Aircraft Galley Container Composite Tape Winding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional galley containers face challenges in achieving high impact resistance and manufacturing simplicity due to weak connections between composite wall portions and increased complexity, despite their potential for high strength-to-weight ratio.

Innovation Solution

A galley container design featuring a hollow inner shell casing reinforced with composite tape wound in various patterns, including zigzag and diagonal directions, to enhance structural integrity and simplify assembly, using fibres and matrix materials for increased strength and impact resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If distinct composite wall portions are assembled to form the galley container body, then the galley container achieves high strength-to-weight ratio, but the connections between wall portions become weaker than the wall portions themselves and manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength-to-weight ratioVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple distinct wall portions into a single integral composite structure. The hollow inner shell casing is formed as one continuous piece, eliminating the need to assemble separate wall portions. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the strength benefits of composite materials while removing the complexity of assembling multiple parts and the weakness of connection joints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the composite structure into a hollow inner shell casing and an outer composite tape layer. The inner shell provides the basic structural form, while the outer composite tape layer reinforces it. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the inner shell for form and the outer layer for enhanced strength - while avoiding the connection problems of assembling multiple wall portions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Strength

If conventional aluminum plates are used to ensure high impact resistance, then the galley container achieves sufficient strength, but the weight increases due to relatively thick plates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials consisting of an inner shell casing and an outer composite tape layer with fibres embedded in a matrix material. This composite construction provides high impact resistance comparable to or exceeding conventional aluminum plates, but with significantly reduced weight. The composite structure achieves superior strength-to-weight ratio by utilizing the high tensile strength of fibres combined with the protective matrix material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Strength

If the composite tape is spun at an angle of 0° to 90° with the axial axis, then the forces exerted on the container are collected optimally along the composite tape, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce collection capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite tape winding at specific angles (0° to 90° with the axial axis) only where needed to optimize force collection, rather than using complex multi-directional winding throughout the entire structure. This partial application of angled winding provides sufficient strength optimization while keeping the manufacturing process relatively simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 reinforced design improves the galley container's ability to withstand impacts while reducing manufacturing complexity by creating a strong, lightweight structure with optimized force distribution and connection methods.

Implementation Method 1

a composite tape is spun around the inner shell casing along the circumference of the rims, forming at least part of a construction layer of the galley container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical bonding:

Implementation Method 2

The angle between the axial axis and the spanning direction of the composite tape can be adjusted such that the forces exerted on the container can be collected optimally along the composite tape, thereby increasing the strength of the construction layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce distribution:

Data Source

PatentEP2830939B1Galley container for an aircraft and method for manufacturing such a galley container
Publication Date: 2016.04.27 SAFRAN CABIN CATERING BV
  • EP2830939B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2830939B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~1d
  • EP2830939B1 patent drawingFigure 1e~1f

AI summary

The invention relates to a Galley container (1) for use in an aircraft, comprising at least two container sidewalls (6), a container floor element (7) and a container ceiling element (8), forming a hollow inner shell casing (2) with a circumferential first rim (12) and a circumferential second rim (12'). The composite tape (11) is spun around the inner shell casing and along the circumference of the rims, forming at least part of a construction layer (5) of the galley container. The composite tape comprises at least one fibre and a matrix material.