Foldable Aircraft Cabin Divider Using Flexible Bar Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing divider devices for aircraft cabins are cumbersome to handle and require significant time to transition between expanded and collapsed states, hindering efficient visual access during takeoff and landing.
Innovation Solution
A divider device comprising flexible, S-shaped bar elements that automatically transform between linear and curved states, allowing easy handling by pivoting adjacent elements and using a support element with magnets to maintain the collapsed state, and potentially incorporating shape-memory materials for controlled transformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If curtains are used as separation elements, then visual separation between sections is achieved, but handling becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The divider is segmented into multiple rigid bar elements that can be independently pivoted and stacked. This segmentation allows the divider to be collapsed into a compact configuration for easy storage and quick deployment, eliminating the handling complexity of traditional curtains while maintaining visual separation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The divider employs dynamic rigid bar elements that can pivot between extended and collapsed positions. The bars are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing rapid transition between operational and storage states. This dynamic structure enables cabin crew to quickly adjust the divider position without the time-consuming operations required by curtain systems.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid divider elements are used, then structural stability is improved, but automatic transformation between states becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The bar elements utilize shape memory alloy materials that can change their physical parameters (shape, rigidity) in response to temperature or other stimuli. This allows the rigid bars to automatically transform between extended and collapsed configurations without manual intervention, while maintaining structural stability in each state. The material parameter changes enable automatic state transformation while preserving the rigidity needed for visual separation.
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
Enables quick and efficient switching between expanded and collapsed states, simplifying handling for cabin crew and ensuring the divider remains in the desired configuration without external forces, while also providing a stable screening element.
Implementation Method 1
In the collapsed state, the stack of bar elements is held in the folded position by a magnet element
Implementation Method 2
potentially incorporating shape-memory materials for controlled transformation
Data Source
Figure 1~2d
Figure 3~4b
Figure 5a~6
AI summary
A divider device for an aircraft cabin is disclosed comprising a plurality of elongate bar elements (1, 1', 1"), wherein each bar element (1, 1', 1") is planar and flexible so that it may assume a linear state in which it extends rectilinearly along a longitudinal axis parallel to a plane (7), wherein each bar element (1, 1', 1") has a first stable state in which it is curved, so that it deforms into its first stable state when being bent out of the linear state towards the stable state to a predetermined extent, wherein the bar elements (1, 1', 1") are arranged side-by-side and adjacent bar elements (1, 1', 1") are pivotably interconnected with each other, so that when the bar elements (1, 1', 1") are in the linear state, their longitudinal axes extend in parallel, and wherein each pair of first and second adjacent bar elements (1', 1") are designed such that when the first and the second bar elements (1', 1") are in the linear state and extend in a common plane (7), in the first stable state of the first bar element (1') one end (9') thereof is positioned on a first side of the plane (7) whereas in the first stable state of the second bar element (1") its end (9") corresponding to the end (9') of the first bar element (1') is located on a second side of the plane (7) opposite the first side.