US 12,441,453 B2
Aircraft door system and method
Joseph Allan Smarsh, Andale, KS (US); Evan Michael Johnson, Wichita, KS (US); Timothy Bachman, Wichita, KS (US); and Richard S. Conkling, Kechi, KS (US)
Assigned to Textron Innovations Inc., Providence, RI (US)
Filed by Textron Aviation Inc., Wichita, KS (US)
Filed on Jul. 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/362,735.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/369,910, filed on Jul. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0034455 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B64C 1/14 (2006.01); E05B 77/30 (2014.01); E05B 83/36 (2014.01)
CPC B64C 1/1461 (2013.01) [E05B 77/30 (2013.01); E05B 83/36 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft fuselage door system, the system comprising:
a doorframe for an aircraft door, the doorframe located in an aircraft fuselage wall, the door being hingedly connected to a top of the doorframe, the door being configured to pivot downward or upward relative to a top edge of the door;
a ball-transfer unit located between an inside edge of a side of the doorframe and an outside edge of an adjacent side of the door, the ball-transfer unit, upon a closing of the door, compelling the door in a lateral direction relative to the doorframe;
one or more load fittings on a bottom edge of the door and one or more load fitting receptacles on a bottom edge of doorframe, wherein the one or more load fittings and load fitting receptacles are each configured to laterally align a bottom portion of the door upon the closing of the door; and
a latch arrangement configured to secure the door into the doorframe after the ball-transfer unit and the one or more load fittings and load fitting receptacles have already been engaged.