Anti-fall device for a passenger service unit, passenger service assembly and aircraft

Abstract

A kind of anti-falling device for passenger service unit, comprising: rope with annular connecting portion arranged at both ends respectively;First and second loop belts, and the length of the first and second loop belts can be adjusted when looped;The first loop belt is used to connect the rope to the luggage guide rail, and the second loop belt is used to connect the rope to the passenger service unit;The first and second loop belts pass through the annular connecting portion of both ends of the rope respectively, and loop after being sleeved on the luggage guide rail and the passenger service unit respectively, to fix both ends of the rope to the luggage guide rail and the passenger service unit respectively.The anti-falling device is simple to manufacture, easy to install, light in weight, adjustable, and can adapt to different installation spaces.The utility model also proposes a passenger service assembly, which comprises a luggage guide rail, a passenger service unit and the aforementioned anti-falling device for the passenger service unit.The utility model also proposes an aircraft, which comprises the aforementioned passenger service assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a fall protection device for a passenger service unit, and more particularly to a fall protection device for a passenger service unit of a civil transport aircraft. Background Technology

[0002] The passenger service unit is a service unit that provides passengers in the aircraft cabin with functions such as emergency oxygen supply, personal ventilation, reading light lighting, and seat belt fastening.

[0003] Passenger service units are typically mounted to aircraft rails via hooks. However, hooks themselves are susceptible to fatigue, breakage, or improper securing. During aircraft operation, especially during landing or turbulence, hook failure could prevent the passenger service unit from being properly secured, potentially leading to the detachment of the unit's padding panels and resulting in passenger injury or hindering emergency evacuation. Therefore, in long-term aircraft operation, hooks alone cannot fully guarantee the secure positioning of passenger service units and effectively prevent detachment; a dual-safety-safety design is necessary.

[0004] To address this, existing technologies have designed several devices to strengthen the fixation of passenger service units. For example, Chinese utility model patent CN204641752U designs a safety harness composed of high-strength nylon rope, stainless steel spring buckles, and adjustment components; and Chinese utility model patent CN 216003081U designs a protective device composed of inner and outer safety ropes and buckles. These protective devices are installed onto the aircraft via mounting bases on the passenger service unit and mounting holes on the guide rails. While these devices can assist in strengthening the fixation, they are complex to manufacture and include metal components. Using them on the entire aircraft would result in excessive weight. Furthermore, corresponding structures need to be designed on existing aircraft components for assembly, potentially requiring modifications to the existing aircraft structure. In addition, the metal buckles have a fixed shape and high rigidity, making them difficult to install in corners or narrow gaps, limiting their applicability to applications with ample operating space.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a fall arrestor for passenger service units that is simple to manufacture, easy to install, lightweight, and has a high degree of adjustability in installation position. Utility Model Content

[0006] This utility model is made to solve the above-mentioned problems in the prior art. Its purpose is to provide a fall arrest device that is simple to manufacture, easy to install, lightweight, highly adjustable, and adaptable to different installation positions.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a fall arrest device for a passenger service unit. The fall arrest device includes: a rope with loop-shaped connecting portions at both ends; a first hoop and a second hoop, which can form a loop and whose length is adjustable when forming a loop. The first hoop is used to connect the rope to the luggage compartment rail, and the second hoop is used to connect the rope to the passenger service unit. The first hoop and the second hoop pass through the loop-shaped connecting portions at both ends of the rope and are respectively fitted onto the luggage compartment rail and the passenger service unit to form a loop, thereby fixing the two ends of the rope to the luggage compartment rail and the passenger service unit respectively.

[0008] Based on the above-described configuration, compared with existing fall arrest devices, the fall arrest device of this utility model is simple to manufacture, requires no modification to the existing passenger service unit and baggage rail structure on the aircraft during installation, is easy to install, and is lightweight. The first and second hoops can move in multiple directions during installation and can extend and retract to adjust their length when forming a loop, providing greater adjustability and adaptability to different installation positions and application scenarios.

