Aircraft Seat Metering Plate for Height Adjustment and Crash Stroking

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rotorcraft/aircraft seats require two separate mechanisms for height adjustment and energy attenuation, leading to increased complexity and weight, as well as limited energy attenuation stroking distance.

Innovation Solution

A single component that integrates a metering plate for seat height adjustment and deformable energy attenuation, where the metering plate translates vertically and deforms to absorb energy during impacts, eliminating the need for a separate sliding mechanism.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two separate mechanisms are used for height adjustment and energy attenuation, then both functions can be achieved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional completenessVSAvoidmechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the height adjustment function and energy attenuation function into a single integrated metering plate mechanism. The metering plate serves dual purposes: it provides controlled vertical adjustment of the seat through multiple height positions and simultaneously provides energy attenuation during impact events. This merging eliminates the need for two separate mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity and weight while maintaining both required functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The metering plate is designed as a multi-functional component that performs both height adjustment and energy attenuation functions. By making the same component universal, the patent reduces the total number of parts needed in the system, directly addressing the contradiction between functional completeness and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If two separate mechanisms are used for height adjustment and energy attenuation, then both functions can be achieved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctional completenessVSAvoidseat assembly weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the height adjustment function and energy attenuation function into a single integrated metering plate mechanism. The metering plate serves dual purposes: it provides controlled vertical adjustment of the seat through multiple height positions and simultaneously provides energy attenuation during impact events. This merging eliminates the need for two separate mechanisms, reducing overall device complexity and weight while maintaining both required functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If a separate sliding mechanism is used for height adjustment, then height control is achieved, but energy attenuation stroking distance is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheight adjustment capabilityVSAvoidenergy attenuation stroking distance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The metering plate is designed as a multi-functional component that performs both height adjustment and energy attenuation functions. By making the same component universal, the patent reduces the total number of parts needed in the system, directly addressing the contradiction between functional completeness and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This integration reduces weight and complexity while increasing the available energy attenuation stroking distance, providing effective height adjustment and impact protection.

Implementation Method 1

The metering plate is folded over into forward and rear layers (the forward layer including the metering holes) such that in an impact event, the metering plate deforms to absorb energy and control downward deceleration of the aircraft seat.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnergy absorption through deformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS11945590B1Aircraft seat with energy attenuating metering plate

Publication Date: 2024.04.02 AMI IND INC

AI summary

A seat base assembly for an aircraft seat includes parallel rails attached to an aircraft bulkhead, each rail including a slot extending vertically within the rail. The seat (e.g., seatback and seat frame) is attached to a sled capable of vertical translation relative to the bulkhead via slidable members that translate along the slots. The sled includes a hole for accommodating a locking pin controllable by the seat occupant. A metering plate attached to the seat base behind the sled is folded over a lateral axis into a forward and rear layer, the forward layer including holes for the locking pin wherein each hole corresponds to a desired seat height to which the seat may be adjusted by securing the locking pin through the sled hole and metering hole. In response to an impact event, the metering plate deforms to absorb impact energy and control downward deceleration of the seat.