Passenger Or Crew Accommodation Patents (Class 244/118.5)
  • Patent number: 10688890
    Abstract: Seat assemblies are provided. In one example, a seat assembly includes a seat frame. The seat frame includes a seat structure portion and a backrest structure portion pivotally coupled to the seat structure portion for movement between a substantially upright seat position and a substantially reclined seat position. An upper back shell panel is coupled to the seat frame. A lower back skirt panel has an upper edge portion and is disposed adjacent to the upper back shell panel such that a gap is present between an upper edge portion of the lower back skirt panel and an outer surface of the upper back shell panel. The lower back skirt panel and the upper back shell panel allow relative movement between each other during movement between the substantially upright seat position and the substantially reclined seat position while maintaining at least a portion of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: Jeremiah Mallette
  • Patent number: 10676083
    Abstract: Described is a system for prediction and active compensation of occupant motor response in a vehicle accident. The system uses a spinal reflex model to generate a stimulus based on an accident scenario of an occupant in a vehicle, the stimulus being a set of proprioceptive signals induced by the accident scenario. A neuromuscular model then determines activation and contraction dynamics based on the stimulus. The activation and contraction dynamics represent muscle contraction forces spanning a skeletal system of the occupant. A musculoskeletal model then generates a predicted motor response of the occupant based on the activation and contraction dynamics. The predicted motor response can be used for a variety of purposes, such as initiating active compensation in a vehicle or modifying airline cabin design parameters to decrease the likelihood of injury to the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Vincent De Sapio, Jaehoon Choe, Matthew E. Phillips
  • Patent number: 10669028
    Abstract: A system for identifying forgotten items is disclosed. In embodiments, the system includes one or more item detectors. The item detectors may be configured to determine a calibration value of a stowage area in a calibration mode, and further configured to determine a check value of the stowage area in a check mode. The system also includes a controller configured to receive the calibration value and the check value, calculate a difference value between the calibration value and the check value, and compare the difference value to a threshold value. If the difference value is greater than the threshold value, the controller is further configured to generate one or more found item signals which indicate the presence of a found forgotten item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Kuyper, Ian L. Frost, Shirley E. Govea Bravo
  • Patent number: 10661907
    Abstract: A system for providing compressed air to pneumatic loads in a vehicle such as an aircraft, the system includes a gas turbine engine having; a) an engine compressor with an air inlet coupled to an interior of a cabin of the vehicle; and b) a load compressor coupled to the gas turbine engine having a compressed air outlet coupled to one or more pneumatic loads of the vehicle. One or more electrically driven cabin air compressors (CAC) have compressed air outlets coupled to the one or more pneumatic loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Blumer, David K Jan, Cristian Anghel
  • Patent number: 10661879
    Abstract: An aircraft that includes a body that defines a cabin interior, a divider member that divides the cabin interior into a cargo hold and a passenger cabin, front and back rows of seats positioned in the passenger cabin, a forward door that is pivotable between a closed position and an open position, and an aft door that is pivotable between a closed position and an open position. Pivoting one of the forward door or the aft door from the closed to the open position causes the other of the forward door or the aft door to pivot from the closed position to the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: SAFRAN CABIN INC.
    Inventors: Eric Heimbach, Christopher Schuttera, Scott Savian, Ian Geoffrey Scoley
  • Patent number: 10647221
    Abstract: A set includes seats, each seat includes a chair and a lateral pedestal arranged laterally on one side of the chair. The chairs and the lateral pedestals are arranged in a staggered configuration in two parallel rows. Each seat has a covering shell determining a rear surface in a rear zone of the chair and determining a front surface in a front zone of the lateral pedestal. A space between a rear surface of a front seat and a front surface of a rear seat forms a passage for an occupant of the rear seat. In a vertical cross section the rear surface and the front surface have convex profiles facing one another, a width of the passage increasing in the direction of decreasing heights from a height of minimum width, and increasing in the direction of increasing heights from the height of minimum width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: STELIA AEROSPACE
    Inventor: Benoît Trillaud
  • Patent number: 10641680
    Abstract: The present system and simulation environment calibrate vibrations. The system and simulation environment comprise a synthesizer for generating an electrical signal and a transducer for converting the electrical signal into vibrations propagated through a physical component and refracted in a physical space of the simulation environment. The system also comprises a vibration sensor measuring the vibrations propagated in the physical component. The system further comprises a configurator for calibrating the electrical signal generated by the synthesizer based on a vibration target for a simulated event and vibrations measured by the vibration sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: CAE INC.
