Aircraft Seat Rail Latch Access Under Thick Floor Coverings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft seat engagement systems face accessibility issues when thick coverings, such as carpeting, obstruct the side-accessible cavity for disengaging the quarter turn means, making it difficult for operators to unlock the seat from the fastening rail.
Innovation Solution
The system redesigns the quarter turn means to allow access from the upper face of the catching means, featuring a disengaging pin with a cam-shaped portion and a hollow cavity for tool reception, enabling the operator to unlock the lever by rotating it quarter-turn, thus releasing the latch and unlocking the seat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the quarter turn means is arranged with the cavity accessible from the side of the catching means, then the locking mechanism can be engaged, but the accessibility is blocked when thick coverings are present on the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the handling portion of the quarter turn means from a side-accessible location to a location on the upper face of the catching means. This dimensional change in accessibility allows the operator to access the disengagement cavity from above rather than from the side, thereby overcoming the obstruction caused by thick floor coverings while maintaining the locking functionality.
2Reliability
If the pin is arranged transversely relative to the catching means, then the locking mechanism functions, but the cavity becomes inaccessible under thick carpeting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement of the quarter turn means so that the handling portion is positioned on the upper face of the catching means rather than on the side. This repositioning maintains the transverse arrangement of the pin relative to the catching means for reliable locking, while providing alternative access from above that is not blocked by thick floor coverings.
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 configuration ensures reliable locking and easy disengagement of the aircraft seat from the fastening rail even under thick coverings, improving operational accessibility and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a cam-shaped portion adapted to cooperate with a corresponding bearing zone of the locking means to push them and therefore release them
Implementation Method 2
the latch means being mounted so as to be able to move on the corresponding member against the stress from elastic means
Data Source
AI summary
The system for engaging an aircraft seat in a fastening rail of the rest of said aircraft, of the type including a catching means able to be moved between an assembly/disassembly position of the seat and an active position locking said seat in position, via a handling lever that can be moved by an assembly operator between an assembly/disassembly position and a locking position, and including a means for locking the lever in the locking position, able to be disengaged by the operator via a quarter turn means, to release the lever and therefore release the catching means, is characterized in that at least one handling portion of the quarter turn means for disengaging the locking means of the lever is accessible to the operator, from the upper face of the catching means.