ASSEMBLY WITH AN OPEN-DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM

An assembly with a hinged door pivotally mounted to a carrier element, and a locking system for locking the hinged door in an open position, wherein the locking system comprises a hinge bracket rigidly attached to the carrier element, the hinge bracket comprising a locking notch; and an open-door locking device comprising a mounting bracket pivotally mounted to the hinge bracket; a housing connected to the mounting bracket and rigidly attached to the hinged door; a sliding block slidable in the housing between a normal position and an actuated position; and a slider slidable in the housing between a blocking position and a releasing position, the slider being in the blocking position and engaging the locking notch of the hinge bracket for blocking the hinged door in the open position when the sliding block is in the normal position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European patent application No. EP 23184804.5 filed on Jul. 11, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an assembly with a carrier element, a hinged door that is pivotally mounted to the carrier element and pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and an open-door locking system for locking the hinged door in the open position. The present disclosure further relates to an aircraft comprising such an assembly.

BACKGROUND

Assemblies with carrier elements and hinged doors which are pivotally mounted to the carrier elements and pivotable between closed positions and open positions are widely used. For instance, such carrier elements may be formed by cowlings of aircrafts and the hinged doors may be cowling access doors which are pivotally mounted to the cowlings.

In general, a cowling may be used in aviation for drag reduction or engine cooling by directing airflow. The cowling may also cover a part of the fuselage, the engines, and/or a part of the cockpit of an aircraft. Cowling access doors usually provide access to the machinery of the aircraft that is hidden from the outside by the cowling, for example to enable maintenance work on the machinery.a. During such maintenance work, open holding systems that may be mounted to the cowling or to the cowling access door usually secure the cowling access door in an open position. Conventional open holding systems that enable the securing of the cowling access door in an open position include gas springs and/or hold open rods.

Such gas springs and/or hold open rods usually extend from one extremity of the cowling access door to the remaining part of the cowling. Unfortunately, gas springs and/or hold open rods often restrict and/or hinder a maintenance worker's access to the machinery. Moreover, gas springs do not protect against unintended closing of the cowling access door and require maintenance due to the aging of gaskets, while hold open rods require a two-hands operation and take a lot of space for installation.

Alternatively, open holding systems sometimes include the use of folding struts for securing a cowling access door in an open position. Such folding struts are usually not in the way of maintenance workers. However, folding struts usually also require a two-hands operation.

The document EP 0 839 714 A1 describes a latch for a thrust reverser duct on an aircraft engine. The latch accomplishes work during both the closing stroke and the handle folding stroke. An outer handle release trigger can lock an outer handle to an inner handle to fix the relative position of the outer handle, the inner handle, an idler link, a rocker link and a secondary link. While they are in fixed position, the parts act as a closing handle unit during the closing stroke. Once the closing stroke is completed, the inner handle is locked into a fixed position with hook arm and a primary link. The outer handle release trigger can then be disengaged and the secondary link, the rocker link and the idler link work to provide mechanical advantage during the folding of the outer handle.

The document EP 1 066 195 A1 describes a remotely actuated latch mechanism for securing a cowling to an engine pylon including a handle having a closed and an open position, which is connected to a remote latch. The remote latch comprises a housing, a linking mechanism mounted to the housing, and a strut connected to the linking mechanism at a first end and to a keeper at a second end. The handle is connected to the linking mechanism of the remote latch by a push/pull cable. The actuation of the handle from the closed position to the open position causes the push/pull cable to move the linking mechanism of the remote latch such that the strut moves from a closed to an open position relative to the keeper allowing the cowling of the aircraft to then be pivoted open. The strut and the keeper are securely engaged in both the open and closed position insuring that when the latch is remotely opened and closed that the keeper is always properly engaged and that the latch properly closes.

