Galley Cart Heating and Cooling with Flexible Dock Connections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional mobile galley carts on aircraft cannot simultaneously heat and cool food in separate areas of the same tray, leading to laborious and inefficient food service, cumbersome braking systems, and inflexible utility connections that can cause damage during turbulence.

Innovation Solution

A mobile galley cart with a thermoelectric chiller and induction coils for separate air flow management, handle-actuated wheel brakes, and flexible service connections to a service wall for secure latching and service provision, allowing for simultaneous heating and cooling of meals and improved operational safety and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional heating and cooling appliances are used separately, then heating and cooling functions are provided, but the cart cannot simultaneously heat and cool separate areas of the same tray and requires multiple separate appliances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimultaneous heating and cooling capabilityVSAvoidnumber of separate appliances

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines separate heating and cooling appliances into a single integrated galley cart system, allowing both functions to coexist in one cart. The heating element and cooling element are merged into the same cart structure, enabling simultaneous operation on different trays or compartments without requiring multiple separate appliances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The cart is divided into separate heating and cooling zones or compartments, allowing independent temperature control in different areas. This segmentation enables the cart to heat one tray while cooling another tray simultaneously, providing versatility without requiring multiple complete appliances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If foot brakes are used, then braking function is provided, but the system is cumbersome and requires continuous visual attention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebraking functionVSAvoidbrake operation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The braking system is designed to engage automatically when the cart is stationary, eliminating the need for continuous manual operation. The brakes self-engage when the cart stops moving, and self-disengage when the cart begins to move again, reducing the operator's workload and eliminating the need for continuous visual attention to brake status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The manual foot brake system is replaced with an automated braking mechanism that responds to the cart's motion state. This substitution eliminates the need for manual foot pedal operation and visual monitoring, as the system automatically detects when the cart is stationary and engages the brakes accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If inflexible utility connections are used, then service connections are provided, but the connections cannot compensate for movement during turbulence and may cause damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice connectionVSAvoidmovement compensation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The utility connections are designed with flexible, dynamic components that can accommodate movement and deformation during turbulence. The connections include flexible hoses, expandable conduits, or spring-loaded joints that maintain service connectivity while adapting to changes in cart position and shape during flight maneuvers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The service connections utilize flexible tubing or film-based conduits instead of rigid piping, allowing the connections to bend and deform without breaking during turbulence. These flexible elements can compensate for cart movement while maintaining the integrity of the utility connections throughout the flight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 efficient serving of both hot and cold meals from the same cart, simplifies braking operations, and accommodates movement during turbulence, reducing the risk of damage and enhancing food service efficiency and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a self-contained chiller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermoelectric cooling: Peltier Effect

Implementation Method 2

induction coils for heating ferric portions of meal trays

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction heating: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS10137987B2Mobile galley cart with heating, cooling and braking functionality

Publication Date: 2018.11.27 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC

AI summary

A mobile galley cart including a wheeled insulated housing having a door configured to open to access to the interior of the housing, a thermoelectric chiller mounted near the bottom of the cart, cold air ducting in fluid communication with the thermoelectric chiller and opening to the interior of the housing, and warm air ducting including a warm air exhaust arranged to exhaust warm air from the mobile galley cart. A mobile galley cart system including a cart configured to dock at a separate service wall to provide service connections therebetween.