EP0040199A1 - Structure interieure de cabine convertible en cloisons pour une configuration variable de cabine de vehicule - Google Patents

Structure interieure de cabine convertible en cloisons pour une configuration variable de cabine de vehicule

Info

Publication number
EP0040199A1
EP0040199A1 EP80901868A EP80901868A EP0040199A1 EP 0040199 A1 EP0040199 A1 EP 0040199A1 EP 80901868 A EP80901868 A EP 80901868A EP 80901868 A EP80901868 A EP 80901868A EP 0040199 A1 EP0040199 A1 EP 0040199A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
panels
cabin
length
bench
forming
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP80901868A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Elgen M. Long
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0040199A1 publication Critical patent/EP0040199A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64C—AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS
    • B64C1/00—Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like
    • B64C1/06—Frames; Stringers; Longerons ; Fuselage sections
    • B64C1/10—Bulkheads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/24—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles for particular purposes or particular vehicles
    • B60N2/30—Non-dismountable or dismountable seats storable in a non-use position, e.g. foldable spare seats
    • B60N2/3038—Cushion movements
    • B60N2/304—Cushion movements by rotation only
    • B60N2/3043—Cushion movements by rotation only about longitudinal axis
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
    • B64D11/0023—Movable or removable cabin dividers, e.g. for class separation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
    • B64D11/06—Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats
    • B64D11/0601—Arrangement of seats for non-standard seating layouts, e.g. seats staggered horizontally or vertically, arranged in an angled or fishbone layout, or facing in other directions than the direction of flight
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D11/00—Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
    • B64D11/06—Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats
    • B64D11/0606—Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats with privacy shells, screens, separators or the like

