Aircraft Seat Track Locking for Between-Position Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern aircraft seats can become inadvertently dislodged from their tracks at a temporary position between metered positions, posing a safety risk due to the alignment of seat track feet and scallops, which existing locking systems fail to securely retain.
Innovation Solution
A track locking system comprising a base that fits within the seat track, a shaft, locking and confinement holes, and a locking member that secures the seat when the track feet are between metered positions, preventing dislodgement by aligning with track tabs and scallops, and providing visual indicators and redundancy for secure locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a track locking system is installed to prevent seat dislodgement between metered positions, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is divided into separate functional components: a base that fits within the seat track, a shaft with locking and confinement holes, locking members for engagement, and visual indicators. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall system reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft is inserted through a through-hole in the seat structure, and the base fits within the seat track, creating a nested arrangement where components are housed within existing structural cavities. This nesting approach integrates the locking system into the existing seat architecture, adding safety functionality while minimizing additional device complexity.
2Reliability
If a locking member with multiple holes and recesses is used to secure the seat, then the locking reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft is pre-configured with locking holes and confinement holes at specific positions before installation. The visual indicators are pre-positioned on the shaft to show locking status. This preliminary configuration during manufacturing ensures reliable locking functionality while simplifying the installation process, as the complex multi-hole configuration is already established during production rather than requiring complex assembly operations.
3Ease of operation
If visual indicators are added to show locking status, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Visual indicators on the shaft change position or appearance based on the locking status. When the locking member is properly engaged, the visual indicators align to show a locked state; when disengaged, they show an unlocked state. This use of visual cues (potentially color-coded or position-based indicators) provides immediate feedback to operators, improving ease of operation by making the locking status clearly visible without requiring complex monitoring systems.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
An aircraft seating system may include an integrated track locking system. The track locking system may include a track lock (102). The track lock (102) may include a base fitting, securing the seat to the seat track (124) when the seat track feet (302) are between a metered position. The track lock (102) may also include a shaft (110), a locking hole (106), and a confinement hole (108). The track locking system may include a through hole (122), where the shaft (110) of the track lock (102) is able to fit within the through hole (122). The track locking system may include a locking cavity (118). The track locking system may include one or more recesses (120) on at least one face of the locking cavity (118). The track locking system may include a locking member (112) secured by the one or more recesses (120) and the locking hole (106). The track locking system may include a confinement member (114) secured by the confinement hole (108) via the through hole (122).