Meal tray loading and extraction system
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Solution Overview
Problem
During take-off, the tilting of the aircraft cabin causes fluids in meal containers to spill onto the heating elements in galley ovens, resulting in a burning smell that pervades the cabin.
Innovation Solution
A meal tray loader with a tray loading arm that moves meal trays into the oven heating cavity, combined with adaptive tray positioning means in the galley oven that adjust to maintain meal trays perpendicular to the direction of gravity, preventing spillage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If meals are heated in galley oven during take-off, then passengers receive hot meals quickly, but fluid spills from meal containers onto heating elements causing burning smell
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the meal tray positioning system adjustable and movable. The tray support means can be dynamically repositioned within the oven cavity to accommodate different aircraft tilt angles during take-off and landing. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt to changing gravitational vectors, preventing fluid spillage while maintaining the ability to heat meals quickly during level flight phases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the position and orientation parameters of the meal trays within the oven. The tray support means can change the angular orientation and spatial position of trays relative to the heating elements. By adjusting these parameters in response to aircraft attitude changes, the system prevents fluid from contacting heating elements while maintaining effective heating during stable flight conditions.
2Device complexity
If meal trays are positioned fixedly in galley oven, then device complexity is reduced, but spillage occurs during aircraft tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed positioning system into a dynamic one by introducing adjustable tray support means. These supports can be repositioned along rails or guides within the oven cavity, allowing the meal trays to be oriented perpendicular to the direction of gravity during tilted flight phases. This dynamic capability significantly improves reliability in preventing spillage while adding only moderate complexity to the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates self-service features through automatic detection and adjustment mechanisms. Sensors detect aircraft tilt angle or gravitational vector changes, and the tray positioning system automatically adjusts tray orientations without requiring manual intervention from flight crew. This automation improves spillage prevention reliability while minimizing the operational burden on staff.
3Volume of moving object
If heating elements are disposed in rear of heating cavity, then space utilization is improved, but burning smell is more prevalent during take-off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different functional zones within the heating cavity. The rear region contains the heating elements for efficient space utilization, while the front and middle regions provide adjustable tray positioning zones. By locally optimizing the tray support system in the regions where meals are placed, the patent prevents fluid from reaching the rear heating elements during tilt, eliminating the burning smell problem while preserving the space-efficient heating element placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - the adjustable tray support means - that acts as a mediator between the meal containers and the heating elements. This intermediary system controls the position and orientation of meal trays, preventing direct contact between spilled fluid and heating elements. The intermediary allows the heating elements to remain in the rear for space efficiency while protecting them from fluid contamination through active tray positioning control.
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
The solution effectively prevents fluid spillage and the resulting burning smell during take-off, enhancing passenger comfort and reducing the need for extensive cleaning.
Implementation Method 1
The attachment means may be a magnetic material configured to induce an attractive magnetic force between the attachment means and a magnetic surface on the one or more meal trays.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
A meal tray loader (500) comprising a frame (501), one or more tray support elements (502) configured to support one or more meal trays (102) horizontally in the frame (501) and a tray loading arm (510) configured to be moveable with respect to the frame (501) to simultaneously push each of the one or more meal trays (102) out of the frame (501) and into a heating cavity of an oven (200).