Aircraft Seat Fixing Rail Device With Self-Aligning Locking Projections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for fixing aircraft seats to cabin floor rails require precise movement of support parts to engage locking projections with recesses, leading to increased assembly time and potential tilting or jamming issues due to inaccuracies in distance alignment.

Innovation Solution

A device with a support part and sliding part, where the sliding part is displaced by half the distance between recesses to secure the support part in the rail, ensuring stable engagement without requiring seat movement, and featuring a locking mechanism for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the support part is moved by half the distance between adjacent recesses to engage locking projections, then secure locking is achieved, but assembly time increases and tilting or jamming may occur due to alignment inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The locking projections are pre-positioned on the support part at locations corresponding to half the distance between adjacent recesses. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for precise movement during assembly, as the locking projections automatically align with the recesses when the support part is inserted into the fixing rail, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining reliable locking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support part is designed with T-shaped guide sections that automatically guide the locking projections into the recesses during insertion. The system self-aligns through the geometric constraint of the T-shaped guides, eliminating the need for manual positioning or external alignment tools, thus reducing assembly time and preventing tilting or jamming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If the support part is moved precisely by half the distance between recesses, then locking is possible, but assembly becomes complicated and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking capabilityVSAvoidassembly simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The locking projections are pre-positioned on the support part at locations corresponding to half the distance between adjacent recesses. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for precise movement during assembly, as the locking projections automatically align with the recesses when the support part is inserted into the fixing rail, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining reliable locking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support part is designed with T-shaped guide sections that automatically guide the locking projections into the recesses during insertion. The system self-aligns through the geometric constraint of the T-shaped guides, eliminating the need for manual positioning or external alignment tools, thus reducing assembly time and preventing tilting or jamming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the entire row of seats is moved to position the support part, then locking can be achieved, but assembly time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking engagementVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking projections are pre-positioned on the support part at locations corresponding to half the distance between adjacent recesses. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for precise movement during assembly, as the locking projections automatically align with the recesses when the support part is inserted into the fixing rail, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining reliable locking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The support part is designed with T-shaped guide sections that automatically guide the locking projections into the recesses during insertion. The system self-aligns through the geometric constraint of the T-shaped guides, eliminating the need for manual positioning or external alignment tools, thus reducing assembly time and preventing tilting or jamming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2690017B8Device for fitting an item of equipment to a fitting rail
Publication Date: 2017.04.26 AIRBUS DEFENCE & SPACE GMBH

AI summary

The device (18) has a support part (20), whose lower side comprises a plug-in section (22) adapted to the contour of a longitudinal slot. The plug-in section is inserted in a fixing rail (10). A sliding part (30) inserted in the fixing rail is guided in longitudinally displaceable manner at the support part. The sliding part is displaceable at the fixing rail relative to the support part for fixing the support part. The plug-in section has the contour of two or three adjacent recesses.