Rail system and passenger seating system for a vehicle cabin and vehicle with a cabin

Abstract

Rail system (2) for a cabin (72) of a vehicle (70), comprising a rail (6) with a main extension direction (x), a fastening element (10) attachable at different positions on the rail (6) for holding a mounting element (54) on the rail (6), and a cover device (12) for covering the rail (6), wherein the cover device (12) has several flat cover elements (14, 16) arranged in a row, which extend along the rail (6), wherein the cover elements (14, 16) are each pivotably mounted between a closed state in which the respective cover element (14, 16) rests on the rail (6) and an open state in which the respective cover element (14, 16) is removed from the rail (6), and wherein the fastening element (10) has an engagement element (34) which is designed to engage when Moving the fastening element (10) along the rail (6) under a cover element (14,16) to get and move it from the closed state to the open state.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention relates to a rail system for a cabin of a vehicle, a passenger seat system for a cabin of a vehicle and a vehicle having a cabin and a passenger seat system arranged therein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONFloor rails are often used in vehicles which are used for transporting passengers for the position-variable fastening of passenger seats and other devices. The floor rails may have fastening means which are arranged in a specific grid. The grid allows different fastening positions to be realized on the floor rails. The object in question is usually fastened at a desired position by means of a locking device which carries out a positive and / or non-positive locking with fastening means of the floor rail.It is also known, in particular in aircraft, to determine a distance between seats following one another in a longitudinal direction as desired or as a function of temporary requirements and, if appropriate, to change said distance occasionally or regularly.For this purpose, the locking devices of relevant seats are released, the seats are then displaced along the floor rail and the locking devices are locked again. Changing the distance, in particular between two passenger seats arranged one behind the other, can change the seating class of the relevant section in the passenger cabin. It is known to use sliding guides with guide rails for easier displaceability.DE 10 2009 004 987 B4 shows a displaceable seat for a transport means, having a seat frame for the displaceable attachment to a carrier structure of the transport means, wherein the seat is designed in such a way that two seats arranged one behind the other in the transport means have a smaller common base area in a storage state which is pushed together and at least partially into one another than in a pushed-apart use state.DE 10 2013 103 662 A1 discloses a holding device for fastening passenger seats in a transport means, which has a seat leg fixing element, a sliding element and a rail element.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONFor the use of the aforementioned guide rails, covers are usually required, which are to be adapted to the respective position of the passenger seats slid on the guide rails. The adaptation can be effected by the displacement movement of the respective passenger seat or by manual interaction of a user.An object of the invention is to propose a rail system for a cabin of a vehicle, in which an adapted covering of a guide rail can be realized as simply as possible and in particular without manual interaction with a user.The object is achieved by a rail system for a cabin of a vehicle having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and developments can be taken from the dependent claims and the following description.A rail system for a cabin of a vehicle is proposed, having a rail with a main direction of extent, a fastening element which can be fastened to different positions of the rail for holding an installation element on the rail, and a covering device for covering the guide rail. The covering device has a plurality of covering elements which are configured in a planar manner and are arranged in a row along the rail, wherein the covering elements are each pivotably mounted between a closed state in which the respective covering element rests on the rail and an open state in which the respective covering element is removed from the rail, and wherein the fastening element has an engagement element which is configured to pass under a covering element when the fastening element is displaced along the rail and to move said covering element from the closed state into the open state.The rail is an elongated member which can be disposed on or in the floor of the car in question. As illustrated above, such a rail can be, in particular, a floor rail. The rail is configured to form a connection with a fastening element at different positions, which are arranged, for example, in a grid along the rail. The grid could be in the form of latching openings arranged along the main direction of extent, which openings have a uniform spacing from one another. In commercial aircraft, it is common to connect such rails directly to a structure of the aircraft due to the considerable loads to be carried.The fastening element is provided for forming a form-fit and / or force-fit connection with the rail. For this purpose, proven devices can be used which depend on the design of the rail. If the rail is realized as a floor rail, the devices can comprise mushroom-shaped arresting bodies which can be introduced through latching openings into a cavity of the rail and are clamped from the cavity with projections between successive latching openings.However, the rail may also be a rail which is modified or supplemented in order to provide an improved sliding guide. The fastening elements are then adapted thereto and have a structure dependent on the rail. They can thus differ from fastening elements which are used for fastening to a conventional floor or seat rail.A particular feature of the rail system according to the invention lies in the use of the covering device which is designed