    Inventor: Nicolas Marcotte
  • Patent number: 10633074
    Abstract: To be able to transmit higher forces when retaining movable components on board an aircraft, a retaining system includes a support structure with a first retaining area and a second retaining area having a movable locking element, and a movable component with a locking receptacle forming a locking device with the locking element, and a retaining device. The movable component is movably attached to the first retaining area with the retaining device, and the movable component can be locked on the second retaining area with the locking device. The at least one movable locking element can be moved between an open setting (SOFF) and a locked setting (SVER), wherein the at least one movable locking element engages with the locking receptacle in the locked setting, so that the movable component is temporarily immovably retained, and allows the movable component to move in the open setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Seibt
  • Patent number: 10633075
    Abstract: In order to facilitate the thermoacoustic insulation of an aircraft portion, a thermoacoustic insulation module for an aircraft comprises a mat and a load-bearing structure detachably attached to the mat and supporting the mat in a curved shape, with an axis of curvature parallel to a longitudinal direction of the mat. A thermoacoustic insulation method for insulating an aircraft portion comprises a step of inserting the thermoacoustic insulation module into the aircraft portion, followed by a step of detaching the mat from the load-bearing structure, followed by a step of attaching the mat to an aircraft structure delimiting the aircraft portion, followed by a step of removing the load-bearing structure from the aircraft portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Bernard Guering, Matthieu De Kergommeaux
  • Patent number: 10611480
    Abstract: An overhead aircraft passenger service unit, which is configured to be placed above the passenger seats within an aircraft cabin, comprises at least one cavity for housing at least one oxygen mask and at least one removable cover, which at least partially covers an opening of the cavity. The removable cover houses and/or supports at least one functional component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: GOODRICH LIGHTING SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Andre Hessling-Von Heimendahl, Stefan Becker
  • Patent number: 10604260
    Abstract: An aircraft seat structure comprises: a first seat unit comprising a seat region that includes a seat that can be changed between a seat configuration and a bed configuration, and a protruding region that protrudes adjacent to the seat region in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the seat region, which are surrounded by a plurality of partition walls; and a second seat unit comprising a seat region that includes a seat that can be changed between a seat configuration and a bed configuration, wherein the protruding region of the first seat unit and the protruding region of the second seat unit are formed so as to protrude in opposite directions relative to each seat region, and the first seat unit and the second seat unit are arranged in such a manner that longitudinal directions thereof match a front-rear direction of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: JAMCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshihisa Kasuya
  • Patent number: 10604263
    Abstract: An airplane is provided. The airplane includes a pressurized volume and an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system includes a compressor configured to receive a flow of a first medium, a turbine downstream of the compressor in a flow path of the first medium, a first valve that diverts the flow of the first medium around the turbine, a second valve that provides a second medium to the turbine, and a third valve downstream of the turbine that directs an outlet flow of the turbine towards the pressurized volume and that directs the outlet flow of the turbine away from the pressurized volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Harold W. Hipsky
  • Patent number: 10587122
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an electrical interconnect system for a vehicle such as an aircraft or marine/submarine vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventor: Graham P. Bruce
  • Patent number: 10583925
    Abstract: An aft rest area assembly is positioned within an aft section of an internal cabin of an aircraft. The aft rest area assembly may include a lavatory section including at least one lavatory, a first galley station positioned on a first outboard side of the lavatory section, and a second galley station positioned on a second outboard side of the lavatory. The first outboard side is opposite from the second outboard side. The first galley station is separated from the second galley station by the lavatory section. The lavatory section may also include an egress flow director that forwardly extends into one or more egress paths of the internal cabin. The egress path(s) connect to at least one emergency exit door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Darren Carl McIntosh
  • Patent number: 10577074
    Abstract: An aircraft comprises a cockpit, a passenger cabin, and an aircraft monument. The aircraft monument contains a hallway connecting the cockpit and the passenger cabin, wherein the aircraft monument is formed of a plurality of walls joined together to form a unitary structure. The plurality of walls includes a first wall having a first doorway and a second wall having a second doorway. A secondary security door is within the second doorway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Timothy T. King
  • Patent number: 10579861
