Aircraft Stowage Bin Assembly With Translating Pivot Access Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Larger aircraft stowage bins require greater force to open and close, making them difficult for passengers to use, and their positioning in the cabin is inefficient for maximizing space and easy access.
Innovation Solution
A translating pivot mechanism is used to couple the bucket of the stowage bin to a support assembly, allowing the bucket to translate and rotate, which reduces the force required to open and close the bin and maintains a constant interference gap, while positioning the bin higher in the closed state and lower in the open state for improved access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If larger stowage bins are designed to store more luggage, then storage capacity is improved, but the force required to open or close the bins increases making them difficult for passengers to use
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot mechanism is designed to dynamically change its mechanical characteristics during operation. As the bucket moves from closed to open position, the pivot mechanism transitions through different phases, providing greater mechanical advantage when needed to reduce the force required by passengers while still supporting the larger weight of the bucket.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot mechanism utilizes changing geometric parameters during rotation. The distance between the pivot point and the application point of force, as well as the angle of application, change dynamically as the bucket opens and closes, creating variable mechanical advantage that reduces the force needed at critical positions.
2Area of stationary object
If the stowage bin is positioned as high within the cabin as possible in closed position to maximize cabin space, then space utilization is improved, but access for inserting and removing luggage becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The translating pivot mechanism creates a dynamic motion path that allows the bucket to both rotate and translate vertically. This dual motion enables the bucket to start in a high closed position for space optimization, then move along a trajectory that brings it lower during the opening process, improving accessibility for passengers.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of simple rotation in one arc, the mechanism adds a vertical translation dimension to the motion. The bucket moves both angularly and vertically, creating a more complex but beneficial motion path that simultaneously achieves space optimization and improved access.
Data Source
AI summary
A stowage bin is provided. The stowage bin includes a bucket, a support assembly, and at least one translating pivot mechanism rotatably coupling the support assembly to the bucket, the at least one translating pivot mechanism including a first component fixedly coupled to the bucket and comprising a first pin and a first slot, and a second component fixedly coupled to the support assembly and including a second pin and a second slot, wherein the first and second components engage one another such that the first pin is received in the second slot and the second pin is received in the first slot.