BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1. Field:

The present invention relates generally to aircraft and, in particular, to door systems for aircraft. Still more particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for restricting the width for a doorway. 2. Background:

An aircraft cabin has seats that are arranged in rows with one or more aisles. The configuration of the seats also takes into account doorways in the aircraft. The configuration is designed to allow for boarding and deplaning to occur within desired times. The configurations of the seats, in part, are designed to reduce the time needed to allow passengers to enter and exit the aircraft. By reducing these times, the time that an aircraft spends at a boarding gate also may be reduced.

With commercial aircraft at an airport, the doorways are typically aligned with a boarding gate to allow passengers and flight crew to enter and exit the aircraft. A boarding gate is a partially-movable bridge that allows passengers to enter and leave an aircraft without having to be exposed to the outside environment when the door in the doorway is opened.

In rare instances, passengers may need to leave the aircraft when the aircraft is not at the gate. With these situations, the vertical distance from the doorway to the ground may be higher than desired for the passenger to safely leave the aircraft. With these situations, escape slides may be provided and used to aid the passengers in leaving the aircraft.

Each doorway may have an escape slide associated with the door. The escape slide may be deployed to allow passengers and crew members to more quickly exit the aircraft. The escape slides have a width based on the width of the doorway. For example, if the doorway allows for two people to pass at the same time, the escape slide is selected to have two lanes to accommodate the two people. A narrow escape slide with one lane is not used at wide doors for safety reasons.

The configuration of an aircraft during the specification and design stage may involve identifying the number of passengers that the aircraft will carry. Different configurations may result in different number of seats, arrangement of seats, number of doors, doorway sizes, escape slide widths, and other features being selected.

After the aircraft has been in service, the number of passengers that an aircraft can carry may be changed to some extent. This change may involve more time and costs than may be desired. Some changes, such as the size of the doorway or the number of doorways, cannot be changed without significant time and cost. As a result, reconfiguring an aircraft to add a desired number of passengers that the aircraft can carry may not always be practical.

Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a method and apparatus that takes into account at least some of the issues discussed above, as well as possibly other issues.

SUMMARY

In one advantageous embodiment, an apparatus comprises a structure and an extended portion in the structure. The structure is configured for connection to a hinge for a door in an aircraft. The extended portion in the structure is configured to reduce a width of a doorway in which the door is located when the door is in a substantially open position.

In another advantageous embodiment, an apparatus comprises a structure and an extended portion in the structure. The structure is configured to be connected to a door system in a vehicle. The extended portion in the structure is configured to reduce a width of a doorway in which door system is located when the door system is in an open position.

In yet another advantageous embodiment, a method for managing access to an aircraft is provided. A door is identified in a doorway to be opened. The door is connected to a wall of the aircraft by a hinge and a structure associated with the hinge and has an extended portion. The door is moved to an open position. The hinge with the structure moves such that the extended portion in the structure reduces a width of the doorway to a desired width when the door is in the open position.

The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present invention or may be combined in yet other embodiments in which further details can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an advantageous embodiment of the present invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an illustration of an aircraft manufacturing and service method in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 2 is an illustration of an aircraft in which an advantageous embodiment may be implemented;

Figure 3 is an illustration of an aircraft access environment in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 4 is an illustration of an aircraft in which an advantageous embodiment may be implemented;

Figure 5 is an illustration of a doorway without a doorway restriction device in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 6 is an illustration of a doorway with a doorway restriction device in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 7 is an illustration of a doorway with a doorway restriction device in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 8 is an illustration of a doorway with a door having a doorway restriction device in an open position in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 9 is an illustration of a door in a doorway with a doorway restriction device in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 10 is a top cross-sectional view of a door in a doorway with a doorway restriction device in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 11 is an illustration of a door with a doorway restriction device in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 12 is an illustration of a doorway restriction device in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 13 is another illustration of a doorway restriction device in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 14 is an illustration of another view of a doorway restriction device in accordance with an advantageous embodiment;

Figure 15 is another illustration of a doorway restriction device in accordance with an advantageous embodiment; and Figure 16 is an illustration of a flowchart of a process for managing access to an aircraft through a doorway in accordance with an advantageous embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring more particularly to the drawings, embodiments of the disclosure may be described in the context of aircraft manufacturing and service method 100 as shown in Figure 1 and aircraft 200 as shown in Figure 2. Turning first to Figure 1, an illustration of an aircraft manufacturing and service method is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. During pre-production, aircraft manufacturing and service method 100 may include specification and design 102 of aircraft 200 in Figure 2 and material procurement 104.

