Actuatable Tray Assembly for Aircraft Passenger Compartment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In commercial aircraft, there is a need to minimize the space occupied by passenger compartment components to increase the number of compartments within the cabin while ensuring safety and meeting aviation guidelines, particularly for business class seats, ottomans, trays, and other structures.
Innovation Solution
An actuatable tray assembly is introduced, featuring a tray that can stow underneath a monument and actuate from a stowed position to an extended position using a linear rail system coupled to an ottoman assembly, allowing for compact arrangement and meeting safety and regulatory standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If components are arranged to minimize space within passenger compartment, then compartment density increases, but safety regulations and functionality may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The tray assembly uses a linear rail system with a carriage that can dynamically move between stowed and extended positions. This dynamic configuration allows the tray to occupy minimal space when not in use while providing full functionality when required, resolving the contradiction between compact arrangement and functional accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The tray assembly is nested within the monument structure, with the tray carriage positioned inside the linear rail system that is coupled to the ottoman assembly. This nesting arrangement minimizes the space occupied by the tray while maintaining its ability to extend to the passenger when needed, thus increasing compartment density without compromising safety or functionality.
2Productivity
If tray is positioned close to seat to minimize space, then compartment density increases, but tray accessibility and functionality may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The linear rail system enables the tray carriage to dynamically extend from its compact position near the seat to a fully accessible position for the passenger. This dynamic movement ensures that the tray can be easily accessed and operated by the passenger while maintaining a compact configuration when not in use, thus resolving the contradiction between space efficiency and ease of operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If linear rail system is exposed for structural visibility, then manufacturing simplicity increases, but aesthetic appearance and passenger comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The linear rail system is extracted from visible areas and positioned within the monument structure, where it is not visible to passengers. This extraction maintains the structural integrity and manufacturing simplicity of the linear rail system while eliminating its visual impact on passenger comfort and aesthetics.
Solution Approach 2:
The monument structure serves as an intermediary that houses the linear rail system. This intermediary structure provides structural support for the rail while concealing it from passenger view, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and aesthetic appearance.
Data Source
AI summary
An actuatable tray assembly for an aircraft passenger compartment may include a tray configured to stow underneath a monument positioned a select distance from an aircraft seat in the aircraft passenger compartment. The actuatable tray assembly may include an actuation assembly. The actuation assembly may include at least one linear rail coupled to an ottoman assembly positioned proximate to the aircraft seat in the aircraft passenger compartment. The ottoman assembly may include a frame assembly and an ottoman. The ottoman may be coupled to the frame assembly. The actuation assembly may include a carriage configured to actuate along the at least one linear rail. The carriage may be coupled to the tray. The carriage may be configured to actuate the tray from a stowed position to an extended position.