    Abstract: A virtual window device, particularly for use in an airplane, includes a bezel, or a frame, with a display arranged within the bezel, or within the frame; a distance sensor unit configured to produce at least one first distance signal indicating a first distance to an object; a first camera unit configured to capture a live video of a real scene; and a computing unit configured to select, based at least on the at least one first distance signal, a section of the live video of the real scene captured by the first camera unit; wherein the computing unit is further configured to control the display to display the selected section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Carsten Kohlmeier-Beckmann
  • Patent number: 10551837
    Abstract: A first sensitivity level is used to interpret an input signal received from an input device in a vehicle while the vehicle is in a first region. A second sensitivity level is used to interpret the input signal received from the input device in the vehicle while the vehicle is in a second region, wherein the second sensitivity level is greater than the first sensitivity level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Johnson Cutler, Alexander David Selwa, Todd Reichert
  • Patent number: 10543896
    Abstract: A decompression device has at least one decompression member which is arranged on a supporting structure and which, in the event of differential pressure of a predetermined level, opens an opening in the supporting structure that acts as a connection between two volumes, wherein the decompression member can move between a retention position, in which the decompression member closes the opening, and a released position, in which the decompression member opens the opening, and has a locking arrangement which, when in use, fixes the decompression member in the retention position. The locking arrangement is provided with at least one locking element, which is arranged on the supporting structure, and the decompression member is kept in the retention position indirectly by the locking element interacting with an air conduction part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Premium Aerotec GmbH
    Inventors: Sergej Zeeb, Sergiu Irimie, Matthias Leidescher, Peter Tyroller
  • Patent number: 10526092
    Abstract: An airplane is provided. The airplane includes a motor-driven compressor assembly. The motor-driven compressor assembly includes a shaft, a motor, a compressor, and a turbine coupled to the compressor via the shaft. The motor provides a first power to the compressor via the shaft. The turbine receives and expands a second medium to provide a second power to the compressor via the shaft. The compressor receives and compresses a first medium in accordance with the first power provided by the turbine and the second power provided by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gregory L. DeFrancesco
  • Patent number: 10518862
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter John Leslie Burd
  • Patent number: 10513339
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and articles of manufactures for aircraft cabin temperature control using temperature data from mobile electronic devices are described herein. An example mobile electronic device described herein includes a transceiver to receive a climate characteristic value measured by a personal mobile electronic device in a cabin of an aircraft and a cabin air manager to calculate an updated climate characteristic setting for an environmental control system (ECS) of the aircraft based on a current climate characteristic setting of the ECS and the climate characteristic value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Eric Lee Nicks
  • Patent number: 10513338
    Abstract: An aircraft cabin area comprises a door aisle extending between two opposite aircraft doors and an aircraft monument arrangement. The door aisle has a door section adjacent each aircraft door. The monument arrangement comprises a first monument facing the door aisle in a monument section of the door aisle with an access side of the first monument. The monument section extends between the two opposite door sections. The monument arrangement further comprises at least one first trolley parking place for accommodating at least one trolley. The first trolley parking place is provided in the region of the door aisle monument section adjacent the first monument access side to enlarge a base area of the first monument when a trolley is parked therein. Further, at least one second trolley parking place for accommodating at least one trolley is provided in the region of at least one of the door sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventor: Joerg Weifenbach
  • Patent number: 10507924
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for installing seats in a passenger vehicle using seat tracks and seat fittings. The seat track fittings may include a sleeve (22) with a cylindrical threaded opening (24), a double effect post (26) with an external lower thread (28) and an internal threaded portion (36). The external lower thread is configured to cooperate with the cylindrical threaded opening of the sleeve. The seat track fitting also has a track stud (38) with a lower flange (46) that is configured to cooperate with a seat track (10) and an upper external thread (42) configured to cooperate with the internal threaded portion of the double effect post. The double effect post external lower thread and the track stud external thread have inverse hands, such that rotation of the double effect post tightens the post and the track stud simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Saftran Seats
    Inventor: Jean-Charles Marais
  • Patent number: 10506339
    Abstract: In an illustrative embodiment, an integrated speaker-light unit includes a base unit adapted to be mounted to a fixture of an aircraft, a speaker unit disposed proximate the base unit, a horn element having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end positioned proximate the speaker unit and defining a first aperture, and the distal end defining a second aperture, where a greatest measurement of the second aperture is larger than a greatest measurement of the first aperture, an LED unit disposed at least partially in the horn element, and a housing element at least partially surrounding the horn element. The greatest measurement of the second aperture may be less than 4 inches. The base unit may be mounted to a passenger service unit such that the integrated speaker-light unit is presented as a passenger reading light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Dunn, Eric Johannessen, Gannon T. Gambeski, John Terence Barker, Ronnie R. Moss, Jesse Richard Peck, Robert Linton, Jonathan Todzia, Donald LaSala, Luis Sam
