Airplane Seat Track Layout for Precise Row Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing airplane seat tracks have limitations in adjusting seat row positions efficiently, leading to suboptimal seating arrangements and increased vibration and noise during flights.
Innovation Solution
The seat track design reduces the distance between adjacent circular receptacle sections to less than or equal to their diameter, allowing for closer fitting and precise adjustment of seat positions, with a preferred distance of 10 mm between center points, enabling finer tuning of seat positioning and reducing play between seat leg fittings and the track.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the distance between adjacent receptacle sections is increased to 1 inch (25.4 mm) as per standard, then the lip sections provide adequate clamping area, but the seat row positioning precision is reduced and additional seat rows cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of receptacle section spacing from the standard 1 inch (25.4 mm) to a reduced distance where center points are spaced less than the diameter apart (e.g., 19 mm or 10 mm). This parameter change enables both improved positioning precision and the accommodation of an additional seat row, while the lip sections remain functional for clamping due to the overlapping circular geometry
2Productivity
If the distance between centre points of adjacent receptacle sections is reduced to less than or equal to their diameter, then positioning precision improves and an additional seat row is accommodated, but the lip sections have reduced straight area extending parallel to the longitudinal axis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the curved geometry of circular receptacle sections with center points spaced less than their diameter apart. This curved arrangement causes the circular perimeters to overlap or touch, which maintains the lip section structure in a curved configuration rather than a straight one, yet preserves the clamping functionality while enabling reduced spacing for improved cabin utilization
3Stability of the object's composition
If the receptacle sections are positioned closer together with centre points less than diameter apart, then the play between seat leg fittings and track is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges or overlaps the circular receptacle sections by positioning their center points less than their diameter apart. This merging of circular geometries creates a more continuous track structure that reduces play and improves stability of seat fittings, while the overlapping design inherently provides manufacturing tolerance compensation compared to precisely spaced separate sections
Data Source
AI summary
An airplane seat track includes an elongated, rectilinear track body having a hollow, longitudinal slide track for receiving fittings on legs of airplane seats. The hollow slide track includes a series of equidistant circular receptacle sections with circular upper openings. The receptacle sections alternate with intermediate lip sections of smaller transverse dimensions than the circular receptacle sections for retaining tabs of the fittings of the seat legs. The longitudinal distance of the centre points of adjacent circular receptacle sections is smaller than or equal to the diameter of the circular receptacle sections.