Aircraft Folding Table with Integrated Linear and Arcuate Guide Tracks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding tables for aircraft suffer from non-intuitive and ergonomic issues due to separate motion sequences for guiding the tabletop from a vertical stowing position to a horizontal usage position, leading to increased construction effort and stability losses.
Innovation Solution
A folding table design featuring a guiding device with a linear first guide track and a second guide track that includes both a linear and an arcuate segment, allowing the supporting device to be slid along the linear segment into a pull-out position and then pivoted 90° into the usage position along the arcuate segment, facilitated by a single drive unit and supported by spring elements for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate motion sequences are used for guiding the tabletop from stowing to usage position, then the guiding function is achieved, but the construction effort increases and stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the guiding function and fold-down mechanism into a single integrated mechanism. The guide track with its linear and arcuate segments performs both the guiding motion and the folding operation simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate motion sequences and reducing the number of joints required.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide track serves multiple functions: it guides the supporting device from the stowing position to the pull-out position, enables the 90-degree pivot into the usage position, and provides structural support throughout the motion sequence. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining operational intuitiveness.
2Power
If a single drive unit is used for pull-out and pivoting, then the drive force requirement is minimized, but the guiding mechanism must handle complex motion paths
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track incorporates an arcuate segment with a 90-degree central angle that enables the supporting device to pivot smoothly from the pull-out position to the horizontal usage position. This curved path design allows a single drive unit to efficiently generate both translational and rotational motion, minimizing the required drive force while maintaining structural efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding device transitions from a linear guide segment to an arcuate guide segment, dynamically adapting the motion path to match the required movement sequence. This dynamic geometry allows the single drive unit to efficiently control both the pull-out and pivoting operations without requiring excessive force.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding table for an aircraft comprising a supporting device for a tabletop, a pull-out device for moving the supporting device from a vertical stowing position to a horizontal usage position via a pull-out position, wherein the pull-out device has a guiding device for guiding the supporting device between the stowing position and the pull-out position, wherein the guiding device has a linear first guide track for a first guide element on the supporting device and a second guide track for a second guide element on the supporting device, which second guide track has linear and arcuate segments, wherein the supporting device is slid along the linear segment of the second guide track of the guiding device from the stowing position into the pull-out position, and is pivoted along the arcuate segment of the second guide track of the guiding device from the pull-out position into the usage position.