Adjustable Tray Table Stop Assembly for Wear-Compensated Tilt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft tray tables often experience excessive wear due to repeated use, leading to an uneven surface and a need for adjustable tilt to compensate for the nose-up attitude during flight, with existing support structures being either non-durable or difficult to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A table stop assembly comprising a mounting block, stop, and arm knuckle, where the stop's position can be adjusted to control the angle of the tray table's surface, incorporating an escutcheon for protection and ease of use, allowing for customizable tilt and easy replacement of wear parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the tray table support structure is made durable and resistant to wear, then the reliability and service life are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into separate components: a mounting block, an arm knuckle, and a replaceable stop component. This segmentation allows the wear-prone stop to be easily replaced without replacing the entire support structure, improving reliability while keeping the overall system simple and manufacturable.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop component can be adjusted to different positions along the arm knuckle, changing the tilt angle parameter of the tray table. This adjustability compensates for wear and maintains proper functionality without requiring replacement of the entire support structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the tray table surface tilt is made adjustable to compensate for wear and flight attitude, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stop component is designed to be movable along the arm knuckle, allowing dynamic adjustment of the tray table tilt angle. This simple dynamic mechanism provides adaptability without adding significant complexity to the overall system.
3Ease of repair
If the support structure components are made easily replaceable, then the ease of repair is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is segmented into modular components with standardized interfaces. The stop, arm knuckle, and mounting block are designed as separate replaceable parts with simple connection points, enabling easy replacement while using tolerant manufacturing specifications for the interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are table stop assemblies having a mounting block having at least one receptacle, at least one stop coupled to the receptacle, and at least one arm knuckle. The arm knuckle includes a side, a first end, and a second end, wherein the side is pivotally coupled to the mounting block, the first end is pivotally coupled to a tray table, and the second end is configured to contact the stop when the tray table is in a deployed position. As examples, the position of the stop is adjustable relative to the receptacle, and the tray table in the deployed position includes a surface that forms an angle relative to a horizontal axis that is controlled by the position of the stop.