Definitions

  • the invention relates to the construction of a vehicle cabin with panels which may be removed and reconfigured to form bulkheads.
  • a response to the latter mentioned situation might be to scale down medium jet or propjet aircraft to a size suitable for from ten to one hundred passengers.
  • the problem with this approach is that the requirements of an aircraft cabin for up to one hundred passengers are not that different than the requirements for one hundred and twenty passengers and present economics do not justify the absence of the additional seating. Yet when the additional seating is added, it is not commercially practical to fly with a load of only ten or so passengers, which regularly occurs on some lightly travelled routes.
  • Buses have freight bins located below the passenger seats and many aircraft have cargo compartments located beneath, and fore and aft of the passenger compartments.
  • Patents have been obtained for aircraft seats that stow against the wall or into the floor; or fold and make a platform on which freight can be loaded.
  • Movable bulkheads that suitably divide the freight and passenger compartments have been devised and patented, as in U. S. patent 2,396,039 to Burton and Graves.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide the operator of the vehicle a seating construction that will alleviate the above problems while allowing for a variable mix of passengers and freight.
  • the above object has been met with a cabin construction, particularly suited to aircraft, but also usable in land vehicles, wherein the cabin interior is constructed of removable panels.
  • Cabin structures such as seats, hat racks, false flooring, interior side walls, etc. are made of panels
  • cabin means the entirety of the interior of a vehicle. These freight compartments may provide segregation between the passengers and the freight, as well as added freight security similar to cargo containers now in use. In addition freight segregation by destination or type may be achieved.
  • the shape of the panels is coordinated and keyed so that when the panels are removed and used as bulkheads or partial bulkheads their dimensions will coincide properly with the dimensions of the cross section of the compartment to be divided.
  • the panels will usually close or partially close the desired cross section without the use of built-in stub walls or soffets.
  • filler sections, soffets, or stub walls may be used to complete the closure of the cross section, even though the filler sections are surplus to the cabin construction.
  • One of the advantages of the present invention is that it permits a new type of aircraft to be built: one having seating for between 10 and 100 passengers, depending upon demand, the remaining space being for freight. Such an aircraft is especially needed on lightly travelled routes and for airports not designed for heavy aircraft.
  • Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of a portion of an aircraft cabin with passenger benches mounted, between cabin stub walls, parallel with the lengthwise dimension of the cabin.
  • Figure 2 is a sectional plan view of the portion of the aircraft cabin shown in Figure 1 in which the passenger seat panels forming the benches of Figure 1 have been removed and used to close stub walls, thereby forming bulkheads in the cabin.
  • Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the aircraft cabin shown in Figure 1 showing lengthwise bench seating and a stub wall supporting such seating.
  • Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of the aircraft cabin shown in Figure 3, with seat panels removed and forming part of a cabin bulkhead.
  • Figure 5 is a sectional plan view of an alternate embodiment of a portion of an aircraft cabin with benches transverse to the lengthwise dimension of the aircraft cabin.
  • Figure 6 is a sectional plan view of the portion of the aircraft cabin shown in Figure 5 in which the passenger seat panels forming the benches of Figure 5 have been removed and used to close stub walls, thereby forming bulkheads in the cabin.
  • Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along a portion of the length of the aircraft cabin illustrated in Figure 5.
  • Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the aircraft cabin shown in Figure 5, with a bench in place.
  • Figure 9 is the same sectional view as in Figure 7, but with seat panels removed and forming parts of cabin bulkheads.
  • Figure 10 is a cross sectional view of an aircraft cabin, as in Figure 8, but with seat panels removed and forming part of a cabin bulkhead.
  • Figure 11 is a cross sectional view of an aircraft cabin showing lengthwise bench seating and a stub wall supporting such seating.
  • Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along a portion of the length of an aircraft cabin of the type having the passenger seating illustrated in Figure 11.
  • Figure 13 is a sectional plan view of a portion of a van cabin having benches of the present invention mounted therein.
  • Figure 14 is a cross sectional view of the van cabin shown in Figure 13 showing seat panels removed and forming a cabin bulkhead.
  • Figure 15 is a cross sectional view of a portion of an aircraft cabin showing lengthwise bench seating and hat racks and a stub wall supporting both.
  • Figure 16 is a cross sectional view of a portion of an aircraft cabin shown in Figure 15 in which the panels forming the hat racks of Figure 15 have been removed and used to close a stub wall, thereby forming a bulkhead dividing the cabin.
  • Figure 17 is a cross sectional view of a portion of an aircraft cabin showing lengthwise bench seating and a hat rack on the left-hand side and conventional seating on the right-hand side.
  • Figure 18 is a side sectional view taken along lines 18-18 in Figure 17.
  • Figure 19 is a cross sectional view of the same portion of an aircraft cabin as shown in Figure 17, with the bench seating and hat rack converted to a bulkhead, forming a lengthwise compartment in the left-hand side of the cabin.
  • Figure 20 is a side sectional view taken along the lines 20-20 in Figure 19.
  • Figure 1 shows a portion of an aircraft fuselage 11 the interior of which is designated as the aircraft cabin 13.
  • the lengthwise dimensions of the cabin extend from a crew partition 15 to a similar bulkhead in the rear of the aircraft, the rearward side of which is usually, but not necessarily reserved for equipment.
  • the width of the cabin is defined between the curved side walls 17, 19, the curvature of which may vary from aircraft to aircraft but is generaEy round, resembling a large metallic hollow tube or cylinder.
  • Transverse to the linear dimension of the fuselage are stub walls
  • Each bench has a lengthwise dimension, paraEel to the length of the cabin, such that the seat panels of which these benches are partially formed can be mounted between partitions.
  • Each bench includes a seat support panel, such as seat support panel 43 which is generally parallel to the floor 45 of the cabin.
  • An upright back support panel, such as back support panel 47, having generally the same lengthwise dimension as the seat support panel 43 is also connected between corresponding cabin stub walls 18, 21. It will be noted that the forward portion of the cabin 13 has a slight inward taper toward the crew compartment
