Composite Aircraft Seat Base for Flexible Track Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing seat assembly in aircraft is restricted in its positional arrangement due to its connection with the seat track on the airframe, limiting seating flexibility and passenger comfort, especially in three-person configurations where the center passenger's support legs must align directly above the seat track.
Innovation Solution
A seat unit with a hollow, integrally formed composite seat base that eliminates the need for traditional column-like support legs, allowing for greater positional freedom and flexibility in seating arrangements by using a monocoque structure made from materials like thermoplastic resins or composite fibers, which can distribute loads without the need for bolts and nuts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional support legs are used to connect the seat assembly to the seat track, then the seat assembly can be securely mounted, but the positional arrangement of the seat is restricted and cannot be freely adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the support legs and seat base into a single integrated composite structure. The hollow composite seat base incorporates support functions directly into its design, eliminating the need for separate support legs. This integration allows the seat to be positioned freely on the seat track without being constrained by leg positioning requirements, thereby improving seating arrangement flexibility while reducing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite seat base serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, defines the seat positioning interface with the seat track, and enables flexible seating arrangements. By making the seat base multi-functional, the design eliminates the need for dedicated support legs, allowing the seat to be mounted at various positions along the seat track without structural constraints.
2Ease of operation
If support legs are positioned directly above the seat track for structural support, then the seat assembly is stable, but the seating arrangement becomes restricted and passenger comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is merged into the hollow composite seat base structure itself. The composite material and hollow construction provide inherent structural stability without requiring external support legs. This allows the seat to be positioned at optimal locations for passenger comfort rather than being constrained by support leg positioning requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of composite materials in the hollow seat base provides high strength-to-weight ratio and structural stability. The composite construction maintains seat assembly stability while enabling flexible positioning, as the material properties allow the structure to remain stable even when positioned at various locations along the seat track without traditional support legs.
3Weight of moving object
If multiple separate parts are used to form the seat assembly, then the seat can be securely connected to the seat track, but the overall weight increases and fuel efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat base and support structures are merged into a single integrated composite component. This eliminates the need for multiple separate parts and their associated fasteners, reducing overall weight while maintaining connection reliability through the composite structure's inherent strength and its interface with the seat track.
Solution Approach 2:
Composite materials provide high strength-to-weight ratio, allowing the seat assembly to be lighter while maintaining structural integrity and connection reliability. The composite construction enables the seat to be securely mounted to the seat track without requiring additional heavy reinforcement or multiple separate structural components.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat unit and a lower structure thereof that are not restricted in their positional relationship with seat tracks provided in advance in the airframe. One representative seat unit of the present invention and the lower structure thereof includes a hollow structure integrally formed using a composite member. The hollow structure is hollow in a front direction of the seat unit. The hollow structure has a quadrilateral shape in the front direction of the seat unit. In addition, a partition plate is disposed in the hollow structure. Furthermore, the lower structure includes attachment points to an aircraft at three locations on its bottom. In addition, a block is embedded in the composite member at the attachment point, and a thickness of the composite member around a bracket coupled to the block is less than thickness at other locations.