Abstract: In a commercial aircraft with a main deck (2) and a lower deck (5, 6), at least one passenger cabin (16, 16?) is also provided on the lower deck. The fuselage diameter lies on the order of a wide-body aircraft, and an energy-absorbing deformation structure (22, 23, 24) is arranged underneath the lower deck cabin. The invention proposes to arrange the wings (7) on the aircraft fuselage in accordance with the shoulder wing configuration, and to arrange the landing gear (10) outside on the fuselage such that the landing gear bays are spaced apart from one another by a certain distance that is defined by the positioning of the bottom longeron spars (9). This may provide that the lower deck volume situated underneath the main deck can be optimally utilized for payloads. The lower deck areas may also be interconnected in such a way that a significant useful width of the passage between the landing gear bays is achieved.

Abstract: A children's play container in the cabin area on the level of the passenger deck, which when folded away has dimensions compatible with aircraft fixtures. In its assembled state, at least one side wall may be folded outwards along the lower horizontal edge onto the floor to form part of a play area. The inside of the children's play container incorporates playing equipment and fixtures for child care, which are accessible by opening at least one side wall.

Abstract: In a commercial aircraft with a main deck (2) and a lower deck (5, 6), at least one passenger cabin (16, 16?) is also provided on the lower deck. The fuselage diameter lies on the order of a wide-body aircraft, and an energy-absorbing deformation structure (22, 23, 24) is arranged underneath the lower deck cabin. The invention proposes to arrange the wings (7) on the aircraft fuselage in accordance with the shoulder wing configuration, and to arrange the landing gear (10) outside on the fuselage such that the landing gear bays are spaced apart from one another by a certain distance that is defined by the positioning of the bottom longeron spars (9). This may provide that the lower deck volume situated underneath the main deck can be optimally utilized for payloads. The lower deck areas may also be interconnected in such a way that a significant useful width of the passage between the landing gear bays is achieved.

Abstract: A compartment in a passenger transport aircraft is outfitted with functional elements that are adaptable for various uses or purposes. The compartment is bounded by walls defining dimensions approximately corresponding to a handicapped accessible toilet compartment or two standard aircraft toilet compartments. The functional elements include a seat that can be tilted up into a stowed position or tilted down into a seating position over a toilet, a table/seat that can be tilted up into a stowed position or tilted down into a table or seat position, a movable cover to selectively enclose and form a counter surface over a handwash basin, various storage spaces, etc. The functional elements can be selectively arranged as needed to configure the compartment as a handicapped accessible toilet compartment, a childcare or medical care room, an office work compartment, a detention cell, a smokers' compartment, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for improving security in an aircraft during the operation of air traffic. The invention is characterized in that a security zone (2?), which can be sealed off by controllable access doors (25, 26) and monitored by sensors (24, 31), is provided between the passenger cabin (3) and cockpit (1) areas. The invention also relates to methods for improving security during the operation of air traffic, using said device. The advantage of the invention is that the penetration of the cockpit by unauthorized persons, who could neutralize the functions of the pilot or operational components, can be prevented. Even in the case of a present threat or a terrorist attack, involving the taking of hostages or a threat with the use of violence, the pilots in the cockpit are protected effectively.

Abstract: A safety and information device is arranged on at least one passenger seat in the passenger cabin of a commercial aircraft, wherein several passenger seats are arranged within the passenger cabin along at least one longitudinal aisle, and wherein display elements for providing the passengers with seat information are arranged on the respectively aisle seats. The arrangement should increase the safety of passengers who stand in the aisles during the flight and simultaneously improve the display of seat information for the passengers. This problem is solved in that the safety and information device also contains a handle element that is arranged on the passenger seat in the region of the upper lateral edge that faces the aisle and realized in the form of a recessed grip with a handle mounted thereon, and in that display elements for providing passengers with information are arranged on the outer side of the handle or on a recess flange that faces the aisle.

Abstract: A children's play container in the cabin area on the level of the passenger deck, which when folded away has dimensions compatible with aircraft fixtures. In its assembled state, at least one side wall may be folded outwards along the lower horizontal edge onto the floor to form part of a play area. The inside of the children's play container incorporates playing equipment and fixtures for child care, which are accessible by opening at least one side wall.