During production, component and subassembly manufacturing 106 and system integration 108 of aircraft 200 in Figure 2 takes place. Thereafter, aircraft 200 in Figure 2 may go through certification and delivery 110 in order to be placed in service 112. While in service 112 by a customer, aircraft 200 in Figure 2 is scheduled for routine maintenance and service 114, which may include modification, reconfiguration, refurbishment, and other maintenance or service.

Each of the processes of aircraft manufacturing and service method 100 may be performed or carried out by a system integrator, a third party, and/or an operator. In these examples, the operator may be a customer. For the purposes of this description, a system integrator may include, without limitation, any number of aircraft manufacturers and major- system subcontractors; a third party may include, without limitation, any number of vendors, subcontractors, and suppliers; and an operator may be an airline, a leasing company, a military entity, a service organization, and so on.

With reference now to Figure 2, an illustration of an aircraft is depicted in which an advantageous embodiment may be implemented. In this example, aircraft 200 is produced by aircraft manufacturing and service method 100 in Figure 1 and may include airframe 202 with plurality of systems 204 and interior 206. Examples of systems 204 include one or more of propulsion system 208, electrical system 210, hydraulic system 212, and environmental system 214. Any number of other systems may be included. Although an aerospace example is shown, different advantageous embodiments may be applied to other industries, such as the automotive industry.

Apparatuses and methods embodied herein may be employed during at least one of the stages of aircraft manufacturing and service method 100 in Figure 1. As used herein, the phrase "at least one of, when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used and only one of each item in the list may be needed. For example, "at least one of item A, item B, and item C" may include, for example, without limitation, item A, or item A and item B. This example also may include item A, item B, and item C, or item B and item C.

In one illustrative example, components or subassemblies produced in component and subassembly manufacturing 106 in Figure 1 may be fabricated or manufactured in a manner similar to components or subassemblies produced while aircraft 200 is in service 112 in Figure 1. As yet another example, a number of apparatus embodiments, method embodiments, or a combination thereof may be utilized during production stages, such as component and subassembly manufacturing 106 and system integration 108 in Figure 1. A number, when referring to items, means one or more items. For example, a number of apparatus embodiments may be one or more apparatus embodiments. A number of apparatus embodiments, method embodiments, or a combination thereof may be utilized while aircraft 200 is in service 112 and/or during maintenance and service 114 in Figure 1. The use of a number of the different advantageous embodiments may substantially expedite the assembly of and/or reduce the cost of aircraft 200.

For example, one or more of the different advantageous embodiments may be used to change the usable width of a doorway within airframe 202 in aircraft 200. In this manner, aircraft 200 may be produced using the same doorways even though different configurations may result in different types of access occurring through the doorways.

The different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account a number of different considerations. For example, the different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that commercial aircraft also may include emergency exit equipment.

For example, each doorway may have a chute or escape slide associated with the doorway. The escape slides are typically inflatable and are used to evacuate from an aircraft in emergency situations. The escape slide may be used in an emergency situation by passengers and crew to exit the aircraft. An escape slide may have one lane that allows one passenger to exit at a time. In some cases, the escape slide may have two lanes that may allow two passengers to exit the aircraft at the same time using the escape slide.

Further, the different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that, depending on the size of the doorway, the number of lanes on an escape slide, which are present for exiting a doorway, may be different. For example, the width of the doorway may be used to identify whether an escape slide with one lane or two lanes is to be used. The different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that the types of escape slides used may depend on the configuration of the aircraft. For example, the different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that an aircraft may require escape slides with two lanes that allow two people to exit the aircraft at a time when some particular number of seats is present in the aircraft. If the interior configuration of the aircraft is changed to include fewer seats, the different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that some of the wider escape slides may be removed and replaced with an escape slide with one lane at one or more of the doorways.

Using an escape slide with one lane instead of two lanes may reduce the weight and space used in an aircraft. The reduction in the weight of the aircraft may reduce the amount of fuel needed and the cost to operate the aircraft. A reduction in space may be gained by replacing a dual lane escape slide on the door with one having a single lane and may allow the installation of additional passenger seats or may allow the existing seats to be placed further apart providing more passenger comfort, thereby potentially increasing the revenue generated by the airplane. As a result, the different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that it is desirable to use a smaller escape slide when possible.