The document EP 1 379 745 A2 describes a lever that is actuatable to unlatch a pawl when the lever is in an unlocked position. When the lever is in a locked position, lever actuation cannot unlatch the pawl. An over-center device coupled to the lever can be used to position the lever in its locked and unlocked positions. The lever may be moved away from the pawl when the lever is in a locked position and is moved closer to the pawl when the lever is in an unlocked position. Alternatively, the lever is pivotable about a pivot point that remains in the same location with respect to the lever in the unlocked and locked positions thereof. Although not required, the pawl is movable by the lever to its unlatched state after the partially or fully-actuated lever has been moved to its unlocked state.

The document EP 4 067 235 A1 describes an open holding system for a cowling access door of a cowling, wherein the cowling access door is movable between a closed position and an open position. The open holding system comprises a hinge bracket, a cowling access door holder, and a remote actuator. The hinge bracket is adapted for pivotally attaching the cowling access door to the cowling. The cowling access door holder comprises an overcentering latch that is in an unclamped state when the cowling access door is in the closed position and movable from the unclamped state to an over-centered state when the cowling access door is moved from the closed position to the open position. The overcentering latch automatically latches in the over-centered state to prevent the cowling access door from returning to the closed position. A release system is coupled to the overcentering latch and adapted for transitioning the overcentering latch from the over-centered state to the unclamped state. The remote actuator is located spaced apart from the release system on the cowling access door and adapted for remotely actuating the release system.

However, the open holding system described hereabove is comparatively heavy and requires a comparatively great mounting space. Furthermore, it is difficult to disassemble the cowling access door when using the open holding system and a respectively obtainable opening angle of the cowling access door is comparatively restricted. Moreover, other ones of the open holding systems described above lack an automatic latching feature to automatically secure an associated cowling access door in the open position during an opening operation. Some also require a two-hands operation during an opening and/or a closing operation of the cowling access door.

The document DE20209030 describes a locking device in a vehicle door holder, which is adapted to releasably lock first and second parts relative one to the other in various latch positions. One functional part is attached to the door and has recesses distributed over a movement path. The other functional part is attached to a door support has a holding element arranged in a guide receptacle and a slide-like blocking element. The holding element and the slide-like blocking element are arranged such that in a blocking position of the latter, the holding element is held in engagement in one of the holding recesses. In a release position the holding element is freely movable in the guide receptacle to release the holding recess.

The document GB2347172 describes a door hinge device for a building door, to be automatically maintained in an opened state, for safety reasons. The door hinge device comprises a first support element fastened to a door and a second support element fastened to a door frame. The first support element has a rotary cylindrical part and the second support element has a pair of fixed cylindrical parts. The fixed cylindrical parts are longitudinally aligned with both ends of the rotary cylindrical part. For imposing an automatic torsional closing force on said door first means are provided that increases the torsional force when the door is opened. For maintaining the door in an opened state second torsional means are provided.

SUMMARY

It is, therefore, an object of the present disclosure to provide a new cowling assembly with a cowling, a cowling access door that is pivotally mounted to the cowling and pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and a new cowling access door locking system for locking the cowling access door in the open position, which overcomes the above-described drawbacks of the prior art. More specifically, the new cowling access door locking system is provided for automatically securing the cowling access door in the open position after an opening operation and it is operable with a single hand, prevents an unintended closing during maintenance work, has an easily accessible release mechanism, a very compact design and comprises less constituent components, is easier to produce and assemble, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture compared to state-of-the-art open holding systems. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a new aircraft comprising such a new cowling assembly.

The above-mentioned object is solved by a cowling assembly with a cowling, a cowling access door that is pivotally mounted to the cowling and pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and a cowling access door locking system for locking the cowling access door in the open position, as described below. More generally, the above-mentioned object is solved by an assembly with a carrier element, a hinged door that is pivotally mounted to the carrier element and pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and an open-door locking system for locking the hinged door in the open position.

