Pivot Bin Assembly With Assist Spring For Overhead Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial aircraft overhead storage bins face challenges in maximizing luggage capacity and efficiency within confined spaces while ensuring safety and compliance with weight and aesthetic considerations, as existing designs often result in reduced stowage volume and increased weight due to redundant paneling and complex latching mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
The pivot bin assembly employs a clamshell design with a strongback, side panels, and a bucket that pivots about a central axis, utilizing rotary dampers and assist springs to facilitate easy opening and closing, and incorporates a PSU channel for integrated systems, reducing weight and complexity by minimizing overlap between the bucket and upper housing in the closed position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional overhead bin designs are used with redundant paneling and complex latching mechanisms, then structural strength and reliability are improved, but weight increases and stowage volume decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The overhead bin is divided into an upper housing and a bucket that can pivot independently. This segmentation allows the bucket to be a separate, lighter component that can move freely, eliminating the need for heavy redundant paneling to maintain structural integrity throughout the entire bin structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The bucket transitions from a static, fixed structure to a dynamic, pivotable component. This dynamic design allows the bucket to open and close smoothly while maintaining structural strength only where needed, reducing overall weight by eliminating unnecessary material in non-critical areas.
2Reliability
If traditional overhead bin designs with complex latching mechanisms are used, then reliability and security are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex latching mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simple pivot connection between the bucket and upper housing. The bucket simply pivots open and closed, eliminating the need for complex latches while maintaining security through the pivot connection itself and minimal stopping mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot mechanism is designed to be self-latching through its geometry and friction characteristics. The bucket naturally stays in position when closed and can be easily opened by overcoming the pivot friction, eliminating the need for separate latching components and reducing overall mechanism complexity.
3Strength
If the bucket overlaps significantly with the upper housing in closed position, then structural strength is improved, but stowage volume decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The design transitions from vertical stacking (one dimension) to a pivot-based arrangement where the bucket extends laterally when open. This dimensional change allows the bucket to achieve structural strength through its pivot connection while maximizing stowage volume by minimizing vertical overlap with the upper housing in the closed position.
4Reliability
If more paneling and structural components are added to ensure safety and compliance, then reliability and safety are improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Structural strength and safety features are concentrated only where needed - at the pivot connection points and critical load-bearing areas. Non-critical areas use lighter materials and thinner paneling, achieving safety compliance through localized reinforcement rather than uniform heavy construction throughout the entire bin.
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
This design enhances luggage capacity, reduces weight, and simplifies the structure by eliminating redundant paneling, providing a more efficient use of space and easier operation for passengers and crew, while maintaining safety and compliance with regulatory requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The pivot mechanism includes a rotary damper that provides damping during opening of the bucket
Implementation Method 2
The pivot mechanism includes an assist spring that provides force assistance
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft storage bin that includes an upper housing, a bucket that cooperates with the upper housing to define a bin interior and is pivotally connected to the upper housing, and at least a first assist spring having a spring force. The bucket is pivotable downwardly between a closed position and an open position and also can be positioned in an intermediate open position between the open and closed positions. The first assist spring is configured to maintain the bucket in the intermediate open position. When a downward force greater than the spring force is placed on the bucket, the bucket is configured to move from the intermediate open position to the open position.