Armored closure for an aircraft hangar

Claim 2

A door closure for the open end of an aircraft hangar structure comprising a bulkhead having a door opening formed therein, a truss surrounding said opening and having side portions projecting into the hangar but clear of the door opening, means supporting said bulkhead and truss at one end of and independent of the hangar structure, and half doors pivotally mounted on said truss at the side portions thereof, said bulkhead thus transmitting to the truss shock loads directed against the closed doors to protect the hangar structure from said shock loads.

Claim 3

An armored closure for the open end of a hangar comprising an armored bulkhead spanning said open end and defining an access opening into the hangar, truss means supporting said bulkhead independent of the hangar structure, and a pair of armored doors mounted on said truss for horizontal swinging separating movement away from a vertical plane bisecting said bulkhead opening, each door including planar armor panels diagonally related to said plane for deflecting projectiles and blast forces striking the closed doors, said panels cooperatively defining a profile larger than said opening when the doors are open and having edge portions adjacent said bulkhead when the doors are in closed positions.

Claim 4

An armored closure for the open end of a hangar comprising an armored bulkhead spanning said open end and defining an access opening into the hangar, truss means supporting said bulkhead independent of the hangar structure, and a pair of armored doors mounted on said truss for horizontal swinging separating movement away from a vertical plane bisecting said bulkhead opening, each door including planar armor panels diagonally related to said plane for deflecting projectiles and blast forces striking the closed doors, said panels cooperatively defining a profile larger than said opening when the doors are open and having edge portions adjacent said bulkhead when the doors are in closed positions.

Claim 5

An end closure for a prefabricated hangar comprising an armor plated truss extending across and within one open end portion of the hangar, the armor of said truss defining a downwardly open aperture, means supporting said truss independently of the hangar structure, hinge means mounted on said truss at each side of said aperture, an armored half door mounted on each hinge means for swinging movement about an upright pivot axis, said doors including planar lower panels cooperatively converging outwardly from the hinge means to define laterally diverging projectile deflecting surfaces, and planar upper panels cooperatively defining inclining projectile-deflecting surfaces merging with said lower panels and having terminal upper edges abutting the truss armor, inward forces against said doors being resisted by said truss and being thus isolated from the structure of the hangar.

Claim 6

An end closure for a prefabricated hangar comprising an armor plated truss extending across and within one open end portion of the hangar, the armor of said truss defining a downwardly open aperture, means supporting said truss independently of the hangar structure, hinge means mounted on said truss at each side of said aperture, an armored half door mounted on each hinge means for swinging movement about an upright pivot axis, said doors including planar lower panels cooperatively converging outwardly from the hinge means to define laterally diverging projectile deflecting surfaces, and planar upper panels cooperatively defining inclining projectile-deflecting surfaces merging with said lower panels and having terminal upper edges abutting the truss armor, inward forces against said doors being resisted by said truss and being thus isolated from the structure of the hangar.

Claim 7

In a prefabricated hangar structure the improvement comprising a truss including means defining a pivot axis adjacent the open end and near each side of the hangar, ground support means anchoring said truss independently of the hangar structure, an armored bulkhead extending across said open end of the hangar and connected to said truss means but independent of the hangar structure, said bulkhead defining an opening closely conforming to the front profile of an aircraft, and a pair of armored half doors pivotally mounted for movement about said hinge axes and spanninG said bulkhead opening in closed positions, said doors in open positions being clear of said aircraft profile and in closed positions having portions abutting said bulkhead, forces directed inward against the closed doors thus being opposed by the truss-supported bulkhead and said ground support means for said truss, but isolated from the hangar structure.

Claim 8

In a prefabricated hangar structure the improvement comprising a truss including means defining a pivot axis adjacent the open end and near each side of the hangar, ground support means anchoring said truss independently of the hangar structure, an armored bulkhead extending across said open end of the hangar and connected to said truss means but independent of the hangar structure, said bulkhead defining an opening closely conforming to the front profile of an aircraft, and a pair of armored half doors pivotally mounted for movement about said hinge axes and spanninG said bulkhead opening in closed positions, said doors in open positions being clear of said aircraft profile and in closed positions having portions abutting said bulkhead, forces directed inward against the closed doors thus being opposed by the truss-supported bulkhead and said ground support means for said truss, but isolated from the hangar structure.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said doors in open positions are inward of the open end of said hangar.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said doors in closed positions cooperatively define outer deflecting surfaces diverging toward the hangar.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said doors in open positions are within the open end of the hangar and in closed positions cooperatively define outer deflecting surfaces diverging toward the hangar.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each of said doors is of unitary armor plate construction to reduce the probability of door fragmentation.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said bulkhead opening is provided with upright lateral edges joining a gable shaped intermediate edge, each of said doors including an upright lower panel converging outward from its pivot axis toward a vertical plane longitudinally bisecting the hangar, and a triangular panel having a first edge welded to the upper edge of said lower panel, a second edge substantially tangent to said plane and a third edge abutting said bulkhead along a line substantially parallel to one sloping side of said gable shaped edge, the doors in closed positions thus defining an inverted prow shaped deflecting structure, and in open position closely conforming to the gable shaped bulkhead opening.

Claim 14

An armored door closure of inverted prow shape for the open end of a hangar comprising an apertured armored bulkhead spanning said opening; a truss supporting said bulkhead independent of the hangar structure; and a pair of clamshell doors mounted on said truss for horizontal separating movement; each door including only two planar outer surface panels, an upright generally rectangular lower panel extending outward from said bulkhead to a vertical plane bisecting said bulkhead and the hangar, and a triangular panel having one edge secured to said rectangular panel, another edge coincident with said plane, and the remaining edge adjacent said bulkhead.

Claim 15

An armored door closure of inverted prow shape for the open end of a hangar comprising an apertured armored bulkhead spanning said opening; a truss supporting said bulkhead independent of the hangar structure; and a pair of clamshell doors mounted on said truss for horizontal separating movement; each door including only two planar outer surface panels, an upright generally rectangular lower panel extending outward from said bulkhead to a vertical plane bisecting said bulkhead and the hangar, and a triangular panel having one edge secured to said rectangular panel, another edge coincident with said plane, and the remaining edge adjacent said bulkhead.