Angled Bunk Orientation for Aircraft Crew Rest Space Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current crew rest facilities in vehicles, such as aircraft, inefficiently use space as bunks are typically oriented parallel or perpendicular to the flight direction, leaving unused space in corners and reducing overall space utilization.
Innovation Solution
A crew rest compartment design featuring bunks with longitudinal directions that form an angle between 9° and 27° relative to the compartment's longitudinal direction, allowing for optimal space utilization and improved stability, with bunks positioned above each other and adaptable shapes to fit available space and crew member dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If bunks are oriented parallel or perpendicular to the flight direction, then the bunk structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the space utilization in the crew rest compartment is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The bunk is rotated by an angle of 15 degrees relative to the longitudinal direction of the crew rest compartment, creating an asymmetric arrangement that optimizes space utilization. This angular orientation allows the bunk to fit more efficiently into the compartment volume, reducing wasted space in corners while maintaining structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from conventional parallel or perpendicular bunk orientations to an angular orientation in a different dimensional arrangement. By rotating the bunk 15 degrees from the longitudinal axis, the design utilizes the three-dimensional space of the compartment more effectively, accommodating the bunk within the available volume without compromising manufacturing simplicity
2Volume of moving object
If bunks are oriented at an angle to the compartment longitudinal direction, then space utilization is optimized, but the bunk structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The 15-degree angular orientation creates an asymmetric configuration that maximizes space utilization within the crew rest compartment. This specific angle allows the bunk to efficiently occupy the compartment volume while maintaining a relatively simple structural design that does not require complex mounting mechanisms
3Ease of manufacture
If rectangular design is used for crew rest compartment, then manufacturing is simple, but unused volume remains in corners
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric angular orientation of the bunk at 15 degrees relative to the longitudinal direction allows the rectangular compartment to utilize its corner spaces more effectively. This configuration eliminates wasted volume by positioning the bunk to fit into the corner areas that would otherwise be unused, while maintaining the simple rectangular compartment structure
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a crew rest compartment (300) for a means of transport (1700) comprising a first bunk (305) and a second bunk (501), wherein the first bunk (305) is located above the second bunk (501). Each bunk comprises a sleeping area (206) for accommodating a sleeping crew member, wherein each sleeping area has a longitudinal direction (306). The first bunk is aligned such that the longitudinal direction (306) of the first bunk (305) and a longitudinal direction (301) of the crew rest compartment (300) enclose an angle which differs from 0° and 90°.