Patent Application
20130039020
The invention relates to a passenger service unit (PSU) for an aircraft passenger cabin, comprising at least one passenger service panel with fastening elements for fastening the panel to an interior component or framework of the aircraft, at least one electric component for passenger entertainment or information mechanically attached to the passenger service panel, at least one electrical connecting terminal for electrical connection of said at least one electric component and an electrical connection for supplying electrical energy and/or transmitting information to said at least one electric component. A further aspect of the invention is a method of manufacturing a passenger service panel. A particular field of application of such passenger service units is the field of civil aircrafts. Usually, the passenger service unit is located above the seats of the passenger and/or crew members but it may alternatively be arranged on the backside of a seat rest. For entertaining and/or providing the passenger with information the passenger service unit contains for example reading lights, loudspeakers, illuminated signs, automatically deployed oxygen masks and louvers providing conditioned air.
Passenger service units of the aforementioned type known from the state of the art consist generally of one plastic panel whereon all functional components are mounted to after its manufacturing. Usually these panels are furnished with an identification plate on its inner face which cannot identify the unit in assemble state. Modern civil aircrafts may transport a high number of passengers ranging from about 50 to several hundred of passengers. This leads to time consuming production of the panel, installation and maintenance for civil aircrafts. Generally, it is known to reduce this time and effort by not providing a PSU for each seat of passenger but instead to supply a couple of seats using one single PSU.
It is further known to provide a system for transferring the sound to the passenger cabin, in particular a loudspeaker in such PSU. A conventional loudspeaker is known in the state of the art and need louvers to transmit the sound to the cabin. Therefore, the loudspeakers may be only located at special places in the aircraft. Exemplarily, for safety purposes the loudspeakers may be not located in direct vicinity to an oxygen supply device. In addition, producing a panel for such a loudspeaker is much more complicated than producing a panel without it. Finally, the aesthetic design will be negatively affected and cleaning of the PSU will be complicated.
In view of the foregoing it is an object of the invention to provide a passenger service unit for an aircraft which overcomes at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks or which at least improves the production of a passenger service unit.
The above objects have been achieved according to the invention by a passenger service unit of the aforementioned type, wherein the electrical connection comprises, in particular consist of at least one conducting path directly attached to the passenger service panel. Such a passenger service panel is in the following also designated as service panel or panel.
In an embodiment of the invention the passenger service unit is installed above the seats. In an alternative embodiment of the invention it may be installed in a side wall, in particular of an aircraft passenger cabin. The panel of such a passenger service unit serves as a cover and as a carrier for the electrical connection from the passenger cabin. In an alternative embodiment of the invention said passenger service unit may be installed in a coach or train.
In an embodiment of the invention at least one electric component such as a reading light or illuminated sign is mechanically attached to said panel. Therefore, the passengers are provided with light or with information on the illuminated sign such as “fasten your seat belt” during the landing of an aircraft. Such electric components are connected with at least one electrical connecting terminal. The term terminal is used in the following for the point at which an electrical connection expires and provides a point of connection to external circuit. Such terminal may simply be the end of a conducting path or it may be fitted with a connector or fastener like a plug or socket. Such an electrical connection supplies the electrical energy and/or transmits information to the electric component. The electrical connection comprises, in particular consists of at least one conducting path directly attached to the passenger service panel. Such direct attachment describes a method such as embedding, pressing, printing or coating whereupon the conducting paths clinging to the passenger service panel. By attaching the conducting path in such way to the passenger service panel the conducting path may be used in single paths and/or without an insulating. The surface of the panel may be occupied with an insulating varnish or a second material layer.
The invention offers considerable weight advantages. Further, the manufacturing costs of the panel are considerably reduced and the risk of change to the electrical connections during mounting, maintenance and use is minimized. As a further advantage of this invention the conducting path may make a contribution to the structural strength by attaching them directly to said passenger service panel.
