Aircraft Seat Table Track Mechanism for One-Way Push-Away Motion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing movable furniture systems for aircraft convertible seat cubicles lack efficient and user-friendly mechanisms for easy deployment and retraction, particularly in scenarios requiring quick access or emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A movable furniture assembly featuring a lengthways track system with a capstan and pulley mechanism, where a cable with a spring allows the furniture to be easily pushed away from the seat while maintaining controlled retraction, utilizing a motor-driven pulley system and a tension spring to facilitate one-way movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a motor-driven capstan and cable system is used to move furniture, then the furniture can be retracted automatically, but the furniture cannot be easily pushed away manually due to cable tension
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is extracted from the cable assembly and placed within the pulley housing, separating the tension relief function from the cable itself. This allows the cable to remain simple while the pulley housing contains the complexity of the spring mechanism, enabling manual pushing without cable resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring acts as an intermediary element between the cable and the pulley capstan. When the furniture is pushed manually, the spring compresses to absorb the pushing force, allowing the cable to slip on the capstan without transmitting full tension. This mediator enables smooth manual operation while maintaining automated retraction capability.
2Speed
If the cable is kept taut for automated retraction, then the furniture returns automatically, but the furniture cannot be quickly deployed in emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between two states: during manual pushing, the spring compresses to allow cable slippage for quick deployment; during automated retraction, the motor winds the cable to restore position. This dynamic behavior enables both fast emergency deployment and reliable automated retraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring stiffness and pre-load are carefully selected to change the cable tension parameter based on operational mode. During manual pushing, the spring allows tension reduction for rapid deployment; during normal operation, the spring maintains appropriate tension for controlled retraction while preventing inadvertent return.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the furniture can be freely pushed away, then emergency access is enabled, but the furniture may inadvertently return during normal use
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of allowing free movement in both directions and using a brake to prevent return, the system inverts the approach by allowing free pushing away through spring-compression-induced cable slippage, while the motor-driven capstan provides controlled retraction. The directional control is achieved by making the return path motor-controlled rather than the outward path brake-controlled.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-cable-capstan system provides self-service during manual deployment: when the user pushes the furniture, the spring automatically compresses and the cable automatically slips on the capstan, enabling push-away motion without active control. This self-service mechanism ensures one-way movement freedom while the motor handles the controlled return.
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
Enables quick and easy deployment of furniture away from the seat, such as a table or ottoman, while ensuring it does not inadvertently return, providing convenience and safety by allowing easy access during emergencies.
Implementation Method 1
the cable has a spring in its extent towards the seat, whereby pushing of the furniture away from the seat tends to extend the spring and release tension in the cable, allowing the cable to slip on the capstan
Implementation Method 2
a capstan at one end of the track for driven movement of the item of furniture; a cable passing around both the capstan and the pulley
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An aircraft seat cubicle (1) has a seat (2) convertible to a bed, a foot rest or ottoman (3), a table (4) and a light (6), each movable lengthways L of the cubicle. The table has a leg (41), with a wheel (42) for support of one side of the table off the floor (7) of the cubicle. On the other side, the cubicle has a shelf (9) with a track (43) for support of this side of the table set inside a side panel (10) at a slot (11). The track has a rail (44) mounted on a support angle (45). The table has a tongue (46), which extends into the slot to the track, with a bearing extrusion (47) of low friction material engaged on the rail. It has a drive connection flange (48) fixed on its side away the slot. The flange has a depending lug (49). At the end of the support angle remote from the seat, a free running pulley (50) is provided with its top in line with the lug. At the opposite end of the support angle, a further pulley (51) is provided with a reduction drive motor (52). The motor is connected to a controller and is operated by a user via a control panel (11). A drive cable (53) passes around the two pulleys and is attached to the lug (49). The table can be driven towards or away from the seat. When the motor is stopped, the reduction gearing associated with the motor keeps the table in position. However, a tension spring (54) is connected in line with the cable at the lug (49), between the lug and the motor pulley (51). This arrangement is such that pushing of the table away from the seat stretches the spring, with concomitant relaxing of the tension in the run of the cable to the other pulley (50) and back to the return side of the pulley (51). This relaxation releases the capstan effect on the cable, with the result that the cable can slip on the pulley. Thus the table can be pushed away from the seat.