Electroactive Polymer Actuator for Aircraft Seat Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft seat fastening systems require high production and maintenance efforts due to rigid grid constraints, limiting flexibility in seat configuration and accommodating dimensional tolerances, and preventing crew-adjustable seating arrangements.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft seat fastening assembly utilizing an electroactive polymer actuator that can be electrically switched between fixed and non-fixed states, allowing for vertical displacement and compensation of dimensional tolerances, enabling toolless manufacturing and flexible seat configuration adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical clamping connections with rigid grid are used to fasten seats to the cabin floor, then the seats can be securely fastened, but the production and maintenance efforts increase due to rigid grid constraints and individual mounting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical clamping connections with an electroactive polymer actuator that uses electrical fields to produce mechanical motion. This substitution eliminates the need for rigid grid constraints and individual mechanical mounting operations, allowing seats to be positioned continuously along the rail while reducing production and maintenance efforts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamic fastening system where the electroactive polymer actuator can continuously adjust the position of seat groups along the fastening rail. This dynamic capability replaces the static rigid grid system, enabling flexible seat configuration while maintaining secure fastening through electrical actuation rather than fixed mechanical connections.
2Productivity
If several seats are combined to form a group and fastened individually to the cabin floor, then more passengers can be accommodated, but the production and maintenance outlay increases due to individual mounting requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple seats into seat groups that are fastened together as a single unit to the fastening rail using one electroactive polymer actuator per group. This merging approach maintains high passenger capacity while eliminating the need for individual mounting of each seat, thereby reducing production and maintenance outlay.
Solution Approach 2:
The electroactive polymer actuator serves multiple functions: it fastens the entire seat group to the rail, enables continuous position adjustment for all seats in the group, and allows for easy reconfiguration. This multi-functionality replaces multiple individual mounting mechanisms, reducing overall complexity and cost.
3Reliability
If a rigid grid system is used for seat fastening, then the seats can be securely mounted, but the seat configuration cannot be changed by the crew and flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the static rigid grid system with a dynamic electroactive polymer actuator that allows continuous adjustment of seat positions along the fastening rail. This enables the crew to change seat configurations flexibly while maintaining secure mounting through electrical actuation, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of seat positioning from discrete grid locations to continuous position adjustment. The electroactive polymer actuator enables smooth variation of seat positions along the rail, providing unlimited configuration flexibility while maintaining secure fastening through electrical control rather than fixed mechanical constraints.
4Reliability
If traditional mechanical fastening systems are used, then the seats can be fastened securely, but dimensional tolerances cannot be compensated and precise positioning is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical fastening systems with an electroactive polymer actuator that uses electrical fields to control positioning. This substitution enables precise position adjustment and automatic compensation of dimensional tolerances through electrical control, eliminating the accumulation of mechanical tolerance errors while maintaining secure fastening.
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
Facilitates fully automated tolerance compensation and continuous variable positioning, reducing production costs and improving seat arrangement flexibility, allowing for precise adjustments and crew-controlled seat configurations to accommodate varying passenger needs.
Implementation Method 1
a fixing actuator (62) which contains an electroactive material, in particular an electroactive polymer
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft seat fastening assembly, due to the use of electroactive polymers, facilitates the compensation of tolerances and the fastening of aircraft seats in the passenger cabin of the aircraft. A fixing actuator contains the electroactive polymer and can be switched electrically between a fixed state, in which a movement of a fastening region is not possible, and a non-fixed state, in which a movement of the fastening region is possible in a vertical direction. The aircraft seats can thereby be displaced in a continuously variable manner along the aircraft seat fastening rail. The aircraft seats can also be locked in a fully automated manner, and possibly from a central location. It is also conceivable to individually control the aircraft seats and/or the group(s) of seats.