According to a preferred embodiment of the passenger service unit, the conducting paths are at least partly embedded in the passenger service panel. The conducting paths are preferably arranged in the panel so that they serve reinforcing the material the passenger service unit is made of. Therefore, the panel may be adapted to high loads. In particular, the conducting paths may be arranged such that they extend across and along regions of the panel explosed to high mechanical loads.
In an embodiment of the invention the conducting paths are clinging to the passenger service panel partly exposed to the material the passenger service panel is made of. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the conducting paths are completely surrounded by the material the passenger service panel is made of. In a further alternative embodiment of the invention the passenger service panel is made of composites, in particular of sheet molding compound. In an alternative embodiment said passenger service panel is made of plastics.
To manufacture such a panel any process used to shape the material like e.g. injection molding, deep drawing, laminating or squeeze molding may be used.
According to a further preferred embodiment the conducting paths are attached as a coating to a passenger service panel and are preferably coated with an electrically insulating layer. In an embodiment of the invention the electrical insulating layer consists of an insulating varnish. Such an insulating varnish may consist of insulating material like polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, Kapton or silicone. In an alternative embodiment the conducting paths are coated with a layer of the material the panel is made of.
According to a still further embodiment of the invention, the electrical connecting terminal is directly connected to such conducting path and is at least partly exposed to the outside for electrical connection. An electrically conducting counter piece may be contacted to this area. In an embodiment of the invention in particular the electric components like reading lights are electrically connected to said terminal.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the passenger service unit comprises an electrical or electronic circuitry for mechanically support and electrical connection of electronic components, wherein said circuitry is at least partly embedded in a material the passenger service panel is made of and/or applied to the passenger service panel by a coating technique, in particular by printing electrical conducting paths to a surface of the panel.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the passenger service unit comprises an RFID tag for identification and for tracking the passenger service unit. Such an RFID tag uses radio waves to exchange data between a reader and an electronic tag attached to the passenger service unit for the purpose of identification and/or tracking. According to the invention, the RFID tag may preferably be configured such that maintenance data like e.g. operation hours, maintenance cycles, service and replacement events are stored therein an can be updated during use of the PSU.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the passenger service unit comprises one system of voice coil for initiating a vibration on the passenger service panel or a part thereof, wherein the system of voice coil is mechanically contacted to the passenger service panel, such that the openings for acoustic wave transmission from a loudspeaker are replaced by the panel. Such a system of voice coil contacted to the passenger service panel is used as an area loudspeaker thus preventing the need to provide openings for acoustic wave transmission from a loudspeaker through the panel.
In an alternative embodiment said passenger service panel is part of a passenger service unit comprising at least one electric component for passenger entertainment and/or information mechanically attached to the passenger service panel, at least one electrical connecting terminal for electrical connection of said at least one electric component and an electrical connection for supplying electrical energy and/or transmitting information to said at least one electric component, wherein the electrical connection is mounted to the passenger service panel. In a further alternative embodiment of the invention the passenger service panel comprises an oxygen supply device. Such oxygen supply device comprises at least one oxygen mask and a lid or cover releasable for providing said oxygen mask to the passenger in case of an unplanned loss of cabin pressure. In a still further embodiment of the invention the passenger service panel is part of a passenger service unit, in particular of a passenger service unit of an aircraft.
According to a further embodiment of the invention the sounding board need no openings like louvers for transferring the sound to the aircraft passenger cabin. Louvers tend to absorb dirt such as dust, wherein the cleaning of said louvers is time consuming. Furthermore the production of a panel with louvers is more complicated than the production of a panel without louvers.
According to a still further embodiment of the invention the passenger service unit comprises at least one dustproof area with at least one wall encapsulating the dustproof area, in particular a box for housing a oxygen supply device, wherein the system of voice coil is attached to the at least one wall of the dustproof area. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the system of voice coil is attached to the panel adjacent to said dustproof area. Exemplarily the system of voice coil is located between the reading lights and the illuminated signs or between the RFID tag and the oxygen supply device.
