Arrangement in the cabin of an aircraft, and an aircraft with at least one such arrangement

Abstract

cabin (4) of an aircraft with a door area (24) and an arrangement (2) comprising an arrangement (2) having a plurality of passenger seats (10) facing in the same direction, forming rows of seats (8, 14) arranged between at least one aisle (16) and a cabin wall (28), wherein at least one first section (6) with at least one row (8) with a first number of passenger seats (10) and at least one second section (12) located directly behind the first section (6) with at least one row (14) with a second number of passenger seats (10) less than the first number are formed, wherein the at least one row of seats (8) of the first section (6) and the at least one row of seats (14) of the second section (12) are adjacent laterally to the at least one aisle (16) and the aisle (16) has a constant width in the first section (6) and the second section (12), wherein a storage compartment (30) which can be positioned on a cabin floor (34) is arranged between a passenger seat (10) facing the cabin wall (28) in the second section (12) and the cabin wall (28) in question, wherein the storage compartment (30) has a vertical extension that corresponds to the extension of the laterally directly adjacent passenger seat (10), and wherein the arrangement (2) is positioned at the door area (24), the second section (12) is directly adjacent to the door area (24) and the door area (24) is located directly behind the second section (12) in the opposite direction to the positive x-direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to an arrangement in a cabin of an aircraft and to an aircraft having at least one such arrangement. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The layout of passenger cabins in means of transport, and especially in aircraft, is often subject to the desire to maximize the available number of passenger seats without compromising passenger comfort, while simultaneously complying with all safety-related regulations and utilizing common comfort-related fixtures. These include, among others, individual and general utility facilities, lavatories, galleys, and the like. The ratio of the number of passenger seats to other facilities in passenger cabins is a factor that determines the economic efficiency of an aircraft in scheduled service. Maximizing passenger seating can be achieved, among other things, through the use of intelligent design and layout solutions.

[0003] By redesigning a door area located between two opposite aircraft doors and adjacent fixtures, it may be possible under certain circumstances to integrate an additional row of seats directly adjacent to the door area into an aircraft cabin. However, due to the extension of aircraft door fixtures into the door area and the tapering of an aircraft fuselage in the area of ​​the front or rear aircraft doors, a greater distance between an outer seat and a cabin wall adjacent to the aircraft door may be necessary, as otherwise sufficient legroom for a passenger would not be possible. For these areas, seat rows with a reduced number of passenger seats are usually used. These are indented from an adjacent aisle towards the cabin wall, so that the aisle is slightly widened, particularly in a door area.

[0004] The integration of additional passenger seats also increases the expected amount of hand baggage in the cabin, which requires the installation or release of additional overhead storage compartments for this purpose.

[0005] EP 2 423 107 A2 shows an arrangement for accommodating passengers in a means of transport with three adjacent parking spaces arranged in an area near the door of the passenger cabin, in which an on-board galley is usually installed.

[0006] According to the translation of the abstract available at Espacenet: US 2003 / 0 071 507 A1 shows an apparatus and a method for increasing the available space in the cross-section of an aircraft cabin to improve passenger comfort; US 2014 / 0 332 629 A1 a wall-mounted storage compartment for a passenger cabin of an aircraft comprising a housing with a rearward-facing wall mounted to a forward-facing interior monument wall; US 8 870 116 B2 a method and an apparatus comprising a plurality of seating systems and a frame for use in a passenger aircraft; US 6 000 659 A a fully reclining, rotating premium passenger seat for aircraft; US 9 889 936 B2 a forwardly concave, trapezoidal seating system and corresponding methods;US 6 834 833 B2 a passenger aircraft in the class below 200 seats having a passenger cabin with two longitudinal aisles and at least six economy class seats side by side; US 6 913 227 B1 a method for improving seating efficiency in aircraft, comprising positioning a first plurality of rows of seats in a first region of an aircraft interior. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a space-optimized arrangement in a cabin of an aircraft, which allows optimal use of the cabin and at the same time requires only minor modifications.

[0008] The object is achieved by an arrangement having the features of independent claim 1. Advantageous further developments and embodiments can be found in the subclaims and the following description.

