Pilot Seat Kinematics for Stable ERP and Thigh Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pilot seats lack adequate vertical and lateral adjustments, fail to provide continuous thigh support, and do not allow for adjustable seat pan length, leading to discomfort and obstructed vision for pilots of varying sizes, especially in narrow cockpits where the eye reference point (ERP) is critical.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable seat design featuring a pivotally coupled backrest with a lower and upper portion, a seat pan with independent rear and front portions, and an actuation mechanism that controls vertical height and rotational position, allowing for simultaneous adjustment of the seat frame and seat pan to maintain a consistent ERP while providing improved thigh support and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat is moved backwards and laterally stored to allow pilot entry and exit, then ease of operation is improved, but the longitudinal position adjustment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seat positioning system is divided into two independent adjustment mechanisms: longitudinal position adjustment and recline angle adjustment. This segmentation allows the seat to be moved forward/backward independently of the backrest angle, simplifying the entry/exit operation while maintaining adjustable positioning capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat incorporates dynamic adjustment capabilities where the longitudinal position and recline angle can be independently modified. This allows the seat to adapt to different pilot sizes and preferences, improving ease of operation for both entry/exit and comfortable positioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the back rest is pivotally coupled to the rear end of the bottom pan to provide recline capability, then adaptability is improved, but the seat position stability deteriorates due to forward movement during reclining
Solution Approach 1:
The recline adjustment mechanism is extracted and decoupled from the longitudinal position adjustment system. The backrest can be independently tilted forward and backward without affecting the seat's longitudinal position, maintaining stability while providing adaptability for different pilot preferences.
3Ease of manufacture
If the seat pan is fixed in length, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but adaptability to different pilot sizes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seat pan is divided into multiple sections with adjustable lengths. This segmentation allows the seat pan length to be customized for different pilot sizes while maintaining a standardized manufacturing process for each modular section.
4Device complexity
If the thigh support is not continuous and the bottom cushion shape does not match the pilot's thigh position, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but comfort deteriorates due to increased blood pressure on thighs
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom cushion is designed with locally optimized contours that specifically match the pilot's thigh position and shape. This local quality adjustment provides continuous thigh support in the critical areas while maintaining overall manufacturing feasibility through standardized cushion construction methods.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described are adjustable seats having a lower portion of a back rest attached to a seat frame having an upper frame and a lower frame. A pivot axis is positioned at an upper end of the lower portion of the back rest, and an upper portion of the back rest is pivotally attached to the pivot axis. The location of the pivot axis is configured to be positioned below a person's shoulders when the person is seated in the adjustable seat. The upper portion of the back rest is also pivotally adjustable relative to the lower portion of the back rest. A seat pan having a front portion pivotally coupled to a rear portion can be attached to the upper frame. An actuation mechanism is configured to simultaneously control a vertical height of the upper frame and a rotational position of the front portion of the seat pan.