Safeguarding arrangement

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft galleys face challenges in securely storing transport containers during flight, as existing safeguarding arrangements fail to effectively restrict the movability of containers, leading to dynamic loads that can endanger passengers, crew, or aircraft structures.

Innovation Solution

A variable safeguarding arrangement with multiple parts that can be swivelled about a common axis, featuring a coupling member and switching element, allows for adjustable engagement depth to prevent container acceleration, ensuring secure storage and easy operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fixed safeguarding means is used to secure transport containers, then the container is held securely in the reception, but the reception cannot accommodate containers of varying depths efficiently

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer securityVSAvoidreception adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The safeguarding means is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing the engagement depth to be varied depending on the container size. The holding parts can be positioned at different depths within the reception to accommodate both full-size and half-size trolleys effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The safeguarding means is divided into multiple holding parts (first holding part and second holding part) that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows each holding part to engage with different portions of the container, providing secure retention while adapting to various container configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the safeguarding means engages deeply into the reception to secure containers, then container stability is improved, but the operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer stabilityVSAvoidsafeguarding operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The safeguarding means incorporates a spring element that automatically returns the holding parts to their initial position after container insertion. This self-service mechanism reduces the effort required by service personnel, as the system automatically resets without requiring manual intervention for each operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The switching element provides dynamic control, allowing service personnel to easily transition between locked and unlocked states with minimal effort. The mechanical design of the switching element enables intuitive operation while maintaining secure engagement when activated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If a single holding part is used in the safeguarding means, then the device complexity is reduced, but the ability to secure various container sizes is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafeguarding structureVSAvoidcontainer size accommodation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The safeguarding means is divided into multiple holding parts (first holding part and second holding part) that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows each holding part to engage with different portions of the container, providing secure retention while adapting to various container configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multiple holding parts are designed to work together as a universal securing system that can accommodate different container types and sizes. The first holding part and second holding part can be positioned at different depths to secure both full-size and half-size trolleys using the same safeguarding means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of manufacture

If the safeguarding means is designed with fixed engagement depth, then the manufacturing precision is simplified, but the security against dynamic loads during flight is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafeguarding means fabricationVSAvoidflight service security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The safeguarding means is designed with dynamic adjustability, allowing the engagement depth to be varied depending on the container size. The holding parts can be positioned at different depths within the reception to accommodate both full-size and half-size trolleys effectively, ensuring adequate security against dynamic loads during flight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3333076B1Safeguarding arrangement
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
  • EP3333076B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3333076B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present disclosure pertains to a safeguarding arrangement (10) for restricting the movability of at least one transport container (17) storable or stored in a reception (16) of a support structure (14). The mentioned transport container (17) may be used for the transport of goods, for example, in an aircraft, and may be stowed in the area of the aircraft's galley as a so-called trolley (18, 19). The safeguarding arrangement (10) has a first safeguarding installation (11) with at least one first safeguarding means (12). The at least one first safeguarding means (12) allows a the supply or the retraction of the at least one transport container (17) into the reception or from the reception, respectively, in its open position via an opening (15). At this the safeguarding means (12) overlaps a clean measure of the opening (15) of the reception (16) at least zonally in a hold position, in which the at least one transport container (17) is held against retraction from the reception (16). Further, the first safeguarding means (12) is formed variably with regard to its engagement depth into the reception (16).