Patent Application
20220127001
This disclosure relates to retention systems for multi-cart bays, e.g., for aircraft galleys.
On aircraft for example, the aft facing galleys can have double sized bays able to facilitate full size and half size wheeled carts (also referred to as trolleys) which require a retention mechanism in Taxi, Take-off, and Landing position as well in order to prevent carts contacting and loading each other over a qualified value in ultimate conditions. Moreover, due to a standard 3-degree incline of an aircraft in cruise, the mechanism must also allow for the operator to operate only the bay's front trolley without the aft trolley rolling.
Conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is still a need in the art for improved retention systems for cart bays. The present disclosure provides a solution for this need.
A cart retention system for a multi-cart bay can include a first retainer configured to retain a front cart in the multi-cart bay and a second retainer configured to retain a rear cart in the multi-cart bay such that the rear cart is held spaced from the front cart. The system can also include a third retainer configured to retain both the front cart and the rear cart in the multi-cart bay separate from each other.
The first retainer can include a first front latch movably (e.g., rotatable) mounted to an actuator surface and configured to move between a first front latch blocking position where the first front latch at least partially blocks an opening of the multi-cart bay to retain the front cart within the multi-cart bay and a first front latch unblocking position where the first front latch does not block the opening of the multi-cart bay. In certain embodiments, the first retainer can be only the first front latch movably mounted to the actuator surface.
The second retainer can include a front actuator mounted to or extending through the actuator surface and configured to move relative to the actuator surface. The second retainer can include a first rod extending from the front actuator rearward.
The second retainer can include a first intermediate latch movably mounted to the multi-cart bay at an intermediate position of the multi-cart bay and connected to the first rod such that the first intermediate latch is actuated by the front actuator. The first intermediate latch can be configured to move between a first intermediate latch blocking position where the first intermediate latch extends into an intermediate portion of the multi-cart bay to block the rear cart within the multi-cart bay from moving forward in the multi-cart bay, and a first intermediate latch unblocking position where the first intermediate latch does not block the rear cart.
In certain embodiments, the second retainer does not block the front cart in the first intermediate latch blocking position such that the front cart can be removed while the rear cart is blocked. In certain embodiments, the front actuator can be a rotatable tab actuator connected to the rod.
The third retainer can include a second front latch movably mounted to the actuator surface and a second rod extending from the second front latch rearward. The third retainer can include a second intermediate latch movably mounted to the multi-cart bay at the intermediate position of the multi-cart bay and connected to the second rod such that the second intermediate latch is actuated by the second front latch. The second front latch and second intermediate latch can be configured to move together between a dual blocking position and a dual unblocking position. For example, the dual blocking position can be such that the second front latch at least partially blocks an opening of the multi-cart bay to prevent the front cart within the multi-cart bay from leaving the multi-cart bay and the second intermediate latch extends into the intermediate portion of the multi-cart bay to block the rear cart within the multi-cart bay from moving forward in the multi-cart bay. The dual unblocking position can be such that the second front latch does not block the opening of the multi-cart bay and the second intermediate latch does not block the rear cart from being removed.
In certain embodiments, in each unblocking position, each latch can be horizontal and may not extend downward into the multi-cart bay. In certain embodiments, each intermediate latch can position at the same distance from the opening of the multi-cart bay.
The first front latch and the first intermediate latch can move (e.g., rotate) in a first direction (e.g., counterclockwise to the blocking position), and the second front latch and the second intermediate latch can move (e.g., rotate) in a second direction (e.g., clockwise to the blocking position) opposite to the first direction.
The multi-cart bay can be an aircraft galley sized to hold at least one standard full-size cart and at least one standard half-size cart, or two standard full-size carts. The actuator surface can be the galley workface configured to be covered by one or more galley doors, for example.
In certain embodiments, a rear portion of the multi-cart bay, rearward of the first and second intermediate latches, can be sized to hold a standard full size cart. In certain embodiments, a front portion of the multi-cart bay, frontward of the first and second intermediate latches, can be sized to hold a standard half-sized cart.
In certain embodiments, the system can include the multi-cart bay and one or more galley doors that can be configured to enclose the multi-cart bay. The one or more galley doors can be configured to receive the first front latch, the second front latch, and the front actuator only when in a respective blocking position such that the one or more galley doors are configured to close only when all are in the blocking position.