[0009] An aircraft cabin with a door area and an arrangement is proposed. The arrangement comprises a plurality of passenger seats facing in the same direction, forming rows of seats arranged between at least one aisle and a cabin wall. At least one first section is formed with at least one row with a first number of passenger seats, and at least one second section, located directly behind the first section, is formed with at least one row of seats with a second number of passenger seats that is less than the first number. The at least one row of seats in the first section and the at least one row of seats in the second section are laterally directly adjacent to the at least one aisle, and a storage compartment that can be positioned on a cabin floor is arranged between a passenger seat facing the cabin wall in the second section and the relevant cabin wall.which has a vertical extension that corresponds to the extension of the directly adjacent passenger seat. The arrangement is positioned at the door area, and the second section directly adjoins the door area, which is located directly behind the second section, opposite the positive x-direction.

[0010] The arrangement according to the invention therefore relates in particular to an area in the cabin of the aircraft in which the seating dimension or the number of seats in a row of seats changes, which can occur under several conditions. It is known, for example, that an aircraft fuselage is largely cylindrical with a width that is constant over most of the length of the fuselage, but tapers in a bow area and a tail area. Since the cabin wall follows the fuselage contour, a seating dimension with decreasing width in these areas cannot correspond to that of an area with a greater width. If the cabin between an aisle and a cabin wall has predominantly rows of three passenger seats, jumps to two passenger seats per row can occur in the tapered areas.

[0011] Furthermore, various fixtures extending laterally inward from a cabin wall area may result in insufficient installation space for a full passenger seat, although some space may be available. The integration of a storage compartment located on a floor therefore offers the opportunity to utilize this space effectively without compromising passenger comfort in neighboring or adjacent seats.

[0012] The storage compartment located at the specified location has an outer boundary wall facing the cabin wall, which follows the contour of the adjacent cabin wall. It is conceivable that the cabin wall, in the area adjacent to the storage compartment, has a cutout through which the storage compartment extends slightly, i.e., a few centimeters, laterally outward. This achieves a particularly efficient design of the installation space, because not only is the available storage volume increased, but the weight is also limited, since the storage compartment fulfills the function of the cabin wall in the area of ​​the cutout.

[0013] The storage compartment can, like usual storage compartments in an aircraft, be made of a laminate, a sandwich material with a honeycomb core covered by cover layers or similar materials that are lightweight yet sufficiently strong.

[0014] Another special feature is that the seats facing the aisle are directly adjacent to it, ensuring a constant aisle width and a straight aisle boundary to the passenger seats, regardless of the first and second sections. This makes it unnecessary or even desirable to move rows of seats from an aisle closer to a cabin wall.

[0015] In the following, the terms longitudinal direction, x- and z-axis are used, which correspond to the aircraft-fixed coordinate system, ie the x-direction is to be understood as the aircraft's longitudinal axis, the z-axis as the vertical axis, which is approximately perpendicular to the cabin floor.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the first number is three and the second number is two. The second section can therefore, for example, directly adjoin a door area in the aircraft cabin, which refers to a section formed on a cabin floor that extends approximately perpendicular to a plane of extension of a cabin access opening through a fuselage wall into the cabin or along a connecting line between two opposing aircraft doors. At this point, particularly in the case of front or rear aircraft doors, there may be a tapered section and / or there may be insufficient space for a full passenger seat due to a dedicated emergency slide or lifeboat container.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, the storage compartment has at least one access opening directed towards a laterally adjacent passenger seat, which access opening can be closed by at least one storage compartment flap. The storage compartment can therefore be filled from a location between the laterally outer passenger seat and the storage compartment without requiring access from a door area. A passenger sitting on a laterally outer passenger seat could therefore fill the storage compartment with personal luggage and access it from there. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable to place necessary equipment in this storage compartment that only needs to be accessed rarely or only in exceptional situations. Examples include a megaphone or defibrillator. The access opening for a subsection of the storage compartment that can be used for such items can also be accessible from a different direction.

[0018] Preferably, the storage compartment has a boundary surface that is planar to the laterally adjacent passenger seat and that can be integrated close to the laterally adjacent passenger seat, depending on the location and design of any closure flaps.

[0019] Particularly preferably, the storage compartment does not extend beyond the laterally adjacent passenger seat in the longitudinal direction of the cabin. This can consequently avoid restrictions on passenger comfort in adjacent passenger seats in the longitudinal direction of the cabin, in particular for passengers in passenger seats located directly in front of or behind it.