in the form of a plurality of covering elements which are arranged in a row. By means of its pivotable arrangement, it can be achieved that each cover element either completely covers a section of the respective rail or completely releases it. The individual cover elements thus form a segmented, strip-shaped cover device, which is preferably arranged along the entire rail. An engagement element of the fastening element is however designed to pass under a covering element without any manual interaction during the displacement of the fastening element with the covering elements along the rail and to release it from its closed state.The advantage of this embodiment lies in the particularly simple operation of the cover device, since directly during the displacement process of a fastening element only the relevant part of the cover device which is located at the current position of the fastening element is opened from the closed state. If a structural element, for example a passenger seat, is connected to one or more fastening elements which are arranged on the rail, however, the covering element can be automatically opened at the target position when the seat is displaced along the rail, wherein all covering elements passed through previously are closed again. On the one hand, this increases user-friendliness, since a user does not have to take care of covering the rail. On the other hand, the protection of the rail against soiling or possible damage is reliably ensured.In an advantageous embodiment, the rail is a guide rail, wherein the fastening element is a slide having a longitudinal axis which is designed to be guided along the rail with the longitudinal axis parallel to the main direction of extension thereof, and wherein the slide has at least one ramp section, which runs in a wedge-shaped manner along the longitudinal axis, as an engagement element and tapers outwards along the longitudinal axis. In the sense of the invention, a guide rail is an elongated component which can be directly connected to a structure supporting the floor. Alternatively, a guide rail can also be connected to floor rails which are connected to the structure carrying the floor. In the latter case, a guide rail can also be fitted subsequently in a vehicle by the floor rails present being equipped therewith. The guide rails are provided to guide the carriage along a predetermined direction of movement as smoothly and without tilting as possible and to pick up all loads associated with passenger seats carried by the carriage and introduce them into the structure of the vehicle in question. The ramp section provides a flat edge close to the rail, which is pushed under a relevant cover element in order to slowly lift the cover element, i.e. to remove it further from the rail, during the displacement of the carriage by the ramp shape.Particularly preferably, the ramp section has a substantially round base surface. The base surface can be designed in particular as a segment of a circle, for example as a semicircle. The base surface can also be partially oval. This results in a widening wedge which leads to a smooth pivoting-up movement.Preferably, each cover member is associated with a spring mechanism that urges the cover member to the closed state. The spring mechanism is preferably arranged on a side of the covering device facing the rail, so that the covering device is not visible, in particular in the closed state, and is protected from possible mechanical adverse effects. In a particularly simple case, the spring mechanism can comprise only one or more tension springs which extend between a relevant cover element and a structurally fixed part. The structurally fixed part can be a part of the covering device which carries a hinge and is connected to a floor or a part of the rail. The spring mechanism does not have to apply particularly high forces in order to keep a cover element closed. It is important in the design of the spring mechanism that a simple pivoting of a relevant cover element is possible by displacing the fastening element, so that the actual function according to the invention is ensured. On the other hand, the spring mechanism should provide a sufficiently high force in order to avoid vibration-induced rattle, particularly in the closed state, as far as possible.Preferably, the cover elements each have two boundary edges arranged transversely to the main direction of extension of the rail, which boundary edges form a vertical distance from the rail at least partially in the closed state. This makes it possible to provide a defined space which is occupied by the engagement element before the respective cover element is pivoted open. It is preferred that the cover element in the closed state is arranged parallel to the rail or to the floor of the cabin. It is also conceivable that in a segmented embodiment of the cover element, i.e. a subdivision into two cover elements, an edge located above the rail is supported on the rail by a support element.In an advantageous embodiment, two cover elements arranged next to one another transversely to the main direction of extension each form a cover unit, wherein the cover elements each have a hinge on an outer edge, which is remote from the other cover element, parallel to the rail, such that they can be pivoted open in opposite directions and each have an inner edge, which is opposite to the outer edge, parallel to the rail, such that the inner edges of a cover unit face one another in the closed state. Above the rail there is therefore a row of covering units which is designed like a double-leaf door. The distance covered during a respective pivoting movement of an individual one of these two cover elements is therefore quite small in comparison to an individual cover element, so that the risk of a possible tilting during the passing through of the fastening element is minimized.The spring mechanism may be disposed directly within or directly on a hinge. The spring mechanism can be, for example, a leg spring, such as in a laundry clamp or as a torsion bar, and can be arranged directly between the respective cover element and a structurally fixed part.In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the