Passenger Seat Wire Routing Through Pivoting Seat Back Apertures
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of entertainment devices in passenger seats, such as those in aircraft, leads to challenges related to additional cabling and support infrastructure, which can result in cable damage due to movement of the seat back between upright and stowed positions.
Innovation Solution
A cable routing system with apertures in the seat back and frame structure, allowing the cable to maintain consistent length and reduce strain during seat back rotation, using slots and grommets for protection and alignment with the pivot axis, and a flange with an attachment member for secure routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If entertainment devices are integrated into passenger seats with cabling, then passenger entertainment functionality is improved, but cable damage risk increases due to seat back movement
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing system is designed to accommodate the dynamic movement of the seat back between upright and stowed positions. The cable maintains consistent length and routing geometry throughout the rotation range, preventing strain accumulation and damage while enabling full seat back articulation for passenger entertainment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The cable acts as an intermediary element that is strategically routed through apertures in the seat back and frame structure. This intermediary routing allows the cable to move with the seat back without experiencing excessive tension or compression, protecting cable integrity while maintaining entertainment system connectivity.
2Reliability
If cable routing accommodates seat back rotation, then cable damage is reduced, but cable length consistency becomes difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing parameters (aperture positions, cable length, routing geometry) are specifically designed and optimized to maintain consistent cable length throughout the seat back rotation range. The cable is sized and positioned so that its length remains substantially unchanged as the seat back moves between upright and stowed configurations, preventing both excessive tension and slack.
3Reliability
If apertures are positioned for cable routing, then cable strain is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cable routing path is segmented into discrete sections defined by apertures in the seat back and frame structure. Each aperture is positioned at critical locations to create manageable routing segments that maintain consistent cable length and geometry. This segmentation approach simplifies the manufacturing process by providing clear, discrete positioning targets while effectively reducing cable strain through strategic aperture placement.
Data Source
AI summary
A passenger seat includes a spreader frame structure and a seat back pivotally attached to the spreader frame structure. At least one cable can pass through apertures between the seat back and the spreader frame structure. The seat can rotate between an upright configuration wherein the seat back is in a deployed position, and a break over configuration wherein the seat back is in a stowed position. The length of the at least one cable between the aperture in the seat back and the aperture in the spreader frame structure is approximately the same in the upright configuration and in the break over configuration.