Aircraft seat device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft seats lack optimal balance between weight reduction and comfort, with existing designs often compromising on either aspect, and there is a need for a solution that enhances both properties while ensuring ease of manufacturing and cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a seat floor unit and backrest unit made from fiber composite materials, with a carrier element that connects to an uprising unit, allowing for adjustable reclining and locking mechanisms, including a torsion element and locking module, to optimize seat depth and comfort while maintaining structural integrity and reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If aircraft seats use traditional materials and structures, then structural strength is ensured, but weight is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials extensively throughout the seat structure. The seat shell uses composite material panels (36a, 48a) that provide high strength-to-weight ratio. The carrier elements (52a, 54a) are made from aluminum or fiber composite materials, and the basic bodies (32a, 44a) utilize fiber composite materials. This composite material strategy reduces overall seat weight while maintaining structural integrity and strength requirements.
2Ease of manufacture
If aircraft seats use simple structures, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but comfort and adjustability are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is divided into multiple independent modules: seat floor unit (28a), backrest unit (40a), uprising unit (14a), and adjustable armrest units (100a, 102a). Each module can be manufactured separately and assembled, simplifying production while enabling individual optimization of each component for both manufacturing ease and functional performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates adjustable and movable components including the reclining mechanism that allows the seat to transition between TTL position and comfort position, and adjustable armrests that can be repositioned. These dynamic elements provide comfort and adaptability without requiring complex overall structure, as the adjustability is achieved through targeted movable components within the modular system.
3Ease of operation
If aircraft seats add reclining and locking mechanisms, then passenger comfort is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reclining and locking functions are integrated into a unified mechanism system. The locking module (86a) with locking element (88a) and locking unit (90a) combines the reclining adjustment with a secure locking feature that maintains the seat in desired positions. The torsion element (80a) provides both the reclining motion and the locking action through its elastic properties, merging multiple functions into a single mechanism rather than separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The torsion element (80a) acts as a self-servicing mechanism that automatically provides both the reclining force and the locking action. When the seat is reclined, the torsion element stores elastic energy and automatically locks at specific angles without requiring additional actuators or complex control systems. The mechanism serves itself by using the reclining motion to charge the spring, which then maintains the position.
4Weight of moving object
If aircraft seats use fiber composite materials, then weight is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes different types of fiber composite materials for different components based on specific performance requirements. The seat shell uses composite material panels with specific structural designs, while carrier elements use aluminum or different fiber composite formulations. This parameter variation in material selection allows optimization of each component's manufacturing process to match its functional requirements, reducing overall precision constraints.
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
The solution provides an aircraft seat that is lightweight, comfortable, and easy to manufacture, with improved reclining functionality and secure locking mechanisms, enhancing passenger experience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion element and locking module, to optimize seat depth and comfort
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention proposes an aircraft seat device with at least one seat base unit (28a; 28b; 28c; 28d; 28e) which forms at least in part a seat surface (30a; 30b; 30c), with a mounting unit (14a; 14b; 14c; 14e) which is intended to be mounted on a mounting plane, and with at least one support element (52a, 54a, 56a, 58a; 52b, 54b; 52c, 54c; 52d, 54d; 52e) which extends at least over a large part of a seat depth of the seat surface (30a; 30b; 30c) and is intended to connect the seat base unit (28a; 28b; 28c; 28d; 28e) to the mounting unit (14a; 14b; 14c; 14e).