Aircraft Galley Container Internal Locks for Automated Safety Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft galley containers with external lugs for locking pose hazards to cabin crew and are prone to tampering, requiring manual intervention for safety features like locking and unlocking.
Innovation Solution
An integrated lock mechanism with a rotatable plate and internal locking member, operable via manual or electronic means, that secures the latch mechanism, and a control system to automate locking based on geographical or flight conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external lugs are attached to the door and housing for locking, then the locking function is provided, but hazards are created for cabin crew during taxi, take-off, turbulence or landing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the external lugs that extended outward from the galley container door and replaces them with an integrated locking mechanism where the locking members are contained within the door structure itself. This extraction of the harmful external elements while preserving the locking function directly resolves the contradiction between providing secure locking and eliminating hazards to cabin crew.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking members are nested within the door structure, with the first locking member positioned in a recess of the door and the second locking member positioned in a corresponding recess of the housing. This nesting approach allows the locking function to be maintained while the locking components are contained within the overall boundaries of the container, eliminating the external protrusions that created hazards.
2Reliability
If external lugs are used for locking, then security is provided, but the lugs could be broken off from outside, weakening the security
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the external lugs entirely and replacing them with integrated locking members contained within the door and housing structure, the patent eliminates the vulnerability of external components that could be broken off. The locking function is maintained through internal mechanisms that cannot be accessed or damaged from the outside.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cam mechanisms with curved surfaces that rotate within the door structure. The cam profiles convert rotational motion into linear locking motion, creating a locking action that is inherently more resistant to forced entry compared to simple external lugs. The curved cam surfaces distribute stress and prevent straightforward breaking or prying.
3Ease of operation
If manual locking operation is required, then control is maintained, but input from pilots or cabin crew is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that automatically detect when the galley container door is closed and trigger the locking mechanism to engage without requiring manual intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously monitoring its own state and executing the locking function, thereby eliminating the time and effort required for manual locking while maintaining secure operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system includes sensors that provide feedback about the door position and locking status to a control system. This feedback mechanism enables automatic control logic to determine when locking is required and to execute the locking sequence appropriately, reducing manual input while ensuring the locking function operates under controlled conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
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AI summary
There is provided herein an aircraft (200) including at least one aircraft galley container (30) and a controller (206). Each one of the at least one aircraft galley container (30) includes a safety feature (201) having a first mode and a second mode, and a controller (206) for automatically selecting one of the first mode and second mode of the safety feature (201) and placing the safety feature (201) in the selected mode. The automatic selection of the mode is dependent on a condition of the aircraft (200) satisfying or failing to satisfy a predetermined condition. There is also provided a method of operating a safety feature (201) of an aircraft galley container (30).