  • Patent number: 10501187
    Abstract: In providing an aircraft lavatory unit capable of suppressing cost and time for installation in a case where a lavatory unit and an ascending/descending unit are to be installed on the aircraft, the present invention provides an aircraft lavatory unit in which a lavatory area and an ascending/descending area are integrally formed, wherein an ascending/descending mechanism which connects to an upper floor or a ceiling space of the aircraft lavatory unit inside the ascending/descending area is provided on a wall surface dividing the lavatory area and the ascending/descending area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: JAMCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kouichi Ooi, Yoshihisa Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 10494079
    Abstract: A decompression panel assembly for use in an aircraft includes a body portion comprising a plurality of frame members defining a plurality of openings in the body portion. The decompression panel assembly also includes a baffle member integrally formed with the plurality of frame members such that the baffle member removably obstructs at least one opening of the plurality of openings. The baffle member is configured for at least partial displacement from the at least one opening during a decompression event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: David E. Sterling, James Scott Griffing, Thomas Seth Perkins, Hannah Katherine Beck, Adam Robert Weston, Sara Lynn Walter
  • Patent number: 10492615
    Abstract: An apparatus for waste disposal comprises a seat bottom comprising a seat body having a topside for supporting a user and an underside opposite to the topside. The underside comprises a moveable bottom portion. One or more arms are attached between a bottom of the seat body and a top of the moveable bottom portion. Each arm has a first end and a second end, with the first end of each arm attached to the bottom of the seat body and the second end of each arm attached to the top of the moveable bottom portion. A first waste bag support is provided on the bottom of the seat body and a second waste bag support is provided on the top of the moveable bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: SNAPBACK SEAT COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Micah Ciprian, Gavin Hamblin
  • Patent number: 10485727
    Abstract: A chair is disclosed including a seat and a back that is adapted to tilt back with the seat when a user of the chair leans back. A lumbar stimulation device having pairs of massage rollers is attached within the chair back to a gas cylinder bracket that extends vertically through the chair back for attachment to a chair base lying below the chair seat. A push-button actuated gas cylinder is connected to the gas cylinder bracket inside the chair back. A push-button located on one arm of the chair is connected to the gas cylinder by a cable. When the push-button is depressed, the gas cylinder is actuated to generate a pushing force for pushing the pairs of massage rollers of the lumbar stimulation device in a substantially horizontal direction through the chair back to apply a pressure against the user's back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Inventor: James E Grove
  • Patent number: 10464677
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a modular lavatory system for replacing a conventional lavatory monument in an aircraft cabin includes a base lavatory module including a fore sidewall, an aft sidewall, and an aisle wall that form a housing enclosing a toilet unit. A first sidewall of the fore sidewall and the aft sidewall may include a widening region positioned above a passenger seat headrest height. The modular lavatory system may include at least two interchangeable modules configured for mounting against the other sidewall of the base lavatory module. A footprint of the base lavatory module may be smaller than the conventional lavatory monument footprint, such that an extra cabin space is created proximate the other sidewall of the base lavatory module after replacement of the conventional lavatory monument with the modular lavatory system. The at least two interchangeable modules may each be dimensioned for installation within the extra space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Jefferey McKee, Trevor Skelly
  • Patent number: 10457397
    Abstract: An aircraft seat structure comprises: a first seat unit comprising a seat region that includes a seat that can be changed between a seat configuration and a bed configuration, and a protruding region that protrudes adjacent to the seat region in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the seat region, which are surrounded by a plurality of partition walls; and a second seat unit comprising a seat region that includes a seat that can be changed between a seat configuration and a bed configuration, wherein the protruding region of the first seat unit and the protruding region of the second seat unit are formed so as to protrude in opposite directions relative to each seat region, and the first seat unit and the second seat unit are arranged in such a manner that longitudinal directions thereof match a front-rear direction of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: JAMCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshihisa Kasuya
  • Patent number: 10457400
