# US 9,434,474 B2 · Aircraft galley cart door interlock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,474 B2 - Document ID: US9434474B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/080,442 - Filed: 2013-11-14 - Published: 2014-05-22 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-16 - Assignees: B/E Aerospace, Inc. - Applicants: B/E Aerospace, Inc. - Inventors: Harkamal Singh Hothi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434474B2 ## CPC - B64D 13/08: the air being heated or cooled - B64D 11/0007: {Devices specially adapted for food or beverage distribution services} - B64D 11/04: Galleys - F25D 13/02: with several cooling compartments, e.g. refrigerated locker systems - B64D 13/06: the air being conditioned (pressurising B64D13/02) - F25D 2700/06: Sensors detecting the presence of a product - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) ## Abstract An aircraft galley compartment cooling system includes a source of chilled air, and a closed compartment with a door. A sensor detects the opening of the door, and sends a signal to the cooling system to deactivate while the door is opened to prevent ambient air from entering the cooling system. Once the door is closed, the cooling system is reactivated. The sensor can be a light sensor, a mechanical sensor, a magnetic sensor, or the like for determining movement or the presence/non-presence of the door to the compartment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An aircraft galley beverage cart cooling system including an aircraft refrigeration system integrated into an aircraft galley, comprising: a removable galley beverage cart; a galley bay adapted to house the removable galley beverage cart, the galley bay including a door for enclosing the bay; a cooling system for producing chilled air to the galley bay, including a processor for activating and deactivating the cooling system; a mechanical sensor for determining when the door is open and closed, the mechanical sensor connected to the processor; wherein the mechanical sensor sends a signal to the processor to deactivate the cooling system when the sensor determines that the door is opened. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The aircraft galley beverage cart cooling system of claim 1, wherein the mechanical sensor is a microswitch. ### Claim 3 An aircraft galley beverage cart cooling system including an aircraft refrigeration system integrated into an aircraft galley, comprising: a removable galley beverage cart; a galley bay adapted to house the removable galley beverage cart, the galley bay including a door for enclosing the bay; a cooling system for producing chilled air to the galley bay, including a processor for activating and deactivating the cooling system; a sensor for determining when the door is open and closed, the sensor connected to the processor; wherein the sensor sends a signal to the processor to deactivate the cooling system when the sensor determines that the door is opened; and wherein the sensor is a magnetic sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The aircraft galley beverage cart cooling system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is mounted above the galley cart door. ### Claim 5 An aircraft galley beverage cart cooling system including an aircraft refrigeration system integrated into an aircraft galley, comprising: a removable galley beverage cart; a galley bay adapted to house the removable galley beverage cart, the galley bay including a door for enclosing the bay; a cooling system for producing chilled air to the galley bay, including a processor for activating and deactivating the cooling system; a sensor for determining when the door is open and closed, the sensor connected to the processor; wherein the sensor sends a signal to the processor to deactivate the cooling system when the sensor determines that the door is opened; and wherein the sensor comprises an IR LED and an IR photo-transistor for determining a status of the door. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The aircraft galley beverage cart cooling system of claim 1, wherein the cooling system disconnects after a delay when the mechanical sensor determines that the door is opened. ### Claim 7 A method for reducing an introduction of ambient air into an aircraft chiller system used to cool a galley compartment, the method comprising: providing a ducting from a chiller system to the compartment; introducing chilled air into the compartment; locating a mechanical sensor adjacent a compartment door, the mechanical sensor adapted to determine when the door is open and closed; causing a signal to be sent to the chiller system when the mechanical sensor determines that the door is opened; and halting the introduction of chilled air into the compartment when the signal is received. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method for reducing an introduction of ambient air of claim 7, wherein the compartment is a beverage cart bay. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method for reducing an introduction of ambient air of claim 7, wherein the mechanical sensor is a microswitch. ### Claim 10 A method for reducing an introduction of ambient air into an aircraft chiller system used to cool a galley compartment, the method comprising: providing a ducting from a chiller system to the compartment; introducing chilled air into the compartment; locating a magnetic sensor adjacent a compartment door, the magnetic sensor adapted to determine when the door is open and closed; causing a signal to be sent to the chiller system when the magnetic sensor determines that the door is opened; and halting the introduction of chilled air into the compartment when the signal is received. ### Claim 11 A method for reducing an introduction of ambient air into an aircraft chiller system used to cool a galley compartment, the method comprising: providing a ducting from a chiller system to the compartment; introducing chilled air into the compartment; locating a sensor adjacent a compartment door, the sensor adapted to determine when the door is open and closed; causing a signal to be sent to the chiller system when the sensor determines that the door is opened; and halting the introduction of chilled air into the compartment when the signal is received; wherein the sensor uses infrared light. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method for reducing an introduction of ambient air of claim 7, wherein the sensor is mounted to a work deck of a galley.