Aircraft Cabin Support Rail Layout for Turbulence Handholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft cabins lack effective and easily accessible support systems for passengers, particularly during turbulence, and existing solutions require additional effort and material for installation and visibility.

Innovation Solution

A multifunctional support rail system with segments at different heights, including horizontal, vertical, and adjustable components, integrated with illumination and designed to follow the cabin's contours for improved visibility and usability, providing secure handholds and stowage options.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separate support elements are provided throughout the aircraft cabin, then sufficient support portions for passengers are achieved, but additional mounting effort and material are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport effectivenessVSAvoidmounting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple separate support elements into a single integrated continuous rail system that provides support at multiple heights and locations throughout the cabin. This unified structure eliminates the need for separate mounting operations for each support element while maintaining comprehensive passenger support coverage during turbulence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous rail system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides support at different heights for various passenger needs, acts as a structural element, and offers continuous coverage throughout the cabin. This multi-functional design replaces multiple specialized support elements with a single versatile system.

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

2Reliability

If multiple separate support elements are provided throughout the aircraft cabin, then sufficient support portions for passengers are achieved, but additional material is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport effectivenessVSAvoidmaterial quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple discrete support elements into one continuous rail structure, the patent reduces the total material quantity required. The integrated design eliminates redundant materials that would be present in separate mounting brackets, fasteners, and structural supports for each individual element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The continuous rail is designed to perform multiple support functions simultaneously, reducing the need for additional material that would be required if separate elements were used for each function. A single material structure provides support at various heights and locations.

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

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If support elements are highlighted for visibility, then users can easily find them during sudden need, but additional material and complexity are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous rail system incorporates color coding or contrasting colors along its length to enhance visibility and guide passengers to support locations. Different sections of the rail may use color variations to indicate optimal gripping points or support zones, improving detectability without requiring separate highlighting components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP2837561B1Multifunctional Support Rail
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP2837561B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2837561B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP2837561B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

The present invention relates to support rails in aircraft. An aircraft cabin (10) is provided that comprises an cabin interior space (12), a plurality of cabin enclosing surfaces (14), and a multifunctional support rail (16). The multifunctional support rail comprises a plurality of rail segments (18) connected to each other forming a continuous rail arrangement (20). Further a number of first segments (22) is provided as handrail (24) in a first height (H1 ), and a number of second segments (26) is provided as a support handrail (28) in a second height (H2 ). The first height is in a waist region of a standing passenger, and the second height is in a shoulder or head region of a standing passenger. Still further, the first segments are connected with the second segments by a number of third segments (30) provided as support handle (32) running in a vertical direction.