    Abstract: A mixing device that is particularly suitable for use in an aircraft air-conditioning system comprising a cold air supply line adapted to supply cold air to the mixing device. A first recirculation air supply line is adapted to supply recirculation air to the mixing device. A mixing chamber is connected to the cold air supply line and the first recirculation air supply line and is adapted to supply the cold air supplied to the mixing device via the cold air supply line with the recirculation air supplied to the mixing device via the first recirculation air supply line. The first recirculation air supply line has a heat transfer portion which is thermoconductively connected to an area of a wall delimiting the mixing chamber that is at risk of icing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Dietrich Lampe, Thomas Scherer
  • Patent number: 10451353
    Abstract: An electronics cooling system for an aircraft includes a heat exchanger comprising a coolant circuit, an air circuit, and a fuel circuit such that each of the circuits is in thermal communication with at least one of the other circuits. The coolant circuit is in thermal communication with one or more aircraft electronics. The air circuit is in fluid communication with at least one air source. The fuel circuit is in fluid communication with a fuel tank between the fuel tank and an engine of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Debabrata Pal
  • Patent number: 10450068
    Abstract: An aircraft luggage system comprising a luggage compartment which comprises an upper side directed towards a ceiling of an aircraft when the luggage compartment is assembled in the aircraft, a lower side directed towards a floor of the aircraft, a rear side directed towards an outer contour of the aircraft, and two side faces connect the upper side to the lower side. The lower side of the luggage compartment is rigidly connected to the side faces and the rear side of the luggage compartment. A flap, movable between a closed position and an open position, is configured to make an inner space of the luggage compartment accessible or to close it. At least one additional luggage compartment is arranged adjacent to at least one of the upper side and the lower side of the luggage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Sabrina Moje, Matthias Breuer, Paul Vine, Uwe Schneider
  • Patent number: 10442535
    Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an aircraft monument is adapted for being mounted against an aft-facing bulkhead of the aircraft. The monument may have an aisle-accessible compartment that includes comestible item dispensers and lower footwell regions to accommodate the passengers seated immediately aft of the monument. The monument may also include an aft-facing wall that is readily removal during a maintenance operation so as to facilitate servicing of a heater or chiller unit disposed inside the monument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Jefferey McKee
  • Patent number: 10434342
    Abstract: An oxygen supply system includes a container housing having a container door, a latch controller coupled to a latch of the container door and configured to control the latch to releasably open the container door, a microcontroller coupled to the latch controller and configured to output a first latch deployment signal to the latch controller to cause the latch controller to open the latch, a pressure sensor coupled to the latch controller and configured to output a second latch deployment signal to the latch controller to cause the latch controller to open the latch, and an energy storage coupled to the microcontroller and the pressure sensor and configured to supply the microcontroller and the pressure sensor with electrical energy. The microcontroller includes built-in test equipment (BITE) configured to monitor and test the operability of one or more of the microcontroller, the latch controller, the pressure sensor and the energy storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Klose, Frank Leuenberger
  • Patent number: 10384785
    Abstract: An aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes a pressurized volume and an air conditioning system. The air conditioning system operates in a first mode or a second mode. The first mode includes when a first medium and a second medium and are mixed and provided to the pressurized volume. The second mode includes when only the first medium is provided to the pressurized volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Louis J. Bruno, Diane G. Drew
  • Patent number: 10377492
    Abstract: An illuminating ceiling system for an internal cabin of a vehicle includes a plurality of ceiling panels. Each of the ceiling panels includes a lighting assembly secured to a first portion that overlaps a second portion of adjacent one of the ceiling panels. The lighting assembly is configured to emit light into the internal cabin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Sunghoon Lee
  • Patent number: 10377494
    Abstract: A divider assembly that includes a main body portion having a lower section and an upper section and a removable panel having front and back surfaces. The upper section tapers in width in an upward direction and the main body portion includes front and back surfaces. The removable panel is removably secured to the upper section on the front surface of the main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: C&D ZODIAC, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph Merrick, Ian Geoffrey Scoley, Eric Heimbach, Jean-Claude Bourgade, Didier Poho
  • Patent number: 10358219
    Abstract: A modular lavatory monument assembly configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft. The modular lavatory monument assembly includes first, second, third and fourth walls that cooperate to form an outer shell that defines a lavatory interior. The fourth wall includes an alcove extending outwardly therefrom. The assembly also includes a sink module positioned in the alcove, a mirror module positioned above the sink module in the alcove, and a door positioned on one of the second or third walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: C&D ZODIAC, INC.
