Bulkhead-Mounted Pilot Seat Linkage for Stable Horizontal Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft seats mounted directly to a bulkhead lack horizontal adjustment capabilities, limiting their adaptability to different pilot sizes and failing to maintain vertical seat position stability during horizontal adjustments.
Innovation Solution
The aircraft seat assembly features a sled translating along parallel rails attached to the bulkhead, coupled with a four-bar linkage allowing independent horizontal and vertical adjustments. The metering plate provides energy attenuation and vertical adjustment via controlled deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the aircraft seat is mounted directly to the bulkhead, then the structure is simple and stable, but horizontal adjustment capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into separate functional components: a sled for horizontal movement along the bulkhead, a four-bar linkage for coupling horizontal and vertical adjustments, and a metering plate for vertical positioning. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sled acts as an intermediary component between the bulkhead and the seat, enabling horizontal adjustment while the four-bar linkage serves as a mediator to coordinate horizontal movement with vertical position maintenance. This intermediary approach allows horizontal adjustment capability without directly complicating the bulkhead mounting structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If horizontal adjustment is added, then adaptability is improved, but vertical stability during adjustment may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The four-bar linkage employs asymmetric link lengths and arrangements to achieve a specific geometric relationship during adjustment. This asymmetric design ensures that as the seat moves horizontally along the sled, the vertical position remains stable at the desired level, preventing unwanted vertical drift during horizontal repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces simple rigid mechanical mounting with a controlled mechanical system using the four-bar linkage mechanism. This mechanism substitutes direct rigid connection with a coordinated movement system that actively maintains vertical stability while allowing horizontal adjustment, using geometric constraints rather than passive mechanical stops.
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 independent horizontal and vertical adjustments of the aircraft seat, maintaining vertical stability during horizontal movements and providing energy attenuation in impact events, thus enhancing pilot comfort and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the metering plate is configured for energy attenuation via controlled deformation to control downward deceleration of the aircraft seat in response to an impact event
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A bulkhead-mounted aircraft seat assembly (100) configured for independent vertical and horizontal adjustment includes an aircraft seat (102) (seatback and seat frame/cushion) for supporting a pilot, passenger, or other occupant. Parallel rails (104) attach to the bulkhead (110) and extend along the bulkhead (110) (vertically or near vertically) with opposing slots (104a) set into each rail (104). A sled (202) translates along the rails (104) via paired sliding members (112) set into the slots (104a), each pair of sliding members (112) connected to an axle extending through the sled (202). A four-bar linkage attached to the sled (202) and to the aircraft seat (102); the four-bar linkage extends from a default position to allow the aircraft seat (102) to translate along a horizontal linear rail under the seat while maintaining a stable vertical reference point above the cabin floor. The seat (102) is independently configured for substantially vertical adjustment via a metering plate (106) attached to the bulkhead (110).