More specifically, an assembly with a carrier element, a hinged door that is pivotally mounted to the carrier element and pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and an open-door locking system for locking the hinged door in the open position is provided. The open-door locking system comprises a hinge bracket and an open-door locking device. The hinge bracket is rigidly attached to the carrier element and comprises a locking notch. The open-door locking device comprises a mounting bracket that is pivotally mounted to the hinge bracket, a housing that is connected to the mounting bracket and rigidly attached to the hinged door, a sliding block that is accommodated in the housing and slidable in the housing in a first direction between a normal position and an actuated position, and a slider that is accommodated in the housing and slidable in the housing in a second direction between a blocking position and a releasing position. The slider is coupled to the sliding block such that the slider is in the blocking position and engages the locking notch of the hinge bracket for blocking the hinged door in the open position when the sliding block is in the normal position.

Advantageously, the assembly allows to lock the hinged door securely and reliably in the open position using the open-door locking system for preventing an unintended closing of the hinged door. Thus, if the carrier element is e.g., a cowling of an aircraft and the hinged door is e.g., a cowling access door that provides access to machinery covered by the cowling, then maintenance personal may work on the machinery efficiently and securely with both hands.

The open-door locking system is advantageously robust and easy to use, requires a comparatively small installation space, is light-weight, consists of a reduced part of constituent components with only few moving components, requires a comparatively small technical effort, and enables implementation of a greater opening angle of the hinged door. Furthermore, it is comparatively cost-efficient and may easily be installed on existing arrangements, thereby allowing an easy retrofitting thereof.

Advantageously, the open-door locking system is adapted for being operated by means of a suitable remote actuator with a single hand. The remote actuator is preferably located at an easily accessible position on the hinged door, thereby enabling an ergonomic operation of the remote actuator and the hinged door. The remote actuator may be connected via a cable, e.g., a Bowden cable, with an open-door locking device of the open-door locking system.

The open-door locking system may further be provided with an emergency mechanism that allows a two-hands operation of the open-door locking system, such as e.g., a push bar. Preferably, such an emergency mechanism is at least usable when the remote actuator fails, e.g., if the cable is broken.

Advantageously, the open-door locking system has a comparatively simple configuration and is easy to repair. Furthermore, the hinged door may easily and quickly be removed from the open-door locking system and the assembly as a whole.

In some embodiments, the slider comprises a blocking pin that engages the locking notch of the hinge bracket for blocking the hinged door in the open position when the slider is in the blocking position.

In some embodiments, the slider comprises a sliding member that slides in the sliding block when the sliding block slides in the housing in the first direction between the normal position and the actuated position.

Preferably, the slider is coupled to a transfer rod that is equipped with the sliding member.

Preferably, the sliding block comprises a wedge with a ramp, and the sliding member slides along the ramp in a third direction when the sliding block slides in the housing in the first direction.

The third direction may be oblique to the first direction and the second direction.

The first direction may be at least approximately perpendicular to the second direction.

Preferably, the open-door locking device further comprises a slider return spring that biases the slider into the blocking position.

Preferably, the open-door locking device further comprises a sliding block return spring that biases the sliding block into the normal position.

In some embodiments, the open-door locking system further comprises a remote actuator for remotely actuating the open-door locking device, wherein the remote actuator is located spaced apart from the open-door locking device on the hinged door.

Preferably, the open-door locking system may further comprise a cable, in particular a Bowden cable, that connects the remote actuator with the sliding block.

Preferably, the remote actuator may comprise a pivotable thumb lever that is attached to the cable and pivotable for pulling the cable to cause sliding of the sliding block in the housing in the first direction between the normal position and the actuated position.

In some embodiments, the open-door locking device further comprises a push bar that is rigidly attached to the sliding block and operable for manually moving the sliding block in the housing in the first direction between the normal position and the actuated position.

In some embodiments, the slider is in the releasing position and disengaged from the locking notch of the hinge bracket for releasing the hinged door in the open position when the sliding block is in the actuated position.

