Seat Pan Assembly with Automatic Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
In densely packed passenger transport vehicles, existing seat designs compromise passenger comfort by limiting recline due to space constraints, and current solutions do not adequately address the need for a comfortable sleeping position without increasing seat back intrusion into adjacent spaces.
Innovation Solution
A passenger seat design featuring a pivotally coupled seat pan and back with a tilting mechanism and automatic release mechanism, allowing the seat pan to rotate between upright, reclined, and sleeper positions, with a clutch assembly and gas lock system to maintain position and automatically return to upright for take-off and landing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the seat back recline distance is limited to maintain space efficiency, then the number of passengers per space is optimized, but passenger comfort and sleeping capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is divided into two independently controllable components: the seat back and the seat pan. The seat back can be reclined independently to a limited extent, while the seat pan can tilt forward independently to compensate for the limited back recline, allowing each component to perform its function without interfering with the other's space requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The seat pan is made dynamically adjustable through an electric motor-driven tilting mechanism that can change the seat pan angle between 0-15 degrees forward tilt. This dynamic adjustment allows the seat to adapt between different modes (seating, reclining, sleeping) while maintaining space efficiency in each mode
2Ease of operation
If the seat pan tilts forward to increase recline angle, then sleeping comfort is improved, but the intrusion of the seat back into the next-aft passenger space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The independent control of seat back and seat pan allows the seat pan to perform the sleeping function by tilting forward while the seat back remains in a position that does not intrude into the next-aft passenger space. The segmentation enables functional separation where the pan handles comfort/sleeping while the back handles space efficiency
3Ease of operation
If the seat pan is made movable to provide adjustable positions, then passenger comfort and sleeping capability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A gas spring mechanism is used to provide the tilting force for the seat pan, eliminating the need for complex electric motors and control systems. The gas spring automatically provides the necessary force to tilt the pan forward and return it to upright position, simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining full adjustability
Solution Approach 2:
The gas spring mechanism is designed to automatically return the seat pan to its upright position after tilting, without requiring additional power or control systems. The mechanism uses the natural properties of the gas spring to provide self-service functionality, reducing device complexity
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
Enhances passenger comfort by providing adjustable recline and sleeper positions without increasing seat back intrusion, ensuring efficient use of space and optimal passenger experience.
Implementation Method 1
a gas lock to maintain position
Implementation Method 2
pan frame pivotally coupled to a seat back, a seat pan pivotally coupled to the pan frame
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
Described are seat pan assemblies for a passenger seat having a pan frame pivotally coupled to a seat back, a seat pan pivotally coupled to the pan frame, a tilting mechanism coupled to the seat pan and the pan frame, wherein the tilting mechanism is configured to rotate the seat pan between an upright position and a sleeper position, and an automatic release mechanism, wherein the automatic release mechanism is configured to return the seat pan to an upright position when the seat back is in an upright position.