Abstract: A modular bar made of bar modules includes a bar element and one or more seating elements pivotably attached to the bar element. The seating element(s) is moveable relative to the bar element between a stowed position and a seat position, the module configured to be arranged adjacent one or more other bar modules to form a bar.

Abstract: An insulating tile may be attached to an interior or exterior surface adjacent to a chilled compartment of an aircraft galley structure to increase the overall thermal resistance of the galley structure (as well as the capacity of the galley air/liquid chiller system). The insulating tile includes an outer barrier encapsulating a thermally resistant core material within a vacuum, both the outer barrier and the core material resistant to flame propagation and thus suitable for commercial aircraft use. The insulating tile may further include getters within the core material to maintain the vacuum (and thus the thermal resistance of the tile) by absorbing moisture. Scannable passive pressure and/or moisture sensors may be placed within the core material for reporting at a glance the state of the vacuum, so that a particular tile may be serviced or replaced if necessary.

Abstract: A cart bay for an aircraft galley structure includes a housing defined by interior surfaces and capable of housing one or more removable galley carts in a secured position. Chilled air is introduced into the cart bay through a plenum of inlet to maintain perishable contents of the galley cart at a safe temperature. The side walls of the cart bay include rubstrip assemblies for guiding the galley carts in and out of the bay, absorbing impact and noise. The rubstrip assemblies may include a corrugated carrier layer behind a solid rubstrip; the corrugated carrier layer includes apertures for controlling and directing the flow of chilled air along the side walls to maximize the exterior surfaces of the galley carts reachable by the chilled air, separating the galley carts from the side walls and allowing chilled air to reach the side exterior surfaces of the galley carts via the apertures.

Abstract: A solid state liquid-chilled bar unit for an aircraft galley includes a multilevel frame dimensioned to fit the galley and including stacked slots, each slot configured to fit a compartment. Warmer compartments include a liquid thermoelectric device (LTD) with “cold” and “hot” sides and a liquid heat exchanger (LHE) connected to the cold side. Scroll fans circulate air over a finned heat exchanger (on the LTD's hot side) to heat the compartment. Chiller compartments include LTDs with an LHE connected to the “hot” side, and may be bottle coolers or chiller drawers. Bottle coolers chill bottles or other containers via conductive contact with the LTD “cold” side, while chiller drawers chill air by circulating it over a finned heat exchanger on the “cold” side. Unchilled drawers store food, drink, or supplies at or near the ambient cabin temperature.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, an aircraft galley ducting assembly provides airflow to at least one compartment of an aircraft galley monument. The ducting assembly may include a supply air duct that provides a supply airflow path to a compartment that includes an inlet port mounted to a compartment surface. A return air duct may provide an exit airflow path for return air that has circulated throughout the compartment and includes an outlet port mounted to the compartment surface. An airflow adjustment apparatus with an airflow adjustment surface is positioned within the supply airflow path of the supply air duct or the exit airflow path of the return air duct to cause a modification of airflow properties for air passing across or through the airflow adjustment surface.

Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, an upper monument attachment system is provided for retaining aircraft monuments, the system including a first support, a second support, and a joiner connecting a first end of the first support and a first end of the second support, a stay having a first end pivotably connected to the joiner, a tie rod configured to connect the joiner to an attachment point of the aircraft, a first rail having a first base configured to connect to an upper surface of the monument and a first facing configured to connect to the first support and the second support, and a second rail having a second base configured to connect to the upper surface of the monument and a second facing configured to connect to a second end of the stay.

Abstract: A cart bay for an aircraft galley structure includes a housing defined by interior surfaces and capable of housing one or more removable galley carts in a secured position. Chilled air is introduced into the cart bay through a plenum of inlet to maintain perishable contents of the galley cart at a safe temperature. The side walls of the cart bay include rubstrip assemblies for guiding the galley carts in and out of the bay, absorbing impact and noise. The rubstrip assemblies may include a corrugated carrier layer behind a solid rubstrip; the corrugated carrier layer includes apertures for controlling and directing the flow of chilled air along the side walls to maximize the exterior surfaces of the galley carts reachable by the chilled air, separating the galley carts from the side walls and allowing chilled air to reach the side exterior surfaces of the galley carts via the apertures.

Abstract: A modular chiller for an aircraft galley trolley compartment disposed below a galley work deck. The modular chiller includes an enclosure for components configured to chill air circulating throughout the trolley compartment. The modular chiller includes a heat exchanger for chilling air entering the enclosure from the trolley compartment through air return ports. The modular chiller includes a fan for directing air flow through the enclosure, wherein a speed of the fan is controllable by a controller thereby causing adjustment in a volume of the air passing through the heat exchanger. The modular chiller includes connection ports configured to couple the modular chiller to one or more aircraft systems, the connection ports including quick disconnect connections for aircraft line replacement units, wherein the plurality of connection ports comprise at least one connection port for supplying liquid refrigerant to the modular chiller.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, systems and methods for connecting a monument attachment apparatus to an aircraft panel include a monument attachment apparatus having a first aperture configured to receive a fastener, a user's fingers and a tool to fasten the fastener, as well as a pair of substantially parallel, and a second aperture in a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane of the first aperture which is configured to align with a corresponding receptacle disposed on a structural frame of an aircraft cabin. In connecting, a first plate is bonded to an interior surface of a first exterior wall of the panel, a second plate is bonded to an interior surface of a second interior wall of the panel, and a portion of a core of the panel is disposed in a gap between the pair of plates and bonded to a portion of an interior surface of each plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for pre-heating potable water in aircraft with waste heat includes an air to water heat exchanger having a heat exchanger housing with an inlet end that receives heat from one or more of a galley insert exhaust air inlet, a galley appliance exhaust air inlet and an air chiller exhaust air inlet. A potable water supply inlet supplies potable water to the air to water heat exchanger, which transfers heat to the potable water, and a potable water supply outlet supplies heated potable water, such as to a galley insert or galley appliance, for example. An exhaust air outlet vents cooled exhaust air from the air to water heat exchanger.