[0009] Furthermore, the first and second hoops are flexible, and each has a locking buckle at one end. The belt body can pass through the locking buckle and the length of the formed loop can be adjusted telescopically within it. After length adjustment, the locking buckle and belt body can form a self-locking mechanism. Simultaneously, the flexibility of the first and second hoops provides excellent adjustability during installation, making them particularly suitable for installation spaces with complex structures and limited operating space. The self-locking feature allows for unidirectional tensioning, thereby achieving effective fixation.

[0010] Preferably, the first and second hoops are plastic cable ties, with a maximum length of approximately 140 mm after being looped. Plastic cable ties are very lightweight and inexpensive, easy to use, and excess cable ties can be cut off to minimize weight.

[0011] Preferably, the rope is a nylon rope with a length of not less than 225mm. Nylon rope has good strength and is lightweight, which can effectively reduce weight.

[0012] Alternatively, the loop-shaped connection at both ends of the rope can be a loop knot formed by binding the rope itself. Binding the rope itself to form a loop knot is simple to make, can be adjusted according to the installation environment during installation, and offers high adaptability and adjustability.

[0013] According to another aspect of this invention, a passenger service component is also proposed, comprising a passenger service unit, a luggage rail, and a fall arrestor as described in any of the foregoing embodiments. The passenger service component using the fall arrestor of this invention is easy to install, simple to manufacture, lightweight, and can provide auxiliary fixation for the passenger service unit during long-term aircraft operation, effectively preventing the passenger service unit from accidentally detaching and injuring passengers. Even in the event of a fall, the fall arrestor will limit the descent distance of the passenger service unit.

[0014] Furthermore, the passenger service component may be equipped with multiple fall arrestors, with the first and second loops of the fall arrestors forming loops at the baggage compartment rails and existing components of the passenger service unit, respectively. Since there is no need to design corresponding structures on existing aircraft components for assembly, the use of this fall arrestor effectively simplifies the manufacturing and installation of the passenger service component according to this invention.

[0015] Furthermore, the passenger service unit is provided with fixing hooks at its four ends for securing it in place. The anti-fall device can be optionally configured to fail after the fixing hooks to assist in securing the passenger service unit, effectively preventing the passenger service unit from falling due to the failure of the fixing hooks, which could cause passenger injury or affect the emergency evacuation of passengers.

[0016] According to another aspect of this invention, an aircraft is also proposed, which includes a passenger service component as described in any of the foregoing embodiments. Compared with existing aircraft that use other devices to assist in securing the passenger service unit, an aircraft using a passenger service component with a crash protection device according to this invention can effectively reduce the weight of the passenger service component and improve fuel economy. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a passenger service component equipped with a fall protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 This is a fall protection device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A schematic diagram illustrating the manufacturing process of the loop-shaped connection portion of the rope in an anti-fall device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] List of reference numerals

[0021] 100 Fall Protection Device

[0022] 110 rope

[0023] 111 Annular connecting part

[0024] 112 Fastener

[0025] 120 First hoop

[0026] 130 Second hoop

[0027] 200 Luggage Rail

[0028] 210 opening

[0029] 300 Passenger Service Unit

[0030] 310 Fixing hook

[0031] 320 frame bar Detailed Implementation

[0032] The following, combined with Figures 1 to 3 The specific embodiments of this utility model will be described in detail below. The following examples will help those skilled in the art to further understand this utility model, but are not intended to unnecessarily limit the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0033] In this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for the purpose of better describing this application and its embodiments, and are not intended to limit the indicated device, component, or part to having a specific orientation, or to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, some of the aforementioned terms may be used to indicate other meanings besides orientation or positional relationship; for example, the term "upper" may in some cases indicate a certain dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the overall structure of a passenger service component with a fall arrest device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Figure 2 Is Figure 1 An enlarged schematic diagram of the fall arrestor 100 shown.

