Aircraft Cabin Sliding Privacy Door With Spring Return
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft cabin seat units with removable partitions are bulky and heavy, reducing passenger living space and requiring inefficient mechanical systems.
Innovation Solution
A removable closure device with a frame, movable door, cable reel, and spring system that stores mechanical energy to automatically retract the door, allowing for weight, cost, and space savings, and includes a locking mechanism for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a roller mechanism is used to extend and retract a flexible curtain for privacy screening, then the privacy function is achieved, but the mechanism becomes bulky and heavy, reducing passenger living space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the curtain from the bulky roller mechanism and attaches it directly to a sliding door assembly. The curtain is now a separate element that moves with the door rather than requiring its own independent winding mechanism, thereby eliminating the space-consuming roller housing while maintaining the privacy screening function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the curtain attachment function with the sliding door assembly into a single integrated structure. The curtain is attached to the door itself, merging two functions (door movement and curtain deployment) into one unified mechanism, reducing overall complexity and space requirements.
2Reliability
If a roller mechanism with flexible curtain is used for privacy screening, then the privacy function is achieved, but the mechanism becomes heavy, increasing device weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the heavy roller mechanism from the system and replaces it with a simpler sliding door assembly. The curtain is now deployed and retracted through the movement of the lightweight sliding door rather than through a mechanical winding system, significantly reducing the overall weight of the privacy screening device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical roller winding system with a sliding door mechanism that uses minimal mechanical components. The curtain movement is achieved through the linear motion of the sliding door along a track, eliminating the need for motors, gears, and large drums associated with roller mechanisms.
3Extent of automation
If a spring system is used to automatically return the movable door to stored position, then the system becomes more automated and safe for emergencies, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a spring-loaded mechanism that automatically returns the sliding door to its stored position without requiring external power sources, motors, or complex control systems. The spring system provides self-contained automatic retraction functionality, achieving automation through a simple passive mechanical means rather than active electronic control.
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
The solution provides increased passenger living space, cost-effectiveness, and safety by automatically retracting the door in emergencies, while maintaining privacy and accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
a spring system configured to store mechanical energy when the cable is in an unwound state following a movement of the door towards the deployed position, and to release this mechanical energy so as to automatically return the movable door from the deployed position to the stored position
Implementation Method 2
a spring system configured to store mechanical energy when the cable is in an unwound state
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a removable closure device for closing off a space, in particular for an aircraft cabin, comprising: - a frame (25) comprising a housing (26), and - a movable door (27) able to move translationally with respect to the frame (25), - the removable closure device (21) further comprising a return system (38) comprising a cable reel around which a cable is wound, the cable being connected by one of its ends to the movable door (27), and - a spring system configured to store mechanical energy when the cable is in an unwound state subsequent to a movement of the door (27) towards the deployed position, and to release this mechanical energy so as to automatically return the movable door (27) from the deployed position to the stored position subsequent to the movable door (27) being released.