DOC AIRBUS | AMM A320FPASSENGER/CREW - DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION
** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
1. General
A. Door Description
The aircraft is provided with four type C passenger/crew doors, two on the left side of the fuselage and two on the right side.
The doors are of fail-safe plug-type construction. During the unlocking phase the doors move inwards then upwards, they open outwards and move forwards parallel to the fuselage.
All the doors include an evacuation system. The escape slides or slides/raft are stowed in hard containers at the lower part of passenger/crew door.
Each passenger/crew door has a locking mechanism and an escape slide or slide/raft release mechanism.
The locking mechanism is controlled either with the inner or the outer control handle.
The escape slide or slide/raft is controlled by an arming/disarming lever on the inner side. When the door is opened from the outside the escape slide or slide/raft release mechanism is disarmed automatically.
Because all type C doors are similar, except for their geometry, this description is general and valid for all doors.
The aircraft is provided with four type C passenger/crew doors, two on the left side of the fuselage and two on the right side.
The doors are of fail-safe plug-type construction. During the unlocking phase the doors move inwards then upwards, they open outwards and move forwards parallel to the fuselage.
All the doors include an evacuation system. The escape slides or slides/raft are stowed in hard containers at the lower part of passenger/crew door.
Each passenger/crew door has a locking mechanism and an escape slide or slide/raft release mechanism.
The locking mechanism is controlled either with the inner or the outer control handle.
The escape slide or slide/raft is controlled by an arming/disarming lever on the inner side. When the door is opened from the outside the escape slide or slide/raft release mechanism is disarmed automatically.
Because all type C doors are similar, except for their geometry, this description is general and valid for all doors.
B. Location of Component
(1) FWD Passenger Crew/Door
The main components of the FWD passenger/crew door are:
The main components of the FWD passenger/crew door are:
- the door structure (Ref. 52-11-11),
- the door suspension (Ref. 52-11-12),
- the door seal (Ref 52-11-18),
- the door damper and emergency-operation cylinder (Ref. 52-11-14),
- the door locking mechanism (Ref. 52-11-21).
- the emergency escape-slide release-mechanism (Ref. 52-11-22).
- the door fittings (Ref. 52-11-31).
(2) Aft Passenger Crew/Door
The main components of the aft passenger/crew door are:
The main components of the aft passenger/crew door are:
- the door structure (Ref. 52-13-11),
- the door suspension (Ref. 52-13-12),
- the door seal (Ref 52-13-18),
- the door damper and emergency-operation cylinder (Ref. 52-13-14),
- the door locking mechanism (Ref. 52-13-21).
- the emergency escape-slide release-mechanism (Ref. 52-13-22).
- the door fittings (Ref. 52-13-31).
2. Description
A. Structure
The main structural components of the passenger/crew doors are the horizontal longerons, vertical frame segments, outer skin, edge members and inner skin which are riveted together.
The adjustable stop fittings, and their corresponding fittings on the door fuselage frame, transfer the loads resulting from cabin pressure to the aircraft structure. The door seal consists of a rubber extrusion with spaced pressurization holes. It is installed on the inner side of the outer skin at the periphery of the door. When the door is closed, the seal is pressed against the fuselage door frame and inflated by cabin air pressure to form a pressure tight seal.
The main structural components of the passenger/crew doors are the horizontal longerons, vertical frame segments, outer skin, edge members and inner skin which are riveted together.
The adjustable stop fittings, and their corresponding fittings on the door fuselage frame, transfer the loads resulting from cabin pressure to the aircraft structure. The door seal consists of a rubber extrusion with spaced pressurization holes. It is installed on the inner side of the outer skin at the periphery of the door. When the door is closed, the seal is pressed against the fuselage door frame and inflated by cabin air pressure to form a pressure tight seal.
B. Door Mechanism
Control Mechanism of the Passenger/Crew Doors ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
Control Mechanism of the Passenger/Crew Doors ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
Two mechanism inside the door structure control the locking of the door and the evacuation system.
Control Mechanism of the Passenger/Crew Doors ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL Control Mechanism of the Passenger/Crew Doors ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL (1) Door locking mechanism
Locking Mechanism of the Passenger/Crew Door ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
Locking Mechanism of the Passenger/Crew Doors ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
The door is locked by a hook. The hook is connected by a rod and bellcrank to the locking shaft, which is locked in an overcentered position. An arm on the locking shaft forms the visual locking indicator. A spring rod maintains the overcentered position. In addition, a safety pin is provided to prevent any movement of the door which would result from a double mechanical failure in the locking mechanism and the lifting mechanism.