[0020] The storage compartment can have a vertical extension that corresponds to the extension of the directly adjacent passenger seat. Particularly during transverse movements of the aircraft, this can prevent hard impact edges from forming for a passenger sitting in the adjacent passenger seat.

[0021] Particularly preferably, the storage compartment has a front boundary wall directed toward a passenger seat arranged in front of it in a seating direction, which is designed to allow a backrest of the passenger seat of the first section arranged in front of it to be pivoted back by at least 20°, preferably by at least 30°. Thus, the storage compartment does not necessarily have to have an extension at most equal to that of the directly laterally adjacent passenger seat, as long as the backrest of the passenger seat directly in front of it can be pivoted back.

[0022] It is advantageous if the storage compartment extends to a front end of the second section in the longitudinal direction of the cabin. Even if a first section adjoins it, a reduction in passenger comfort for a passenger directly in front of it can be counteracted if a front boundary wall facing the storage compartment is designed as described above.

[0023] It is conceivable that several second rows are arranged one behind the other in a continuous second section of the cabin, with the storage compartment extending longitudinally along at least one of the second rows. This could be the case, for example, in a front or rear row, where more installation space might be available than in the adjacent rows.

[0024] However, it is advantageous for increasing functionality in the cabin that the storage compartment extends longitudinally along several of the second rows of the continuous second section. The design of the cross-section on an xz plane of an aircraft-fixed coordinate system does not necessarily have to be consistent along the x-axis, but can be adapted to any changes in the cabin wall.

[0025] A particular advantage is offered if the storage compartment extends in the longitudinal direction of the cabin along all second rows of the connected second section and consequently the maximum installation space within the second section is used.

[0026] The invention further relates to an aircraft having a fuselage, a cabin formed therein and an arrangement therein according to the preceding description.

[0027] The aircraft can be designed such that the assembly is positioned in a door area, with the second section directly adjacent to the door area. Furthermore, the assembly can also be arranged alternatively or additionally in a tapered fuselage area. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0028] Further features, advantages, and possible applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiments and the figures. All described and / or illustrated features, individually and in any combination, constitute the subject matter of the invention, regardless of their composition in the individual claims or their references. In the figures, the same reference numerals continue to represent the same or similar objects. Fig. 1 shows a plan view of an arrangement positioned in a cabin of an aircraft. Fig. 2 shows a spatial representation of the arrangement. DETAILED REPRESENTATION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Fig. Fig. 1 shows an arrangement 2 in a cabin 4 of an aircraft with a first section 6 with a row of seats 8 with three passenger seats 10 and a second section 12 located directly behind it with a row of seats 14 with two passenger seats 10. The rows of seats 8 and 14 directly border an aisle 16, which extends in the longitudinal direction x of the cabin. Consequently, the width of the aisle 16 is, at least in the Fig. 1 remains the same, even if the seating dimensions change.

[0030] A special feature of the area shown here is the aircraft door 18, which has a container 20 for accommodating an emergency slide or the like, which extends radially into the cabin 4. A surface area 24, which extends essentially perpendicular to a cabin access opening 22 or lies between two opposite access openings 22 and is referred to as the door area, is located opposite the positive x-direction directly behind the second section 12 or the row of seats 14. Not only the container 20, but also the tapered fuselage cross-section mean that only two passenger seats 10 can be integrated in the row of seats 14, since there is insufficient installation space available for a third passenger seat.Nevertheless, the installation space formed between the door area 24, the aisle 16 and a cabin wall 28 is sufficient for the integration of a storage compartment 30, which fills a gap created due to the flush arrangement of the seat row 14 at the aisle 16.

[0031] The storage compartment 30 has a front boundary wall 32 that extends vertically upward from a cabin floor 34, to which the storage compartment 30 is attached via seat rails or dedicated attachment points, and curves toward a side facing away from a front passenger seat 10, i.e., toward the aircraft door 18. This allows for efficient use of the resulting installation space and prevents blocking of a pivotably mounted backrest 36 of the passenger seat 10 located in front of it.

[0032] An outer boundary wall 38, for example, fits snugly against the cabin wall 28, while a wall 40 on an access side 42 facing the seat row 14 is designed to be planar. The depth of the storage compartment 30 in the x-direction corresponds approximately to the depth of a passenger seat 10, although the storage compartment 30 is slightly moved forward in the x-direction relative to the adjacent passenger seats 30. This allows space to be gained behind the storage compartment 30 to ensure sufficient distance from the container 20. This area could also be used as an "assist space" when the aircraft door 18 is open.

