US 8,944,378 B2 · Method and system for flexible seat arrangement in airplanes

Abstract

The invention provides a method for adapting a seat row arrangement in an airplane in order to set seat row distances, wherein the currently desired pattern of seat row positions is stored in a control device and wherein the seat rows are mounted on seat tracks (4) extending in the longitudinal direction and can be locked therein against longitudinal movements by a locking mechanism (12, 13) associated with each seat row, wherein each seat row whose position is to be changed is, under control of the control device, unlocked by releasing the locking mechanism for the seat row, is moved automatically on its seat tracks to the predetermined position by operating drive means under the control of the control device, and is locked there on the seat tracks by the control device by actuating the locking mechanism, characterized in that at least one cable (6) which is extending in the longitudinal direction along the cabin is driven by a motor to move back and forth in a manner controlled by the control device, each seat row or group of seat rows to be moved is subsequently moved by selectively coupling it to the cable (6) under the control of the control device for controlled time intervals such that the seat row follows the movement of the cable during coupling intervals whereby the movements of the cable integrated over the coupling intervals equal the total movement of the seat row or group of seat rows to the position according to the desired pattern of positions.

Claims12

Dependent claims

Method for adapting a seat row arrangement in an airplane according to a currently desired pattern of seat row positions in a longitudinal direction over a passenger cabin of the airplane in order to set seat row distances, if appropriate differing in some sections of the cabin, wherein the currently desired pattern of seat row positions is stored in a control device and wherein the seat rows are mounted on seat tracks extending in the longitudinal direction and locked therein against longitudinal movements by a locking mechanism associated with each seat row, the method comprising the following steps, each performed automatically by the control device:

(a) unlocking, under control of the control device, a seat row whose position is to be changed from a first position to a second position in order to obtain the currently desired pattern of seat row positions by releasing the locking mechanism for the seat row,
(b) coupling, at least one cable to the seat row, the at least one cable extending in the longitudinal direction along the cabin and being driven by a motor to move back and forth in a manner controlled by the control device,
(c) after step (b), driving the cable forth by a fraction of a total distance between the first position and the second position, said fraction determined by said control device,
(d) after step (c), releasing the seat row from the at least one cable,
(e) after step (d), driving the cable back, and then
(f) repeating steps (b)-(e) until a sum of the fractions equals the total distance between the first position and the second position, thereby moving the seat row on the seat tracks of the seat row to the second position by operating drive means under the control of the control device, and
(g) locking the seat row against longitudinal movement on the seat tracks by the control device by actuating the locking mechanism.

4 more elements

System for adapting a seat row arrangement in an airplane according to a currently desired pattern of seat row positions in the longitudinal direction over a passenger cabin of the airplane in order to set seat row distances, the system comprising:

a control device,
a plurality of seat rows mounted on seat tracks longitudinally extending in a cabin floor of the passenger cabin, wherein each leg of a seat row is mounted on a seat track having a locking mechanism capable of unlocking and locking the seat leg against longitudinal movements in the seat track, a cable driven by drive means for a reciprocating movement in the longitudinal direction,
at least one coupling mechanism associated with each seat row for selective coupling of the seat row to the cable under the control of the control device, wherein the control device is structured and programmed to carry out steps of:
(a) unlocking a seat row whose position is to be changed from a first position to a second position in order to obtain the currently desired pattern of seat row positions by releasing the locking mechanism for the seat row,
(b) coupling at least one cable to the seat row, the at least one cable extending in the longitudinal direction along the cabin and being driven by a motor to move back and forth in a manner controlled by the control device,
(c) after step (b), driving the cable forth by a fraction of a total distance between the first position and the second position, said fraction determined by said control device,
(d) after step (c), releasing the seat row from the at least one cable,
(e) after step (d), driving the cable back, and then
(f) repeating steps (b)-(e) until a sum of the fractions equals the total distance between the first position and the second position, thereby moving the seat row on its seat tracks to the second position by operating drive means, and
(g) locking the seat row against longitudinal movement on the seat tracks by actuating the locking mechanism.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for flexible seat arrangement in airplanes

Life of this patent

Method and system for flexible seat arrangement in airplanes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12