Aircraft Seat Module With Separate 16G and 9G Load Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft seat designs face challenges in achieving ease of approval and reducing weight while maintaining structural integrity for crash safety, particularly in the context of different load requirements for passenger seating and ancillary components.

Innovation Solution

The aircraft seat module is designed as a combination of a 16G module and a 9G module, where the 16G module includes the seat and essential passenger-facing components, and the 9G module includes non-passenger-facing components, allowing separate certification and attachment to the cabin floor via distinct mounting points, with a kinematic unit for adjustable seating and a console unit for storage and functionality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the aircraft seat module is designed as a single integrated unit, then structural integrity and crash safety are improved, but weight and ease of approval are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrash safetyVSAvoidmodule weight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The aircraft seat module is divided into two separate modules: a 16G module containing the aircraft seat and essential passenger-facing components, and a 9G module containing non-passenger-facing components. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for its specific crash safety requirements while reducing overall weight and simplifying the approval process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The 16G module is designed to be detachable from the 9G module, allowing dynamic reconfiguration. The 16G module can be separately attached to the cabin floor via distinct mounting points, enabling flexible installation and maintaining structural integrity during crash scenarios while reducing unnecessary weight in non-critical components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If the aircraft seat module is designed as a single integrated unit, then structural integrity is improved, but ease of approval is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidease of approval
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the module into 16G and 9G separate units, each can be approved independently according to its specific load requirements. The 16G module undergoes approval for passenger safety, while the 9G module is approved for ancillary components, simplifying the overall approval process while maintaining structural integrity through proper reconnection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design changes the approval parameters from a single comprehensive certification to separate certifications based on load requirements. The 16G module is designed to withstand higher crash loads (16G) while the 9G module is designed for lower loads (9G), allowing each to be approved under appropriate, less stringent parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If the aircraft seat is mounted at a steeper angle, then space utilization is improved, but passenger comfort and accessibility are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseating area space utilizationVSAvoidpassenger comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The aircraft seat incorporates a kinematic unit that enables dynamic adjustment between a steep mounting angle for space efficiency and a reclined position for passenger comfort. The seat can be adjusted between a sitting configuration and a reclining configuration, allowing optimization of both space utilization and comfort based on operational requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The separation of the 16G module (seat) from the 9G module (ancillary components) allows the seat to be optimized for comfort with independent adjustment mechanisms, while the overall module configuration maintains space efficiency through the detachable design and optimized spatial arrangement of components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4330138B1Aircraft seat module
Publication Date: 2025.10.29 RECARO AIRCRAFT SEATING GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4330138B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4330138B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4330138B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an aircraft seat module which forms an aircraft seat region (26, 30), comprising an aircraft seat (42) which is designed to be installed at an angle ɑ of 30° to 80°, preferably 45° to 65°, in an aircraft cabin (12) and which has at least one base frame (50) and a kinematic unit (52); a housing unit (58) that comprises a first housing element (60) which at least party delimits the aircraft seat region (26) in the region of the aircraft seat (42) and a second housing element (62) which at least partly delimits the aircraft seat region (26) at least in the region in front of the aircraft seat (42); an ottoman (68) which provides a foot rest region (70); and a console unit (64) which forms at least one stowing and/or storage region (74) of the aircraft seat region (26). According to the invention, the aircraft seat (42) is combined into a separate 16-G module (86), and the second housing element (62), the ottoman (68), and the console unit (64) are combined into a separate 9G module (88), wherein the 16G module (86) and the 9G module (88) are designed to be secured to a cabin floor (32) separately from each other.