covering device has at least one transition region arranged laterally on the outside and curved at least in regions about an axis running parallel to the main extension axis, in which transition region a height difference between a floor and the covering elements is compensated. Due to the placement of a cover element with a certain thickness, a height offset from the surrounding floor arises during the installation of the rail flush with the floor. In order to avoid an edge, the integration of the transition region is expedient. This can have a certain curvature, which leads to a very smooth transition between the floor level and the upper side of a cover element. This is particularly advantageous if an additional, vertical distance is provided between the cover element and the rail. Particularly preferably, such a transition element is arranged on each side of the covering device.The rail system could furthermore have at least one flexurally soft support element which is arranged on the covering device for protection against mechanical damage. The flexurally soft element could be realized in the form of a fabric web which is placed, plugged on or adhesively bonded directly on the covering device. In particular, when a covering device is designed with a hinge which extends on one side of the rail, the entry of dirt into the hinge is prevented. In addition, a harmonic appearance is made possible, which can be increased in particular when using a similar or the same color as the surrounding carpet.The support element could be segmented into two sections, which have two inner edges facing each other, which are arranged offset to the inner edges of the cover elements of the cover unit in a direction transverse to the main extension axis of the rail, so that the inner edges of the cover elements are overlapped by the support element in the closed state. The at least one support element could consequently also be realized in the form of two flexurally soft support elements. If a covering device such as a double leaf door is equipped, an impact or a gap between the covering elements can additionally be covered as a result, so that in particular liquids and other contamination cannot reach the rail.The invention further relates to a passenger seat system for a cabin of a vehicle, which passenger seat system has at least one passenger seat device having a seat frame and a rail system according to the preceding description, wherein the rail system has two mutually spaced rails running parallel to one another, wherein the seat frame of the at least one passenger seat device has two pairs of mutually spaced seat legs which are each connected to a fastening element, and wherein the fastening elements are in engagement with the rails. As explained above, the rail can be realized in particular as a guide rail and the fastening element as a slide that can be displaced along the guide rail.In the passenger seat system, as already mentioned above, the rails realized as guide rails can be fastenable to seat rails which are arranged in a floor of a cabin of the vehicle. This results in a simple retrofitting solution.Finally, the invention relates to a vehicle having a cabin, a cabin floor and at least one such passenger seat system.The vehicle is preferably an aircraft, in particular a commercial aircraft.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURESFurther features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention are evident from the following description of the exemplary embodiments and the figures. All features described and / or graphically depicted form the subject matter of the invention by themselves and in any combination, independently of their composition in the individual claims or their back references. In the figures, the same reference numerals also stand for the same or similar objects. FIG. 1 shows a rail system in a three-dimensional overview. FIG. 2 shows a detail of a fastening element and a covering device of the rail system. FIGS. 3 to 7 show the process of pushing a fastening element on the rail for automatically opening a covering device. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the rail system with a flexurally soft support element on cover elements. FIG. 10 shows an aircraft having a cabin and a rail system installed therein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTSEMBODIMENTSFIG. 1 shows a rail system 2 which is arranged on a floor 4 of a cabin of a vehicle. The rail system 2 has a rail 6 with a main extension direction x. By way of example, the rail 6 is equipped as a guide rail which functions as a sliding guide and has a plurality of latching openings 8 for arresting components guided thereon. The rail system 2 further comprises a fastening element 10, which is here designed in the form of a slide, which comprises a recess, which is designed to complement a profile cross section of the rail 6, for realizing a sliding guide. The recess (not shown) is arranged on an underside, i.e. on a side facing the floor 4, and engages the rail 6.The fastening element 10 can therefore be displaced very easily along the rail 6.In addition, the rail system 2 has a covering device 12, which is shown here by way of example only on the basis of a subsection. The covering device is characterized here by two flat covering elements 14 and 16, which are each mounted pivotably via a hinge 18 or 20. In the illustration shown, the cover device 12 consequently has a structure similar to a double-leaf door. A leg spring or another spring mechanism (not shown) can be integrated in the hinges 18 and 20, respectively, which always urges the cover elements 14 and 16 into the closed state.Two outer edges 22 and 24 are mounted in a fixed position, while two inner edges 26 and 28 spaced apart from the outer edges 22 and 24 can assume a variable distance from the rail 6. In FIG. 1, the covering device 12 is in a closed state, in which the inner edges 26 and 28 are at the smallest possible distance from the rail 6, so that the latter is completely covered.On sides of the inner edges 26 and 28 facing the rail 6, bearing elements 30 and 32 are arranged, which are supported on the rail 6 and bring about a defined distance of