Aircraft Seat-Base Release with Motorized Lock Cable Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft seat locking mechanisms require significant mechanical force to release, which can exceed twenty-five pounds and varies due to temperature and wear, making manual release cumbersome and inconsistent, especially for individuals with limited strength.
Innovation Solution
A powered seat-base release system that uses a motor and cable mechanism to rotate a rod from a locked to a released position, providing the necessary force to release the locking mechanism, with a biasing mechanism to return to the locked position upon deactivation, and an optional power-assist feature to supplement user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual locking mechanism is used for the aircraft seat base, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to the significant mechanical force (exceeding twenty-five pounds) required to release the lock
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely manual mechanical release system with an electric motor-driven system. The motor rotates the rod to pull the cable, which releases the locking mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for users to manually apply excessive force (exceeding twenty-five pounds) and resolves the contradiction by improving ease of operation through automated mechanical assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a motor as an intermediary device between the user's operational input and the locking mechanism. The motor serves as a mediator that converts electrical energy into mechanical rotation, which then actuates the rod and cable system to release the lock. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain mechanical simplicity while improving operational ease.
2Ease of operation
If a motor is added to automate the rod rotation, then the ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional motorized components
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is designed to perform multiple functions: rotating the rod in the forward direction to release the locking mechanism and being back-driven in reverse to rotate the rod back to the locked position. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for locking and unlocking, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining improved ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a biasing mechanism that automatically returns the rod to the locked position when the motor is deactivated or loses power. This self-service feature eliminates the need for additional active control systems to maintain the locked state, reducing overall device complexity while ensuring safe operation.
3Reliability
If the motor is designed to hold the rod at the released position, then the reliability improves, but the use of energy increases due to continuous motor activation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous motor activation, the system uses periodic action where the motor is activated only momentarily to rotate the rod to the released position, then deactivated. The biasing mechanism maintains the position during this period without additional energy consumption. This periodic operation significantly reduces energy use while maintaining reliability through the motor's momentary holding capability during active periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The biasing mechanism serves itself by automatically returning the rod to the locked position when power is lost or the motor is deactivated. This self-service capability ensures reliable return to the safe locked state without requiring continuous energy input or additional active control systems, thereby improving reliability while minimizing energy consumption.
4Ease of manufacture
If the motor can be back-driven by the biasing mechanism, then the ease of manufacture improves by simplifying motor selection, but the reliability may worsen due to potential overheating during reverse rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The motor is designed to handle the temporary excessive load of being back-driven by the biasing mechanism without sustained operation in reverse. The brief reverse rotation during power loss or deactivation does not cause overheating because the action is partial and transient rather than continuous. This approach simplifies manufacturing by allowing standard motor selection while maintaining reliability through limited reverse exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system anticipates the reverse driving condition and designs the motor with sufficient thermal margin to handle the temporary load without overheating. By beforehand cushioning against the potential thermal stress of reverse operation, the system maintains reliability while allowing the motor to be back-driven, thus improving ease of manufacture without sacrificing safety.
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 easier and consistent release of aircraft seat bases, reducing the mechanical effort required and ensuring the seat remains locked in case of power loss, improving usability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
a motor mechanically coupled to the rod, wherein the motor is configured for rotating the rod from a locked position to a released position
Implementation Method 2
a biasing mechanism, wherein upon deactivation of the motor, the biasing mechanism is configured to counter rotate the rod from the released position to the locked position thereby back driving the motor
Data Source
AI summary
A powered seat-base release system includes a rod rotatably mounted in a bucket assembly of an aircraft seat and a motor mechanically coupled to the rod. The motor is configured for rotating the rod from a locked position to a released position. A locking mechanism is configured for preventing motion of the bucket assembly. A cable has a first end and a second end, the first end being mechanically coupled to the rod, and the second end being mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism. A user interface is configured to activate the motor for rotating the rod to the released position such that the rod pulls the cable thereby releasing the locking mechanism to enable motion of the bucket assembly. Upon deactivation of the motor, a biasing mechanism is configured to counter rotate the rod from the released position to the locked position thereby back driving the motor.