Luggage compartment for aircraft

Abstract

The invention relates to a luggage compartment (1) for an aircraft, comprising: a luggage compartment housing (2); a bucket (6) for accommodating a piece of luggage (13); a hinge (10) between the luggage compartment housing (2) and the bucket (6) wherein the bucket (6) can be lowered from a closed position to an open position by pivoting about the hinge (10); the invention relates to a device (15) for automatically opening a bucket (6) in both an unloaded state and a state loaded with pieces of luggage (13), the device (15) for automatically opening the bucket (6) comprising a spring device (16) having a spring element (17) which urges the bucket (6) in the direction of the open position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a luggage compartment for an aircraft.

[0002] include:

[0003] Luggage compartment housing,

[0004] Bucket for accommodating pieces of luggage,

[0005] The hinge between the luggage compartment shell and the bucket,

[0006] The bucket can be lowered from a closed position to an open position by pivoting about a hinge. Background Art

[0007] As described in WO 2014 / 117198, overhead luggage compartments for aircraft are known in various embodiments. In one embodiment, a fixed housing is provided, which is closed by a flap that can be pivoted upwards. This type of luggage compartment is also called a "shelf box". In such luggage compartments, it has long been known to install springs to facilitate the upward pivoting of the flap (see, for example, DE 10 2016 006 004 A1). When the flap is closed, the spring is tensioned.

[0008] In contrast, another embodiment of an overhead luggage compartment provides a lowerable bucket into which a carry-on baggage can be placed. These luggage compartments are known as "pivot boxes" (see, for example, DE 10 2013 003 364 A1). After releasing a latching device, which is usually referred to as a "latch", the bucket is lowered into the open position under the effect of its own weight. In order to minimize the force exerted by the user to close the bucket, the pivot axis between the bucket and the housing is arranged horizontally near the common center of gravity of the bucket and the luggage piece. For typical loading, this ensures that the bucket opens automatically even when loaded, i.e. it moves to the open position solely by gravity without the user having to exert additional force. However, in practice, it has proven to be problematic that in certain loading situations the bucket may lose its automatic opening property, resulting in the bucket remaining in a partially open state when opened. Furthermore, this also results in a bucket that has been manually lowered to the open position partially closing automatically, i.e. pivoting to the partially open state by itself without user intervention. Summary of the invention

[0009] On the contrary, the object of the present invention is to alleviate or even eliminate the disadvantages of the known "pivot boxes". The present invention is preferably intended to produce a luggage compartment with a lowerable bucket, which can be opened automatically regardless of the loading conditions.

[0010] This object is achieved by a luggage compartment according to claim 1 and an aircraft according to claim 8. Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0011] According to the invention, a device is provided for automatically opening the bucket both in an empty state and in a state loaded with luggage, the device for automatically opening the bucket comprising a spring device having a spring element which pushes the bucket into an open position.

[0012] The invention is based firstly on the recognition that if a small and heavy piece of luggage is placed in the rear region of the bucket, i.e. on the side facing away from the loading opening with respect to the hinge, the automatic opening of the bucket cannot be ensured. In such a loaded situation, the common center of gravity of the bucket and the piece of luggage can be shifted in the horizontal direction behind the pivot axis. This exerts a closing torque on the bucket, which prevents the bucket from opening automatically, so that the bucket does not move from the closed position to the open position by gravity alone. If the user pulls the bucket into the open position, this closing torque can lead to a partial automatic closing of the bucket, i.e. the bucket pivots into the partially open state by itself without user intervention. Recognizing the reasons for this problem, the invention provides a device for automatically opening the bucket - i.e. transferring the bucket from the closed position to the open position by gravity alone, not only in the empty state, but also in the state loaded with luggage. The device for automatically opening the bucket is equipped with a spring device, the spring element of which pushes the bucket in the direction of the lowered open position, unlike a conventional luggage compartment that provides support when lifted. The spring element applies an opening torque to the bucket, ie a torque acting in the direction of the open position, which ensures that the bucket opens automatically regardless of the loading conditions, in particular when a piece of luggage is placed in the rear region of the bucket, ie the chute.

[0013] For the purpose of this disclosure, position and direction indications such as "horizontal", "vertical", "above", "below" refer to the intended installation state of the luggage compartment in the aircraft cabin when the aircraft is horizontally oriented. "Front" refers to the side of the luggage compartment facing the user; "rear" refers to the side of the luggage compartment facing away from the user.

