Aircraft Cabin Ceiling Trim Lighting Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft cabin lighting scenarios are challenging to design due to limited space above the ceiling trim arrangement, where essential systems and structural constraints restrict the placement and extension of lighting devices, making it difficult to create complex and aesthetically pleasing lighting, especially around monuments like kitchen units or cabinets opposite doors.
Innovation Solution
The aircraft cabin arrangement features a ceiling trim arrangement with three rows of ceiling trim elements, where the second row is centered between the first and third rows, allowing for adaptable axial lengths to position lighting sources aligned with crossways, minimizing structural effort by maintaining unchanged complex lighting elements and using uniform outer elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If lighting devices are integrated into the ceiling trim arrangement, then the protrusion extent is reduced and interior height is maintained, but the manufacturing effort increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The ceiling trim arrangement is divided into multiple rows (first, second, and third rows) of ceiling trim elements. Lighting devices are integrated only into the ceiling trim elements of the second row, while the first and third rows serve as spacing rows without lighting integration. This segmentation allows the lighting-equipped elements to be standardized and manufactured separately, reducing the overall manufacturing complexity compared to integrating lighting into all ceiling trim elements.
2Weight of stationary object
If ceiling trim elements are held only at every second frame, then weight is saved, but the positioning flexibility for lighting devices above gangways is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The axial lengths of ceiling trim elements are varied locally depending on their position and function. Ceiling trim elements in the second row (with lighting devices) have different axial lengths than those in the first and third rows. This allows lighting devices to be positioned precisely above gangways while maintaining the weight-saving benefit of reduced support frequency at every second frame.
3Length of stationary object
If the ceiling trim arrangement is positioned higher to maintain interior height, then headroom is preserved, but the space available for lighting devices is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the protrusion extent of lighting devices in the vertical dimension (which would reduce interior height), the solution extends lighting elements horizontally along the axial direction of the ceiling trim arrangement. This dimensional shift allows sufficient lighting space to be provided while maintaining the required interior height for passenger comfort.
4Illumination intensity
If lighting devices are provided in ceiling trim elements of two adjacent rows to illuminate gangways, then complex lighting scenarios are achieved, but the construction complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ceiling trim arrangement is segmented into functional rows: the second row contains lighting devices for illuminating gangways, while the first and third rows serve as non-lighting spacing rows. This segmentation simplifies construction by standardizing the lighting-equipped elements and reducing the need for complex configurations across multiple rows, achieving the desired lighting scenarios with reduced construction complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft cabin arrangement is disclosed which extends in a rectilinear manner along a cabin axis, having a ceiling trim arrangement which delimits the cabin interior upwardly from the cabin axis, wherein the ceiling trim arrangement has a first, a second and a third row of ceiling trim elements, wherein the rows are arranged one immediately after another in the direction of extent of the cabin axis, wherein the rows have a central ceiling trim element and lateral ceiling trim elements, wherein the lateral ceiling trim elements of a row immediately adjoin the central ceiling trim element of the row in a laterally adjacent manner on both sides, perpendicularly to the cabin axis, wherein the lateral ceiling trim elements of the second row have one or more lighting sources, wherein the axial lengths of the ceiling trim elements of the first and the third row are different.