Flexible Aircraft Monument Attachment System
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation and reconfiguration of monuments in transportation means, such as aircraft, require significant adaptation effort and result in weight inefficiencies due to non-standardized attachment points and connections to on-board systems, making quick reconfiguration between flights impractical.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of flexible attachment elements that allow monuments to be attached to various positions within the cabin or fuselage, utilizing existing infrastructure like seat rails and attachment rails, and movable supply connections that can be easily aligned with on-board system connections, reducing the need for specialized attachment points and load-bearing structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If standardized attachment points and flexible attachment elements are used, then installation time and reconfiguration time are reduced, but attachment precision and positioning accuracy are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment element incorporates a movable connection end that can be positioned at different locations along the monument structure, allowing the same standardized attachment point to accommodate monuments at various positions without requiring precise pre-drilled holes for each specific location
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is divided into separate components: a standardized fixed attachment point in the aircraft structure, a flexible attachment element with movable connection end, and the monument itself. This segmentation allows the fixed point to provide structural support while the movable end provides positioning flexibility
2Reliability
If specialized attachment points and load-bearing structures are provided for each monument position, then attachment strength and structural reliability are improved, but weight of the transportation means increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single standardized attachment point structure serves multiple monument positions and different monument types. The same attachment rail and connection mechanism can accommodate lavatory monuments, kitchen monuments, or storage monuments at various locations without requiring specialized structural modifications for each case
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment element uses a flexible cable or strap that can bend and extend to reach different positions while maintaining sufficient tensile strength to support the monument's weight, eliminating the need for rigid load-bearing structures at each potential monument location
3Reliability
If monuments are attached to fixed positions with specialized connections, then connection reliability to on-board systems is improved, but adaptability and reconfiguration flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connection end of the attachment element is designed to be movable along the monument structure, allowing the monument to be connected to the aircraft's on-board systems (electrical power, service water, waste water) at different positions without requiring fixed connection points for each system
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible attachment element acts as an intermediary between the fixed standardized attachment point in the aircraft structure and the monument, allowing the monument to be positioned flexibly while still maintaining reliable connections to on-board systems through the same standardized interface
Data Source
AI summary
A monument is provided for a cabin of transportation, for example a lavatory monument, a kitchen or galley monument or a storage monument to be fitted in an aircraft, in a helicopter, in a ship or boat, in a train or in a caravan or trailer. A mounting system is also provided with one or several monuments and transportation with a monument installed therein. The monument for the cabin of the transportation includes, but is not limited to a flexible attachment element for attaching the monument to the cabin of the transportation means. The flexible attachment element is designed in such a manner that attachment of the monument can take place in a region of relative positions of the monument relative to the cabin of the transportation.