Deployable Cabin Attendant Seat Assembly for Space-Saving Egress Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft cabin designs face challenges in accommodating cabin attendant seats while optimizing for increased passenger seating, storage space, and galley areas without interfering with egress paths or compromising safety standards during different flight stages.
Innovation Solution
A deployable cabin attendant seat system that includes two seats that can transition between stowed and deployed positions using hinge and linkage assemblies, allowing for compact storage during non-TTL stages and expanded use during TTL stages, with actuation mechanisms to ensure safe and efficient deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cabin attendant seats are permanently installed in the aircraft cabin, then safety standards during TTL stages are met, but passenger seating and storage space are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cabin attendant seat is designed as a deployable structure that transitions between stowed and deployed configurations. The seat moves from a compact stowed position during non-TTL stages to a deployed position during TTL stages, transforming from a static space-occupying object to a dynamic element that only occupies space when needed for safety compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The seat system is divided into multiple components including the primary cabin attendant seat, auxiliary cabin attendant seat, actuation assembly with hinge and linkage mechanisms. This segmentation allows the seat to be broken down into smaller parts during stowing, reducing the space occupied while maintaining the complete functional structure when deployed for safety
2Reliability
If cabin attendant seats are deployed during non-TTL stages, then safety is maintained, but egress paths and galley access are obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The seat system dynamically adjusts its configuration based on flight stage requirements. During non-TTL stages, the seat automatically stows to maintain clear egress paths and galley access. During TTL stages, it deploys to provide necessary safety seating, thus dynamically resolving the conflict between safety requirements and operational accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The seat is preliminarily positioned in the stowed configuration before TTL stages begin, ensuring egress paths remain unobstructed during normal operations. The actuation assembly is pre-configured to enable rapid deployment when TTL stages commence, ensuring safety compliance without compromising prior egress accessibility
3Area of stationary object
If deployable mechanisms are added to cabin attendant seats, then space utilization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuation assembly integrates multiple functions into a single mechanism: the hinge assembly and linkage assembly work together to simultaneously perform rotation and translation of the seat. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed, lowering overall device complexity while achieving the desired space-saving deployable functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The primary cabin attendant seat and auxiliary cabin attendant seat share common structural elements and actuation mechanisms. The hinge and linkage assemblies serve multiple purposes: supporting the seat structure, enabling deployment/stowage motion, and providing structural integrity during both configured states. This multi-functionality reduces the total component count and simplifies the overall system
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 2B
AI summary
A deployable cabin attendant seat system may include a primary cabin attendant seat (116), an auxiliary cabin attendant seat (116), a main support (300) coupled to at least one of the primary cabin attendant seat (116) or the auxiliary cabin attendant seat (116), and an actuation assembly coupled to at least the primary cabin attendant seat (116). The actuation assembly may be configured to actuate the primary cabin attendant seat (116) relative to the auxiliary cabin attendant seat (116) between a stowed seat position and a deployed seat position. The primary cabin attendant seat (116) and the auxiliary cabin attendant seat (116) may be arranged in a side-by-side configuration when the primary cabin attendant seat (116) is in the deployed seat position. The primary cabin attendant seat (116) may be stacked on the auxiliary cabin attendant seat (116) when the primary cabin attendant seat (116) is in the stowed seat position.