[0035] The passenger service unit 300 of a civil aircraft is an integrated device that provides convenient services to passengers. The passenger service unit 300 is usually installed below the luggage compartment (luggage compartment) rail 200, located on the top of the cabin and directly above the passenger seats. This design layout can achieve better space optimization and functional convenience.

[0036] like Figure 2As shown, the fall arrestor 100 includes: a rope 110, with loop-shaped connecting portions 111 at both ends of the rope; a first hoop 120; and a second hoop 130, the first hoop 120 and the second hoop 130 being used to connect the two ends of the rope 110 to the luggage compartment guide rail 200 and the passenger service unit 300, respectively.

[0037] Specifically, the first hoop 120 and the second hoop 130 pass through the loop-shaped connecting portions 111 at both ends of the rope 110 and are connected to them in a loop-like manner. They are then respectively fitted onto the frame rod 320 of the passenger service unit 300 and the opening 210 of the luggage compartment guide rail 200. After being fitted into place, the first hoop 120 and the second hoop 130 form a loop. Their length can be adjusted according to the installation space and position during loop formation, and can be locked after adjustment, thereby fixing both ends of the rope 110 to the luggage compartment guide rail 200 and the passenger service unit 300 respectively. The first hoop 120 and the second hoop 130 can be, for example, binding straps or tie straps.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, the first hoop 120 and the second hoop 130 are flexible and can be telescopically adjusted in length when forming a loop to effectively adapt to different fixing positions. After the length is adjusted, they can self-lock, for example, by inserting one end of the hoop body through a locking member provided on the hoop, and further pulling that end to achieve self-locking after length adjustment. Since this is known to those skilled in the art, it will not be further elaborated here for clarity. After the first hoop 120 and / or the second hoop 130 self-lock, if it is necessary to remove the corresponding hoop to reconnect the luggage compartment rail 200 to the passenger service unit 300, it can be removed by cutting the corresponding self-locking hoop and pulling the cut hoop from the loop connection 111 of the rope 110. This does not affect the reuse of the rope 110 itself, making the fall arrestor 100 not only flexible but also economical and relatively low in cost.

[0039] Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the first clamp 120 and the second clamp 130 are plastic cable ties, with a maximum circumference of 140mm after forming a loop. For example, they are plastic cable ties of model MS3367-5-9. The plastic cable ties have a unidirectional tension characteristic. During use, after adjusting the length of the plastic cable ties according to the desired location for connection to the fall arrestor 100, they can form a self-locking mechanism. The installer can then cut off any excess length of the plastic cable ties to minimize the weight of the main fall arrestor 100.

[0040] Alternatively, rope 110 can be a nylon rope, such as a high-strength nylon rope of model CMS-IT201, with a length of not less than 225mm and a diameter of, for example, 1mm. Loop-shaped connecting portions 111 are provided at both ends of rope 110.

[0041] like Figure 2 As shown, the loop-shaped connecting portions 111 at both ends of the rope 110 are formed by bending the ends of the rope 110 inward by 45mm-55mm respectively, and fixing the bent and stacked ends of the rope to the corresponding rope body sections with fasteners 112. Here, the length of the rope loop portion is not less than 4mm, and the length of the rope 110 after forming the loop-shaped connecting portion 111 is 90mm-110mm. The aforementioned fastener is, for example, an elastic band, a quick-lock buckle, or a rope clip.

[0042] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment is shown. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the loop-shaped connecting portions 111 at both ends of the rope 110 of the fall arrestor 100 can also be formed by bending the ends of the rope 110 on both sides by 45mm-55mm and passing them through the rope, tying them into loop knots, and then further tightening them. Here, the length of the knot portion is not less than 4mm, and the length of the rope 110 after forming the knot is 90mm-110mm. In this alternative embodiment, tying the rope 110 to form a loop knot is simple to form, requires no additional fastener materials, and the knot can be adjusted according to the installation environment during installation, resulting in high adaptability and good adjustability.