[0033] Fig.2 shows a three-dimensional representation of the arrangement 2 in a cabin 4. Here, the compactness of the storage compartment 30, which is additionally shown in a cut-out section, is clearly evident. A rear wall 44 of the storage compartment 30 runs essentially perpendicular to the cabin floor 34 and is thus clearly separated from the door area 24 or the longitudinal extension of the door 18. The front boundary wall 32, however, is divided, for example, into three sections 46, 48, and 50, which are arranged at an angle or are curved overall to one another in such a way that a passenger seat 10 located in front of it can assume a pivoted-back position.

[0034] To access a storage space formed in the storage compartment 30, three access flaps 52, 54, and 56 are provided, for example, which are arranged on the storage compartment 30 so as to be pivotable about an axis 58. However, the lower access flap 52 could also be pivotable about a horizontal axis running in the area of ​​the cabin floor 34, since the access flap 52 has the greatest width of all access flaps 52, 54, and 56. The design of the storage compartment flaps 52, 54, and 56 should be implemented in such a way that objects located therein are prevented from falling out under all conceivable loads.

[0035] Additionally, it should be noted that "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features described with reference to one of the above embodiments can also be used in combination with other features of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims are not to be considered as limitations.

Claims

[1] Cabin (4) of an aircraft with a door area (24) and an arrangement (2), the arrangement (2) comprising a plurality of passenger seats (10) facing in the same direction, which form rows of seats (8, 14) arranged between at least one aisle (16) and a cabin wall (28), wherein at least one first section (6) is formed with at least one row (8) with a first number of passenger seats (10) and at least one second section (12) located directly behind the first section (6) is formed with at least one row of seats (14) with a second number of passenger seats (10) which is less than the first number, wherein the at least one row of seats (8) of the first section (6) and the at least one row of seats (14) of the second section (12) are laterally directly adjacent to the at least one aisle (16) and the aisle (16) has a constant width in the first section (6) and the second section (12), wherein a storage compartment (30) positionable on a cabin floor (34) is arranged between a passenger seat (10) facing the cabin wall (28) in the second section (12) and the relevant cabin wall (28), wherein the storage compartment (30) has an extension in the vertical direction which corresponds to the extension of the laterally directly adjacent passenger seat (10), and wherein the arrangement (2) is positioned at the door area (24), the second section (12) is directly adjacent to the door area (24) and the door area (24) is located directly behind the second section (12) opposite the positive x-direction. [2] Cabin (4) according to claim 1, wherein the storage compartment (30) has an outer boundary wall (38) directed towards the cabin wall (28) which follows the contour of the cabin wall (28). [3] Cabin (4) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first number is three and the second number is two. [4] Cabin (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage compartment (30) has at least one access opening directed towards a laterally adjacent passenger seat (10) which can be closed by at least one storage compartment flap (52, 54, 56). [5] Cabin (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage compartment (30) does not extend in the longitudinal direction (x) of the cabin (4) in the seat direction beyond the laterally adjacent passenger seat (10). [6] Cabin (4) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the storage compartment (30) extends to a front end of the second section (12) in the longitudinal direction (x) of the cabin (4). [7] Cabin (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the storage compartment (30) has a front boundary wall (32) directed towards a passenger seat (10) of the first section (6) arranged in front of it in a seating direction, which is designed to allow a backrest (36) of the passenger seat (10) arranged in front of it to be pivoted into a position pivoted back by up to at least 20°, preferably up to at least 30°. [8] Cabin (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of second rows (14) are arranged one behind the other in a continuous second section (12), wherein the storage compartment (30) extends in the cabin longitudinal direction (x) at least along one of the second rows (14). [9] Cabin (4) according to claim 8, wherein the storage compartment (30) extends in the cabin longitudinal direction (x) along several of the second rows (14) of the continuous second section (12). [10] Cabin (4) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the storage compartment (30) extends in the cabin longitudinal direction (x) along all second rows (14) of the continuous second section (12). [11] An aircraft comprising a fuselage and a cabin (4) formed therein according to any one of claims 1 to 10. [12] Aircraft according to claim 11, wherein the arrangement (2) is arranged in a tapered fuselage region.

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