Height-Adjustable Folding Table for Premium Aircraft Seating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Folding tables in aircraft, particularly in first-class or business-class compartments, cannot be fitted in the backrest of the seat due to the wider distance between seats, requiring them to be placed laterally in front of the passenger seat, which limits their usability and space efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A height-adjustable folding-table arrangement with a supporting device and table housing that allows the table top to transition from a vertical stowed position to a horizontal use position, featuring a separate table-housing carrier for horizontal displacement and pneumatic assistance for height adjustment, enabling the table top to be positioned above the credenza and providing stability through a supporting element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the folding table is placed laterally in front of the passenger seat in premium compartments, then the table can be accommodated due to wider seat distance, but the usability and space efficiency are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The table housing is made height-adjustable on the supporting device, allowing the table to dynamically adapt to different positions and usage scenarios. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by enabling the table to optimize both usability through proper positioning and space efficiency through vertical rather than horizontal placement.
2Ease of operation
If the table housing is made height-adjustable on the supporting device, then the table can be positioned optimally for use, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A pneumatic spring is introduced to assist the height-adjustment mechanism. This pneumatic element provides automatic counterbalancing and assistance during height adjustment, making the operation easy for users while avoiding the need for complex manual adjustment mechanisms. The pneumatic system resolves the contradiction by simplifying user interaction despite the added height-adjustment capability.
3Device complexity
If the table top is self-supporting in use position, then the structure is simplified, but the table housing must bear all forces in stowed position
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static load-bearing structure to a dynamic one where the table top's support role changes based on its position. In the stowed position, the table housing bears all forces; in the use position, the table top becomes self-supporting. This dynamic load distribution resolves the contradiction by allowing structural simplification while maintaining adequate strength through position-dependent load paths.
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
The solution allows for easy handling and versatile use of the folding table, ensuring it can be positioned optimally above the credenza, enhancing usability and space efficiency by allowing the table top to be adjusted in height and horizontally displaced, thus accommodating the unique seating configurations in premium aircraft compartments.
Implementation Method 1
The height adjustment of the table housing is preferably assisted by external force. This means that the external force assists in raising the table housing counter to gravitational force. The external force may be generated mechanically or electrically. The external force is preferably generated by a prestressed spring element, for example one or more pneumatic compression springs.
Data Source
AI summary
A folding-table arrangement includes a supporting device, a table housing accommodating a table top in an essentially vertical stowed position and a table top which can be adjusted from an essentially vertical stowed position in the table housing into an essentially horizontal use position. The table housing is arranged in a height-adjustable manner on the supporting device and, in the use position, the table top has its underside supported on the table housing.