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, an aircraft galley can include a cart retention system for a multi-cart bay. The cart retention system can be any suitable cart retention system disclosed herein, e.g., as described above. The system can include a backstop configured to mount in the multi-cart bay and having an interchangeable packer for accommodating different length full size and/or half size carts.
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a method can include moving a first front latch of an aircraft galley from a first front latch blocking position to a first front latch unblocking position to partially unblock a front cart. After moving the first front latch to the first front latch unblocking position, and while leaving a first intermediate latch of the aircraft galley in a first intermediate latch blocking position, the method can include moving a second front latch and a second intermediate latch of the aircraft galley together to a dual unblocking position to completely unblock the front cart while continuing blocking the rear cart from moving forward.
The method can include removing the front cart from the aircraft galley after moving the second front latch and the second intermediate retainer to the dual unblocking position. The method can include moving the first intermediate latch to a first intermediate latch unblocking position to free the rear cart.
The method can include removing the rear cart from the aircraft galley after moving the first intermediate latch to the first intermediate latch unblocking position. The method can include conducting the method in reverse to store the rear cart and the front cart. The method can include any other suitable method(s) and/or portion(s) thereof.
These and other features of the embodiments of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, an illustrative view of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the disclosure is shown in
Referring to
The first retainer 101 can include a first front latch 101a movably (e.g., rotatably) mounted to an actuator surface 109 (e.g., as shown in
The second retainer 103 can include a front actuator 103a mounted to or extending through the actuator surface 109 and configured to move relative to the actuator surface 109. The second retainer 103 can include a first rod 103b extending from the front actuator 101a rearward.
The second retainer 103 can include a first intermediate latch 103c movably mounted to the multi-cart bay (e.g., via housing 113) at an intermediate position (e.g., half depth, one third depth) of the multi-cart bay and connected to the first rod 103b such that the first intermediate latch 103c is actuated by the front actuator 103a. The first intermediate latch 103c can be configured to move between a first intermediate latch blocking position (e.g., as shown in
In certain embodiments, e.g., as shown, the second retainer 103 (e.g., the front actuator 103a) does not block the front cart in the first intermediate latch blocking position such that the front cart can be removed while the rear cart is blocked. For example, in certain embodiments, the front actuator 103a can be a rotatable tab actuator connected to the rod 103b (e.g., that does not block the front cart in any position).
The third retainer 105 can include a second front latch 105a movably mounted to the actuator surface 109 and a second rod 105b extending from the second front latch 105a rearward. The third retainer 105 can include a second intermediate latch 105c movably mounted to the multi-cart bay (e.g., via housing 113) at the intermediate position (e.g., between the front cart 107a and back cart 107b as shown in
While mechanical arrangements have been shown, it is contemplated that the retainers 101, 103, 105 can employ any suitable electromechanical actuators and/or latches. Any other suitable arrangement is contemplated herein.
In certain embodiments, in each unblocking position, each latch 101a, 105a, 103c, 105c can be horizontal (e.g., as shown in
In certain embodiments, the first front latch 101a and the first intermediate latch 103c can move (e.g., rotate) in a first direction (e.g., counterclockwise to the blocking position as shown), and the second front latch 105a and the second intermediate latch 105c can move (e.g., rotate) in a second direction (e.g., clockwise to the blocking position as shown) opposite to the first direction. Any other suitable arrangement and/or direction of actuation is contemplated herein.
In certain embodiments, the intermediate latches 103c, 105c can include a biasing member 119 (e.g., an indent spring mechanism) to bias the latches 103c, 105c toward the blocking position when not fully moved to the unblocking position. Any suitable biasing arrangement is contemplated herein.
In certain embodiments, referring to
In certain embodiments, a rear portion of the multi-cart bay 300, rearward of the first and second intermediate latches 103c, 105c, can be sized to hold a standard full size cart. In certain embodiments, a front portion of the multi-cart bay 300, frontward of the first and second intermediate latches 103c, 105c, can be sized to hold a standard half-sized cart. Any other suitable configuration (e.g., bay sized to fit two fill size carts) is contemplated herein.