Moreover, an aircraft may comprise the assembly described above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments may be used with any vehicle having a carrier element and a hinged door that is pivotally mounted to the carrier element and pivotable between a closed position and an open position. Examples for vehicles may include aircrafts such as airplanes, quadcopters, helicopters, and drones, land-based vehicles including cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles, or vessels such as ships and boats, etc.

FIG.1shows an aircraft100that is illustratively embodied as a rotary-wing aircraft. The rotary-wing aircraft, which is sometimes also referred to as rotorcraft, is exemplarily illustrated as a helicopter. Thus, for purposes of simplicity and clarity, the aircraft100is hereinafter referred to as the “helicopter100”.

Illustratively, the helicopter100comprises at least one rotor system110, which may be embodied as a multi-blade rotor system, for providing lift and forward or backward thrust during operation. The at least one rotor system110comprises a plurality of rotor blades112,113and may be powered by at least one engine111. By way of example, the plurality of rotor blades112,113are mounted at an associated rotor head114to a rotor shaft115, which rotates in operation of the helicopter100around an associated rotation axis.

The helicopter100illustratively further comprises a fuselage120that forms an airframe of the helicopter100. The fuselage120may be connected to a suitable landing gear and illustratively forms a cabin123and a rear fuselage127. The rear fuselage127may be connected to a tail boom130.

The tail boom130may be provided with at least one counter-torque device140configured to provide counter-torque during operation, i.e., to counter the torque created by rotation of the plurality of rotor blades112,113around the rotor shaft115for purposes of balancing the helicopter100in terms of yaw. If desired, the counter-torque device140may be shrouded.

Illustratively, the at least one counter-torque device140is provided at an aft section of the tail boom130and may have a tail rotor145. The aft section of the tail boom130may include a fin150. Furthermore, the tail boom130may be provided with a suitable horizontal stabilizer135.

Moreover, the helicopter100may comprise a carrier element160with at least one hinged door that is pivotally mounted to the carrier element160and pivotable between a closed position and an open position. The carrier element160may at least cover the at least one engine111of the helicopter100. If desired, the carrier element160may further cover a transmission system of the helicopter100, which may include a gear box, and/or a crest of the helicopter100.

By way of example, the carrier element160is embodied as a cowling of the helicopter100and, therefore, referred to hereinafter as the “cowling160”, for simplicity and clarity. Illustratively, the cowling160includes a transmission cowling170that covers a transmission system of the helicopter100, a crest cowling175that covers a crest of the helicopter100, and an engine cowling180that covers the at least one engine111of the helicopter100.

The engine cowling180is provided with a cowling access door185that is pivotally mounted to the engine cowling180for providing access to the at least one engine111. The cowling access door185is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. Likewise, and by way of example, the transmission cowling170is provided with a cowling access door177that is pivotally mounted to the transmission cowling170for providing access to a transmission system. Similarly, the crest cowling175may also be provided with a suitable cowling access door.

FIG.2shows the cowling160ofFIG.1, which comprises the transmission cowling170, the crest cowling175, and the engine cowling180. The transmission cowling170comprises the cowling access door177and the engine cowling180comprises the cowling access door185. Illustratively, the cowling access door185is pivotable around an associated hinge axis187at the engine cowling180.

At least the cowling access door185, but preferably also each other cowling access door including the cowling access door177, is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position, the cowling access door185, for instance, may close an opening in the engine cowling180, thereby preventing access from outside of the engine cowling180to associated machinery, i.e., the at least one engine111ofFIG.1. In the open position, the cowling access door185, for instance, may provide access from outside of the engine cowling180to the associated machinery, i.e., the at least one engine111ofFIG.1. For example, the cowling access door185may provide access for performing maintenance work on the associated machinery, i.e., the at least one engine111ofFIG.1.

