Aircraft Table Arrangement Mechanical Linkage Stowage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft seat table arrangements require users to manually push the table against a gas spring to stow it, which can cause finger or nail injuries and may result in improper stowage, leading to potential damage or jamming issues when opening the door.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical linkage between the activation mechanism and the table or housing ensures that the table moves from a presented to a stowed configuration when the housing is closed, preventing abutment and simplifying the stowage process, while also allowing the table to deploy automatically when the housing opens.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a user manually pushes the table against a gas spring to stow it, then the table can be stowed in the housing, but the user may catch their fingers or nails in the housing and cause injury
Solution Approach 1:
The table arrangement performs the stowage action automatically through the mechanical linkage connected to the door mechanism. When the door is closed, the linkage automatically pushes the table into the stowed position without requiring manual intervention from the user, thereby eliminating the risk of finger or nail injury while maintaining operational functionality
2Ease of operation
If a user manually pushes the table against a gas spring to stow it, then the table can be stowed, but the user may not push the table in far enough resulting in improper stowage
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical linkage provides automatic feedback control for table positioning. The linkage is connected to both the door mechanism and the table, ensuring that when the door closes, the table is automatically pushed to the correct stowed position through the mechanical connection. This eliminates the possibility of improper stowage positioning that occurs with manual pushing
3Productivity
If the door is closed before the table has been adequately pushed into the stowed position, then the housing can be closed, but this could cause damage to the table or door or associated mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical linkage performs the table stowage action simultaneously with and in coordination with the door closing action. As the door begins to close, the linkage automatically pushes the table into the stowed position before the door fully closes, ensuring proper sequencing and preventing damage to the table, door, or mechanisms
4Ease of operation
If the table was not stowed properly and a user went to subsequently open the door, then the door can be opened, but the table may abut and possibly jam against the inside of the door
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical linkage provides continuous feedback control during door opening. When the door is opened, the linkage automatically adjusts the table position to ensure it remains properly stowed and does not abut against the door interior, preventing jamming and ensuring smooth door operation
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 enhances user safety by preventing injuries during stowage, simplifies the process, and reduces the risk of damage by ensuring proper alignment and secure stowage of the table, while maintaining easy deployment and use.
Implementation Method 1
This reveals an aperture through which the table can deploy. The opening of the door pulls on a cable which activates a gas spring to 'present' the table.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 1c~2c
Figure 2a~2d
AI summary
The present invention provides table arrangement 100 comprising a housing 130 that has an open configuration and a closed configuration, a table 120, which, when in a stowed configuration is at least partially housed in the housing, and when in a presented configuration, is partially protruding from the housing, and an activation mechanism 110 for opening and closing the housing, which is linked by a mechanical linkage 140 to the table or housing such that when the activation mechanism closes the housing, the table changes from the presented configuration to the stowed configuration. The invention also provides an aircraft seat module 200, an aircraft and a method of stowing a table arrangement.