Aircraft Galley Cart Extraction and Retention Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing galley cart stowage systems in aircraft galleys face challenges in efficiently extracting and retaining inner carts from extended-depth bays, particularly when tandem carts are stored, due to complications with cart handle positioning and the weight of fully loaded carts, which can lead to safety risks during extraction and storage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an extraction and retention (E&R) system within the galley structure, featuring a retainer arm and extractor arm mechanism, allows for secure stowage and retrieval of inner carts by articulating the extraction handle, which deploys the retainer arm to secure the cart in place or return it to the stowed position, using a combination of rods, handles, and locking mechanisms to manage the cart's movement within the bay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If extended-depth bays are used to store multiple carts in tandem configuration, then cart stowage capacity is improved, but cart extraction and retention becomes more complex and unsafe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate extraction and retention system with a retainer arm and extractor arm that act as mediators between the inner cart and the outer cart bay environment. The retainer arm selectively engages the inner cart handle to secure it in place, while the extractor arm provides controlled extraction capability, thus simplifying the complex operation of managing tandem carts in extended-depth bays
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction and retention system is designed to be operated by the flight attendant through simple manual manipulation of the retainer arm and extractor arm mechanisms. The system enables the flight attendant to independently secure and extract inner carts without requiring assistance from other crew members, thus making the operation self-serviceable and easier to perform
2Volume of stationary object
If inner cart is secured in extended-depth bay, then space utilization is improved, but safety risk increases due to potential toppling or exiting of cart
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer arm is designed to proactively engage with the inner cart handle before the cart can potentially topple or exit the bay. By establishing preliminary retention through the retainer arm's selective engagement capability, the system prevents harmful movements before they occur, thus maintaining both space utilization and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The extraction and retention system provides mechanical feedback through the retainer arm's engagement and disengagement states. The system's design allows the flight attendant to sense when the inner cart is properly secured through the mechanical interaction of the retainer arm with the cart handle, providing feedback that confirms secure stowage and reduces safety risks
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4A
AI summary
A galley structure (102) for an aircraft cabin includes double-depth cart bays capable of stowing an outer full-size cart in front of an inner full-size cart. An extraction and retention (E&R) system (400) is mounted to a sidewall (112) of the double-depth cart bay and includes a stowable retainer arm and fixed extractor arm coupled to and articulable via an extraction handle that may be pulled or pushed out of or toward the cart bay. When the outer cart is removed, the inner cart can be brought forward for extraction via the extractor arm (the inner cart extractable once the retainer arm is stowed) and returned to its inner stowed position via the retainer arm (in both cases, by pulling or pushing the extraction handle). The extraction handle includes a retainer actuator for stowing or deploying the retainer arm as needed.