Swivel base assembly with fore/aft/rotational movement and warping features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft seat retaining systems lack the ability to efficiently accommodate warping and provide multi-directional movement, which is essential for certain air vehicles like military and medical aircraft.
Innovation Solution
A swivel base assembly that includes a swivel center beam pivotally coupled to a swivel plate, allowing the seat to pivot about a centerline axis, and is coupled to side rails that can translate within tracks, enabling forward, backward, and side-to-side movement, with a track pin mechanism that shears to accommodate warping and prevent translation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed base assembly is used to attach seats to the airframe, then structural stability is maintained, but the ability to accommodate warping and provide multi-directional movement is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The base assembly is divided into multiple independent components: side rails that can translate within tracks, a center beam that can pivot, and a swivel plate that enables rotation. This segmentation allows each component to move independently in specific directions while maintaining overall structural integrity through controlled connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic multi-degree-of-freedom mechanism. The side rails translate fore/aft within tracks, the center beam pivots relative to the swivel plate, and the entire assembly can rotate. This dynamic design accommodates both warping movements and multi-directional seat positioning while maintaining stability through constrained motion paths.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a complex multi-directional movement mechanism is implemented, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functions are merged into a single integrated base assembly structure. The side rails, center beam, and swivel plate work together as a unified mechanism that simultaneously provides fore/aft translation, pivoting motion, and rotational capability. This consolidation achieves warping accommodation and multi-directional movement without requiring separate independent mechanisms for each degree of freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The base assembly is designed as a universal mechanism that handles multiple types of movement and loading conditions through a single integrated structure. The same components that enable multi-directional seat positioning also accommodate warping movements, eliminating the need for separate specialized mechanisms for different functions.
3Reliability
If the track pin prevents translation by being in an extended position, then retention stability is improved, but the ability to accommodate warping movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The track pin mechanism transitions from a static extended position to a dynamic shearing action. During normal operation, the pin extends to prevent translation and maintain retention stability. During warping events, the pin shears along a predetermined path, allowing the structure to accommodate deformation while maintaining overall system integrity. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between retention stability and warping accommodation.
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
The swivel base assembly allows for secure and flexible movement of aircraft seats in multiple directions, enhancing safety and usability by accommodating structural warping and providing stable attachment to the airframe.
Implementation Method 1
The pin may be configured to shear in response to the swivel center beam moving relative to the first side rail in a direction along the second centerline axis
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for swivel base assemblies (20) for seats (10) are provided. A swivel base assembly (20) for an aircraft seat (10) may comprise a swivel center beam (40), a swivel plate (30) pivotally coupled to the swivel center beam (40), the swivel plate (30) configured to rotate with respect to the swivel center beam (40) about a first centerline axis, a first side rail (50) coupled to the swivel center beam (40), and a second side rail (60) coupled to the swivel center beam (40), the swivel center beam (40) being located between the first side rail (50) and the second side rail (60).