Rotating Berth Sleeper System for Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial aircraft seats are not designed to provide a horizontal sleeping platform efficiently, as they are configured to maximize passenger capacity and personal space, leading to limited recline and inadequate horizontal sleeping options for passengers willing to pay a premium for such comfort.
Innovation Solution
A berth sleeper system with a rotatable seat portion and a platform portion that can convert from an upright sitting configuration to a horizontal sleeping configuration, where the seat base and backrest align co-planar with the platform to form a continuous sleeping surface, utilizing a recline mechanism that includes an electric motor, drawer slides, and a linear drive to facilitate this transformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If seats are closely grouped to maximize passenger capacity, then aircraft productivity is improved, but passenger comfort for sleeping deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is designed with dynamic transformation capability, allowing it to change from an upright seating position to a horizontal sleeping position through rotation about an axis and recline mechanism. This enables the same physical space to serve dual functions: maximizing capacity during flight and providing sleeping comfort during rest periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat structure incorporates multiple functional modes within a single design. The seat can function as both a vertical seating arrangement for capacity optimization and a horizontal sleeping platform for comfort, eliminating the need for separate sleeping accommodations.
2Area of stationary object
If seats are designed for partial recline only, then aircraft space utilization is improved, but sleeping quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seat incorporates a rotation mechanism about an axis and a recline mechanism that work together to transform the seat from a partially reclining configuration to a fully horizontal sleeping position. This dynamic transformation enables complete flatness for high-quality sleep while maintaining space efficiency through the compact rotation mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A berth sleeper system including a platform portion and a seat portion, the seat portion defining an axis of rotation and being rotatable relative to the platform portion about the axis of rotation, wherein the seat portion includes a seat base, a backrest and a recline mechanism, the recline mechanism supporting the seat base and the backrest in an upright configuration and a horizontal configuration, wherein the seat base is substantially co-planar with the platform portion, while the backrest is disposed at an angle relative to the seat base in the upright configuration, and wherein the seat base and the backrest are substantially co-planar with the platform portion in the horizontal configuration.