Deployable Leg Restraint for Aircraft Side-Facing Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Side-facing vehicle occupants, particularly in aircraft, experience leg injuries due to lateral movement and rotation during abrupt deceleration events, as existing restraints can hinder rapid egress and are not effectively deployed to protect lower legs without causing additional complications.
Innovation Solution
A leg restraint device with an actuator that automatically deploys a linear restraint panel from under the seat to restrict lateral movement of the lower legs during deceleration events, using a micro gas generator or air bag to rapidly extend and cushion the panel, which retracts after the event to allow for quick exit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a leg restraint device is deployed to protect lower legs during abrupt deceleration, then occupant safety is improved, but the device may inhibit rapid egress from the seat
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint panel is designed to be dynamically deployable and retractable. It automatically deploys during abrupt deceleration events to protect the lower legs, then retracts after the event to clear the area and allow rapid egress. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by providing protection only when needed while maintaining egress capability otherwise.
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint device operates in periodic cycles: deployed during crash events and retracted during normal operation. This periodic action ensures safety protection is provided during critical moments while the device remains clear of the occupant during taxi, take-off, and landing phases, thus not interfering with normal operations or emergency egress.
2Reliability
If belts or similar restraints are used on the legs, then leg protection is improved, but removal of the restraints becomes difficult due to potential injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint panel is designed as a removable, deployable component that can be automatically retracted or removed after the crash event. Unlike permanent belts or restraints that require manual removal, this panel is extracted from the protective position after serving its purpose, eliminating the need for injured occupants or emergency personnel to struggle with removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint system is designed to be self-activating and self-deactivating. The panel automatically deploys during abrupt deceleration and automatically retracts after the event without requiring manual intervention. This self-service characteristic eliminates the operational difficulty of restraint removal while maintaining effective leg protection during crashes.
3Reliability
If the restraint panel is rigid to effectively restrict lateral movement, then protection effectiveness is improved, but direct contact with rigid members may cause additional injury
Solution Approach 1:
The restraint panel exhibits different local qualities: the structural framework maintains rigidity for effective lateral movement restriction, while the contact surfaces are cushioned with energy-absorbing materials. This local differentiation allows the panel to be both structurally effective and gentle on the occupant, resolving the contradiction between protection effectiveness and contact safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The restraint panel is equipped with cushioning material attached to its forward end before deployment. This beforehand cushioning ensures that when the panel contacts the occupant's lower leg during deployment or operation, the contact is softened and energy-absorbing, preventing additional injury while maintaining the panel's rigid structural integrity for effective restraint.
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 leg restraint device effectively prevents leg injuries during crashes by automatically deploying a cushioned panel to restrict lateral movement, ensuring occupant safety while allowing for rapid egress by retracting after the event to clear the area.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator arranged to push the panel from the first position to the second position, where the actuator includes a piston configured to rapidly extend by activation of a micro gas generator
Implementation Method 2
The inboard face of the restraint panel may have attached thereto cushioning material for preventing direct contact with the lower leg
Data Source
AI summary
A lower leg restraint for a side-facing passenger seat including a restraint panel configured to deploy from a first position proximate a seat to a second position forward of the seat in response to an abrupt deceleration event, an actuator arranged to push the panel from the first position to the second position, and a sensor and trigger assembly configured to signal the actuator to fire in response to the abrupt deceleration event. A side-facing aircraft passenger seat having a deployable lower leg restraint.