The lifting lever (lower connection link) lifts the door. The door moves upwards until it is clear of the stop fittings and then moves outwards.
A torsion bar spring compensates for the weight of the door.
The door inner and outer control handles operate the door locking mechanism. The shafts of these handles are coupled so that the outer control handle does not move when the door is lifted with the inner control handle.
The gearbox is connected by rods to the locking shaft and the lifting lever.
A lowering shaft acts via a rod on a locking hook and locks the gearbox with the door open.
It is not possible to lower the door when it is in the open position out of its frame.
Locking Mechanism of the Passenger/Crew Door ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL Locking Mechanism of the Passenger/Crew Doors ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL The lifting lever (lower connection link) lifts the door. The door moves upwards until it is clear of the stop fittings and then moves outwards.
A torsion bar spring compensates for the weight of the door.
The door inner and outer control handles operate the door locking mechanism. The shafts of these handles are coupled so that the outer control handle does not move when the door is lifted with the inner control handle.
The gearbox is connected by rods to the locking shaft and the lifting lever.
A lowering shaft acts via a rod on a locking hook and locks the gearbox with the door open.
It is not possible to lower the door when it is in the open position out of its frame.
(2) Door Damper and Emergency-Operation Cylinder
Door-Damper and Emergency-Operation Cylinder ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
Door-Damper and Emergency-Operation Cylinder ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL
The damper and emergency-operation cylinder, installed on the support arm, damps door movement during opening/closing especially under abnormal conditions (heavy wind loads). Damping is effected by hydraulic fluid which pass through a restrictor as the operating rod extends or retracts.
The damper and emergency-operation cylinder is also an emergency actuator and assists the opening of the door in emergency condition.
This is effected by a gas cylinder installed on the body of the damper and emergency-operation cylinder. The gas which operates the cylinder is released when the door upward movement causes the pivoting stop lever to actuate the gas release lever, if the escape slide release system is armed.
The damping function is automatic at the end of the door travel (door open). It is possible to close the door again after a complete emergency opening.
Door-Damper and Emergency-Operation Cylinder ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL Door-Damper and Emergency-Operation Cylinder ** ON A/C NOT FOR ALL The damper and emergency-operation cylinder is also an emergency actuator and assists the opening of the door in emergency condition.
This is effected by a gas cylinder installed on the body of the damper and emergency-operation cylinder. The gas which operates the cylinder is released when the door upward movement causes the pivoting stop lever to actuate the gas release lever, if the escape slide release system is armed.
The damping function is automatic at the end of the door travel (door open). It is possible to close the door again after a complete emergency opening.
(3) Door Suspension
When the door is in the up position it moves outwards parallel to the fuselage. The door is supported by the support arm and maintained parallel to the fuselage by guide arms.
The door is attached to the support arm by means of upper and lower connection links. The lower connection link is the lifting lever.
A door stay mechanism, installed in the support arm, locks the door in the fully open position.
When the door is in the up position it moves outwards parallel to the fuselage. The door is supported by the support arm and maintained parallel to the fuselage by guide arms.
The door is attached to the support arm by means of upper and lower connection links. The lower connection link is the lifting lever.
A door stay mechanism, installed in the support arm, locks the door in the fully open position.
(4) Emergency Escape Slide Release Mechanism
The emergency escape slide is installed at the bottom of the door. The slide is fastened to a girt bar. This girt bar can be locked, by means of levers and fittings:
The emergency escape slide is installed at the bottom of the door. The slide is fastened to a girt bar. This girt bar can be locked, by means of levers and fittings:
- either to the fuselage in the emergency (armed) mode
- or to the door in the normal (disarmed) mode.
The emergency control handle is located far from the inner control handle.
Several rods and levers connect the emergency control handle to the girt bar actuating mechanism.
A cam disk and a roller connect the emergency control handle and the outer control handle.
When the outer control handle is operated, the release mechanism of the emergency escape slide returns to the DISARMED position. A locking unit, connected to the locking shaft, locks the emergency escape slide release mechanism in the disarmed position when the door is not fully closed and locked.
A visual indicator is installed at the forward end of the girt bar.