Aircraft Seat Assembly Sidewall Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft passenger seat assemblies are limited by their design, which restricts the use of available cabin space and surrounding attachment points, leading to increased weight, complexity, and cost, while failing to enhance rigidity and utilize areas under the seat for electronic and support components.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft passenger seat assembly that includes attachment points to the aircraft sidewall and composite floor panels with integrated seat tracks, allowing for a lightweight, rigid, and cost-effective design by securing the seat frame to both the deck and sidewall, thereby optimizing available space and reducing weight and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional seat assemblies use only the aircraft deck for attachment, then the design is simple, but the weight increases, rigidity decreases, and available cabin space is underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from single-plane (deck-only) attachment to multi-plane attachment by adding sidewall mounting points. The seat frame includes forward and aft sidewall attachment points that connect to the aircraft sidewall structure, creating a three-dimensional attachment system that distributes loads across multiple dimensions and reduces overall weight while maintaining rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system is segmented into multiple independent attachment points distributed across different locations: deck attachment points, forward sidewall attachment points, and aft sidewall attachment points. This segmentation allows each attachment point to be optimized independently and enables modular installation while reducing the complexity of any single attachment location.
2Strength
If conventional designs use only deck attachment points, then the structure is simpler, but the rigidity and stability of the seat assembly decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds vertical and lateral dimensionality to the attachment system by incorporating sidewall mounting points at forward and aft locations. This creates a spatial distribution of attachment points that forms a rigid three-dimensional framework, significantly enhancing seat assembly rigidity and resistance to lateral and vertical loads compared to deck-only attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat frame is designed with pre-positioned attachment points and mounting structures fabricated into the frame itself during manufacturing. This preliminary integration of attachment features eliminates the need for complex field modifications or additional reinforcement structures, achieving rigidity enhancement without proportionally increasing overall structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional designs restrict attachment to the deck, then manufacturing is simpler, but available cabin space for electronic and support components is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The seat frame is designed as a multi-functional structure that simultaneously provides seating support, structural attachment, and mounting infrastructure for electronic and support components. The sidewall attachment points and associated structures serve dual purposes: securing the seat to the aircraft and providing mounting locations for additional equipment, thereby utilizing previously wasted cabin space without significantly complicating manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the attachment structure with the seat frame into an integrated assembly. The sidewall attachment points are incorporated directly into the frame construction, and the floor panel structure is combined with the seat mounting system, creating a unified structure that provides both structural support and component mounting capabilities while streamlining manufacturing processes.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional designs use only existing aircraft seat tracks, then installation is simpler, but the ability to optimize seat geometry and positioning is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds lateral positioning flexibility by incorporating sidewall attachment points that allow seat adjustment in the lateral direction, in addition to forward-aft positioning along the deck tracks. This multi-dimensional positioning capability enables optimization of seat geometry and passenger access while maintaining straightforward installation through standardized attachment interfaces.
Data Source
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AI summary
An aircraft passenger seat assembly includes a seat frame on which is mounted at least one seat back, a seat pan and a plurality of seat legs and at least one seat floor panel having integrated floor panel seat tracks mounted therein and adapted for being mounted onto an aircraft deck. A mounting rail is mounted onto an aircraft fuselage sidewall, and leg track fasteners detachably secure the seat legs to the floor panel seat tracks and frame seat fasteners for mounting the seat frame to the sidewall mounted rail.