Articulated Oxygen Mask Arm for Variable Seat Layouts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oxygen mask deployment systems in aircraft struggle to accommodate seats at large horizontal distances from the container, limiting their effectiveness in providing oxygen masks to passengers.
Innovation Solution
A device with a container and an extendable arm featuring articulated links that can pivot to achieve a greater horizontal distance between the container and the seat, allowing for adjustable placement of oxygen masks without requiring extensive stowage space, using a driving mechanism to extend the arm under gravity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the container is positioned directly above each seat in a grid pattern, then the horizontal distance to the seat is minimized, but the device cannot accommodate variable seat layouts or large horizontal distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic arm mechanism with multiple articulated links that can extend and retract to adapt to different horizontal distances. The arm transitions from a stowed position within the container to an extended position reaching the passenger seat, enabling the system to accommodate variable seat layouts while maintaining reliable oxygen mask delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The arm is divided into multiple articulated links connected by joints, allowing the mechanism to achieve extended reach through sequential deployment of segments. This segmentation enables the arm to navigate around obstacles and adapt to different spatial configurations while keeping each individual link compact for stowage
2Length of moving object
If the arm is extended to reach greater horizontal distances, then oxygen masks become accessible to more seats, but the stowage space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The articulated links of the arm are designed to nest within each other when retracted, similar to nested dolls. This allows the mechanism to achieve a long extended reach while occupying minimal stowage volume within the container, as each link can be stored inside the housing of the previous link
3Reliability
If conventional container designs are maintained for certification compliance, then reliability is ensured, but the horizontal distance to remote seats cannot be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The container serves multiple functions: it stores the oxygen masks, houses the articulated arm mechanism, and maintains certification compliance through its conventional design appearance. The container acts as a universal housing that accommodates both the traditional oxygen mask storage function and the new extended-reach arm mechanism
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
Enables a significantly greater horizontal distance between the container and the seat, ensuring oxygen masks are accessible to passengers, while maintaining a conventional container design and mechanism for opening, ensuring reliability and compliance with certification standards.
Implementation Method 1
the arm adopts the level juxtaposition under the action of gravity for the lateral spacing of the relevant oxygen mask from the container
Data Source
AI summary
A device for the provision of oxygen masks has a closeable container for oxygen masks, an extendable arm having links coupled in articulated fashion and having an outer end, and a driving device. The outer end is coupled to at least one oxygen mask. The arm adopts a storage position in which the arm is arranged completely within the container, and an extended position in which the outer end is moved out of the container and in which the arm holds the oxygen mask at a distance from the container. The driving device is coupled to the arm and passes the links out of the container. The links enclose a pivoting range extending as far as a level juxtaposition of the links. When extended, the arm adopts the level juxtaposition under the action of gravity for the lateral spacing of the relevant oxygen mask from the container.