    Inventors: Scott Savian, Ian Geoffrey Scoley
  • Patent number: 10351224
    Abstract: A mounting system for mounting an external structure to an aircraft includes a plurality of first mounting structures coupled to the aircraft and at least one link coupled to each first mounting structure of the plurality of mounting structures. The mounting system also includes a second mounting structure positioned proximate the at least one link, wherein the second mounting structure includes at least one aperture defined therein. An eccentric bearing is positioned in the at least one aperture and is configured to couple the second mounting structure to the at least one link. The eccentric bearing includes a bore extending therethrough that is offset from an axial center of the eccentric bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Thomas J. Harleman
  • Patent number: 10343779
    Abstract: An aircraft interior door assembly (10, 20, 30) for selectively increasing usable space within an aircraft lavatory (1) adjacent a passenger doorway area (2) of the aircraft or in the passenger doorway area (2) adjacent the lavatory (1) comprises a door element (12, 22, 32) and a door element supporting structure (13, 23, 33). The door element (12, 22, 32) is rotatably mounted to the door element supporting structure (13, 23, 33) so as to be at least rotatable between first and second closed positions relative to the door element supporting structure (13, 23, 33). The door element (12, 22, 32) has the same configuration in both of its closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Breuer, Sabrina Moje
  • Patent number: 10329008
    Abstract: A structural assembly including a first member having an external side and an internal side, the first member defining a first member through-bore, a second member having an external side and an internal side, the second member defining a second member through-bore aligned with the first member through-bore, and a mechanical fastening system including a bushing at least partially received in the first member through-bore, the bushing defining a bushing through-bore and including a flange, wherein the flange is positioned in a gap between the internal side of the first member and the external side of the second member, a nut plate connected to the internal side of the second member, the nut plate defining a clearance bore aligned with the second member through-bore and the bushing through-bore, the nut plate including a nut, and a bolt extending through the bushing through-bore and into threaded engagement with the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Steven P. Walker, Christopher E. Plass, Michael K. Klein, John V. Salmi
  • Patent number: 10329023
    Abstract: An aircraft turboprop engine (310) including at least a low-pressure body (12) and a high-pressure body (14), possibly also an intermediate-pressure body. At least one of the bodies includes a compressor. The low-pressure body drives a first gearbox (16) The turboprop engine also includes at least one load compressor (60) for supplying air to an air-conditioning circuit of an aircraft cabin. A rotor (61) of the load compressor is coupled to the low-pressure body. The load compressor (60) includes an air inlet (62) connected to a conduit (72) to bleed air from the compressor of the turboprop engine when all of the aforementioned bodies include only a single compressor, or from the compressor of the low-pressure body or the compressor of the intermediate-pressure body of the turboprop engine when all of the bodies include at least two compressors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignees: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES, SAFRAN, SAFRAN POWER UNITS
    Inventors: Nicolas Claude Parmentier, Pierre Froment, Jean-Francois Rideau, Bruno Thoraval
  • Patent number: 10330334
    Abstract: A pressure equalization vent for use in an aircraft assembly is provided. The pressure equalization vent includes an opening having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The vent further includes a plurality of louvers positioned within the opening. Each louver is positioned a predetermined distance from an adjacent louver to form a gap therebetween. Each louver includes an airfoil-shaped cross-section configured to increase airflow efficiency across the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Marcus K. Richardson, Clyde Robert Tuohimaa, Michael James Tonks
  • Patent number: 10315768