Abstract: The ingress to and egress from an access restricted compartment, such as the cockpit in an aircraft, is controlled by a revolving gate (1) rotatably mounted in a stationary gate frame (2). The revolving gate (1) has a single gate opening (11) and is rotatable about its central longitudinal axis through predetermined or preselected angular sectors to bring the gate opening (11) either into alignment with any one opening (21) of at least two frame openings (21) at a time, to provide ingress or egress, or to cause said single gate opening (11) to face a wall (2A) of said stationary gate frame (2) or a closed door (51) in said stationary gate frame (2) to close the gate (1). In the closed position of the gate (1) escape from the gate (1) is prevented by locking the gate in its closed position by at least one arresting bolt that is electrically controllable. The atmosphere in the revolving gate (1) is also controllable for incapacitating any unauthorized intruder.

Abstract: A compartment in a passenger transport aircraft is outfitted with functional elements that are adaptable for various uses or purposes. The compartment is bounded by walls defining dimensions approximately corresponding to a handicapped accessible toilet compartment or two standard aircraft toilet compartments. The functional elements include a seat that can be tilted up into a stowed position or tilted down into a seating position over a toilet, a table/seat that can be tilted up into a stowed position or tilted down into a table or seat position, a movable cover to selectively enclose and form a counter surface over a handwash basin, various storage spaces, etc. The functional elements can be selectively arranged as needed to configure the compartment as a handicapped accessible toilet compartment, a childcare or medical care room, an office work compartment, a detention cell, a smokers' compartment, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for improving security in an aircraft during the operation of air traffic. The invention is characterized in that a security zone (2′), which can be sealed off by controllable access doors (25, 26) and monitored by sensors (24, 31), is provided between the passenger cabin (3) and cockpit (1) areas. The invention also relates to methods for improving security during the operation of air traffic, using said device. The advantage of the invention is that the penetration of the cockpit by unauthorized persons, who could neutralize the functions of the pilot or operational components, can be prevented. Even in the case of a present threat or a terrorist attack, involving the taking of hostages or a threat with the use of violence, the pilots in the cockpit are protected effectively.

Abstract: The ingress to and egress from an access restricted compartment, such as the cockpit in an aircraft, is controlled by a revolving gate (1) rotatably mounted in a stationary gate frame (2). The revolving gate (1) has a single gate opening (11) and is rotatable about its central longitudinal axis through predetermined or preselected angular sectors to bring the gate opening (11) either into alignment with any one opening (21) of at least two frame openings (21) at a time, to provide ingress or egress, or to cause said single gate opening (11) to face a wall (2A) of said stationary gate frame (2) or a closed door (51) in said stationary gate frame (2) to close the gate (1). In the closed position of the gate (1) escape from the gate (1) is prevented by locking the gate in its closed position by at least one arresting bolt that is electrically controllable, preferably from the cockpit.

Abstract: A baggage storage system especially for an aircraft passenger cabin includes a lowerable baggage compartment, a guide arrangement along which the motion of the baggage compartment is guided between an upper closed position and a lower open position, a powered drive unit, and a coupling arrangement that selectively couples or decouples the drive unit relative to the baggage compartment. With the drive unit coupled to the baggage compartment, a full powered raising and lowering of the baggage compartment is achieved. If the drive unit fails, it is decoupled from the baggage compartment, so that the baggage compartment can be manually raised and lowered. A locking latch arrangement securely latches the baggage compartment in the upper closed position.

Abstract: An aircraft, preferably a large capacity passenger aircraft with two passenger decks, has a double-T tail assembly arranged on its tail section. The double-T tail assembly includes a double fin and rudder assembly and a tailplane and elevator assembly, and provides a significant increase in the usable passenger cabin space in the tail section of the aircraft. The double fin and rudder assembly has a U-shaped structure and comprises two upright stabilizer fins connected to each other by a horizontal torsion box that fixedly extends crosswise through the fuselage tail section within the floor of a cabin deck. The tailplane and elevator assembly is pivotably mounted on the upper tips of the two upright stabilizer fins in a double-T arrangement.

