Aircraft Cabin Gap Covering With Flexible Anti-Slip Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gap coverings in aircraft cabins are not sufficiently flexible to accommodate deformations and installation tolerances between cabin monuments, leading to potential slippage and complex installation processes.
Innovation Solution
A gap covering system with contour-adapted rigid fastening strips and flexible covering material, securely fastened to the front edge portions of cabin monuments, allowing for compensatory movement and easy installation, using materials like fabric, film, or rubber, and featuring rapid fastening elements like press-studs or pins.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid gap covering is used to maintain position, then stability is improved, but flexibility to accommodate deformations and installation tolerances deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gap covering is divided into two functional segments: rigid fastening strips for stable attachment to monument edges, and a flexible covering element for accommodating deformations and installation tolerances. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap covering combines materials with different mechanical properties: rigid materials (such as metal or rigid plastic) for the fastening strips provide stable attachment, while flexible materials (such as elastic or viscoelastic materials) for the covering element accommodate movements and deformations during flight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complex adjustment mechanism is used to accommodate movements, then adaptability is improved, but installation complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gap covering employs a dynamic design where the flexible covering element can passively adapt to monument movements during flight without requiring active adjustment mechanisms. The material's inherent elasticity allows it to stretch and compress, accommodating deformations automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The covering element's physical parameters (length, area) change in response to gap variations caused by aircraft deformations and installation tolerances. The flexible material allows parameter changes without requiring complex mechanical adjustment systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a flexible covering material is used to accommodate deformations, then adaptability is improved, but positioning stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gap covering is divided into two functional segments: rigid fastening strips for stable attachment to monument edges, and a flexible covering element for accommodating deformations and installation tolerances. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specialized function optimally.
Solution Approach 2:
The covering element is made from flexible materials such as elastic or viscoelastic materials that can deform to accommodate gap changes while maintaining continuous coverage. The flexible film or shell structure allows movement accommodation without compromising the visual appearance or coverage integrity.
4Ease of operation
If fastening to front edge portions is used for accessibility, then ease of installation is improved, but securing against slippage deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening strips are designed to be attached to the front edge portions of the monuments during installation, establishing secure anchor points before the aircraft undergoes flight deformations. This preliminary securement prevents slippage during subsequent movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening strips can be designed with curved regions that adapt to the contour of the monument front edges, increasing the contact area and friction between the fastening element and the monument surface, thereby preventing slippage while maintaining accessibility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a secure, flexible, and easily installable gap covering that maintains position during flight and accommodates monument movements, ensuring complete gap coverage without slippage and facilitating rapid cleaning, while being adaptable to various monument contours and gap widths.
Implementation Method 1
a covering element (13) is arranged between the first and second fastening strips (11, 12) for covering the gap (5) between the first monument part (7) and the second monument part (8), wherein the covering element is formed from a flexible covering material of thin design. A movement of the first cabin monument (3) relative to the second cabin monument (4) leads to a compensating movement of the covering material of the covering region
Data Source
AI summary
A cabin monument arrangement for a passenger cabin of an aircraft, has at least two cabin monuments arranged next to each other, aligned substantially parallel and forming a gap. The gap includes a gap covering in the fastening region of the first lateral monument part and of the second lateral monument part in the region of the front edge portion of the respective cabin monument. In each case, a first contour-adapted rigid fastening strip is on the fastening region and a second contour-adapted, rigid fastening strip is on the second fastening region. A covering element is between the first and second fastening strips for covering the gap between the first monument part and the second monument part, the covering element formed from a flexible covering material of thin design. A corresponding covering of the gap between the cabin monuments can therefore be achieved with sufficient flexibility and material width.