Galley Compartment Retention Assembly Weight Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retaining handles in vehicle galleys are heavy due to their metallic construction, which contributes significantly to the overall weight of aircraft, increasing fuel requirements and reducing safety by allowing loose objects to move during crashes.
Innovation Solution
A retention assembly comprising a handle assembly with a shaft and a retaining handle, where the shaft is rotatable within a mounting block, and the detent mechanism is split between the shaft and the mounting block, allowing the handle to be made from lighter materials while maintaining strength and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If retaining handles are made from metallic parts to withstand crash forces, then strength and reliability are improved, but weight increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The detent mechanism is divided into two separate components: a detent feature on the shaft and a corresponding detent feature in the mounting block. This segmentation allows the handle assembly to be lighter while maintaining the necessary strength and retention capability through the distributed detent mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining handle can be made from lighter materials such as composite materials or lighter metals, while the shaft and mounting block maintain the critical structural strength. The composite handle combined with metallic shaft and mounting block creates a hybrid structure that optimizes weight-strength ratio.
2Reliability
If multiple retaining handles are used per compartment for safety and redundancy, then reliability is improved, but total weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the detent mechanism between the shaft and mounting block, each retaining handle can be lighter individually, and the system can use multiple handles without the weight penalty of fully metallic construction for each handle.
3Device complexity
If the detent mechanism is integrated fully within the handle, then device complexity is reduced, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The detent mechanism is segmented between the shaft and mounting block, reducing the complexity within the handle assembly while distributing the weight. The handle only needs to contain the detent feature on the shaft, rather than the complete detent mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
Part of the detent mechanism is extracted from the handle assembly and placed in the mounting block. This extraction reduces the weight and complexity of the handle while maintaining the overall functionality of the retention system.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A vehicle galley compartment retention assembly 10, a retaining handle assembly 100, and mounting block 200. The handle assembly 100 having a shaft 110 comprising a first shaft detent feature, and a retaining handle 120. The retaining handle 120 being fixed relative to the shaft 110 such that the shaft 110 rotates when the retaining handle 120 is rotated. The mounting block 200 having a cavity 210, and a cavity detent feature on the inner surface of the cavity 210. The shaft 110 being configured to be inserted into the cavity 210, and to be rotatable within the cavity 210, and the shaft detent feature and the cavity detent feature interacting with each other to hold the retaining handle 120 in a first angular position when rotationally aligned. This arrangement moves part of the complex detent mechanism away from the retaining handle 120.