[0043] It should be noted that, in the context of this application, "the length of the rope" refers to the original length of the rope 110.

[0044] "The length of the rope after the loop-shaped connection 111 forms the loop / knot" refers to the effective length of the rope 110 after the loop-shaped connection 111 forms the loop / knot, when it is in a taut state after being installed in the passenger service component and connecting the luggage compartment rail 200 and the passenger service unit 300, between its two endpoints located at the luggage compartment rail 200 and the passenger unit 300 respectively.

[0045] "The length of the loop / knot portion" refers to the effective length of the loop / knot formed by the rope 110 in the above two embodiments between its two endpoints after the loop / knot is formed, after the fall arrestor 100 is installed on the passenger service component, and after the rope 110 is connected to the luggage rail 200 and the passenger service unit 300 and is in a taut state. One endpoint is the endpoint of the loop or knot located at the luggage rail 200 or passenger unit 300, and the other endpoint is the farthest point of the loop or knot relative to the aforementioned endpoint.

[0046] Installation of fall arrestor 100

[0047] The process of installing the fall arrestor 100 to prevent the passenger service unit 300 from falling and injuring passengers is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0048] When installing the fall arrestor 100 to assist in securing the passenger service unit 300, firstly, a first hoop 120, for example in the form of a plastic cable tie, is passed through the loop connection 111 at one end of the rope 110 and through any existing gap in the passenger service unit 300, such as the frame pole 320 of the passenger service unit 300. Then, by passing one end of the cable tie through the locking member on the cable tie and tightening it, the first hoop 120 is tightened to securely and self-lock onto the frame pole 320. If necessary, the installer can cut off any excess length of the first hoop 120 to reduce the length of the first hoop 120 as much as possible, thereby reducing the length of the fall arrestor 100.

[0049] Then, the installer lifts the passenger service unit 300, passes the second hoop 130 through the loop connection 111 at the other end of the rope 110 opposite to the aforementioned end, and through the inherent opening 210 at the luggage guide rail 200. Similar to the above steps, after the end of the second hoop 130, for example implemented in the form of a plastic cable tie, passes through the aforementioned loop connection 111 and the opening 210 at the luggage guide rail 200 in sequence, it passes through the locking member provided at the second hoop 130 and is tightened, that is, the second hoop 130 is tightened so that it is fixedly fitted at the luggage guide rail 200 and securely self-locked.

[0050] Similarly, installers can cut off any excess hoops on the second hoop 130 if necessary.

[0051] Thus, a connection was made to the luggage rail 200 at a point in the passenger service unit 300 by means of a fall arrestor 100.

[0052] It is worth noting that the arrangement of the anti-fall device 100 on the luggage compartment guide rail 200 and the passenger service unit 300 is not limited to that of this utility model. Figure 1 As shown, other suitable arrangements are also possible, and multiple anti-fall devices 100 according to this invention can be arranged between the luggage guide rail 200 and the passenger service unit 300. For example, two or more anti-fall devices 100 can be arranged crosswise or diagonally between the luggage guide rail 200 and the passenger service unit 300, for example, one anti-fall device 100 can be connected to the luggage guide rail 200 from each of the three corners of the approximately rectangular passenger service unit 300.

[0053] like Figure 1As shown, the passenger service unit 300 is secured by hooks 310 at its four ends. Specifically, two ends on one side of the passenger service unit 300 are hooked to a rail on the aircraft structure, in this case, the luggage rail 200, via the hooks 310. The two ends on the other side of the passenger service unit 300 are also hooked to the luggage rail 200 via the hooks 310. In actual operation of the aircraft, if the hooks 310 are not properly installed, or if the hooks 310 themselves are damaged due to fatigue, the fall arrestor 100, especially the rope 110, can provide auxiliary fixation for the passenger service unit 300, effectively limiting the descent range of the passenger service unit 300 and keeping it within a certain height range below the luggage rail 200. This height range is usually chosen so that even when the passenger service unit 300 falls to its lowest position, the personal safety of passengers below it will not be endangered.