A further aspect of the invention is a method of producing a passenger service panel comprising the steps of preparing of a mold for said passenger service panel, providing a material to produce said passenger service panel, molding the passenger service panel in said mold from said material, wherein at least one conducting path, circuitry and/or RFID tag is directly attached to said passenger service panel in the course of said molding process. Such a mold is designed to form the features of the desired panel like cut-outs in that reading lights may be applied after the production of the service panel. In an embodiment of the invention the material of the passenger service panel is applied to a heated barrel, mixed and pressed into a mold cavity. In such a mold cavity the material is cooled down and hardens to the configuration of the mold cavity.
According to a preferred embodiment of said method the method comprises the steps of filling the mold with material for molding the passenger service panel, placing the at least one conducting path, circuitry and/or RFID tag in the mold, wherein the at least one conducting path, circuitry and/or RFID tag is placed in the mold before the final molding of the passenger service panel in particular before filling the mold with said liquid material. Advantageously the panel with the conducting paths, circuitry and/or RFID tag is thus manufactured and integrally formed in one producing process.
According to a preferred embodiment of the above mentioned method the method comprises the step of that attaching at least one conducting path, circuitry and/or RFID tag to the passenger service panel by a coating process.
According to a preferred embodiment of the above mentioned method the electronic components can be covered with a wire mesh for thermal protection which however allows radio waves to be transmitted during the forming process. Preferably the RFID tag is surrounded by said wire mesh.
According to a preferred embodiment of the above mentioned method a forming process like injection molding, laminating, deep drawing or pressing is used to form the passenger service unit.
According to a preferred embodiment of the above mentioned method the conducting path will be fixed in a surrounding material of the passenger service panel without separate insulating, wherein the electrical connecting terminal is at least partly exposed to the outside for electrical connection. This offers considerable weight advantages. In an embodiment of the invention an insulating varnish may be provided or the structural material of the passenger service panel may be used for electrical insulating purposes.
According to a preferred embodiment of the above mentioned method the passenger service panel is made of sheet molding compound. In an embodiment of the invention such a sheet molding compound in sheet form may be generated by mixing resin filler with glass fibers. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the panel is processed by extruding said material. In an alternative embodiment of the invention components like conducting paths or RFID tag are inserted in the mold before the extrusion process is finished. This leads to weight and cost advantages.
A further aspect of the invention is a method for providing information and/or entertainment to passengers of an aircraft comprising the steps of electrical connecting of electrical connection, in particular conducting paths directly attached to a passenger service panel, with electric components mechanically attached to the passenger service panel, transmitting information and/or entertainment to the electric components, wherein the information and/or entertainment consist in particular of an audible signal. In an embodiment of the invention the audible signal comprises information intended for all passengers such as landing information or safety information and the like.
According to a preferred embodiment of the method for providing information and/or entertainment the method comprising the steps of initiating a vibration by at least one system of voice coil on a sounding board for producing transverse waves, uniform propagation of the transverse waves in all directions, wherein a passenger service unit, in particular according to an above mentioned passenger service unit, is used as the sounding board. Therefore, the passenger service unit acts like an area loudspeaker that needs no louvers for transferring the sound to the passenger cabin.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the method for providing information and/or entertainment the at least one system of voice coil can be located in areas of encapsulation against dust, in particular in an oxygen supply system.
A further aspect to the invention is an aircraft, in particular an aircraft passenger cabin, comprising a passenger service unit according to one above mentioned. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the above mentioned passenger service panel is arranged in a coach or a train.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the Figures wherein
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Such a passenger service unit 1 may be located in a passenger cabin for example in an aircraft, a coach or a train.
According to a first embodiment the conducting paths 2, the circuitry 3 and the RFID tag 7 are embedded in the passenger service panel 4. In an alternative embodiment, the RFID tag 7, the conducting paths 2 and the circuitry 3 are printed to the surface of the passenger service panel 4.
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The oxygen door 410 may open automatically if in the passenger cabin of an aircraft, in particular of a civil aircraft occurs a decompression. The oxygen masks 411 may fall down and provide the passengers with oxygen.
