Passenger Seat Swivel Stop for Adjustable Rotation Limits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft cabin seats have varying articulation and rotation restrictions, leading to structurally different designs that increase part count and certification costs.
Innovation Solution
A swivel stop mechanism comprising a first and second boss coupled to a rotating member, with a second plate having interference surfaces that limit rotation, and a rail for the plate to translate along, allowing rotation from 0 to 360 degrees, and a cabin fixture with a pedestal, axle, and swivel stop that limits rotation and translation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If structurally different designs are used for seats with varying articulation and rotation restrictions, then the rotation limits can be customized for different cabin locations, but the part count increases and certification costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a single standardized articulation mechanism that can serve multiple cabin locations with different rotation requirements. The mechanism includes a rotating member with a rotating interface and a fixed member with a fixed interface, where the rotation limit is adjusted by selecting different positions for the fixed interface on the rotating member, rather than using entirely different structural designs for each location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the rotation limit adjustable within a standardized mechanism. The fixed interface can be positioned at different locations on the rotating member's perimeter, allowing the rotation limit to be dynamically changed between 0 and 360 degrees depending on the specific cabin location requirements, without changing the overall structural design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If structurally different designs are used for seats with varying articulation and rotation restrictions, then the rotation limits can be customized for different cabin locations, but certification costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces certification costs by applying universality - a single standardized articulation mechanism design can be certified once and then used across multiple cabin locations. The standardized design with its defined rotating member, fixed member, and interface geometry provides consistent safety and performance characteristics that can be certified, while still allowing rotation limit customization through interface positioning.
3Device complexity
If a standardized articulation mechanism is used across different cabin locations, then part count is reduced and certification costs are reduced, but the ability to accommodate different rotation restrictions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by applying dynamics - the standardized mechanism accommodates different rotation restrictions through the positioning of the fixed interface at different angular positions around the rotating member's perimeter. This allows the same basic mechanism to provide rotation limits ranging from 0 to 360 degrees, adapting to different cabin location requirements without requiring structurally different designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the rotation control function into separate elements: the rotating member with its perimeter interface and the fixed interface. By segmenting the fixed interface into multiple possible positions around the perimeter, the mechanism can achieve different rotation limits while maintaining a standardized overall design, thus reducing part count while preserving adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a swivel stop comprising a rotating member, a first boss coupled to the rotating member and a second boss coupled to the rotating member, and a second plate having a first interference surface and a second interference surface. An interference between the first boss and the first interference surface and the second boss and the second interference surface tends to limit the rotation of the rotating member with respect to the second plate. The swivel stop may further comprise a rail wherein the second plate is configured to translate along the rail.