Contoured Aircraft Privacy Shell for Space Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial aircraft passenger compartment suites face challenges in minimizing unused living space while accommodating aircraft seats that transition between upright, reclined, and lie-flat positions, with existing privacy shell designs often inefficiently utilizing exterior space.
Innovation Solution
The design of a contoured passenger seat privacy shell with adjustable sections that conform to different aircraft seat configurations, including a first section for the primary seat and a second section for the auxiliary seat, featuring distinct profiles for upright and lie-flat positions to minimize exterior space usage, and allowing for engagement between adjacent suites for compact installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the privacy shell element uses a fixed curved design, then it provides a simple structure, but it inefficiently utilizes exterior space and increases unused living space
Solution Approach 1:
The privacy shell element employs adjustable sections that can change their configuration between different seat positions (upright, reclined, lie-flat). This dynamic adjustment allows the shell to adapt its shape and volume to match the actual seat configuration, minimizing unused exterior space while maintaining structural integrity and ease of manufacture through standardized adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The privacy shell element is divided into multiple adjustable sections rather than a single fixed curved structure. Each section can independently adjust to accommodate different seat positions, allowing optimal space utilization in different regions while keeping the overall structure manufacturable through modular assembly of standardized components.
2Volume of stationary object
If the privacy shell element accommodates all seat positions, then it optimizes space utilization, but it increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable sections of the privacy shell element change their geometric parameters (position, orientation, shape) to accommodate different seat configurations. By varying these parameters rather than changing the fundamental structure, the system achieves multi-position accommodation with relatively simple adjustment mechanisms, balancing space optimization with controlled complexity.
3Device complexity
If the privacy shell element uses a fixed design, then it reduces device complexity, but it cannot adapt to different seat configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The privacy shell element incorporates adjustable sections that can dynamically reconfigure to match different seat positions (upright, reclined, lie-flat). This dynamic capability provides adaptability to various seat configurations while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity through the use of standardized adjustment mechanisms and modular sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable sections of the privacy shell element are designed to perform multiple functions by adapting to different seat configurations. The same structural components serve different purposes depending on their adjusted position, providing universal adaptability across various seat types and positions without requiring entirely separate structures for each configuration.
Data Source
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AI summary
An aircraft passenger compartment suite may include a privacy shell element (108) proximate to an aircraft seat (112) installed within the aircraft passenger compartment suite. The privacy shell element may include a first section (126) configured to conform to a primary section of the aircraft seat, and a second section (130) configured to conform to an auxiliary section of the aircraft seat. The privacy shell element may include a first profile configured to conform with the aircraft seat when the aircraft seat is in a first position, and a second profile configured to conform with the aircraft seat when the aircraft seat is in a second position. The second profile of the privacy shell element may be configured to occupy a greater amount of passenger aircraft living space surrounding the aircraft passenger compartment suite than an amount of passenger aircraft living space occupied by the first profile of the privacy shell element.