Patent Application
20160221307
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to various uses of glass surfaces in passenger transportation vehicles. Particular embodiments find use in connection with aircraft cabins, and specifically, galleys, monuments, and lavatories. The glass surfaces can provide a protective surface, can improve the appearance of surfaces, and can improve cleanliness of surfaces.
Passenger transportation vehicles often experience high passenger volume. For example, airlines carry hundreds of passengers over distances that are hundreds of miles, and they run routes many times a day. This volume brings catering requirements, particularly for long flights or travel times. This volume also brings other passenger comfort requirements.
Typically, aircraft galleys are not designed to be aesthetically pleasing. They are generally focused on utility and meeting Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements. In fact, the aesthetic possibilities for a galley work deck are limited due to food and health reasons. For example, painted work decks present a risk of paint chips flaking off into the food being prepared. Nonetheless, galleys are an area that many passengers view during boarding and while waiting for lavatory use. Galley work decks/countertops often experience dents and scratches. The work decks/countertops are often manufactured of aluminum, which is a lightweight material that is subject to easy damage. Some airlines may wish to present a cleaner and more elegant look to these areas.
Additionally, aircraft monuments also suffer over time from impact and scratching. Monuments are typically made out of panel materials that have a soft nature. Monument walls may also be subject to fingerprints, smearing, bumps, scratches, indentations, bacteria accumulation, and any number of other undesirable environmental challenges. Monument walls may also be manufactured with a non-smooth surface, such that the material has small bumps and ridges that can capture dirt. Some airlines may wish to present a cleaner and more elegant look to these areas as well.
Other aircraft surfaces may also experience wear, such as lavatory countertops, cabinets, and container surfaces. Virtually any aircraft or other vehicle surface may suffer over time from impact and scratching.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a laminated glass surface for an aircraft or other passenger transportation vehicle surface. Specific features may include a glass substrate that is associated with an adhesive layer to form a laminated glass. The glass substrate may be an ultrathin glass substrate and/or a strengthened glass substrate. The laminated glass may then be secured to an aircraft surface.
In some examples, there is provided a laminated glass surface for an aircraft or other vehicle surface, comprising an ultrathin layer of glass; an adhesive layer; wherein the ultrathin layer of glass is laminated to the surface via the adhesive layer. In other examples, there is provided a glass surface for covering one or more aircraft surfaces, comprising a layer of strengthened glass; an adhesive layer; wherein the layer of strengthened glass is laminated to the aircraft surface via the adhesive layer. In either example, the adhesive layer may be a transparent sheet of adhesive.
The surfaces may be a galley countertop work surface, an aircraft monument wall, a decorative surface, wood, veneer, a painted surface, a printed pattern, a touch screen interface, an electrochromic material, or any combination thereof. The glass laminate can provide a protective covering to the surface. The glass laminate can provide a fire-resistance barrier on the surface.
The laminated glass surface may comprise one or more lighting elements. For example, the one or more lighting elements may display a status of one or more retainers.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a laminated glass surface for an aircraft surface. Glass is a generally scratch resistant material. However, glass is also prone to shattering upon impact because it is brittle. The present inventors have determined that using a glass laminate system allows its use in what would otherwise be considered an unacceptable environment for introducing a glass surface—passenger transportation vehicles. It should be understood that although the embodiments are described in this document with respect to use in an aircraft as the passenger transportation vehicle, it should be understood that this disclosure is equally usable applicable to other passenger transportation vehicles, such as trains, marine vessels (boats or cruise ships), RVs, or any other type of vehicle.
In one example, an aircraft surface may be covered with a laminate glass 12 as described herein. The aircraft surface may be a monument wall 14, a galley work surface 16, another countertop surface in the vehicle, any other aircraft surface, or any combination thereof.
The transparent and scratch resistant nature of the glass provides a protective surface to the monument wall 14, the galley work surface 16, or any other surface. The glass laminate 12 is not penetrable by spills, stains, smears, fingerprint oils, or other undesirable sources of contact. The glass laminate 12 can be provided as a single layer over the surface, avoiding the presence of cracks or crevices that can harbor undesirable contact fluids or bacteria. This can also avoid the presence of gaps between various panels on a surface, such as a monument. One single cleaning swipe may be used to clean an entire surface. This can be more hygienic and can save aircraft turn-around time. The fire resistant nature of the glass laminate 12 may also enhance the fire resistance or non-flammability of the structure being covered. This fire-blocking can add an additional safety benefit.
