Movable Side Wall Aircraft Monument Space Reconfiguration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft cabins face challenges in optimizing space utilization across various operational phases, as existing solutions either compromise on functionality or safety by not efficiently adapting to changing needs during flight phases like take-off, landing, and cruising.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft monument with movable side walls that adjust between operational positions, allowing the base area of functional modules to vary while maintaining a constant total base area, enabling optimal space utilization by expanding one area at the expense of the other, thus accommodating different operational requirements without impacting safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the base area of the first functional module is enlarged to improve passenger comfort and functionality during cruising, then the base area of the functional area must be reduced, which may impact service operations
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is made movable between a first operational position (enlarging the first functional module's base area for passenger comfort during cruising) and a second operational position (enlarging the functional area's base area for service operations during ground operations). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt to different operational requirements without permanent compromise to either functionality or productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the aircraft monument occupies more space in the aircraft cabin to provide additional functionality, then the available space for passenger movement and emergency evacuation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The movable side wall enables the aircraft monument to dynamically adjust its spatial occupation. During normal operations, the monument provides enhanced functionality with the side wall in the first position. During emergency evacuation or ground operations, the side wall moves to the second position, reducing the monument's footprint and prioritizing passenger safety and movement space.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the side wall is made movable to enable space reconfiguration between operational phases, then the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The side wall is segmented into movable and stationary portions, allowing independent movement of the movable side wall region while the rest of the aircraft monument remains fixed. This segmentation enables space reconfiguration without requiring the entire structure to be movable, thereby reducing the overall complexity compared to a fully movable design.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An aircraft monument (10) for installation in an aircraft cabin comprises a first functional module (12), a second functional module (18) and a side wall (24) for delimiting the first functional module (12) from a region of the aircraft cabin adjacent to the first functional module (12) and/or from a region of the aircraft monument (10) adjacent to the first functional module (12). The side wall (24) is movable between a first and a second operational position and comprises a first side-wall region (24a) which separates the first functional module (12) from the second functional module (18) and in the second operational position of the side wall (24) is displaced in the direction of the second functional module (18) relative to its position in the first operational position of the side wall (24), so that a movement of the side wall (24) out of its first operational position into its second operational position results in an enlargement of a base area of the first functional module (12) and in a corresponding diminution of a base area of the second functional module (18).