[0054] The fall arrestor 100 of this invention is used to pull the passenger service unit 300 to suspend it on the luggage rack rail 200, thereby assisting in securing the passenger service unit 300. The fall arrestor 100 of this invention can effectively adapt to various installation environments of the passenger service unit 300 on aircraft, and in the event of an accidental detachment of the passenger service unit 300, it can prevent the passenger service unit 300 from injuring passengers or hindering their emergency evacuation.

[0055] Although the embodiments of this utility model have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art should understand that these are merely illustrative examples, and this utility model is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described herein. Those skilled in the art can make various suitable modifications or alterations to these embodiments without departing from the scope of protection of the claims of this utility model, and all such modifications and alterations fall within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0056] For example, the specific configuration of the first clamp 120 and the second clamp 130 is not limited to the plastic cable ties described in the above embodiments of this utility model, and can also be reusable cable ties. For such reusable cable ties, after adjusting their length and forming a self-locking mechanism, if further adjustment of the clamp or reconnection is required, due to the characteristics of the cable ties, there is no need for destructive removal, such as cutting, but rather the cable ties can be loosened, and the length can be directly readjusted and locked.

[0057] Furthermore, the arrangement of the luggage guide rail 200 and the passenger service unit 300 in the passenger service component of this utility model, as well as the fixing method of the passenger service unit 300, are not limited to this utility model. Figure 1 As shown, the opening 210 on the luggage guide rail 200 for securing the anti-fall device 100 is not limited to... Figure 1The rectangular opening shown can also be a circular opening, a long strip fixing piece, or other structural designs, as long as it is an existing opening structure on the luggage guide rail 200.

Claims

1. A fall arrestor (100) for a passenger service unit, characterized in that, include: A rope (110), wherein both ends of the rope (110) are respectively provided with a loop-shaped connecting part (111); The first hoop (120) and the second hoop (130) can form a loop, and their length can be adjusted when the loop is formed. The first hoop (120) is used to connect the rope (110) to the luggage compartment rail (200), and the second hoop (130) is used to connect the rope (110) to the passenger service unit (300); The first hoop (120) and the second hoop (130) pass through the loop-shaped connecting portions (111) at both ends of the rope (110), and are respectively fitted onto the luggage guide rail (200) and the passenger service unit (300) to form loops, so as to fix the two ends of the rope (110) to the luggage guide rail (200) and the passenger service unit (300) respectively.

2. The fall arrestor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first hoop (120) and the second hoop (130) are flexible, and their lengths can be adjusted extensibly when forming a ring and can self-lock after the length is adjusted.

3. The fall arrestor (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first band (120) and the second band (130) are plastic cable ties.

4. The fall arrestor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rope (110) is a nylon rope.

5. The fall arrestor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The loop-shaped connecting portions (111) at both ends of the rope (110) are loop portions formed by bending the rope (110) at both ends and fixing it with the help of fasteners (112).

6. The fall arrestor (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The loop-shaped connecting parts (111) at both ends of the rope (110) are loop-shaped knots formed by binding the rope (110).

7. A passenger service component, characterized in that, The passenger service component includes a luggage rack (200), a passenger service unit (300), and a fall arrestor (100) according to any one of claims 1-6.

8. The passenger service component according to claim 7, characterized in that, The passenger service component may be provided with a plurality of the aforementioned fall arrest devices (100), wherein the first band (120) and the second band (130) of the fall arrest device (100) are respectively looped at the luggage compartment guide rail (200) and the existing components of the passenger service unit (300).

9. The passenger service component according to claim 7, characterized in that, The passenger service unit is provided with fixed hooks (310) at its four ends, and the fall protection device (100) is configured to fail after the fixed hooks (310).

10. An aircraft, characterized in that, The aircraft includes a passenger service component according to any one of claims 7-9.

Images