Abstract: A mobile galley cart including a wheeled insulated housing having a door configured to open to access to the interior of the housing, a thermoelectric chiller mounted near the bottom of the cart, cold air ducting in fluid communication with the thermoelectric chiller and opening to the interior of the housing, and warm air ducting including a warm air exhaust arranged to exhaust warm air from the mobile galley cart. A mobile galley cart system including a cart configured to dock at a separate service wall to provide service connections therebetween.

Abstract: A solid-state cooling apparatus for a galley installed in an aircraft that includes at least one storage enclosure for containing chilled beverage and/or foods for storage and a solid-state air-to-air thermoelectric device having a hot side and a cold side mounted in the galley and having at least one fan for circulating chilled air in proximity to the storage enclosure. A waste heat capture device is provided and includes a hot air outlet for discharging waste heat from the hot side of the cooling thermoelectric devices into the aircraft exterior to the galley.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling airflow in a duct of an aircraft galley chiller includes first and second legs having ends connected together to form a vane, and free ends configured to be attached within the duct. A free end of one first leg may have a beveled edge, and the free end of the other leg may have a flat edge, and each leg may have one or more score lines to aid cutting lengths of the first and second legs. The legs are connected together at a predetermined fixed angle, or at an adjustable angle, such as by an adjustable hinge. A pair of opposing vanes may be attached within opposing sides of the duct to form a venturi within the duct.

Abstract: A mobile galley cart including a wheeled insulated housing having a door configured to open to access to the interior of the housing, a thermoelectric chiller mounted near the bottom of the cart, cold air ducting in fluid communication with the thermoelectric chiller and opening to the interior of the housing, and warm air ducting including a warm air exhaust arranged to exhaust warm air from the mobile galley cart. A mobile galley cart system including a cart configured to dock at a separate service wall to provide service connections therebetween.

Abstract: A chilled air distribution system for an aircraft galley service cart, comprising a first plenum on an upper surface of the service cart for directing chilled air over said cart. The cart bay door also includes a pair of diverting curved vanes along a vertical surface to divert air from one surface, such as a front door, to an adjacent surface such as a side wall. The side walls may be provided with a pair of rub strips for guiding air to the rear of the cart, where a return plenum vacuums and recirculates the chilled air back to the first plenum.

Abstract: A solid state liquid-chilled bar unit for an aircraft galley includes a multilevel frame dimensioned to fit the galley and including stacked slots, each slot configured to fit a compartment. Warmer compartments include a liquid thermoelectric device (LTD) with “cold” and “hot” sides and a liquid heat exchanger (LHE) connected to the cold side. Scroll fans circulate air over a finned heat exchanger (on the LTD's hot side) to heat the compartment. Chiller compartments include LTDs with an LHE connected to the “hot” side, and may be bottle coolers or chiller drawers. Bottle coolers chill bottles or other containers via conductive contact with the LTD “cold” side, while chiller drawers chill air by circulating it over a finned heat exchanger on the “cold” side. Unchilled drawers store food, drink, or supplies at or near the ambient cabin temperature.

Abstract: A potable water supply and waste system for an aircraft galley is provided that includes a potable water distribution manifold in fluid communication with a potable water source. The potable water distribution manifold is configured to distribute water from the potable water source to a galley insert in a work deck of the aircraft galley. A galley insert drain line is connected to the galley insert for draining waste water from the galley insert into a sump. The sump, in turn, is connected to a main drain line for the potable water supply and waste system that is positioned below the work deck. A rotary, cruciform valve is connected in fluid communication with the potable water distribution manifold and the galley insert. The cruciform valve is selectively configured to allow the potable water source to supply or drain the entire system through the same manifold.

Abstract: A chilled air plenum system for aircraft galleys adapted to be connected to a food cart bay for a food cart includes an air return plenum having a return airflow duct with a plurality of midline primary apertures and a plurality of secondary lateral side edge apertures for receiving return airflow from the food cart. The return airflow duct also includes a central lower resilient back stop and lateral side edge resilient back stops to prevent a cart from impacting the rear of the food cart bay. The return air plenum cab be at least partially integrated into a galley back wall structure.

Abstract: An improved monument structure combining an integrated construction system with carbon fiber reinforced composites to form an exoskeleton chassis that significantly reduces the build times, manufacturing skill level requirements, post processing activities, and overall weight of a given aircraft monument.