At least the cowling access door185, but preferably also each other cowling access door including the cowling access door177, is provided with an open-door locking system200. The cowling access door185and the open-door locking system200form together with the engine cowling160a cowling assembly250.

In the cowling assembly250, the open-door locking system200comprises an open-door locking device210for blocking the cowling access door185in an open position. The cowling access door185may be locked in a closed position by means of suitable latches260.

The open-door locking system200may further comprise a remote actuator220for remotely actuating the open-door locking device210. Illustratively, the remote actuator220is coupled to the open-door locking device210via a cable230, e.g., a Bowden cable. By way of example, the remote actuator220is located spaced apart from the open-door locking device210on the cowling access door185.

The remote actuator220is preferably adapted for remotely actuating the open-door locking system200as a whole. The open-door locking system200is described in more detail below atFIG.3toFIG.10.

FIG.3shows the remote actuator220with the cable230ofFIG.2. Illustratively, the remote actuator220comprises a pivotable thumb lever300that is attached to the cable230and pivotable around a pivot bearing320. The pivotable thumb lever300illustratively comprises a push arm310which may be pushed for pivoting the pivotable thumb lever300around the pivot bearing320and, thus, pulling the cable230, as illustrated inFIG.6.

By way of example, the pivotable thumb lever300is pivotally mounted to an associated hinge bracket330via the pivot bearing320. The hinge bracket330, in turn, may comprise suitable fixations340which are preferably rigidly mounted to the cowling access door185ofFIG.2.

FIG.4shows the open-door locking device210of the open-door locking system200ofFIG.1. The open-door locking device210is preferably connected via the cable230ofFIG.3to the remote actuator220ofFIG.3.

According to the present disclosure, the open-door locking system200comprises a hinge bracket420. The hinge bracket420is rigidly attached to the engine cowling180ofFIG.2and comprises a locking notch (427, e.g., inFIG.5). Illustratively, the hinge bracket420comprises a connecting part422with suitable fixations425for attachment to the engine cowling180ofFIG.2. By way of example, the connecting part422is plate-shaped and the fixations425are embodied as through holes to enable a bolted or screwed connection of the hinge bracket420with the engine cowling180ofFIG.2.

Furthermore, the hinge bracket420is pivotally mounted to a mounting bracket419of the open-door locking device210. For instance, the hinge bracket420may comprise a bulge-shaped portion429which may be mounted pivotally to the mounting bracket419via a pivot bearing417.

The mounting bracket419, in turn, is connected to a housing410of the open-door locking device210, which is rigidly attached to the cowling access door185ofFIG.2. By way of example, the housing410comprises fixations415for attachment to the cowling access door185ofFIG.2. Illustratively, the fixations415are embodied as through holes to enable a bolted or screwed connection of the housing410with the cowling access door185ofFIG.2.

The housing410accommodates a sliding block430that is slidable in the housing410between a normal position and an actuated position. The sliding block430may be biased by a sliding block return spring440of the open-door locking device210in a sliding block return direction445into the normal position and is, illustratively, shown in the normal position. Preferably, the sliding block430is connected via the cable230, in particular a Bowden cable, to the remote actuator220ofFIG.3, i.e., to the pivotable thumb lever300ofFIG.3.

By way of example, the sliding block430is in addition rigidly attached to a push bar480of the open-door locking device210. The push bar480is preferably operable for being manually moved in a direction482and, thus, moving the sliding block430in the housing410between the normal position and the actuated position. Accordingly, the push bar480embodies an emergency mechanism that may still be used if e.g., the cable230is broken.

The housing410further accommodates a slider470that is slidable in the housing410between a blocking position and a releasing position. The slider470may be biased by a slider return spring460of the open-door locking device210in a slider return direction465into the blocking position and is, illustratively, shown in the blocking position.

