Tray Table Assembly with Funnel-Guided Auto-Centering for Stowage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The tray table in aircraft passenger seating units often fails to be centered when returned to its stowage module, leading to potential damage to the module and surrounding furniture during stowage, resulting in unsightly scratches and possible repair or replacement needs.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism featuring a funnel-shaped feature on the tray table and a roller bearing pin on an arcuate rail ensures the tray table is automatically centered as it moves into the stowage module, guided by linear motion hardware to prevent impact with surrounding surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the tray table is allowed to translate fore and aft when deployed, then the tray table can be positioned as desired by the passenger, but the tray table may not be centered and can hit and damage the stowage module or surrounding furniture during stowage
Solution Approach 1:
A funnel-shaped guide feature is introduced as an intermediary element between the tray table and the stowage module. This guide feature actively guides the tray table into proper alignment during stowage, mediating the transition from the flexible deployed position to the precise stowed position, thereby preventing damage while preserving positioning flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The funnel-shaped guide feature is designed to automatically center and align the tray table before it enters the stowage module. This preliminary alignment action occurs automatically during the stowage motion, ensuring the tray table is properly positioned before final insertion, thus preventing impact damage without requiring manual adjustment
2Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment is required to center the tray table before stowage, then the tray table can be properly aligned, but this requires additional time and effort from the passenger
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel-shaped guide feature enables the tray table to self-center and self-align during the stowage process. The geometry of the guide automatically directs the tray table into the correct position without requiring the passenger to perform any manual adjustment actions, thus achieving precise alignment while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The guide feature acts as an intermediary mechanism that automatically performs the alignment function. Instead of relying on the passenger to manually center the tray table, the guide feature mediates the stowage process by passively guiding the tray table into proper alignment, thereby achieving precision without additional user effort
Data Source
AI summary
A tray table assembly adapted to move to and from a stowed position in a stowage module positioned to one side of a passenger seat. The assembly includes an arcuate rail movably mounted in the stowage module, a tray table mounted on the rail for arcuate movement along the rail between the stowed position and the deployed position relative to the rail, and also mounted on the rail for fore and aft translating movement in the deployed position. The tray table rides on an arcuate rail that permits both deployment and fore and aft movement of the tray table, and automatically centers the tray table during movement toward the stowed position.