cylindrical portion106′, the second cylindrical portion106′ having a diameter greater than that of the first cylindrical portion106. The first cylindrical portion106extends from the notch108up to a radial stop110and the second cylindrical portion106′ extends from the notch108up to the radial stop110. The notch108and the radial stop110are approximately diametrically opposite.

According to an embodiment visible onFIG. 13, the second shaft86includes a cylindrical body112and a flat indent114.

The flat indent114has a length greater than or equal to the thickness of the flange98.

The flat indent114preferably has a depth P′ (visible onFIG. 8) substantially equal to the radius of the body112. At the flat indent114, the body112therefore has a residual section116in the shape of a half disk.

The second shaft86is mounted to pivot in the second bores94made in the flanks90.1and90.2and alternately occupies, depending on its angular position, an unlocked position in which the flat indent114is oriented towards the first shaft84and a locked position in which the residual section116of the second shaft86is oriented towards the first shaft84.

As illustrated onFIGS. 9A and 9B, the axis A86of the second shaft86is separated from the axis A84of the first shaft84by a distance equal to the radius of the first cylindrical portion106of the flange98of the first shaft84increased by a small functioning play.

Therefore, in the locked position, the residual section116of the second shaft86is accommodated and cooperates with the notch108in the flange98of the first shaft84so as to immobilize its rotation, and in the unlocked position, the residual section116of the second shaft86no longer cooperates with the notch108in the flange98of the first shaft84such that the latter can pivot from the hooked position to the unhooked position or vice-versa.

Advantageously, the axis A86of the second shaft86is separated from the axis A84of the first shaft84by a distance smaller than the radius of the second cylindrical portion106′ of the flange98of the first shaft84. In the unhooked position, the residual section116of the second shaft86is therefore in contact with the radial stop110of the flange98.

In order to ensure optimum functioning, at least one compressible shim118is interposed between the first and second parts of the locking device, as illustrated onFIG. 14.

The functioning principle of the locking device is described with reference toFIGS. 10A to 10E.

As illustrated onFIG. 10A, before the hook58is hooked, the second shaft86is placed in the unlocked position and the first shaft84is placed in the unhooked position.

The hook58is inserted between the base88of the clevis82and the first shaft84until the interposed portion68of the hook58is positioned between the base88of the clevis82and the first shaft84as illustrated onFIG. 10B.

After the first shaft84has pivoted to the hooked position, the hook58is in the hooked state and can no longer be unhooked. The hook58is not in the locked state since the second shaft86is not in the locked position, as illustrated onFIGS. 10C and 10D.

After the second shaft86has pivoted to the locked position as illustrated onFIG. 10E, the first shaft84can no longer pivot and the hook58is in the hooked and locked state.

In order to unlock the locking device, the second shaft86is made to rotate to the unlocked position. To follow, the first shaft84is made to rotate to the unhooked position. The hook58can then be disengaged from the first shaft84.

In the presence of several locking devices, according to a first variant, each locking device includes a first shaft84and a second shaft86, both independent respectively of the first shafts and the second shafts of the other locking devices. According to another variant, the first shaft84and/or the second shaft86are common to several locking devices as illustrated onFIG. 7.

The locking device also includes at least one actuator for modifying the angular position of the first shaft84and at least one actuator for modifying the angular position of the second shaft86. According to one embodiment, the actuators and means of return motion are identical to those used to make the blocking and locking devices of the prior art pivot.

Whichever the variant, the first part54of the locking device includes a hook58, which incorporates a housing75. The second part56of the locking device includes a flange98with at least one notch108and a first shaft84, which incorporates a section102configured for cooperating with the housing75of the hook58. The first shaft84is furthermore rotationally mobile between a hooked position, in which the section102is accommodated in the housing75such that the first part54of the locking device is immobilized compared with the second part56of the locking device, and an unhooked position, in which the section102is outside the housing75such that the first part54of the locking device is mobile compared with the second part56of the locking device.

As a complement, the locking device includes a second shaft86, which incorporates a section116, which is configured for cooperating with the flange98of the first shaft84, said second shaft86being rotationally mobile between a locked position, in which the section116of the second shaft86is accommodated in the notch108in the flange98of the first shaft84such that the rotation of the first shaft84is immobilized, and an unlocked position, in which the section116of the second shaft86is outside the notch108in the flange98of the first shaft84such that the first shaft84is free to rotate.

The invention makes it possible to obtain a locking device with a dual control based on pivoting elements (the first and second shafts), without links.

This design provides the following advantages:

simplification and reduced weight of the locking device due to the reduced number of parts,

an assembly more compact and less sensitive to icing due to doing away with the links and using pivoting parts,

reduced weight of the locking device when the hook has large dimensions due to the fact that the dual control formed by the first and second shafts is no longer connected to the hook as in the prior art,

compatibility with the actuators of the locking devices of the prior art subject to minor adjustments.

Depending on the variant, the hook58can be fixed or mobile.

According to a first variant, not illustrated, the hook58is fixed in relation to the fuselage.

According to other variants, as illustrated onFIGS. 6, 10A to 10E and 14, the hook58is supported by a third shaft76, which is accommodated in the bore70of the hook58and which includes an axis A76oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction. The third shaft76is mounted on a clevis78integral with the second edge46.2of the opening42.

During functioning, the hook58therefore pivots around the axis A76of the third shaft76. According to a first embodiment, the third shaft76has a diameter equal to that of the bore70. In this case, the hook58can only pivot around the axis A76of the third shaft76.

According to a second embodiment visible onFIG. 14, the third shaft76has a diameter smaller than that of the bore70and a ring80with an eccentric bore is interposed between the third shaft76and the bore70. This embodiment allows, in addition to the rotating motion around the axis A76of the third shaft76, a slight deflection of the third shaft76, allowing the hook58to be automatically positioned in relation to the second part56of the locking device integral with the door48.

The invention is naturally not limited to the embodiment described above. The hook58can consequently equally be connected to the door or to the fuselage. Likewise, the use of the locking device is not limited to locking a door. It can consequently be used to lock a first mobile element of an aircraft in relation to a second fixed element.