The slider470is coupled to the sliding block430such that the slider470is in the blocking position and engages the locking notch (427, e.g., inFIG.5) of the hinge bracket420for blocking the cowling access door185ofFIG.2in an open position when the sliding block430is in the normal position. More specifically, the slider470may comprise a sliding member455that slides in the sliding block430when the sliding block430slides in the housing410between the normal position and the actuated position.

By way of example, the sliding block430may comprise a wedge432with a ramp435such that the sliding member455slides along the ramp435when the sliding block430slides in the housing410between the normal position and the actuated position. Illustratively, the sliding member455is connected to, or integrally formed with, a transfer rod450that is coupled to the slider470.

FIG.5shows the open-door locking device210ofFIG.4which comprises the housing410with the mounting bracket419that is pivotally mounted to the hinge bracket420ofFIG.4. The hinge bracket420comprises a locking notch427. By way of example, the locking notch427is formed in the bulge-shaped portion429ofFIG.4of the hinge bracket420.

FIG.5further illustrates the slider470ofFIG.4which is biased by the slider return spring460ofFIG.4that is illustratively arranged on the transfer rod450ofFIG.4. The transfer rod450ofFIG.4is coupled to the sliding block430via the sliding member455ofFIG.4. The sliding block430is rigidly attached to the push bar480.

Furthermore, the slider470may be equipped with a blocking pin475. The blocking pin475is preferably provided for engagement with the locking notch427in the blocking position of the slider470.

FIG.6shows the remote actuator220with the cable230ofFIG.3, which comprises the pivotable thumb lever300that is attached to the cable230and pivotally mounted to the hinge bracket330via the pivot bearing320. The pivotable thumb lever300comprises the push arm310which may be pushed for pivoting the pivotable thumb lever300around the pivot bearing320and, thus, pulling the cable230.

More specifically, if the push arm310is pushed in a direction312, the pivotable thumb lever300pivots around the pivot bearing320in a pivoting direction315. As a result, the cable230is pulled in a direction235.

FIG.7shows the open-door locking device210ofFIG.4which is preferably connected to the remote actuator220ofFIG.6via the cable230, and which comprises the mounting bracket419that is pivotally mounted via the pivot bearing417to the hinge bracket420ofFIG.4. The mounting bracket419is connected to the housing410of the open-door locking device210. The housing410and the hinge bracket420are illustrated in a relative positioning with respect to each other that corresponds to the open position of the cowling access door185ofFIG.2.

Furthermore, according toFIG.4the housing410accommodates the sliding block430that is biased by the sliding block return spring440and further accommodates the slider470which is biased by the slider return spring460. The sliding block430is preferably connected to the remote actuator220ofFIG.6via the cable230and comprises the wedge432with the ramp435. The slider470comprises the sliding member455that is connected to, or integrally formed with, the transfer rod450.

More specifically,FIG.7illustrates functioning of the open-door locking device210in response to pulling the cable230in the direction235ofFIG.6. As a result of pulling the cable230in the direction235, the sliding block430is pulled against a biasing force of the sliding block return spring440in the direction235and, thus, slides in the housing410in a direction437from its normal position according toFIG.4into an illustrated actuated position. However, instead of being pulled by the cable230, the sliding block430may also be pushed by pushing the push bar480in the direction482ofFIG.4when the push bar480is accessible.

While the sliding block430slides in the direction437from the normal position towards the actuated position, the sliding member455slides along the ramp435of the sliding block430in a direction457. Thus, the slider470is pulled against a biasing force of the slider return spring460in a direction462and, therefore, slides in the housing410in a direction462towards a releasing position. At that point, the housing410may be pivoted relative to the hinge bracket420into the illustrated positioning that corresponds to the open position of the cowling access door185ofFIG.2.

By way of example, the direction457may be oblique to the direction437and the direction462. Furthermore, the direction437may be at least approximately perpendicular to the direction462.

