Aircraft Seat Closing Wall Sliding Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft seat closing devices can obstruct passage during malfunctions and may not deploy fully due to mechanical limitations, compromising passenger privacy and evacuation safety.
Innovation Solution
A seat unit with a sliding closing wall and a locking system that includes a retaining member, stopper, and gripping means, allowing the closing wall to move freely for evacuation and deploy regardless of its length, ensuring unobstructed passage and enhanced privacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the closing wall is designed to pivot on a vertical hinge to clear passage during malfunction, then passenger access to aisle is enabled, but the door may obstruct passage when pivoted from normal position
Solution Approach 1:
The closing wall is extracted from the constrained pivoting mechanism and allowed to move independently along the longitudinal axis of the seat unit. This extraction from the vertical hinge constraint eliminates the obstruction problem while maintaining access functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing wall transitions from a static pivoting door to a dynamic sliding panel that can move freely along the longitudinal axis. This dynamic movement capability allows the wall to clear passage completely when needed while maintaining its closing function when repositioned.
2Reliability
If the closing device requires the door to be sufficiently extended so that the hinge protrudes from storage compartment, then the closing function is achieved, but deployment is not possible in significant malfunction scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The closing wall is segmented from the support means, allowing independent movement and positioning. This segmentation enables the closing wall to function independently even when the support means is malfunctioning or not fully deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The closing wall is designed to be able to close the passage independently before any malfunction occurs. This preliminary capability ensures that even in significant malfunction scenarios, the closing function remains available through manual operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the closing wall is locked to the support means, then stable closing is achieved, but free movement for evacuation is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system transitions from a permanently locked state to a dynamic system that can switch between locked and unlocked states. This dynamic capability allows the closing wall to be stable during normal operation but freely movable when evacuation is needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system acts as an intermediary mechanism between the closing wall and support means. It provides controlled connection that can be engaged or disengaged, mediating between the need for stability and the need for movement freedom.
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
The solution prevents passage obstruction during emergencies and maintains passenger privacy by allowing the closing wall to slide freely, even in malfunction scenarios, facilitating evacuation and enhancing comfort.
Implementation Method 1
the retaining element consists of a ball mounted on a spring
Implementation Method 2
the closing wall is able to come to rest by gravity against a bottom of the housing when the locking system is in the unlocked state
Implementation Method 3
the bottom of the housing is covered with a layer of a coating with a low coefficient of friction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates mainly to a closure device (40), notably for closing a passage formed in a cabin of an aircraft, comprising: - a support means (41) that is able to slide along a slideway (42) in a sliding direction (D), - a closing wall (46) that is able to close off the passage, and - a locking system (45) that is able to take up a locked state, in which the locking system (45) ensures a mechanical connection between the closing wall (46) and the support means (41), such that the closing wall (46) is movable with the support means (41) in the sliding direction (D), characterized in that, notably in the case of a malfunction, the locking system (45) is able to pass into an unlocked state, in which the closing wall (46) is disconnected from the support means (41), such that the closing wall (46) is movable on its own in the sliding direction (D).