the inner edges 26 and 28 from the rail 6. The support elements 30 and 32 each have, for example, a shoulder 31 and 33, respectively, which lead to an approximately L-shaped configuration, which can be brought into surface contact with a corresponding outer edge of the rail 6. The rail 6 is consequently surrounded in a tong-like manner by both support elements 30 and 32. Overall, the alignment of the cover elements 14 and 16 in the closed state is parallel to the surrounding floor 4.As can be seen roughly in FIG. 1 and is shown in somewhat more detail in FIG. 2, the fastening element 10 has a ramp section 34 as an engagement element, which runs approximately in a wedge shape along a longitudinal axis 36 of the fastening element 10. A height of the fastening element 10 at an outer side end of the ramp section 34 is consequently lower than at an inner side end. FIG. 2 shows a position of the fastening element 10 in which the ramp section 34 just touches the two adjacent covering elements 14 and 16 at mutually aligned boundary edges 38 and 40 which run transversely to the main direction of extent x. As a result of the vertical distance of the boundary edges 38 and 40 from the rail 6, the ramp section 34 can consequently enter under the boundary edges 38 and 40.The ramp section 34 is round or rounded overall in a plurality of directions. A base surface of the ramp portion 34 above the floor 4 is approximately semicircular. All boundary edges of the ramp section 34 are rounded. When the ramp section 34 dips under the boundary edges 38 and 40, there is therefore first of all a contact at two contact points which are situated close to the inner edges 26 and 28. When the fastening element 10 is pushed further into under the covering elements 14 and 16, these contact points move further outwards, while the covering elements 14 and 16 are pivoted open.In Fig. 3 an advanced dipping of the fastening element 10 under the cover elements 14 and 16 is shown. An outer contour 42 of the ramp section 34 leads to a gradual pivoting-up movement of the inner edges 26 and 28 of the covering elements 14 and 16; this is further supplemented in successive steps in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7.A difference in height between a level of the floor 4 and an upper side of the covering elements 14 and 16 is compensated for by laterally arranged transition regions 44 and 46. The transition regions 44 and 46 are curved so that a sharp outer edge, which could be a trip trap, does not exist. The curvature can take place about at least one axis 48 or 50 which is parallel to the main extension direction x of the rail 6. Further axes determining the curvature are conceivable. The curvature can be continuous and have a change of direction, so that there is a harmonic transition to the floor 4.In FIG. 4, it is visible from a spatial perspective that a flange 52, which carries an installation element 54, is arranged, for example, on an upper side of the fastening element 10. This is, for example, a seat frame or a part thereof. Due to the displacement of the fastening element 10 along the extension axis x of the rail 6, its configuration leads to the opening of the covering device 12, so that the fastening element 10 can be fastened at positions of the rail 6 below it and a desired position of the flange 52 can be reached. At the same time, automatic closing of already traversed or further removed areas of the rail 6 is effected by a respective cover device 12.FIG. 5 shows, for example, an opening degree of the covering device 12 which enables the complete pushing through of the fastening element 10 and of the mounting element 54 arranged thereon. FIG. 6 also shows in a successive step that, due to the opened state of the covering device 12, the installation element 54 does not necessarily have to be arranged in the vertical direction above the fastening element 10, but can also be pulled through the free space between the covering elements 14 and 16 directly behind the fastening element 10. As a result, FIG. 7 shows a completely opened covering device 12 with a completely stressed intermediate space between the two covering elements 14 and 16 by the corresponding built-in element 54.For the sake of completeness, it is mentioned that the packing element 54 is a seat frame with a front seat leg 56 and a rear seat leg (not shown), which is shown with a luggage bar 58 called "bag bar". This serves to limit pushing through a hand luggage item forwards below a passenger seat. The cover elements 14 and 16, in their open state, allow the luggage item to be guided at a distance along the rail.A locking device 60 can likewise be seen, which is configured to perform a locking of the fastening element 10 on the rail 6 with latching openings 8. The arrangement and configuration of such a locking device 60 can also be chosen to be completely different.FIG. 8 shows a support element 62 which comprises a flexurally soft material. As a result, the entire covering device 12 can be covered on its upper side in order to achieve a harmonic, optical appearance and in particular to protect the hinges 18 and 20 from soiling. It can also be seen that the support element 62 is segmented into two sections which have two inner edges 64 and 66 which face one another but are offset from the inner edges 26 and 28 of the cover elements 14 and 16. A gap 68 is thus covered which is located between the inner edges 26 and 28 of the cover elements 14 and 16. The support element 62 can be made of an elastomer, for example. As shown in Fig. 9, overall an attractive covering of the rail 6 can be achieved which is robust and requires practically no manual interaction in the displacement of passenger seats or other built-in elements.Finally, FIG. 10 shows an aircraft 70 with a cabin 72 arranged therein, which cabin is equipped with a rail system 2.In addition, it should be noted that "having" does not exclude other elements or steps, and "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. It should also be noted that features which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other features of other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims should not be regarded as limiting.

