Ceiling-Mounted Deployable Seat Assembly for Aircraft Cabin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft operators face challenges in increasing passenger seating capacity within limited cabin space due to the space occupied by fixed attendant seats, which also require costly dynamic testing and structural modifications, limiting flexibility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A deployable seat assembly that can be stowed within the ceiling of an aircraft's interior cabin, extending between the ceiling and floor when needed, allowing for increased passenger seating without being secured to monuments, thus reducing weight and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed attendant seats are secured to monuments within the interior cabin, then the attendant seats provide stable support and safety, but the monuments require costly dynamic testing and structural modifications that increase weight and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the attendant seat from its traditional fixed monument mounting and relocates it to a deployable configuration mounted to the ceiling structure. This removes the need for complex monument structural features and dynamic testing while maintaining seat stability through alternative mounting methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the static fixed attendant seat into a deployable dynamic seat that can be stowed in the ceiling and deployed to the floor when needed. This dynamic approach eliminates the need for permanent monument structures while providing stable support during use.
2Reliability
If fixed attendant seats are positioned within the interior cabin, then the seats provide necessary attendant support, but they occupy significant cabin space that cannot be used for passenger seating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the stationary fixed attendant seat into a deployable seat that transitions between a stowed position in the ceiling and a deployed position on the floor. When stowed, the seat occupies minimal cabin space; when deployed, it provides full attendant support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent relocates the attendant seat from the horizontal cabin plane to the vertical dimension by mounting it to the ceiling structure. This allows the seat to be stored in the overhead space and deployed vertically to the floor, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space rather than consuming valuable horizontal cabin area.
3Reliability
If attendant seats are located in specific areas to comply with safety considerations, then emergency egress paths and attendant assist space are maintained, but the seating capacity is limited by these restricted locations
Solution Approach 1:
The deployable seat can be positioned in ceiling locations that would not be accessible to fixed seats, allowing optimization of both safety requirements and passenger seating capacity. The seat deploys to appropriate locations near exits or monitoring points when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The deployable seat system can serve multiple functions: it can be positioned to monitor different cabin areas, support attendants at various locations, and maintain safety compliance while maximizing passenger seating capacity throughout the cabin.
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
This solution enables increased passenger seating capacity while minimizing the cabin's footprint, eliminating the need for costly monument testing and structural supports, and maintaining safety by positioning the seat outside emergency egress paths.
Implementation Method 1
The seat bottom may be spring-loaded
Implementation Method 2
The deployable seat assembly may include a dampening system, which may include one or both of at least one gas strut assist or at least one spring assist connected between the deployable seat assembly and the ceiling
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes an interior cabin including a floor and a ceiling. A deployable seat assembly is moveably coupled to the ceiling. The deployable seat assembly is moveable between a stowed position in which at least a portion of the deployable seat assembly is stowed within a stowage space within the ceiling, and a deployed position in which the deployable seat assembly extends between the ceiling and the floor.