In certain embodiments, the system 100 can include the multi-cart bay 300 and one or more galley doors (not shown) that can be configured to enclose the multi-cart bay. Referring to
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, an aircraft galley can include a cart retention system for a multi-cart bay, e.g., as shown in
In certain embodiments, the intermediate retainers can be rotatably mounted to a housing attached (e.g., screwed) to an upper panel of galley. In certain embodiments, intermediate retainers can have different lengths and/or shape, e.g., depending on shape of the trolley, to have desired points of engagement (e.g., to prevent kicking on half size trolley). Certain embodiments can have features that only allow retainers to move between two positions.
Embodiments can include packers 114 attached to (screwed to) the intermediate latches. The packers 114 can be mounted to allow modification of a position of each packer 114 to control a space size in the galley (e.g., for a tighter or looser fit). In certain embodiments, the packers 114 can be interchangeable to different sizes to accommodate different length full size and half size carts.
Certain embodiments can also have additional provisions to accommodate different length of half and full size carts/trolleys. For example, the system 100 can include a backstop 1700 configured to mount in the multi-cart bay and having an interchangeable packer 1701 for accommodating different length full size and/or half size carts Referring to
In certain embodiments, a half size cart can be secured between front latches 101a,103a and intermediate latches 103c, 105c. A full size cart can be secured between intermediate latches 103c, 105c and one or more backstops 1700. In certain embodiments, there can be replaceable packers 114 on intermediate latches 103c, 105c which can be replaced with required thickness (e.g., up to space allowable within housing 113 in the retracted position) to accommodate different lengths of half size carts. Embodiments can include a replaceable packer 1701 on each backstop 1700 which can be replaced with required thickness to accommodate different length of full size carts/trolleys.
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, e.g., as shown in
The method can include removing the front cart 107a (e.g., as shown in
The method can include removing the rear cart 107b from the aircraft galley after moving the first intermediate latch 103c to the first intermediate latch unblocking position (e.g., as shown in
Certain embodiments include a cart retention mechanism for application in extended depth galley cart bays, for example. Certain embodiments can be applicable to any suitable aircraft or other suitable vehicle.
In a traditional galley, two half-size carts can be stored which are made to take the load from each other. Certain galleys can be configured to fit a full size cart (e.g., 810 mm ARINC standard) and a half size cart (e.g., 405 mm ARING standard). The half size cart may not be qualified to take load from the full size cart, and the full size cart may not be qualified to take additional load as it is usually stored alone.
In order to properly separate carts in such situations, embodiments can include a system with a double intermediate retainer which can doubles the retaining function at the intermediate position. In an aftward load, in certain embodiments, a half size cart can push against intermediate retainers. In forward load, in certain embodiments, the half size cart can press against the front levers and the full size cart can push against the double intermediate retainers ensuring that the two carts do not share load with each other.
Certain embodiments can be implemented in a galley that can fit two full size carts, for example. Any other suitable use is contemplated herein.
Embodiments can include one intermediate retainer that is independent, and one intermediate retainer that is connected by a shaft to a front latch. Embodiments can maintain a standard number of levers while providing added functionality and strength. In certain embodiments, all retainers must be down to close the galley bay doors.
Certain embodiments can include the same operation as a standard-size, 2 half size trolley bays (operator-friendly design). Embodiments can be compact and replaceable, provide redundant function of retention, and provide enhanced safety (e.g., trolley bay doors can prevent closure with retracted retainers).
Those having ordinary skill in the art understand that any numerical values disclosed herein can be exact values or can be values within a range. Further, any terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, “approximately”, “around”) used in this disclosure can mean the stated value within a range. For example, in certain embodiments, the range can be within (plus or minus) 20%, or within 10%, or within 5%, or within 2%, or within any other suitable percentage or number as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art (e.g., for known tolerance limits or error ranges).
The articles “a”, “an”, and “the” as used herein and in the appended claims are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element.
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e., “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.”
Any suitable combination(s) of any disclosed embodiments and/or any suitable portion(s) thereof are contemplated herein as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure.
The embodiments of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for improvement in the art to which they pertain. While the subject disclosure includes reference to certain embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/105,798 filed Oct. 26, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63105798 | Oct 2020 | US |