Claims

Rail system (2) for a cabin (72) of a vehicle (70), having a rail (6) with a main direction of extent (x), a fastening element (10) which can be fastened to different positions of the rail (6) for holding an installation element (54) on the rail (6), and a covering device (12) for covering the rail (6), wherein the covering device (12) has a plurality of covering elements (14, 16) which are configured in a planar manner and are arranged in a row one next to the other and extend along the rail (6), wherein the covering elements (14, 16) are each pivotably mounted between a closed state in which the respective covering element (14, 16) rests on the rail (6) and an open state in which the respective covering element (14, 16) is removed from the rail (6), and wherein the fastening element (10) has an engagement element (34) which is configured to ensure that the fastening element is configured to bear against the rail (6) in a closed state in which the respective covering element (14, 16) rests on the rail, when displacing the fastening element (10) along the rail (6), it can come under a covering element (14, 16) and move it from the closed state into the open state.Rail system (2) according to Claim 1, wherein the rail (6) is a guide rail, and wherein the fastening element (10) is a slide having a longitudinal axis (36) which is designed to be guided on the rail (6) with the longitudinal axis (36) parallel to the main direction of extent (x) along the latter, and wherein the fastening element (10) has at least one ramp section, which runs in a wedge-shaped manner along the longitudinal axis (36), as an engagement element (34) and tapers outwards along the longitudinal axis (36).The rail system (2) according to claim 2, wherein the ramp portion (34) has a substantially round base.The rail system (2) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each cover element (14, 16) is associated with a spring mechanism that urges the cover element (14, 16) in the closed state.Rail system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover elements (14, 16) each have two boundary edges (38, 40) which are arranged transversely to the main direction of extension (x) of the rail (6) and which, in the closed state, at least partially form a vertical distance from the rail (6).Rail system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein two cover elements (14, 16) arranged next to one another transversely to the main direction of extension (x) each form a cover unit, and wherein the cover elements (14, 16) each have a hinge (18, 20) parallel to the rail (6) on an outer edge (22, 24) facing away from the other cover element (14, 16), such that they can be pivoted open in opposite directions and each have an inner edge (26, 28), opposite the outer edge (22, 24), parallel to the rail (6), such that the inner edges (26, 28) of a cover unit face one another in the closed state.Rail system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the covering device (12) has at least one transition region (44, 46) which is arranged laterally on the outside and is curved at least in regions about an axis (48, 50) running parallel to the main extension axis (x), in which transition region a height difference between a floor (4) and the covering elements (14, 16) is compensated.Rail system (2) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one flexurally soft support element (62) which is arranged on the covering device (12) for protection against mechanical damage.Rail system (2) according to Claims 6 and 8, wherein the support element (62) is segmented into two sections which have two mutually facing inner edges (64, 66) which are arranged offset in a direction transverse to the main axis of extent (x) of the rail (6) with respect to the inner edges (26, 28) of the cover elements (14, 16) of the cover unit, such that the inner edges (26, 28) of the cover elements (14, 16) are overlapped by the support element (62) in the closed state.Passenger seat system for a cabin (72) of a vehicle (70), comprising: at least one passenger seat device having a seat frame (54), and a rail system (2) according to claims 1 to 9, wherein the rail system (2) comprises two rails (6) spaced apart from one another and running parallel to one another, wherein the seat frame (54) of the at least one passenger seat device comprises two pairs of spaced apart seat legs (56), which are each connected to a fastening element (10), and wherein the fastening elements (10) are in engagement with the rails (6).Vehicle (70) having a cabin (72), a cabin floor (4) and at least one passenger seat system according to Claim 10.Vehicle (70) according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle (70) is an aircraft, in particular a commercial aircraft.

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