Hanging Galley Insert With Stowable Door for Clear Work Deck
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle galley ovens occupy valuable space and pose a burn risk due to protruding hot doors, as they typically stand on the galley work deck with doors opening outward.
Innovation Solution
A hanging galley insert with a stowable door that attaches to the top galley structure above the work deck, allowing the door to slide or stow below the oven, reducing space occupation and minimizing the risk of burns by keeping the door out of the workspace when hot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the oven door opens outward from a standing oven, then the door provides easy access to the oven interior, but the door protrudes into the galley workspace and creates a burn hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the oven from a vertical standing position to a horizontal hanging position, changing the spatial dimension. This repositioning allows the door to swing horizontally within the oven housing rather than protruding outward into the workspace, eliminating the burn hazard while maintaining door functionality
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the door opening outward from a standing oven, the patent inverts the configuration by hanging the oven horizontally and having the door swing within the housing. This inversion resolves the contradiction by keeping the door clear of the workspace while preserving access to the oven interior
2Stability of the object's composition
If the oven stands on the galley work deck in a separate compartment, then the oven is securely positioned, but it occupies valuable workspace and adds structural weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the oven from a vertical standing configuration occupying floor space to a horizontal hanging configuration utilizing overhead space. This dimensional change eliminates the need for a separate compartment on the work deck, freeing up workspace area while maintaining secure positioning through overhead mounting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the oven from the traditional separate compartment structure on the work deck and repositions it to hang from the overhead galley structure. This extraction eliminates the need for additional compartment structures, reducing both workspace occupation and structural weight
3Area of stationary object
If the oven hangs from the top galley structure, then it frees up work deck space, but the door mechanism must be redesigned to avoid protruding into the workspace
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional door opening direction by having the door swing within the horizontal oven housing rather than outward. This inverted mechanism, combined with the horizontal orientation, allows the door to remain contained within the oven footprint, avoiding workspace intrusion while maintaining accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic door mechanism that swings on hinges within the horizontal housing, allowing the door to move through an arc that remains contained within the oven's horizontal footprint. This dynamic design enables easy access while keeping the door clear of the workspace below
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3D
Figure 4A~4B
AI summary
A galley for heating food with improved access to galley work areas includes: a partially enclosed galley area having a top galley structure and a work deck in the galley area; and galley insert having a housing and a top mounting element disposed on top of the housing, the galley insert being attached to the top galley structure at the top mounting element, and located above and spaced from the work deck.