[0014] The bucket comprises a receiving space for a piece of luggage. To this end, the bucket may comprise, as is customary in the prior art, a floor extending in the longitudinal direction of the aircraft fuselage, preferably longitudinally, for placing the piece of luggage, and two side walls located at the longitudinal ends of the floor. The side walls are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the floor and extend upwards from the floor. Furthermore, the bucket may comprise a housing having an upper wall portion and a rear wall portion, optionally also a lower wall portion separated from the floor. A loading opening is formed on the front side of the bucket to allow the piece of luggage to be placed in the receiving space when loading is carried out in the open position of the bucket. The bucket is connected to a luggage compartment housing by a hinge, which luggage compartment housing is fixed in the aircraft cabin, i.e. cannot be moved during the opening of the bucket.

[0015] As is common in the prior art, the luggage compartment housing may include two side portions, which may extend substantially parallel to the side walls of the bucket. In addition, the luggage compartment housing may include an upper portion, a front portion, and a rear portion. In the closed position, the front portion may cover the loading opening of the bucket. The rear portion is disposed on a side of the luggage compartment facing away from the loading opening.

[0016] Preferably, a hinge is provided between one of the side walls of the bucket and one of the side parts of the housing, respectively. The hinge defines a pivot axis, which preferably extends in the longitudinal direction of the aircraft fuselage, about which the bucket is pivoted from the closed position to the fully lowered open position. In the open position, the front loading opening (i.e. the side facing the user) is released, which front loading opening extends above the loading edge. In the closed position, the front loading opening of the luggage compartment is closed.

[0017] Preferably, the luggage compartment comprises a latching device between the bucket and the luggage compartment housing. In the latched state of the latching device, the bucket is held in the closed position. In the unlatched state of the latching device, the bucket can be pivoted from the closed position to the open position. An actuating device, in particular a handle, may be provided for switching the latching device from the latched state to the unlatched state.

[0018] As a spring element of the device for automatic opening, a compression spring is preferably provided, which is more strongly tensioned in the closed position of the bucket than in the open position of the bucket. When the luggage compartment is opened, the compression spring relaxes, releasing the spring energy stored during the previous closing of the luggage compartment. Advantageously, the relaxation of the compression spring reliably opens the bucket even if a piece of luggage is accommodated in the rear region of the bucket, i.e. in the region behind the hinge. A helical spring is preferably provided as the compression spring.

[0019] In order to prevent the spring element from undesired deformation transversely to its longitudinal direction, in a preferred embodiment, the spring device comprises a support element which passes through the spring element from one longitudinal end to the other. In this embodiment, the spring element is arranged outside the support element. This ensures that the spring element is only tensioned and relaxed in its longitudinal direction. Bending or kinking of the spring element relative to the longitudinal direction is reliably prevented.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the support element comprises a cylinder and a piston, wherein the piston extends from the cylinder to different lengths depending on the tension of the spring element. The cylinder-piston support element increases the longitudinal stiffness of the spring device. In order to allow the length to be adjusted depending on the tension (in particular compression) of the spring element, the piston can extend from the interior of the cylinder to a corresponding length. However, preferably, the cylinder-piston support element is not designed as a damping element, in particular no fluid is displaced by the movement of the piston in the cylinder.

[0021] In order to create suitable connection points for the spring device on both sides of the spring element, it is advantageous for the support element to include two pistons, each of which extends from the cylinder in opposite directions depending on the tension of the spring element. The free end of one piston can be connected to the luggage compartment housing, while the free end of the other piston can be connected to the bucket.

[0022] In order to prevent the luggage compartment from opening suddenly, in particular when loading, a preferred embodiment provides a damping device between the luggage compartment housing and the bucket, which damps the pivoting of the bucket from the closed position to the open position. The damping device comprises a damping element, in particular a cylinder-piston unit, in which a fluid volume is displaced by the movement of the piston.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, a first bracket is arranged on the luggage compartment shell and a second bracket is arranged on the bucket, wherein the first longitudinal end of the spring device and the damping device are respectively mounted on the first bracket, and the second longitudinal end of the spring device and the damping device are respectively mounted on the second bracket, preferably in a pivotable manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention will be further explained below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings.

[0025] Figure 1 The overhead luggage compartment according to the invention is shown with the bucket in the closed position.

