Passenger Seat Decoupling Mechanism for PRM Aisle Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passenger seats in aircraft, particularly those in premium classes, are angled and spaced apart from the aisle, making it difficult and potentially hazardous to transfer passengers with reduced mobility, necessitating costly and specific cabin adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A passenger seat assembly with a decoupling mechanism that allows the seat back to be locked upright and the seat translated forward, using a motion subassembly and frame structure to reduce the distance to the aisle, facilitating easy PRM transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the passenger seat is positioned at an angle and spaced apart from the aisle (premium class configuration), then passenger comfort and seating quality are improved, but the difficulty and hazard of transferring passengers with reduced mobility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the seat position adjustable rather than fixed. The seat can dynamically change its position along the floor track between a retracted position (for normal operation) and an extended position (for PRM transfer), allowing the system to adapt to different operational requirements while maintaining the angled premium class configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the seat assembly into movable components, specifically separating the seat pan and backrest from the base structure through the floor track mechanism. This segmentation allows the seating portion to be independently positioned closer to the aisle during PRM transfers while maintaining the overall angled configuration for comfort
2Adaptability or versatility
If the motion subassembly is coupled to the seat back subassembly, then the seat back can be moved between upright and reclined positions for passenger comfort, but the seat back cannot be locked in a fixed upright position for PRM transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The decoupling mechanism dynamically changes the connection state between the motion subassembly and seat back subassembly. During normal operation, they are coupled to allow reclining; during PRM transfer, they are decoupled to lock the seat back in a fixed upright position, providing both adaptability and stability as needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the motion control by allowing the seat back subassembly to be separated from the motion subassembly through the decoupling mechanism. This enables independent control of seat back position - either movable when coupled or fixed when decoupled - resolving the contradiction between adjustability and stability
3Ease of operation
If the passenger seat is translated forward to reduce distance to the aisle, then PRM transfer is facilitated, but the seat loses its optimized positioning for normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The floor track mechanism enables dynamic position adjustment of the entire seat assembly along the track. The seat can be positioned at an optimized location for normal operation (angled and spaced from aisle) and dynamically moved forward along the track when PRM transfer is required, then returned to the optimized position afterward
Data Source
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AI summary
A passenger seat assembly (100) for facilitating seating passengers with reduced mobilities (PRM) in a conveyance such as an aircraft. The passenger seat assembly includes a motion subassembly (122) and a decoupling mechanism (128) configured to couple the motion assembly to the seat back, and decouple the motion assembly from the seat back to lock the seat back in an upright position such that the passenger seat can be translated forward to a position nearer, for example, an aisle (120). In use, decoupling and seat back locking occur in a synchronous manner, as does coupling and seat back unlocking action thereby allowing seat back recline motion. In embodiments, the passenger seat includes a manual release lever for actuating the decoupling mechanism to decouple the seat back motion subassembly.