    Abstract: The invention relates to an overhead luggage compartment for an aircraft, comprising an upper luggage compartment element, a lower luggage compartment element movable between a locked and an open position, a holding device for holding the lower luggage compartment element in the closed position, a lifting spring for supporting the movement of the lower luggage compartment element from the open position to the closed position, and a retaining device for fixing the lifting spring in the tensioned state in the open position of the lower luggage compartment element. An operating handle for releasing the retaining device in the open position of the lower luggage compartment element is provided, wherein the lower luggage compartment element is movable, optionally with support by the lifting spring or with the lifting spring fixed in a tensioned state, from the open position to the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: FACC AG
    Inventor: Jakob Schörkhuber
  • Patent number: 10301025
    Abstract: A modular lavatory monument assembly configured to be positioned in the interior of an aircraft. The modular lavatory monument assembly includes first, second, third and fourth walls that cooperate to form an outer shell that defines a lavatory interior. The fourth wall includes an alcove extending outwardly therefrom. The assembly also includes a sink module positioned in the alcove, a mirror module positioned above the sink module in the alcove, and a door positioned on one of the second or third walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: C&D ZODIAC, INC.
    Inventor: Scott Savian
  • Patent number: 10287016
    Abstract: Lavatories on-board a vehicle, and in particular to a lavatory unit for use by persons with reduced mobility on-board a vehicle are described. The lavatory unit includes a lavatory housing structure enclosing a lavatory interior space, a door opening in the lavatory housing structure, a toilet assembly inside the lavatory interior space, and a transition seating support for a user. The transition seating support provides a first transfer position and a second transfer position. In the first transfer position, in an open door state the transition seating support is directly accessible for a person sitting in a wheelchair that is located at least partly outside the lavatory unit such that the person can transfer to the transition seating support and vice versa, and in the second transfer position, a person sitting on the transition seating support can transfer to the toilet assembly and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Seibt
  • Patent number: 10279887
    Abstract: A decompression panel assembly for use in an aircraft includes a frame including a first surface and an opposing second surface, wherein the frame defines a grille opening and at least partially defines a flow path opening that are each defined between the first and second surfaces. The decompression panel assembly also includes a first panel and a second panel pivotally coupled together at a central hinge. A retention plate is releasably coupled to the first and second panels and is configured to move between a closed position and an open position. The first and second panels at least partially cover the grille opening in a planar position when the retention plate is in the closed position, and the first and second panels move away from the grille opening to a folded position when the retention plate is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Douglas Alan Brown, Adam Robert Weston, Brian Tatsuo Imada
  • Patent number: 10279912
    Abstract: A passenger seating arrangement includes at least one seating row, the (or each) row including at least a first seat located beside a second seat or an aisle and a partition assembly located between the first and second seats, or between the first seat and the aisle. The partition assembly includes a partition wall located between the first and second seats, or between the first seat and the aisle. The wall defines an opening and a screen is slidably movable with respect to the wall between an open state in which the opening is exposed by the screen, and a closed state in which the opening is closed by the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Thompson Aero Seating Limited
    Inventors: Aaron Robinson, David Glenny
  • Patent number: 10260371
    Abstract: A method for providing an anti-icing airflow, including extracting a compressed airflow from a core flow path of an engine, heating the compressed airflow, mixing the heated compressed airflow with air extracted from a bypass flow path to create the anti-icing airflow having a higher temperature and pressure than that of the air extracted from the bypass flow path, and circulating the anti-icing airflow away from the bypass flow path. Also, an assembly located at least in part inside a turbofan engine and including a heat exchanger, a flow mixing device having a first inlet in the bypass flow path, a second inlet and an outlet, a first conduit providing fluid communication between the heat exchanger and a compressed air portion of the core flow path, a second conduit providing fluid communication between the heat exchanger and the second inlet, and a third conduit in fluid communication with the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Nashed Youssef, Andreas Eleftheriou, Daniel Alecu