Lightweight Overhead Stowage Compartment for Easier Installation

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional overhead stowage compartments are heavy, difficult to handle during installation, and costly, affecting aircraft weight and ergonomics, with integrated sidewalls requiring strong materials for mounting components.

Innovation Solution

A self-supporting hull with an open cross-section and vertical connectors allows for a lightweight, flexible stowage compartment that can be easily installed and customized, using thinner materials and modular components like rails and trusses for additional strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional rigid materials like honeycomb plates are used for stowage compartment sidewalls, then sufficient material thickness is available for mounting components, but the compartment becomes heavy and difficult to handle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial thickness for component mountingVSAvoidstowage compartment weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The stowage compartment is divided into separate modular components: a lightweight hull made of thin-walled profile tubes, separate vertical connectors, and optional reinforcing elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the hull uses minimal material for basic structure, while strength is added only where needed through separate connectors and mounting brackets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention combines different materials and structural forms to achieve optimal performance: thin-walled profile tubes (aluminum or plastic) for the hull provide sufficient strength-to-weight ratio, while separate mounting brackets and connectors made from stronger materials provide attachment points without requiring thick hull walls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If integrated body structure with sidewalls is used, then structural integrity is maintained, but installation becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidinstallation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stowage compartment is divided into separate modular components: a lightweight hull made of thin-walled profile tubes, separate vertical connectors, and optional reinforcing elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the hull uses minimal material for basic structure, while strength is added only where needed through separate connectors and mounting brackets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hull is designed with pre-formed connection points and mounting interfaces during manufacturing, allowing vertical connectors and reinforcing elements to be easily attached during installation without requiring complex on-site fabrication or structural modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If customized stowage compartments are manufactured, then specific requirements are met, but cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hull is designed as a universal base structure using standardized profile tube sections that can be configured for different applications. Vertical connectors, lids, and reinforcing elements are made as interchangeable components that can be adapted to various stowage requirements without requiring custom manufacturing of the entire compartment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The stowage compartment is divided into separate modular components: a lightweight hull made of thin-walled profile tubes, separate vertical connectors, and optional reinforcing elements. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the hull uses minimal material for basic structure, while strength is added only where needed through separate connectors and mounting brackets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12441472B2Lightweight overhead stowage compartment and method of installing the same

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

A lightweight overhead stowage compartment comprising a self-supporting hull having an open cross-section forming a stowage space and an opening to the stowage space, wherein in a longitudinal direction of the self-supporting hull any section of the self-supporting hull has an open end in the front and rear. The stowage compartment includes a vertical connector configured to be placed into the stowage space, wherein the vertical connector is mounted to the self-supporting hull at vertical sides of the vertical connector in a force transferring manner. At least one lid is mounted at an arbitrary section of the self-supporting hull and configured to close the opening to the stowage space.