In one example, the laminate glass 12 described herein may be manufactured from ultrathin glass. For example, the ultrathin glass may be as thin as a sheet of paper. In one example, the ultrathin layer of glass may be between about 25μ to about 500μ thick. In one example, the ultrathin layer of glass may be about 25-100μ thick. In another example, the ultrathin layer of glass may be about 100-200μ thick. In another example, the ultrathin layer of glass may be about 200μ thick. In another example, the ultrathin layer of glass may be about 200-500μ thick. In another example, the ultrathin layer of glass may be about 500μ thick. In another example, the ultrathin layer of glass may be about 1 mm thick. One example of ultrathin glass may be manufactured by Corning, of New York. For example, its Willow® Glass provides a thin and flexible glass substrate. This material is currently being used for smart phones, tablets, touch sensors, and other electronic devices. It has not been used as a surface cover for an aircraft or other vehicle surface. Other possible options for the ultrathin glass substrate include but are not limited to Schott AF32 eco or Schott D263 T eco, both manufactured by Scott Corp., of New York. It should be understood, however, that other alternatives or other types of ultrathin glass could be used and are considered within the scope of this disclosure.
Because an ultrathin layer of glass is so thin, it can easily be drilled into. If used to provide a surface for an aircraft monument panel, the manufacturing process of the panel, the monument, and the overall galley assembly need not be changed. The same rivets and fasteners that are used for galley assembly may be used on panels that have a glass laminate applied thereto without causing shattering of the glass substrate. Additionally or alternatively, surfaces that have had a polycarbonate mirror attached thereto may benefit from using the embodiments described herein.
The laminate glass 12 described herein may additionally or alternatively be a chemically strengthened glass. A chemically strengthened glass generally uses an ion exchange in order to make the glass more scratch resistant and stronger. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand this term, the related chemistry, and how to determine whether glass has been chemically strengthened, such that further description or details of the processes for manufacturing “strengthened glass” are not believed to be required. Chemically strengthened glass is usually slightly thicker than the ultrathin glass ranges provided above. In one example, the strengthened glass may be about 1-5 mm thick. In another example, the strengthened glass may be up to about 2-3 mm thick. One example of strengthened glass may Corning Gorilla glass, manufactured by Corning of New York. Other nonlimiting examples include but are not limited to Schott “Xensation,” manufactured by Schott Corp of, New York or Abrisa “Dragon tail,” manufactured by Abrisa Technologies, of Santa Paula, Calif. It should be understood, however, that other alternatives or other types of strengthened glass could be used and are considered within the scope of this disclosure.
In some examples, the strengthened glass may be a thicker layer of glass, and may provide a thicker strengthened glass laminate (as compared to an ultrathin glass substrate). This example may thus find particular use in connection with an aircraft galley. Aircraft galley surfaces experience a number of impacts, and the strengthened glass laminate can provide more impact resistance, a stronger surface, and an easier to clean surface.
In either instance, a glass substrate 18 is generally associated with an adhesive layer 20 in order to form the laminate glass 12. The adhesive layer 20 may be a transparent laminate sheet of adhesive. It may be a pressure sensitive adhesive, a heat activated adhesive, or any other appropriate adhesive. In one example, it may be desirable that the adhesive be a transparent adhesive, such that the resulting laminate glass surface 22 has a transparent appearance. In another example, the adhesive may be a colored adhesive in order to provide a colored appearance to laminate glass surface 22. It is possible for any appropriate adhesive to be used, non-limiting examples of which include but are not limited to 3M thin sheet adhesives. Specific adhesive examples that may be used include 3M 8212 or 3M 8215 thin sheet adhesives. However, these are examples only. It is also possible to use a glue-based and/or liquid adhesive that is painted onto the surface and/or the substrate. In one example, the adhesive layer 20 may be a double-sided adhesive, such that a first side of the adhesive is secured to the glass substrate and a second side of the adhesive is secured to the surface. In another example, the adhesive layer 20 may be applied directly to the surface and the ultrathin glass may be applied thereto. In another example, once the glass substrate has been formed, it may be secured to an aircraft surface, such as a monument, using fasteners or other mechanical means.
By using an adhesive layer 20 to secure the ultrathin glass to a surface, a laminate glass 12 is provided. The laminate glass 12 has been found to strengthen the surface, without adding substantial weight to the vehicle. Additionally, if the surface does experience an impact, it has been found that the adhesive layer 20 prevents spreading of shattered shards of the glass substrate. Instead, even if the glass substrate 18 may break of shatter, broken glass portions remain in place due to the adhesive layer 20.
A sensing and lighting system may be provide in order to detect positions of one or more retainers 40 and to deliver the appropriate backlit color (or other visual indicator) to the indicator area. For example, as illustrated by the flowchart of
Changes and modifications, additions and deletions may be made to the structures and methods recited above and shown in the drawings without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure or the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/102,661, filed Jan. 13, 2015, titled “Glass Applications,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62102661 | Jan 2015 | US |