The different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that even though the number of seats in an aircraft may be reduced to allow for the use of smaller escape slides, these smaller escape slides may not be used if the doorways do not have a small enough width to support the smaller escape slides.

As a result, the different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that an aircraft with different configurations may result in the aircraft being manufactured with different sized doorways. This situation, however, may be undesirable if the owner of an aircraft with smaller doorways for fewer seats desires to increase the number of seats in the aircraft at a later time. The increase in the number of seats may not be possible if the escape slides and doorways do not meet regulations, such as those from the Federal Aviation Administration. In a similar fashion, an aircraft with passenger seating requiring doorways and escape slides for two lanes may not be reconfigured to use smaller escape slides even if fewer seats are used. This situation may result in less fuel savings than desired for an aircraft owner.

The different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that in manufacturing aircraft, it would desirable to have the same size doorways and doors for different configurations within an aircraft family. This uniformity reduces engineering costs and manufacturing costs in designing and manufacturing different doors and doorways for different configurations.

Thus, the different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that one manner in which smaller escape slides may be used is to restrict the number of passengers that may pass through a doorway at the same time. For example, if the doorway is wide enough to support two passengers exiting at a time, the different advantageous embodiments recognize and take into account that the doorway may be restricted to support only one passenger leaving at a time.

The different advantageous embodiments provide a method and apparatus for restricting the width of a doorway. In one advantageous embodiment, an apparatus comprises a structure configured for connecting to a hinge in a door of an aircraft. An extended portion in the structure is present and configured to reduce a width of the doorway in which the door is located when the door is in an open position.

Thus, the advantageous embodiments provide a method and apparatus for managing doorways. In one advantageous embodiment, an apparatus comprises a structure configured for connecting to a hinge for a door in an aircraft. The apparatus also comprises an extended portion in the structure configured to reduce the width of a doorway in which the door is located when the door is in an open position. In some advantageous embodiments, the structure may be connected to the door and the hinge or indirectly connected to the hinge through the door.

With reference now to Figure 3, an illustration of an aircraft access environment is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, aircraft access environment 300 may be implemented in aircraft 200 in Figure 2 to provide passengers, crew members, and maintenance personnel access to aircraft 200.

Aircraft access environment 300, in this illustrative example, has doorway 302 in wall 304 for fuselage 306. Fuselage 306 is part of airframe 202 for aircraft 200 in Figure 2.

In this illustrative example, door 308 is connected to wall 304 by hinge system 310. Hinge system 310 comprises number of hinges 312. Further, alternate exit system 314 also may be associated with doorway 302 in these depicted examples. For example, alternate exit system 314 may include escape slide 316. In particular, escape slide 316 may be connected to door 308.

Door 308 may be moved between closed position 318 and open position 320. When in open position 320, passengers, crew members, and other people may pass through doorway 302. In these examples, doorway 302 has height 322 and width 324. The number of people who may pass through doorway 302 at the same time may depend on width 324 of doorway 302. Depending on the configuration of the aircraft and the configuration of escape slide 316, it may be desirable to reduce width 324 of doorway 302. This reduction of width 324 of doorway 302 may be desirable to meet regulations and/or rules to allow for the use of a smaller size for escape slide 316.

In these examples, width 324 for doorway 302 is reduced using doorway restriction device 326. In these illustrative examples, doorway restriction device 326 may be connected using at least one of hinge system 310 and door 308. By restricting width 324 of doorway 302, it is possible to use escape slide 316 in a smaller configuration that meets a rule or policy by regulatory authorities, such as the Federal Aviation Administration. The reduction in the size of escape slide 316 may be possible even though a change in doorway 302 does not occur. Instead, the different advantageous embodiments employ doorway restriction device 326 to restrict width 324 such that only a smaller portion of width 324 in doorway 302 may be used by a passenger to pass through doorway 302.

As used herein, the phrase "at least one of, when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used and only one of each item in the list may be needed. For example, "at least one of item A, item B, and item C" may include, for example, without limitation, item A, or item A and item B. This example also may include item A, item B, and item C, or item B and item C.

