Aircraft Seat Row Divider Connection for Adjustable Seat Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft passenger seat rows face challenges in adapting seat width with minimal parts and ensuring stability without additional components, particularly in contact between seat legs and dividers, while also meeting crash test requirements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a disk hub connection principle between seat dividers and spars, using disk hub halves on both components with adjustable widths, and connecting them with screws, along with half-shells on supporting tubes for flexibility and stability, allows for stepless adaptation and reduced pretensioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional positive connection or wide clip-like clamping connection is used for seat legs to supporting tubes, then connection stability is achieved, but flexibility and adaptability in seat width adjustment are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into modular disk hub halves that can be independently assembled. The seat legs are divided into upper and lower sections with corresponding disk hub connections, allowing incremental width adjustments without requiring completely different connection components for each configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system transitions from fixed positive connection to a dynamic, adjustable configuration. The disk hub halves can be positioned at different locations along the spars, and the clamping parts can be adjusted to create frictional connections that allow controlled movement and adaptation to different seat widths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional rigid connection methods are used, then structural stability is maintained, but flexibility during pitch and roll is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connection parameters are changed from rigid fixed-position connections to frictional connections with controlled slip characteristics. The half-shells are designed with specific friction coefficients that allow controlled movement during pitch and roll while maintaining stability during normal operation. The pretensioning force can be adjusted to balance stability and flexibility requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The half-shells act as flexible connection elements that can deform and slip relative to each other under load. This flexibility allows the connection to accommodate movements during pitch and roll while maintaining overall structural integrity. The frictional connection provided by the half-shells enables controlled movement without complete rigidity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple different parts and connection adapters are used for seat leg and divider connections, then various configurations are achievable, but assembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The disk hub halves and clamping parts are designed as universal components that can be used in multiple positions and configurations. The same basic components serve different functions depending on their position and assembly, eliminating the need for multiple specialized parts. The modular design allows the same components to accommodate various seat widths and configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple connection functions are merged into a single integrated disk hub connection system. The clamping part combines positioning, clamping, and adjustment functions in one component. The disk hub halves integrate the connection interface for both seat dividers and seat legs, reducing the total number of different parts required.
4Strength
If wide clip-like clamping connections are used, then connection strength is sufficient, but pretensioning cannot be reduced for lightweight design
Solution Approach 1:
The connection parameters are optimized to use the minimum necessary pretensioning force required for safety while avoiding excessive pretensioning that would require heavier components. The frictional connection allows the pretensioning force to be adjusted to the optimal level that satisfies both strength requirements and weight reduction goals.
Solution Approach 2:
The half-shells provide a lightweight clamping connection that maintains sufficient strength through friction rather than rigid mechanical interlocking. This flexible connection method reduces the required cross-section and weight of the connecting components while maintaining adequate strength through optimized frictional forces and pretensioning.
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 solution enables flexible and stable seat width adjustment with minimal components, meeting crash test standards by allowing relative movement and reducing structural deformation, thus enhancing safety and lightweight design possibilities.
Implementation Method 1
frictional values defined by the half-shell design may be set, in order to permit the slipping of the supporting tube at least to the smallest extent
Implementation Method 2
By the pretensioning by means of a predetermined screw tightening torque, a non-positive and frictional connection is made which, however, in the case of pitch and roll also permits a certain flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
In seat rows, in particular in aircraft, the individual seats thereof being able to be adjusted in their usable seat width, and comprising seat dividers with support legs, which are held by spars running transversely to the seat direction, at least one seat divider may be adjusted in the direction of the spars.