Foldable Aircraft Galley Unit Transit Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of aircraft galleys is hindered by the need to bring numerous components through small, confined aircraft doors, requiring extensive time and labor to assemble the galley units, as typical galleys are not designed to fit through these entryways in their deployed configuration.
Innovation Solution
The modular galley units are designed with portions that can rotate about hinges between a transit configuration, allowing them to fit through the entry door, and then expand to their deployed configuration within the aircraft, enabling efficient assembly by allowing the units to be pre-assembled and quickly assembled in place with minimal fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional galley units are designed to fit through small aircraft doors, then they can be transported through confined entryways, but the assembly time and labor required become excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The galley unit is divided into multiple modular portions that can be separately transported through the aircraft door. Each portion can be independently assembled and then quickly connected to form the complete galley unit, reducing overall assembly time while maintaining transportability through confined entryways.
Solution Approach 2:
The galley unit incorporates movable portions that can rotate between a transit configuration (for transport through the door) and a deployed configuration (for final installation). This dynamic transformation allows the unit to fit through small entryways while achieving its full functional size inside the aircraft.
2Productivity
If galley units are pre-assembled in their deployed configuration, then assembly time is reduced, but they cannot fit through confined aircraft entryways
Solution Approach 1:
The galley unit is designed with movable portions that can dynamically change configuration. During transport, these portions are in a compact transit configuration that fits through the aircraft door. After installation, the portions are rotated to their deployed configuration, achieving full assembly speed benefits without the transport dimension problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes rotational movement to change the spatial arrangement of galley portions. By rotating portions from a transit configuration to a deployed configuration, the unit transitions from a compact form that fits through the door to an expanded form that provides full functionality, effectively using dimensional transformation to resolve the contradiction.
3Ease of operation
If multiple separate components are used to fit through small doors, then transportability is improved, but the device complexity and number of fasteners increase
Solution Approach 1:
The galley is divided into modular portions that balance transportability and complexity. Each portion is a self-contained module that can be easily transported, yet the portions are designed to connect through simple, standardized interfaces that minimize the number of fasteners and assembly steps required.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular portions are designed with universal connection interfaces that can accommodate different configurations and functions. This multi-functionality allows the same basic portion design to be used in various positions and orientations, reducing the total number of unique components needed while maintaining ease of transport and assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and apparatus for providing a modular unit through a confined entryway. The modular unit includes portions that are foldable between a transit configuration and a deployed configuration. In the transit configuration, the modular unit can fit through the confined entryway. In the deployed configuration, the modular unit may not fit through the door, but can have larger dimensions. Once past the confined entryway, the foldable portions can be quickly moved to the deployed configuration and fixed in place with a small number of pins or other fasteners. In some instances, multiple modular units may be attached together to form a larger unit. The modular units can include foldable portions, and the modular units can be connected together with a relatively small number of fasteners.