In this illustrative example, doorway restriction device 326 is connected to hinge 328 in number of hinges 312 in hinge system 310. In these illustrative examples, doorway restriction device 326 may be removably placed to cover hinge 328.

As used herein, a first component "connected to" a second component means that the first component can be connected directly or indirectly to the second component. In other words, additional components may be present between the first component and the second component. The first component is considered to be indirectly connected to the second component when one or more additional components are present between the two components. When the first component is directly connected to the second component, no additional components are present between the two components.

For example, doorway restriction device 326 may be connected directly to hinge 328. In some cases, doorway restriction device 326 may be indirectly connected to hinge 328. For example, doorway restriction device 326 may be connected to another component that is connected to hinge 328. Further, doorway restriction device 326 also may be connected to other components, such as door 308, in addition to being connected to hinge 328. Doorway restriction device 326 comprises structure 330. Structure 330 is configured for connection to hinge 328 in this particular example. This connection may be directly to hinge 328 or indirectly to hinge 328, depending on the particular implementation.

Structure 330 has extended portion 332. Extended portion 332 in structure 330 is configured to reduce width 324 of doorway 302 in which door 308 is located.

Movement of door 308 also results in movement of hinge system 310 to place door 308 into open position 320 or substantially open position 334. The movement of door 308 to open position 320 or substantially open position 334 results in a reduction in width 324.

Open position 320 is a desired position for door 308 to allow people to move through doorway 302. Open position 320 may be selected based on regulations, manufacturer guidelines, and/or other sources.

Substantially open position 334 may be some position between open position 320 and closed position 318 such that one or more people may pass through doorway 302. For example, substantially open position 334 may be a position prior to open position 320 at which alternate exit system 314 may deploy escape slide 316 for use in exiting the aircraft.

Doorway restriction device 326 may only reduce width 324 a number of portions along height 322 of doorway 302. Width 324 may be reduced along height 322 in portions such that passengers exiting doorway 302 may be restricted in a desired manner.

In the illustrative examples, width 324 may be reduced using doorway restriction device 326 to reduce the number of passengers that are able to pass through doorway 302 to one person at a time. In other illustrative examples, doorway restriction device 326 may be configured to allow two people to pass through doorway 302 at the same time.

In this manner, width 324 for doorway 302 may be restricted at some portions along height 322 in a manner that allows for the use of different types of escape slides for escape slide 316 without actually altering doorway 302 to change width 324 for doorway 302. Instead, width 324 is changed at some portions along height 322 in a manner that allows controlling the number of people that may pass through doorway 302 at the same time.

The use of doorway restriction device 326 aids in passengers, crew members, or other people leaving the aircraft when alternate exit system 314 is used. In particular, the restriction of people who can pass through doorway 302 may be made to match the number of lanes in escape slide 316.

The illustration of aircraft access environment 300 in Figure 3 is not meant to imply physical or architectural limitations to a manner in which an advantageous embodiment may be implemented. Other components in addition to and/or in place of the ones illustrated may be used. Some components may be unnecessary. Also, the blocks are presented to illustrate some functional components. One or more of these blocks may be combined and/or divided into different blocks when implemented in an advantageous embodiment.

For example, in other illustrative examples, doorway 302 may be configured to allow three passengers to pass through doorway 302 at the same time when door 308 is substantially in open position 320. Further, in other illustrative examples, number of hinges 312 in hinge system 310 may include more than one hinge. With this type of implementation, an additional number of doorway restriction devices may be used in addition to doorway restriction device 326 for the other hinges. In still other illustrative examples, depending on the configuration of hinge system 310, doorway restriction device 326 may be connected to door 308 in place of or in addition to hinge system 310.

With reference now to Figure 4, an illustration of an aircraft is depicted in which an advantageous embodiment may be implemented. Aircraft 400 is an example of one implementation of aircraft 200 in Figure 2 in which aircraft access environment 300 in Figure 3 may be implemented.

In this illustrative example, aircraft 400 has wings 402 and 404 attached to fuselage 406. Aircraft 400 also includes engine 408, engine 410, and tail 411. Further, aircraft 400 also has doorways 412, 414, 416, and 418 in fuselage 406. Doors 420, 422, 424, and 426 are associated with doorways 412, 414, 416, and 418, respectively. Aircraft 400 also has doorways 428, 430, 432, and 434 with doors 436, 438, 440, and 442, respectively.

