Aircraft Seat Bladder Repositioning for Regulatory Passenger Orientation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft passenger seat adjustment mechanisms are complex, costly, and add weight, requiring clearance for rotational movement, which is not suitable for subtle and refined changes in passenger orientation.
Innovation Solution
The seat assembly incorporates air bladders or actuators within the backrest and seat bottom, controlled by a system that adjusts the shape and position of these elements to change the passenger's orientation relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis, allowing for compliance with different regulatory certification criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the entire seat including supporting frame is swiveled to change passenger orientation, then the passenger orientation can be changed to comply with regulatory criteria, but the device complexity increases, cost increases, weight increases, and clearance space is required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the seat into independent adjustable segments (backrest and seat bottom) that can be individually repositioned using inflatable bladders, rather than moving the entire seat assembly. This segmentation allows for precise orientation adjustment with minimal mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses inflatable bladders (pneumatic elements) to adjust the angle and position of the backrest and seat bottom. This pneumatic mechanism replaces complex mechanical swiveling devices, reducing device complexity, weight, and cost while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire seat including supporting frame is swiveled to change passenger orientation, then the passenger orientation can be changed, but the weight of the adjustment mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces heavy mechanical swiveling mechanisms with lightweight inflatable bladders that use air pressure to adjust seat orientation. This pneumatic approach dramatically reduces the weight of the adjustment mechanism while maintaining full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state of the bladders (inflated/deflated) to achieve orientation adjustment, rather than moving heavy mechanical parts. This parameter-based control method minimizes the weight of the adjustment system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the entire seat including supporting frame is swiveled to change passenger orientation, then the passenger orientation can be changed, but clearance space around the seat is required
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the seat into independently adjustable components (backrest and seat bottom), the invention eliminates the need for large clearance spaces required by full-seat swiveling. Each segment adjusts in place without requiring rotational clearance around the entire seat.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of adjusting orientation by horizontal swiveling (requiring lateral clearance), the invention uses vertical inflation of bladders to achieve orientation change. This dimensional shift from horizontal to vertical adjustment eliminates clearance requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If seat adjustment mechanisms are added to change passenger orientation, then regulatory compliance is achieved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses inflatable bladders which are relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture compared to mechanical swiveling mechanisms. The pneumatic system requires minimal components (bladders, valves, air supply) reducing overall manufacturing cost while achieving regulatory compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The inflatable bladders are integrated into the existing seat structure, utilizing the seat's own framework and air supply systems. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate, expensive adjustment mechanisms and reduces manufacturing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables subtle and refined changes in passenger orientation without manipulating the entire seat, improving compliance with regulatory criteria, increasing seat density and comfort, and reducing weight and cost.
Implementation Method 1
The first device is a first air bladder incorporated within or positioned in relation to the backrest and configured to be inflated to change the shape of the backrest to position the seated passenger at the first angle and configured to be deflated to change the shape of the backrest to position the seated passenger at the second angle
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides an aircraft passenger seat installable in an aircraft cabin at an angle relative to an aircraft longitudinal axis. The passenger seat includes movable or shape changing seat elements for temporarily re-indexing the passenger orientation according to at least one predetermined flight condition such that the seat assembly meets predefined regulatory certification criteria in at least one of the predetermined flight conditions. The present disclosure further provides a method for effecting a temporary change in position of a seated passenger relative to the aircraft longitudinal axis (i.e., direction of flight) according to at least one predetermined flight condition.