Modular Aircraft Crew Rest Compartment with Dockable Sub-Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current crew rest compartments in aircraft are inefficiently designed, with a second bed often unused, taking up valuable space and adding unnecessary weight, and existing solutions fail to provide optimal cabin comfort and spatial separation for crew members, especially on long flights.
Innovation Solution
A modular crew rest compartment system where a first sub-module is fixed on the main deck and a second sub-module can be docked on the cargo deck, allowing for flexible configuration and separate sleeping and working areas, with the option to remove unused modules to optimize space and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a second bed is installed in the crew rest compartment, then sleeping capacity is improved, but weight and space are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The crew rest compartment is divided into a permanent first sub-module and a removable second sub-module. The second sub-module containing the second bed can be detached and stored when not needed, allowing the aircraft to maintain sleeping capacity when required while reducing weight and space when the second bed is not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration of the crew rest compartment is made dynamic through the ability to dock and undock the second sub-module. This transforms the fixed configuration into a variable one, allowing optimization of weight and space based on operational requirements.
2Quantity of substance
If a second bed is installed in the crew rest compartment, then sleeping capacity is improved, but space is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The crew rest compartment is divided into a permanent first sub-module and a removable second sub-module. The second sub-module containing the second bed can be detached and stored when not needed, allowing the aircraft to maintain sleeping capacity when required while reducing weight and space when the second bed is not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The second sub-module can be discarded (removed) from the crew rest compartment when the second bed is not needed, and recovered (re-installed) when sleeping capacity is required. This allows flexible management of space based on operational needs.
3Reliability
If separate crew rest compartments are provided for flight crew and cabin crew, then safety separation is improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The crew rest compartment is divided into a permanent first sub-module and a removable second sub-module. The second sub-module containing the second bed can be detached and stored when not needed, allowing the aircraft to maintain sleeping capacity when required while reducing weight and space when the second bed is not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design allows the same physical structure to serve multiple functions: providing separate crew rest compartments when both sub-modules are docked, and providing a single larger compartment when the second sub-module is removed. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate fixed installations.
4Reliability
If two separate crew rest compartments are provided, then safety separation is improved, but weight is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The crew rest compartment is divided into a permanent first sub-module and a removable second sub-module. The second sub-module containing the second bed can be detached and stored when not needed, allowing the aircraft to maintain sleeping capacity when required while reducing weight and space when the second bed is not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The second sub-module can be discarded (removed) from the crew rest compartment when the second bed is not needed, and recovered (re-installed) when sleeping capacity is required. This allows flexible management of space based on operational needs.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a living and sleeping module (100) in an aircraft for housing at least one member of an aircraft crew, the module (100) comprising a first partial module (101) designed to dock a second partial module (102). The first partial module or the second partial module comprises a connecting element (115) and the first partial module is designed to be disposed at a different vertical height of an aircraft (200) than the second partial module. The connecting element is designed such that the second partial module can be docked to the first partial module by means of the connecting element.