With reference now to Figure 5, an illustration of a doorway without a doorway restriction device is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, doorway 500 is shown from an interior of the aircraft. Doorway 500 in wall 501 is an example of doorway 302 in Figure 3.

Door 502 is illustrated in a closed position in this depicted example. Hinge 504 is an example of hinge 328 in Figure 3.

In this illustrative example, a doorway restriction device is not placed over hinge 504. Instead, cover 506 is placed over hinge 504. Cover 506 does not have an extended portion, such as extended portion 332 as used with doorway restriction device 326 in Figure 3.

With reference now to Figure 6, an illustration of a doorway with a doorway restriction device is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, doorway restriction device 600 is used to restrict doorway 500. Doorway restriction device 600 is an example of a physical implementation for doorway restriction device 326 shown in block form in Figure 3.

Doorway restriction device 600 comprises structure 602. Structure 602 takes the form of a cover in this illustrative example. Structure 602 is similar to cover 506 but also has extended portion 604. Extended portion 604 is configured to restrict width 606 of doorway 500 when door 502 is in a substantially open position. In particular, width 606 is restricted along section 608 along height 610 of doorway 500.

With reference now to Figure 7, an illustration of a doorway with a doorway restriction device is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, a top cross-sectional view of doorway 500 with door 502 is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, both cover 506 and door restriction device 600 are illustrated as being placed over hinge 504. Cover 506 is shown in phantom.

With reference now to Figure 8, an illustration of a doorway with a door having a doorway restriction device in an open position is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, a top cross-sectional view of doorway 500 with door 502 is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, door 502 is in a substantially open position.

As can be seen, door 502 moves outward in a direction of arrow 800 and rotates in the direction of arrow 802 such that surface 804 of door 502 is substantially parallel to surface 806 of wall 501 in the fuselage of the aircraft.

As can be seen, doorway 500 has width 606 when only cover 506 is used. When doorway restriction device 600 is used in place of cover 506, doorway 500 has width 606 reduced to width 810. The reduction of width 606 to width 810 is provided by extended portion 604 of structure 602 in doorway restriction device 600 in these illustrative examples. For example, width 606 may be about 42 inches without doorway restriction device 600. With the use of doorway restriction device 600, width 606 may be reduced to about 34 inches to about 36 inches. Of course, these illustrative values for width 606 may be different for different aircraft and may change, depending on regulations or rules pertaining to width 606 for doorway 500.

As depicted, doorway restriction device 600 may be connected to hinge 504. In these illustrative examples, doorway restriction device 600 may be connected to hinge 504 directly or indirectly. Further, doorway restriction device 600 may be considered to be connected to door 502 in addition to and/or in place of hinge 504 in these illustrative examples. Regardless of the manner in which doorway restriction device 600 is connected, doorway restriction device 600 covers hinge 504 in a manner such that when door 502 is in a substantially open position, width 606 of doorway 500 may be reduced in at least some portion or length along height 610 in Figure 6 of doorway 500 to width 810.

With reference now to Figure 9, an illustration of a door in a doorway with a doorway restriction device is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, doorway 900 has door 902. Hinge 904 connects door 902 to wall 906 in doorway 900.

Doorway restriction device 908 is an example of another physical implementation for doorway restriction device 326 shown in block form in Figure 3. In this illustrative example, doorway restriction device 908 comprises structure 910 with extended portion 912. In this illustrative example, extended portion 912 is a member in the form of a bar associated with structure 910. In this example, extended portion 912 may be a U-shaped bar. In this illustrative example, extended portion 912 may be connected to hinge 904, structure 910, or both.

With reference now to Figure 10, a top cross-sectional view of a door in a doorway with a doorway restriction device is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, door 902 is illustrated in a closed position.

With reference now to Figure 11, an illustration of a door with a doorway restriction device is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, door 902 is shown in a substantially open position. As can be seen, width 1100 of doorway 900 is reduced to width 1102. This reduction of width 1100 is caused by extended portion 912 of structure 910.

Turning now to Figures 12-15, illustrations of a doorway restriction device from different views are depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. With reference first to Figure 12, an illustration of a doorway restriction device is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, a perspective view of doorway restriction device 600 is depicted. Doorway restriction device 600 takes the form of a cover.