Abstract: A patient transport arrangement is provided in the passenger cabin of an aircraft and includes a patient stretcher, medical supplies and equipment, and a compartment that is variably and adaptably useable as a restroom compartment and as a medical care compartment. The compartment is arranged adjacent to the doorway clearance area in front of the cabin door of the aircraft. The adaptable compartment includes a foldable wall element so that the stretcher can extend at least partially into the compartment during take-off, landing and ground operations of the aircraft while leaving the doorway clearance area unobstructed, and so that the stretcher can be repositioned out of the compartment and into the doorway clearance area during cruise flight so as to allow the compartment to be used as a passenger restroom during the flight. This arrangement makes efficient use of space within the passenger cabin that would otherwise be unused during various phases of flight.

Abstract: A baggage storage system especially for an aircraft passenger cabin includes a lowerable baggage compartment, a guide arrangement along which the motion of the baggage compartment is guided between an upper closed position and a lower open position, a powered drive unit, and a coupling arrangement that selectively couples or decouples the drive unit relative to the baggage compartment. With the drive unit coupled to the baggage compartment, a full powered raising and lowering of the baggage compartment is achieved. If the drive unit fails, it is decoupled from the baggage compartment, so that the baggage compartment can be manually raised and lowered. A locking latch arrangement securely latches the baggage compartment in the upper closed position.

Abstract: In order to reuse dishes, cutlery, glassware and other food service utensils onboard an aircraft, a washing apparatus is provided as a part of the food service system onboard the aircraft. The apparatus includes a service trolley and a washing unit that may be coupled together to form a washing chamber within the trolley. The washing unit is installed within a trolley parking bay in a galley of the aircraft and is connected to a water supply and a power supply. The trolley is equipped with racks for receiving the dirty utensils, and the washing unit is equipped with water spray arms that reach into the trolley into clearance spaces between the racks. The dirty utensils are collected from passengers directly into the service trolley, which is then wheeled into position in the trolley parking bay, and coupled to the washing unit. Thereby, the utensils may be collected, cleaned, stored, and reused, with only minimal handling, cost, and space requirements.

Abstract: A reading lamp system for passengers especially in an aircraft is equipped with at least one central light source preferably including a cool light lamp, the light of which is supplied through light guides such as fiber optical conductors, to individual reading lamps having a housing to which the respective light guide is connected. A liquid crystal film is positioned in the lamp housing between the light exit of the respective light guide and a lens that provides a light output from the reading lamp housing. The liquid crystal film is controllable in its light transparency by a passenger through a switch, whereby the passenger can make the liquid crystal film opaque to switch off the reading lamp or transparent to switch on the lamp. A dimmer may also be arranged to provide intermediate light level illuminations.

Abstract: It is a problem in conventional aircraft having a fuselage of substantially circular cross-section, that a conventional lower deck would have an insufficient standing height for passengers if the lower deck were to be equipped as a passenger cabin space including seats, sleeping cabins, or other passenger service facilities. In the present aircraft, the lower deck floor (2, 2') is depressed or dropped at least in a certain area (14) that will form an aisle (16), so that the free height of the lower deck in the area of the depressed floor provides at least the normal standing height (HS) for a person. A module (15, 15') containing passenger service facilities is arranged in the lower deck area at least to one side of the depressed floor area. A modular construction provides a great flexibility and convenience in reconfiguring a lower deck from a cargo hold configuration to a passenger cabin configuration and vice versa.

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting menu boxes (14) in an aircraft is equipped with at least one heater element (17) or groups of such elements (17/17A . . . ) which tilt automatically into spaces (16) between neighboring boxes (14) or pairs of boxes within the conveyor which is stopped during heating. When the heating is completed the elements (17) are again tilted into a rest position (17') outside the conveyor. Induction heating is preferably used.

Abstract: A stair and stairwell construction for interconnecting two different decks, especially in an aircraft, includes stair treads, stringers, and a stairwell enclosure or housing. At least one of the just enumerated components is constructed to be positionable or tiltable relative to the planes defined by the decks. One of these components is positionable into an open position, thereby providing a passageway, or into a closed position thereby blocking the passageway. In both positions, this positionable component is lockable.