Telescopic Aircraft Galley Retainer for Variable Trolley Sizes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft trolley retainers are limited to accommodating only standard trolley sizes, requiring new designs when non-standard trolleys are introduced, and lack flexibility to adapt to varying trolley heights and widths.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic half cart retainer with an extender component that allows the turn handle to be extended or retracted, accommodating trolleys of different heights and widths by adjusting its length through an extender component.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-length locking means is used in the retainer, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the retainer can only accommodate standard trolley sizes and cannot adapt to varying trolley heights and widths
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means is designed with a telescopic mechanism that allows it to dynamically adjust its length. The shaft can extend and retract along its central axis, enabling the retainer to adapt to different trolley sizes while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by providing versatility without requiring completely different retainer designs for each trolley size.
Solution Approach 2:
The length parameter of the locking means is made variable through the telescopic mechanism. By changing the extended or retracted state of the shaft, the retainer can accommodate different trolley heights and widths. This parameter change approach allows a single retainer design to serve multiple purposes, improving adaptability without significantly increasing structural complexity.
2Reliability
If custom retainer designs are created for non-standard trolleys, then the retainer can fit specific trolley sizes precisely, but procurement time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed with a telescopic locking means that provides universal applicability across different trolley sizes. Instead of requiring custom designs for each trolley type, a single retainer design can accommodate multiple trolley configurations by adjusting the shaft extension. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate procurement processes for different trolley sizes, significantly reducing time and cost losses.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the locking means is made extendable with an extender component, then flexibility to accommodate different trolley sizes is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means is segmented into multiple components: a main shaft and a separate extender component. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured independently using standard manufacturing processes, maintaining ease of production. The extender component can be securely attached to the shaft to provide the required extension, enabling flexibility without requiring complex integrated manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A retainer for retaining an aircraft galley container trolley in an aircraft galley compartment is described herein. The aircraft galley compartment has a hollow interior and is configured to receive the aircraft galley container trolley in the hollow interior. The retainer comprises a first section configured to be attached to an interior surface of the hollow interior of the aircraft galley compartment, and a second section comprising an elongated shaft extending between from a first end at the first section and a second end, and comprising a rotatable knob at the second end of the elongated shaft. The first section comprises a rotatable turn handle, connected to the first end of the shaft and the shaft has a central axis and the rotatable locking means is configured to rotate about the central axis due to rotation of the knob.