Aircraft Ceiling Retaining Assembly With Pivoting Hinge

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ceiling panel retainers in aircraft internal cabins do not allow for easy removal, as they often restrict upward or downward movement, requiring labor-intensive lateral shifting due to the shapes and sizes of ceiling panels and adjacent structures.

Innovation Solution

A retaining assembly with a hinge and biasing member that can pivot between a retaining position to secure the ceiling panel and a release position for easy removal, featuring a plunger that restrains upward motion and a spring or spring steel strap to bias the panel in place, allowing for quick and efficient removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional retainers are used to secure ceiling panels, then the ceiling panels are held firmly in position, but the ceiling panels cannot be easily removed due to restricted upward and downward movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring capabilityVSAvoidremoval ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer incorporates a hinge mechanism that allows the retainer body to pivot between a closed securing position and an open release position. This dynamic movement enables the retainer to transition from firmly holding the ceiling panel to easily releasing it, resolving the contradiction between secure retention and easy removal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The retainer is divided into movable segments including the hinge joint and plunger mechanism. The plunger can be independently actuated to trigger the hinge movement, allowing the securing and releasing functions to be separated into distinct operational steps, making removal easier while maintaining secure holding when closed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If ceiling panels are secured against upward motion, then the panels remain stable in position, but labor-intensive lateral shifting is required for removal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepanel stabilityVSAvoidremoval time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The retainer's hinge mechanism allows the retainer body to dynamically pivot open, creating upward movement space for the ceiling panel. This eliminates the need for labor-intensive lateral shifting and enables quick vertical removal while maintaining stability when the retainer is closed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The plunger mechanism is pre-positioned to trigger the hinge opening action. When the plunger is actuated, it automatically initiates the sequence that pivots the retainer open and releases the ceiling panel, performing the removal preparation in advance and reducing the actual removal time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Stability of the object's composition

If the hinge is restrained from upward pivotal motion, then the retainer maintains its position, but the ceiling panel cannot be easily removed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveretainer position stabilityVSAvoidpanel removal ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge is designed with a plunger restraint mechanism that can be dynamically actuated. When the plunger is pushed, it releases the upward pivotal motion restraint, allowing the hinge to pivot open and the ceiling panel to be easily removed. When the plunger is retracted, the restraint is restored, stabilizing the retainer position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The plunger acts as an intermediary between the operator and the hinge mechanism. By actuating the plunger, the operator indirectly controls the hinge's pivotal motion restraint, enabling easy panel removal without directly manipulating the hinge itself, while maintaining position stability when the plunger is not actuated.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Facilitates quick, easy, and efficient removal of ceiling panels by enabling upward motion and reducing the time and labor required for maintenance access, overcoming the limitations of traditional retainers.

Implementation Method 1

a spring or spring steel strap to bias the panel in place

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

A retaining assembly with a hinge and biasing member that can pivot between a retaining position to secure the ceiling panel and a release position for easy removal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHinge: Hinge

Data Source

PatentUS11472553B2Ceiling retaining assemblies and methods for an internal cabin of a vehicle

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 THE BOEING CO

AI summary

A retaining assembly and method for use within an internal cabin of an aircraft, in which the retaining assembly includes a hinge including a biasing member. The hinge is moveable between a retaining position, in which the biasing member is configured to exert a biasing force into a top surface of a ceiling panel within an internal cabin of a vehicle to prevent the ceiling panel from upward motion, and a release position, in which the hinge is configured to be pivoted away from the ceiling panel and the biasing member is configured to be separated from the ceiling panel.