Mechanical Motion Control Device for Aircraft Seat Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current motion control devices in aircraft seats, such as recline mechanisms and seat leg systems, face limitations due to reliance on hydraulic or pneumatic systems, which fail to adapt to distorted floor conditions, leading to potential seat frame distortion and failure, necessitating a mechanical control solution for continuous adjustability and stability.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical motion control device featuring a housing with separate cavities for sliding members, a motion limiting member, and a resilient component, allowing for step-less, continuously variable positioning and arresting of motion, enabling adaptation to floor distortions and ensuring seat stability through controlled movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders are used for recline mechanisms, then motion control is achieved, but the system fails to adapt to distorted floor conditions, leading to seat frame distortion and potential failure
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs sliding members that can move dynamically within cavities along a longitudinal axis, allowing the mechanism to adapt continuously to floor distortions while maintaining seat frame stability. The controlled member slides within the housing, providing dynamic adjustment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The device is divided into separate functional components: a housing with cavities, a controlled member, and a controlling member. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while working together to solve the adaptability-reliability contradiction
2Adaptability or versatility
If a mechanical control system is implemented for continuous adjustability, then adaptability to floor distortions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential control function into a dedicated device with a controlled member and controlling member. This extraction allows for continuous adjustability while keeping the overall seat structure relatively simple by isolating the complexity into a separate, manageable component
Solution Approach 2:
The controlling member serves multiple functions: it controls the position of the controlled member, provides continuous adjustability, and adapts to various floor conditions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional complex components
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 device provides precise, adjustable, and stable motion control, allowing aircraft seats to maintain position on distorted floors while passing FAA tests, ensuring safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
A resilient member, such as a spring, is disposed between one end of the housing and one end of the controlling member to urge the motion limiting member against the controlled member
Implementation Method 2
A first sliding (controlled) member is movable within the first cavity. The first sliding (controlled) member includes a first extension extending outwardly from the first longitudinal end of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A device for controlling motion of an object includes a housing defining first and second cavities each extending from a first to a second longitudinal end of the housing. A partition separates the cavities. A first sliding member is movable within the first cavity, and includes a first extension extending outwardly from the first longitudinal end for being attached to an object whose movement is to be controlled. A second sliding member is movable within the second cavity, and includes a second extension extending outwardly from a longitudinal end for being pulled a variably controlled distance away from the housing. A motion limiting member communicates with the sliding members such that movement of the second extension the variably controlled distance away from the housing causes the first extension to be movable the variably controlled distance in a direction in which the second sliding member is pulled.