Aircraft Overhead Cabin Fitting With Integrated Ventilation Lighting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft overhead cabin configurations face challenges in efficiently integrating lighting and ventilation systems above the overhead luggage compartment due to limited installation space, leading to functional impairments and high installation and maintenance costs, along with issues related to heat generation by lighting devices.

Innovation Solution

The integration of lighting elements on a support structure at the air outlet of the ventilation device, allowing airflow to dissipate heat and optimize space usage, using lightweight materials and airflow to cool the lighting elements, and incorporating features like lattice structures and airflow equalization to ensure uniform distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lighting device and ventilation device are mounted separately above the overhead storage compartment, then each device can function independently, but the installation space requirement increases and the overall structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent functionalityVSAvoidinstallation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the lighting device and ventilation device into a single integrated unit mounted above the overhead storage compartment. The housing contains both the lighting element and the air outlet in close proximity, allowing both functions to be performed from one installation location rather than requiring separate mounting positions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides illumination through the lighting element and air circulation through the ventilation system with air outlets. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining independent operation of each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Temperature

If lighting device is positioned away from air outlet, then installation space is increased, but heat dissipation efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipationVSAvoidinstallation space
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting element is positioned in immediate proximity to the air outlet within the same housing structure. This spatial merging allows the cooling air from the ventilation system to directly contact and cool the lighting element, maximizing heat dissipation efficiency while minimizing the overall installation footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 configuration achieves a space-saving, efficient, and cost-effective integration of lighting and ventilation systems, enhancing thermal management and reducing installation and maintenance efforts while improving operational reliability and lifespan of lighting elements.

Implementation Method 1

the air flowing from the air intake through the air duct to the air outlet can be discharged past the lighting elements into the aircraft cabin... the heat emitted by the lighting elements can be effectively absorbed by the airflow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4622864B1Overhead cabin fitting for an aircraft
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 FACC
  • EP4622864B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4622864B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4622864B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

The invention relates to an overhead cabin fitting (1) for an aircraft, comprising: an overhead luggage compartment (3) for luggage; a ventilation device (4) having a housing (5), an air inlet (6), an air channel (7) and an air outlet (8); and a lighting device (9) having lighting elements (10); wherein the ventilation device (4) and the lighting device (9) are each arranged above the overhead luggage compartment (3), and a support (11) on which the lighting elements (10) are arranged is provided at the air outlet (8) of the ventilation device (4).