Interlinked plinth attachment system for aircraft seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial aircraft cabins often require custom seating and interior configurations that do not align with standard seat track locations, necessitating special attachment fittings and potentially new certification for each configuration, limiting installation flexibility and increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
An interlinked plinth attachment system that utilizes existing seat tracks to provide additional attachment points, allowing for the installation of seats and other components at longitudinally equivalent positions, using interlocking plinth assemblies and pedestals to align seats with seat tracks, ensuring consistent load distribution and aesthetic alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom seating configurations are installed to meet executive cabin requirements, then seating arrangement flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for special attachment fittings
Solution Approach 1:
The plinth assembly is designed to attach to standard aircraft seat tracks while providing multiple attachment points that can accommodate various seating configurations. The cross-member structure with multiple openings allows the same basic assembly to serve different seating arrangements, eliminating the need for custom fittings for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system is divided into modular components including the plinth plate, cross-member, and pedestals that can be independently positioned and configured. This segmentation allows flexible arrangement of seats while using standard attachment hardware, reducing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If special attachment fittings are used for custom seating configurations, then seating arrangement flexibility is improved, but manufacturing cost increases due to new certification requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The plinth assembly uses standard aircraft seat track attachment fittings that are already certified for use in the aircraft. This universal attachment method eliminates the need for new certification processes while still allowing custom seating configurations through the modular cross-member design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If seats are positioned at non-standard locations relative to seat tracks, then seating arrangement flexibility is improved, but load distribution consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The plinth assembly acts as an intermediary between the standard seat tracks and the seats. It transfers and distributes loads from seats positioned at various locations back to the standardized track attachment points, ensuring consistent load distribution to the aircraft structure regardless of seat position.
Solution Approach 2:
The cross-member is segmented with multiple openings that can accommodate pedestals at different positions. This allows seats to be located flexibly while the segmented structure maintains proper load paths to the attachment points on the seat tracks.
Data Source
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AI summary
A plinth attachment system for attachment to at least one track includes: a first plate having a first side configured for mounting to a longitudinally extending track, and a first mounting feature for mounting a first structure; and a second plate having a first side configured for mounting to the track, and a second mounting feature for mounting a second structure. When mounted on the track, at least one interlinking feature of the first side of the first plate and at least one interlinking feature of the first side of the second plate interlock at the track, and, the first mounting feature and second mounting feature are aligned at essentially equivalent longitudinal positions.