Integrated Aircraft Seat Back Structure for Low Weight and Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft seat backs face a challenge in balancing lightness and strength, as traditional designs with multiple components and joints result in increased weight and assembly time, while also needing to incorporate features like tray tables and electronics for passenger convenience.
Innovation Solution
A seat back design featuring a body with a support wall, side walls, and an integrally formed cross brace, made from carbon fibre composite material, which eliminates the need for joints and provides structural strength, additional functions like a literature pocket, and supports a tray table latch.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple components are joined together to form the seat back, then the structural strength is improved, but the weight increases and assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cross brace is integrally formed with the support wall and side walls as a single piece, eliminating the need for separate components and joints. This merging of components reduces the overall weight while maintaining structural strength, as no additional joining materials or fasteners are required.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat back is formed from composite material, which provides high strength-to-weight ratio. This allows the integrally formed structure to achieve sufficient structural strength while keeping the weight low, resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
2Strength
If multiple components are joined together to form the seat back, then the structural strength is improved, but the assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cross brace is integrally formed with the support wall and side walls, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps involving joints, welding, or fastening operations. This single-piece construction significantly reduces assembly time while maintaining the required structural strength.
3Weight of moving object
If the seat back is made lighter, then the weight is reduced, but the structural strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The use of composite material enables the seat back to achieve low weight while maintaining high structural strength. The composite material's inherent properties provide excellent strength-to-weight ratio, resolving the contradiction between lightness and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrally formed cross brace creates an optimized structural layout that efficiently distributes loads throughout the seat back. This segmented design within the single piece maximizes structural efficiency while minimizing material usage and weight.
4Strength
If traditional joining methods are used, then the structural strength is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cross brace is integrally formed with the support wall and side walls, eliminating all joints and connections. This removes the complexity associated with multiple components, joining methods, and assembly procedures while maintaining structural strength through the integrated design.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Described herein is a seat back for an aircraft seat, the seat back comprising a body, wherein the body comprises a support wall for supporting a passenger leaning against the seat back, a first side wall, a second side wall and a cross brace, wherein the cross brace connects the first side wall and the second side wall at a position between a lower end and an upper end of each of the side walls, and wherein the support wall, the first side wall, the second side wall and the cross brace are integrally formed. Also described is a seat comprising the seat back and a row of seats.