Aircraft Passenger Seat Center Console with Crash-Activated Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft passenger seat designs do not adequately address comfort and safety enhancements, particularly in the context of crash scenarios, and lack versatile functional elements for passenger convenience.
Innovation Solution
Aircraft passenger seat design featuring a detachable center console mounted between outer seats, connected via a connection unit to the mounting unit, with an impact safety device allowing partial decoupling during crashes, and equipped with functional elements like armrests, storage compartments, and power outlets, enhancing comfort and safety by allowing the console to move forward and reducing impact forces on passengers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the center console is rigidly connected to the mounting unit, then structural stability is improved, but impact safety deteriorates in crash scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The connection unit incorporates a decoupling mechanism that transitions the center console from a rigid fixed state to a movable decoupled state during crash events. The deformation element remains intact during normal operation maintaining stability, but deforms under crash forces to allow the center console to move forward, reducing impact forces on passengers while maintaining structural integrity during normal flight conditions
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the center console is made detachable for safety, then impact safety is improved, but structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The connection unit uses a deformation element that remains rigid during normal operation, providing structural stability, but is designed to deform and decouple under specific crash force thresholds. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain stability during normal flight while automatically detaching to reduce impact forces during crash scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The connection unit changes its mechanical properties based on applied force parameters. During normal operation, the deformation element maintains its rigid structural form providing stability. During crash events, the deformation element undergoes controlled deformation, changing from a rigid state to a compliant state that allows decoupling, thus adapting the structural stability parameter based on the operational conditions
3Adaptability or versatility
If functional elements are added to the backrest base body, then passenger comfort and usability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest base body is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides structural support for the backrest, acts as a mounting platform for various functional elements (power outlets, storage compartments, armrests), and integrates with the connection unit for the center console. This multi-functionality approach consolidates several components into one, reducing overall device complexity while enhancing passenger convenience
Data Source
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AI summary
An aircraft passenger seat device is proposed, comprising an aircraft seat row (10), comprising a mounting unit (12), at least three neighboring seat areas (22, 24, 26), wherein in the two outer seat areas (22, 26) an aircraft seat with a seat bottom (32, 34) and a backrest (40, 42) is mounted to the mounting unit (12), and wherein in the middle seat area (24) a backrest base body (58) is mounted to the mounting unit (12), wherein in at least one operating state a detachable center console (68) is detachably mounted to the mounting unit (12) in the middle seat area (24) forming a separation between the two outer seats (22, 24) and wherein the backrest base body (58) has at least one functional element (60, 62, 64) on its rear side (66) provided for the use by a passenger sitting behind.