FIG.8shows the open-door locking device210ofFIG.7which comprises the housing410with the slider470and the mounting bracket419that is pivotally mounted to the hinge bracket420ofFIG.7. The hinge bracket420comprises the locking notch427. The slider470is equipped with the blocking pin475according toFIG.5and is pulled against the biasing force of the slider return spring460in the direction462into the releasing position.

According toFIG.7, the housing410and the hinge bracket420are illustrated in the relative positioning with respect to each other that corresponds to the open position of the cowling access door185ofFIG.2. Accordingly, the blocking pin475and the locking notch427are aligned with respect to each other. However, the blocking pin475is not engaged with the locking notch427.

FIG.9shows the open-door locking device210ofFIG.7which is preferably connected to the remote actuator220ofFIG.6via the cable230, and which comprises the mounting bracket419that is pivotally mounted via the pivot bearing417to the hinge bracket420ofFIG.7. The mounting bracket419is connected to the housing410of the open-door locking device210. The housing410and the hinge bracket420are illustrated in a relative positioning with respect to each other that corresponds to the open position of the cowling access door185ofFIG.2.

Furthermore, according toFIG.7the housing410accommodates the sliding block430that is biased by the sliding block return spring440and further accommodates the slider470which is biased by the slider return spring460. The sliding block430is preferably connected to the remote actuator220ofFIG.6via the cable230and comprises the wedge432with the ramp435. The slider470comprises the sliding member455that is connected to, or integrally formed with, the transfer rod450.

InFIG.7, the sliding block430is pulled against a biasing force of the sliding block return spring440into the actuated position and the slider470is pulled against a biasing force of the slider return spring460into the releasing position, both in response to pulling the cable230in the direction235ofFIG.7by means of pivoting the pivotable thumb lever300ofFIG.6into the pivoting direction315ofFIG.6. By releasing the pivotable thumb lever300, the cable230is released and, consequently, the sliding block return spring440is freed and pushes the sliding block430in the sliding block return direction445from the actuated position into the normal position, as illustrated inFIG.9. By the movement of the sliding block430, the slider return spring460is likewise freed and pushes the slider470in the slider return direction465from the releasing position into the blocking position for blocking the hinge bracket420.

FIG.10shows the open-door locking device210ofFIG.9which comprises the housing410with the slider470and the mounting bracket419that is pivotally mounted to the hinge bracket420ofFIG.9. The hinge bracket420comprises the locking notch427. The slider470is equipped with the blocking pin475according toFIG.8and is pushed by the slider return spring460towards the hinge bracket420, where the blocking pin475engages the locking notch427in the blocking position of the slider470for blocking the hinge bracket420in a position that corresponds to the open position of the cowling access door185ofFIG.2.

It should be noted that modifications to the above described embodiments are within the common knowledge of the person skilled in the art and, thus, also considered as being part of the present disclosure. For instance, the remote actuator220ofFIG.3orFIG.6is shown with a pivotable thumb lever300that pulls on the cable230. However, the remote actuator220may include any means with which the cable230may be pulled. For example, remote actuator220may include a handle and/or may be actuated with any finger instead of the thumb.

Moreover, it is described above that e.g., the housing410of the open-door locking device210ofFIG.4is attached to the cowling access door185and that the hinge bracket420is attached to the engine cowling180. However, the housing410may alternatively be attached to the engine cowling180and the hinge bracket420may be attached to the cowling access door185.

Furthermore, it is described above that the sliding member455slides along the ramp435of the sliding block430. However, instead of the sliding member455any element that is movable along the ramp435is likewise considered, such as e.g., a roller bearing and so on.

Finally, although only an illustrative opening and blocking procedure is described above with reference toFIG.6toFIG.10, it is considered to be clear to the skilled reader that a respective closing and releasing procedure may be performed in the same manner, i.e., starting withFIG.6. However, the blocked cowling access door185should preferably be lifted minimally only to relieve the blocking pin475in the locking notch427such that the pivotable thumb lever300ofFIG.6may be operated easily without requiring an excessive force.

REFERENCE LIST