Doorway restriction device 600 may be comprised of different materials. For example, doorway restriction device 600 may be comprised of a material selected from at least one of a plastic, a metal, wood, steel, aluminum, a composite material, and any other suitable type of material. The selection of the material or materials may be one that is configured to withstand normal use of the doorway. For example, the material may be selected as one that may be configured to withstand being bumped by passengers, luggage, and other equipment being moved through the doorway.

In this illustrative example, doorway restriction device 600 is shown with side 1200 and side 1202 visible. Side 1200 is the side that faces the interior of the aircraft. Side 1202 is the side that faces the top of the cabin.

With reference now to Figure 13, another illustration of a doorway restriction device is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, doorway restriction device 600 is shown in another perspective view. In this example, side 1200 and side 1300 of doorway restriction device 600 can be seen. Side 1300 represents the side facing the bottom portion of the cabin when doorway restriction device 600 is installed.

With reference now to Figure 14, an illustration of another view of doorway restriction device 600 is depicted. In this illustrative example, side 1400 of doorway restriction device 600 can be seen. Side 1400 is an interior side of doorway restriction device 600. Further, side 1402 also can be seen. Side 1402 is a side on which extended portion 604 is present.

With reference now to Figure 15, another illustration of a doorway restriction device is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. In this illustrative example, another perspective view of doorway restriction device 600 is illustrated.

The illustration of doorway restriction device 600 and doorway restriction device 908 in Figures 6-15 are not meant to imply physical or architectural limitations to the manner in which a doorway restriction device may be implemented. In some illustrative examples, a doorway restriction device may be connected to cover 506 instead of replacing cover 506. For example, doorway restriction device 326 in Figure 3 may just be a bar and may not take the form of cover 506. For example, without limitation, the bar may be the structure with the portion of the bar doorway restriction device that reduces width 324 from being extended portion 332 in Figure 3.

The illustration of the doorway restriction devices, doors, hinges, and doorways in

Figures 4-15 may be used in combination with components in Figure 3, used with components in Figure 3, or a combination of the two. Additionally, the components in these figures are illustrative examples of how a component shown in block form in Figure 3 may be implemented as physical structures.

With reference now to Figure 16, an illustration of a flowchart of a process for managing access to an aircraft through a doorway is depicted in accordance with an advantageous embodiment. The process illustrated in Figure 16 may be implemented using doorway restriction device 326 in association with door 308 and hinge system 310 for doorway 302. The process begins by identifying door 308 in doorway 302 to be opened (operation 1600). Door 308 is associated with a fuselage of the aircraft by hinge 328. Structure 330 of doorway restriction device 326 is connected to hinge 328 and has extended portion 332.

Door 308 is moved into substantially open position 334 (operation 1602). Hinge 328 with structure 330 moves such that extended portion 332 of structure 330 reduces width 324 of doorway 302 to a desired width when the door is substantially open.

The process then moves objects through doorway 302 (operation 1604), with the process terminating thereafter. In these illustrative examples, objects through doorway 302 may be passengers, crew members, cargo, luggage, and other suitable types of objects.

Thus, the different advantageous embodiments provide a method and apparatus for managing access to an aircraft. The different advantageous embodiments provide a manner to change the width of the doorway. In other words, the width is changed in a manner that may restrict the number of passengers that may pass through the doorway at the same time.

This restriction does not require actually changing the doorway. Instead, a doorway restriction device is associated with a hinge, door, or both in the doorway. The doorway restriction device has an extended portion that reduces the width of the doorway along at least a portion of the height of the doorway when the door is in a substantially open position.

In this manner, different sized escape slides may be used with the same size doorway. For example, an escape slide for a doorway that only allows one passenger to pass through the doorway at a time may be used with a doorway that normally allows two passengers to pass through the doorway at the same time. The width of the doorway is restricted through the use of the doorway restriction device. In this manner, modifications to the doorways are not needed to use a different sized escape slide.

Further, in designing and manufacturing aircraft, the aircraft may all be designed and manufactured with the same size doorways. When configurations are possible to allow the use of smaller escape slides, the same size doorway may be employed with doorway restriction devices in a manner that may meet safety standards, regulations, or rules for various regulatory authorities.

The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Further, different advantageous embodiments may provide different advantages as compared to other advantageous embodiments. The embodiment or embodiments selected are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention, the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.