[0026] Figure 2 Shown in open position Figure 1 Overhead luggage compartment.

[0027] Figure 3 and Figure 4 They are shown respectively according to Figure 1 The closing position and Figure 2 Partial cutaway view of the overhead luggage compartment in the open position.

[0028] Figure 5 The spring and damping device are shown, the spring device is in a tensioned state, and Figure 1 and Figure 2 corresponds to the closed position of the overhead luggage compartment.

[0029] Figure 6 Shows Figure 3 The spring and damping device is in a relaxed state. Figure 1 and Figure 2 corresponds to the open position of the overhead luggage compartment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The figure shows an overhead luggage compartment 1 which is installed in the cabin of an aircraft (not shown). The overhead luggage compartment 1 comprises a downwardly open luggage compartment shell 2 having two opposite side parts 3, an upper part 4A, a front part 4B and a rear part 5. The luggage compartment shell 2 is fixedly arranged on the aircraft fuselage, i.e. the luggage compartment shell 2 is not movable when the luggage compartment 1 is open. A forwardly open bucket 6 is pivotally arranged on the luggage compartment shell 2. The bucket 6 comprises two side walls 7, a bottom plate 8 and an outer shell 9, the outer shell 9 having an upper wall part 9A, a rear wall part 9B and a lower wall part 9C, and the bottom plate 8 is mounted on the lower wall part 9C. In order to pivotally mount the bucket 6, a hinge 10 is provided between the side walls 7 of the bucket and the side parts 3 of the luggage compartment shell 2. The hinge 10 defines a horizontal pivot axis 11 about which the bucket 6 can be pivoted from Figure 1 and Figure 3 The closed position shown is lowered to Figure 2 and Figure 4 In the open position, the front loading opening 12 is freed so that a piece of luggage 13 can be inserted into a receiving space 14 of the bucket 6 delimited by the side walls 7, the floor 8, the upper wall section 9A and the rear wall section 9B. In the closed position, the front loading opening 12 of the luggage compartment 1 is closed and the loading opening 12 is covered by the front part 4B of the housing 2.

[0031] The luggage compartment 1 comprises a latching device (not shown) acting between the bucket 6 and the luggage compartment housing 2. In the latched state of the latching device, the bucket 6 is held in the closed position. In the unlatched state of the latching device, the bucket 6 can be freely pivoted about the pivot axis 11 from the closed position to the open position, preferably by more than 30°, in particular by more than 40°, the pivot axis remaining stationary during this period. An actuating device, in particular a handle, may be provided to switch the latching device from the latched state to the unlatched state.

[0032] If you put a small and heavy piece of luggage 13 (see Figure 3 and Figure 4 ) is placed in the rear area of ​​the receiving space 14 of the bucket 6, the common center of gravity of the bucket 6 and the luggage piece 13 may be moved behind the pivot axis 11. This will generate a closing torque, causing the luggage compartment 1 to close automatically in the open state, or preventing the luggage compartment 1 from opening automatically in the closed but unlatched state.

[0033] In order to avoid this problem, in the embodiment shown, the luggage compartment 1 comprises a device 15 for automatically opening the bucket 6 not only in the unloaded state, i.e. when the receiving space 14 is empty, but also in the loaded state. The device 15 for automatically opening the bucket 6 in the unlatched state of the latching device comprises a spring device 16 having a spring element 17 which pushes the bucket 6 into the fully open position. With the aid of the spring element 17, an opening torque is generated so that the bucket 6 can also be opened automatically, i.e. without the user having to exert any force, when the luggage piece 13 is located behind the pivot axis 11. To this end, the spring element 17 acts on the front part of the bucket 6, which extends from the hinge 10 to the front loading edge facing the user. Preferably, a device 15 of this type is provided at both opposite longitudinal ends of the luggage compartment 1, and the following description applies equally to both devices 15.

[0034] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, in the embodiment shown, a compression spring 18 (in this case in the form of a helical spring) is provided as the spring element 17, which is tensioned more strongly in the closed position of the bucket 6 than in the open position of the bucket 6. When the bucket 6 is opened, the compression spring 18 relaxes, so that (in addition to the moment due to gravity) an opening torque is also applied to the bucket 6.

