Gravity-Assisted Aircraft Seat Tracking Base Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aircraft seating assemblies face challenges in compact cabin space due to height addition from tracking mechanisms, critical interface loading, and complicated seat tracking operations, especially on nose-up flight angles, which require extra effort from occupants.

Innovation Solution

A gravity-assisted tracking base assembly with angled tracking slots and a locking mechanism that secures the aircraft seat, allowing for extended longitudinal tracking without increasing the seating assembly's height, and compensates for nose-up flight angles by using inclined tracking slots and a locking assembly activated by an electronic actuator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional sliding rail tracking mechanisms are used to enable seat reclining and tracking, then the seat can achieve configurable positions, but the tracking mechanisms add height to the seating assembly that exceeds the limited vertical space available in the aircraft cabin

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat configurabilityVSAvoidvertical height

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from vertical height utilization to horizontal depth utilization by implementing tracking slots that extend forward in the longitudinal direction rather than upward. The base assembly maintains a low profile by routing the tracking mechanism along the floor track in the horizontal plane, allowing the seat to achieve full recline and tracking functionality without exceeding the limited vertical clearance in the aircraft cabin.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Length of moving object

If extended tracking is implemented to allow full forward seat movement, then the seat can reach forward positions, but the distance between front and rear mounting points reduces causing critical interface loading

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetracking distanceVSAvoidinterface loading

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the tracking function into two independent segments: the base assembly remains fixed to the aircraft floor maintaining constant mounting point spacing, while the seat assembly translates forward along tracking slots. This segmentation allows the seat to achieve extended forward movement without reducing the distance between the base mounting points, thereby preventing critical interface loading on the aircraft floor structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If manual tracking is used in nose-up flight configuration, then the seat can be repositioned, but the occupant must expend extra effort to track the seat uphill

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat tracking effortVSAvoidnose-up flight angle

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a spring-loaded locking mechanism that provides a counteracting force to compensate for the nose-up flight angle. The spring mechanism stores mechanical energy and releases it to assist the occupant in pushing the seat forward against gravity, effectively neutralizing the uphill tracking resistance caused by the aircraft's pitch attitude.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The spring-loaded locking mechanism automatically engages and disengages based on the seat's position and movement, providing gravity assistance without requiring active control from the occupant. As the seat moves forward, the mechanism self-regulates to provide appropriate gravitational counterbalance, reducing the effort required for tracking operations during nose-up flight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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, height-neutral extended seat tracking with balanced interface loads and simplifies the tracking process by leveraging gravity assistance and compensating for flight angles, allowing occupants to use seats as both conventional seating and berths without excessive effort.

Implementation Method 1

Each tracking slot is set at an angle to the horizontal (e.g., at an acute angle toward, or away from, the cabin floor)... leveraging gravity assistance and compensating for flight angles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS11542014B2Gravity-assisted tracking base assembly for aircraft seat

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC

AI summary

A gravity-assisted tracking base assembly for an aircraft seat includes base rails mounted to floor tracks in an aircraft cabin by floor track fittings in fixed positions, the base rails connected by a tracking member for providing longitudinal tracking while minimizing added height. The base rails include tracking slots extending longitudinally, and the tracking member includes tracking elements translatable forward and backward along the tracking slots, allowing an aircraft seat mounted to the tracking member to translate forward and backward relative to the base. The tracking member includes a locking mechanism for locking the tracking member and seat in intermediate positions within the tracking slots. The tracking slots may be oriented slightly downward from the horizontal to allow for gravity-assisted tracking or to counteract the nose-up flight angles associated with cruising altitude, providing for easier seat tracking.