The Boeing Company

Mitchell J Piorkowski

James J Johnson

Larry C Smith

Richard J LaConte

Mark E Smith

Darrell W Gaston, Jr

Dwight R Schaeffer

Paul W Bandy

Douglas E Emsley

Shannon J Kupfer

Steven D Flickinger

Binh C Truong

Steven L Wehr

Julie M Shinn

Jann F Garrett

A security system adapted for use on an aircraft to prevent unauthorized access into a cockpit area of the aircraft via a cockpit door. The system includes a keypad accessible by individuals in a cabin area of the aircraft. A logic system is in communication with the keypad and also with a switch disposed inside the cockpit. Occupants of the cockpit, via the switch, have the ability to manually unlock the cockpit door, to deny the request for entry, or to do nothing, in which case the door will be automatically unlocked after the expiration of a predetermined time interval. A pressure sensor in communication with the controller allows the electronic door locking member to be automatically overridden, and the door immediately opened, in the event of a decompression condition occurring in the cockpit.

Avionic door lock system

The invention is directed to a pressure sensor device for sensing decompression in a compartment, such as an aircraft cockpit, and causing a compartment door to be free to open substantially simultaneously in response to the decompression. The pressure sensor comprises a first pressure port and a second pressure port where both pressure ports are open to the compartment, and the second pressure port has a greater flow restriction than the first pressure port, When the pressure sensor is actuated by a difference in pressure between the first pressure port and the second pressure port caused by decompression in the compartment, the pressure sensor sends a signal either via direct wired in series or to a controller to enable movement of a compartment door in response to the decompression.

Pressure sensor device

A door strike apparatus for enabling opening of a door in the event of a decompression condition experienced within a flight deck area includes a housing supported adjacent the door and a strike arm movable between a locked state restricting rotation of the door and an unlocked state permitting rotation of the door. A solenoid having a lock member retracted from the strike arm when the strike arm is in the unlocked state and engaged with the strike arm when the strike arm is in the locked state. The solenoid is responsive to the decompression condition and selectively toggles the lock member out of engagement with the strike arm to permit automatic unlocking of the strike arm and opening of the door under the decompression condition and into engagement with the strike arm to permit selective locking of the door when the decompression condition is absent.

Increased security flight deck door strike apparatus and method

An intruder-resistant latch useful for latching an aircraft flight deck door includes a damper for reducing noise while the door is being operated. The latch also includes a driver member having coated pins that reduce noise while the latch is in operation. The latch allows a flight deck door to be operated with minimal disturbance to a flight crew at work and/or crew members who may be resting. The latch is fabricated of ballistic impact-resistant material(s).

Apparatus and methods for latching an aircraft door

Growing community of inventors

Mill Creek, WA, United States of America

Mitchell J Piorkowski