Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
  • B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
  • B64D11/003—Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
  • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
  • B64D13/00—Arrangements or adaptations of air-treatment apparatus for aircraft crew or passengers, or freight space
  • B64D13/06—Arrangements or adaptations of air-treatment apparatus for aircraft crew or passengers, or freight space the air being conditioned
  • B64D2013/0603—Environmental Control Systems
  • B64D2013/0625—Environmental Control Systems comprising means for distribution effusion of conditioned air in the cabin
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
  • Y02T50/00—Aeronautics or air transport
  • Y02T50/40—Weight reduction

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to aircraft weight saving structure and increasing stowage capacity, and more specifically, to a combination ventilation system and overhead stowage bin system wherein the ventilation system functions as the supporting structure for the bins to reduce weight, increase bin storage capacity and simplify installation.
• Aircraft cabin designers are constantly looking for ways to reduce weight while maximizing both passenger and luggage carrying capacity. Luggage and other items brought on board an aircraft by passengers are typically stowed under the seats and in overhead storage bins above the seats. Other passenger servicing items, such as supplies, blankets, pillows, medical items and other items are also commonly stored in the overhead bins to keep the living space of the aircraft free from these items.
• Other systems and controls are also typically located along the interior roofline of an aircraft, such as oxygen, cabin ventilation, lighting, media and attendant call control systems, as well as other systems. It is with respect to ventilation systems and overhead luggage bins that this particular invention finds application.
• Ventilation systems typically function to supply conditioned air (i.e., pressurized, heated or cooled air) throughout the interior cabin of an aircraft or other vehicle.
• Conventional designs typically include supply ducts that extend longitudinally along the length of the aircraft and supply conditioned air to laterally branching ducts that direct air into the cabin at predetermined positions. Ventilation systems may be positioned along the floor of the cabin or overhead.
• Conventional ventilation systems position the ducts away from the interface between adjacent bins and require space behind the bins, thus their position consumes valuable space in which the bins could be expanded to increase stowage capacity.
• both the ventilation systems and stowage bin systems are currently independently mounted to the wall or aircraft frame, leading to increased installation complexity, materials and weight.
• a combination ventilation and stowage bin system wherein the ventilation system serves as the supporting structure for the stowage bin system to reduce weight and increase the stowage capacity of the bins. Further, what is desired is a combination ventilation and stowage bin system that optimizes the position of the ventilation ducts with respect to the bins and bin interfaces in order to further increase the stowage capacity of the bins.
• the present invention provides weight reduction by utilizing an existing system as the supporting structure for another system.
• the present invention provides a combination ventilation and stowage bin system.
• the present invention provides a combination ventilation and stowage bin system having reduced weight and complexity as compared to conventional, independently mounted ventilation and luggage bin systems.
• the present invention provides utilizing a ventilation system as the supporting structure for the stowage bin system.
• the present invention provides an expanded stowage bin.
• the present invention provides optimizing the position of overhead ventilation ducts with respect to overhead stowage bins to expand the bin stowage capacity.
• the present invention provides a combination ventilation and stowage bin system in which the ventilation system serves as the supporting structure for the stowage bin system.
• the combination ventilation and stowage bin system includes at least one support duct defining an inlet for receiving conditioned air from a supply duct and an outlet for directing air into a passenger compartment, and a stowage bin for stowing luggage mounted to and supported by the at least one support duct.
• the system includes a support duct positioned about each end of a stowage bin for cooperatively supporting the stowage bin, and preferably a plurality of support ducts for supporting a plurality of stowage bins located along the interior, overhead portion of an aircraft or other vehicle passenger compartment.
• Each of the ducts defines a fan-shaped outlet for providing a surface for seating and supporting the stowage bin.
• the outlets are preferably dimensioned larger than the inlets and define a curvature for following the contour of their respective stowage bins.
• the system may further include a bracket for mounting the stowage bins to the ducts and a bracket for supporting the outlet of the ducts against an interior wall of the aircraft.
• the support ducts are secured to an interior wall of the aircraft or to the aircraft frame.
• the attachment and supporting of the bins by the ducts obviates the need for independently attaching the luggage bins to the wall of aircraft frame.
• Each of the ducts defines an inlet that is positioned at the interface between adjacent bins to optimize the positioning of the ducts to maximize stowage capacity of the bins.
• Each of the stowage bins comprises a door or other structure for providing access to the interior of the bin.
• the present invention provides a combination ventilation and stowage bin system including a ventilation supply duct for providing conditioned air, a plurality of support ducts branching from the supply duct at predetermined positions, each support duct defining an inlet for receiving the conditioned air from the supply duct and an outlet for directing the conditioned air into a vehicle cabin, and a plurality of stowage bins secured to and supported by the plurality of support ducts.
• the inlets of each of the support ducts are preferably positioned at the interface between adjacent stowage bins, and support ducts define a curvature for following the contour of the plurality of stowage bins to reduce the space required by the ducts behind the bins.
• the system may further include a bracket for supporting the outlets against an interior wall of an aircraft cabin, and a bracket for mounting a stowage bin to adjacent ones of the plurality of support ducts.
• FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a portion of a combination ventilation and stowage bin system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the ventilation system of Fig. 1 shown without the bin system;
• FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the ventilation system of Fig. 2;
• FIG. 4 is a front view of the ventilation system of Fig. 2;
• FIG. 5 is a top view of the ventilation system of Fig. 2;
• FIG. 6 is a side view of a portion of the ventilation system of Fig. 2 illustrating mounting points
• Fig. 7 is a cross-section of a luggage bin adapted for use with the system of Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 8 is a cross-section of a prior art stowage bin.
• a combination ventilation and overhead stowage bin system is shown generally at 20, with the doors 22 of the stowage bins 24 shown transparent only for the purpose of detailing the underlying ventilation system.
• the stowage bins 24 are referred to throughout the specification as “stowage bins" or “bins,” but the term is intended to generically describe any type of storage bin, passenger service unit, luggage bin or container having a stowage capacity that is supported by structure of a ventilation system, and is thus not limited to a specific bin type, number shape or position within a vehicle.
• the system is described with application in a passenger cabin of an aircraft in a position overhead of the passengers, the systems may be deployed in any vehicle type and in either an overhead or lower position.
• the stowage bins shown include doors for accessing the interior of the bins, the bins may or may not include a door and may include any other configuration for stowing items and accessing the bins.
• the combination ventilation and stowage bin system includes at least one support duct 26 that branches from a supply duct 28 at a predetermined location.
• the supply duct 28 functions to supply either conditioned or unconditioned air from a source to the at least one support duct 26 that branch at predetermined positions from the supply duct.
• the supply duct extends longitudinally along the roofline of the aircraft and the support ducts 26 branch laterally from the supply duct.
• the supply duct may be a component of a larger ventilation system.
• Each of the support ducts 26 defines an inlet 30 for receiving conditioned or unconditioned air from the supply duct, and an outlet 32 for directing air into the cabin.
• the outlet 32 preferably defines a larger opening than the inlet 30 to reduce the force with which the air is distributed and to provide even distribution throughout the cabin.
• the inlets 30 are positioned periodically along the length of the supply duct 28, while each outlet 32 is lengthened in shape to provide essentially a continuous outlet along the length of the system and thus even air distribution.
• each inlet 30 defines a neck portion 34 and each outlet defines a fan-shaped portion 36.
• a bridging section 38 may be provided between support ducts 26 to interconnect ducts and provide support for the duct interface and support for an attached stowage bin.
• the bridging section 38 may be an extension of the support ducts.
• the support ducts 26 define a curvature that follows the contour of their associated bin such that the duct takes up a minimum amount of valuable space between the bin and the interior wall or frame of the aircraft.
• the support ducts 26 may be molded to have any desired shape to accommodate any desired stowage bin shape.
• the ducts 26 as shown include raised portions 56 for retaining the bin therebetween.
• the ducts may include a substantially continuous supporting surface that functions as a portion of the bin, thus obviating the need for a complete, independent bin.
• the ducts may define one or more of back, bottom, top and side portions of the bin.
• the ducts may define a stowage bin completely except for the door or other structure for providing access to the interior of the bin.
• the outlets 32 may be covered with a faceplate 40 for concealing the outlets and diffusing the airflow.
• FIG. 3-6 various views of adjacent support ducts 26 with their respective storage bin removed are shown.
• Adjacent support ducts 26 cooperatively provide the support structure for a stowage bin.
• the support ducts 26 are interconnected with a bracket 42 that serves to both aid in retaining the stowage bin to the support ducts and provide a decorative faceplate 46 for concealing the underlying ventilation structure.
• the bracket includes fasteners 44 for securing the system to the interior wall of the aircraft or to the aircraft frame.
• the fasteners 44 have a length sufficient to extend from their attachment point on the bracket 42 to the wall or frame.
• the fasteners 44 may be directly attached to the support ducts 26.
• a common mounting point 48 may be used to secure both the bin and the bracket 42 to the support ducts 26.
• the system further includes outlet brackets 50 for securing and/or maintaining the support ducts away from or against the interior wall.
• the inlet 30 or neck portion 34 is preferably positioned at the interface between adjacent stowage bins, and as stated above, adjacent outlet portions 32 are sized to span the length of the stowage bin to provide support.
• the inlet 30 as shown has its longitudinal axis aligned parallel with the bin interface to maximize the use of available space to increase the stowage bin capacity.
• the conventional assembly in which the ventilation system does not support the bin system positions the inlet at about mid-span along the length of a bin, thus requiring more room immediately behind the bin.
• the position of the support ducts 26 with respect to the bin interface of the present invention further provides greater support each bin because the bin is cooperatively supported by adjacent ducts positioned at each end of the bin.
• a stowage bin 24 defining an interior volume 54 and adapted for use with the ventilation support system of the present invention is shown.
• a conventional stowage bin 108 defining an interior volume 110 and adapted for use with a conventional system is shown.
• the stowage bin 24 of the present invention defines a greater interior volume as a result of the ventilation support system of the present invention.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Air-Conditioning For Vehicles (AREA)
• Duct Arrangements (AREA)
• Vehicle Step Arrangements And Article Storage (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=41669666

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (7)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (13)

• 2008
  • 2008-08-13 US US12/190,691 patent/US8002218B2/en active Active
• 2009
  • 2009-08-13 WO PCT/US2009/053641 patent/WO2010019732A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2009-08-13 JP JP2011523156A patent/JP5542138B2/ja active Active
  • 2009-08-13 EP EP20090791450 patent/EP2313313B1/en active Active

Patent Citations (3)

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