[0035] from Figure 5 and Figure 6 It can further be seen that in the illustrated embodiment, the spring device 16 also includes a support element 19 which passes through the spring element 17 in its longitudinal direction, i.e. from one longitudinal end to the other end of the spring element 17. The support element 19 includes a cylinder 20 and two pistons 21, each of which extends from the cylinder 20 in opposite directions, the extension distance depending on the tension of the spring element 17. The cylinder 20 has elongated holes 20A, and stoppers 21A connected to the pistons 21 are guided into these holes to limit the movement of the pistons 21 relative to the cylinder 20 under the action of the spring element 17.

[0036] At the free end of the piston 21 , connection elements 22 are provided which protrude from the spring element 17 and are pivotably connected to a first bracket 23 on the luggage compartment housing 2 or to a second bracket 24 , respectively, on the bucket 6 .

[0037] from Figure 5 and Figure 6It can further be seen that a damping device 25 is also provided between the side portion 3 of the luggage compartment housing and the side wall 7 of the bucket 6. By means of the damping device 25, the pivoting of the bucket from the closed position to the open position is damped, but no spring force is applied to the bucket 6, and therefore no additional static opening or closing torque is applied to the bucket 6. The damping device 25 comprises a cylinder piston damper 26. One longitudinal end of the cylinder piston damper 26 is pivotally connected to the first bracket 23, and the other longitudinal end of the cylinder piston damper is pivotally connected to the second bracket 24.

[0038] Reference numerals list:

[0039] 1 luggage compartment

[0040] 2 Luggage compartment housing

[0041] 3 Side of luggage compartment housing

[0042] 4A Upper part of luggage compartment shell

[0043] 4B Front part of luggage compartment housing

[0044] 5Rear part of luggage compartment housing

[0045] 6 Buckets

[0046] 7 Bucket side wall

[0047] 8 Bucket bottom plate

[0048] 9 Bucket shell

[0049] 9A Upper wall of the housing

[0050] 9B rear wall of the housing

[0051] 9C lower wall of the shell

[0052] 10 Hinge

[0053] 11 Pivot Axis

[0054] 12 Loading openings

[0055] 13 pieces of luggage

[0056] 14 Receiving Space

[0057] 15 Installation

[0058] 16 Spring device

[0059] 17 Spring element

[0060] 18 Compression spring

[0061] 19 Support elements

[0062] 20 cylinders

[0063] 20A Slender hole 20A

[0064] 21 Piston

[0065] 21A stopper

[0066] 22Connection elements

[0067] 23 First Bracket

[0068] 24 Second bracket

[0069] 25 Damping device

[0070] 26 Cylinder Piston Damper

Claims

1. A luggage compartment (1) for an aircraft, comprising: Luggage compartment housing (2), a bucket (6) for receiving a piece of luggage (13), a hinge (10) between the luggage compartment housing (2) and the bucket (6), wherein the bucket (6) can be lowered from a closed position to an open position by pivoting about the hinge (10), Features a device (15) for automatically opening the bucket (6) both in an empty state and in a state loaded with the luggage piece (13), Therein, the device (15) for automatically opening the bucket (6) comprises a spring device (16) having a spring element (17) for urging the bucket (6) into the open position.

2. The luggage compartment (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that A compression spring (18) is provided as the spring element (17), which is tensioned more strongly in the closed position of the bucket (6) than in the open position of the bucket (6).

3. The luggage compartment (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The spring device (16) comprises a supporting element (19) which passes through the spring element (17) from one longitudinal end of the spring element (17) to the other end.

4. The luggage compartment (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The supporting element (19) comprises a cylinder (20) and a piston (21), wherein the piston (21) extends from the cylinder (20) to different lengths according to the tension of the spring element (17).

5. The luggage compartment (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The support element (19) comprises two pistons (21), each piston (21) extending out of the cylinder (20) in opposite directions according to the tension of the spring element (17).

6. The luggage compartment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that A damping device (25) is provided between the luggage compartment housing (2) and the bucket (6), and the damping device (25) damps the pivoting of the bucket (6) from the closed position to the open position.

7. The luggage compartment (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that A first bracket is arranged on the luggage compartment shell (2), and a second bracket is arranged on the bucket (6), wherein the first longitudinal ends of the spring device (16) and the damping device (25) are respectively mounted on the first bracket, and the second longitudinal ends of the spring device (16) and the damping device (25) are respectively mounted on the second bracket.

8. An aircraft having a luggage compartment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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