Aircraft Floor Panel With Integrated Cable Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing floor panels for passenger cabins of mobile platforms face challenges in integrating cable channels without increasing thickness, which complicates installation and reduces mechanical stability, and require modifications to aircraft systems for accommodation.
Innovation Solution
A floor panel design featuring a base body with integrated cable channels and a cover element that provides mechanical stability, utilizing honeycomb structures and carbon fibre reinforced plastic layers, allowing for a slim design and easy installation without altering underlying aircraft systems, and enabling self-supporting functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cable channel is integrated into the floor panel, then cable accommodation is achieved, but the thickness of the floor panel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable channel is nested within the hollow interior space of the foam core, utilizing the existing void space rather than adding external thickness. The foam core's hollow structure serves as the cable channel, allowing cables to be routed through the panel without increasing its overall thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The foam core material provides a matrix structure with embedded hollow spaces that can accommodate cables. The porous/nested structure of the foam allows integration of cable pathways within the material itself rather than requiring separate cable management components.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a cable channel is integrated into the floor panel, then cable routing is enabled, but mechanical stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The floor panel uses a composite structure combining foam core material with hollow spaces for cable routing. The foam provides structural integrity while the hollow interior accommodates cables, achieving both mechanical stability and cable routing functionality through material composition rather than adding separate components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing floor panels are modified to accommodate cable channels, then cable installation is possible, but installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cable channel is pre-integrated into the foam core during manufacturing, so that cable routing pathways are already established before installation. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for complex on-site modifications or additional cable management components during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable channel functionality is merged with the structural floor panel itself rather than being a separate component. The hollow foam core serves dual purposes as both structural support and cable conduit, simplifying the overall system and installation process.
4Adaptability or versatility
If cable channels are added to floor panels, then electrical systems can be integrated, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The foam core material provides a lightweight matrix structure with embedded hollow spaces for cable routing. The foam's inherent porosity and low density allow integration of cable pathways without significantly increasing weight, as the hollow spaces utilize the existing material structure rather than adding dense solid components.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1E
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Figure 6~10
AI summary
A floor panel 100, 106 for a floor of a passenger cabin 400 of a mobile platform 200 is provided, which comprises a base body 100 with an integrated cable channel 106 and a cover element 303, 304 covering the cable channel. The base body is realized in the form of a sandwich component including two honeycomb structures 103, 104, between which the cable channel is arranged. The cover element is firmly attached to the base body, thereby creating a self-supporting floor panel. Since the cover element is firmly attached to the base body, the thickness and weight of the base body may be reduced.