  • FIG. 2 the benches have been removed and the panels which form such seats have been used to close the stub walls 21, 22; 23, 24; 25, 26. Since the interior edgewise perimeter of each partition defined by the stub walls is generally rectangular, but not necessarily so, the rectangular panels which form the benches can be designed to fit into the partition opening. For example, if the lengthwise distance between stub walls 21 and 23 is 3 meters, benches having planar seat support panels and back support panels would have a length of almost 3 meters. The lateral dimension from edge 20 to edge 30 of the stub walls 21 and 22, respectively, would correspond to the length of the benches.
  • a bulkhead 26 is formed by interlocking two, three, four or more panels together, as explained below. Similarly, bulkheads 32 and 34 are formed.
  • the lines 36 and 38 are defined in the fuselage at the point where the floor 45 meets the curved fuselage side walls 17, 19.
  • a lengthwise array of holes 43, 44 may be used to mark the location of anchor points for legs for the benches.
  • removable cushions are connected to the seat forming panels for passenger comfort.
  • these cushions are intended for use as flotation devices and are adhered to seat forming structures by means of snap fasteners, such as Velcro, a registered trademark for a synthetic snap fastener material, two strips of which adhere when pressed together.
  • snap fasteners such as Velcro, a registered trademark for a synthetic snap fastener material, two strips of which adhere when pressed together.
  • Velcro a registered trademark for a synthetic snap fastener material
  • a bench 50 may be seen to include a seat support panel 43 which is generally parallel to floor 45 and which is removably connected, such as by bolts to the side of stub wall 21. This connection exists by removable bolt 52.
  • the opposite side of the seat support panel has a bolt 54 projecting therefrom, similar to bolt 52 which may be retracted or removed until the seat support panel 43 is used to close partition 21 at which time bolt 52 and bolt 54 are secured in place as an aid to interlocking panel 43 within the opening in partition 21.
  • the back support panel 47 has bolts 56 and 58 which are removably connected to the side of stub wall 21 facing toward the crew compartment.
  • the back support panel 47 is mounted in a relationship with the seat support panel 43 forming a bench.
  • the seat support panel 43 is supported from floor 45 by means of legs, such as strut 51 or a panel.
  • the leg means is a panel, the panel should have a length coextensive with the back and seat support panels and capable of vertically interlocking therewith, so that the panel can be used to help close the opening in the partition.
  • a space beneath the bench is preferably used for storage of carry-on luggage, cargo, or the like.
  • a leg means is not necessary since other supports for the benches may be used.
  • a similar bench 60 is formed against side wall 19, facing bench
  • Bench 60 has a seat support panel 55 and a back support panel 53.
  • Seat support panel is supported from floor 45 by means of legs, such as strut
  • the back support panel 47 and the seat support panels 43 and 55 are removed.
  • These panels have identical rectangular dimensions, although this is not important as long as the panels when interlocked together close the opening within partition 21.
  • the rectangular dimensions are such that, combined in a complementary manner in a coplanar relation, the dimensions of the three panels will close substantially all of the opening within the partition either when the panels are aligned horizontally across the opening or vertically in the opening. Although use of only three panels is described for closing the opening, two or four panels could be used or possibly a different number.
  • the back support panel 53 can be seen to be fixed in an upward position with the bolt 62 having been removed from a retaining hole.
  • Three bench forming panels may be seen in Figure 4, including the first back support panel 47, a first seat support panel 43 and a second seat support panel 55. The three panels are shown to be removably hinged or bolted into the partition between stub walls 21, 22. It will be noted that the panels 43, 47 and 55 are mounted vertically with respect to floor 45.
  • FIG. 4 shows bolts projecting into the edge of stub wall 21, as well as into floor 45, stub wall 22 and roof wall 48. Actually, the
  • OMP bolts only project into two opposite sides* but since the figure illustrates both vertical and horizontal arrangements of the panels, bolt holes have been shown on all sides of the opening. Although such bolt holes may exist on all four sides of the partition, only two opposed sets of holes are used at one time.
  • the panels may have a tongue and groove construction such that they interlock with each other for forming a rigid, sealed bulkhead, or may use auxiliary channels for interlocking.
  • the panels which form the benches should have sufficient rigidity to span the partition opening without noticeable flexure or sag. Auxiliary supports may be used if necessary to prevent flexure.
  • the panels may be plastic, metal or a combination of materials, such as a laminate, suitable for use in aircraft cabin construction.
  • Figure 5 shows a second embodiment for an aircraft cabin configuration, the cabin being defined within the same limits as the aircraft cabin of Figure 1.
  • the cabin may be defined in a slightly shorter configuration such as between the partition defined by stub walls 121 and 122 and a corresponding partition at the rear of the aircraft.
  • benches are disposed facing each other in a configuration which is known as "stagecoach seating". Passengers sit in the benches facing each other in individual compartments which are not completely closed.
  • the bench 131 faces bench 133 defining a small compartment which may be closed up to the top of the back of the seat but which is open above that line so that a person standing in the crew compartment 127 could look down the length of the aircraft.
  • Each of the compartments defined between partitions has at least one door, such as the doors 103, 105, 107. Doors may also exist on the opposite side of each compartment, or the doors may be staggered with even numbered compartments having doors on one side of the fuselage and compartments with odd numbers having doors on the opposite side.
  • the idea of providing a plurality of doors for seating compartments in land vehicles is shown in U. S. patent 3,134,621 as a means for increasing the seating capacity of a bus.
  • the benches are formed from panels which are removable with respect to the sides of the cabin, access may be had to the rear of the aircraft cabin by removing seat panels, or in an emergency, by climbing over them.
  • the benches illustrated in Figure 5, such as 131 and 33 are formed by back support panels and seat support panels, both connected to respective cabin side walls 117 and 119 as described more fully below with reference to Figure 7.
  • All benches are shown to be removed with back and seat support panel members forming double bulkheads 141 and 143.
  • the bench panels again have dimensions which form a closure for partitions, such as the partition between stub walls 121 and 122 and may be of a size to form only a single bulkhead, as opposed to the double bulkhead shown in Figure 6.
  • the lines 138 indicate the intersection of the floor 145 with the curved side walls of the fuselage 111.
  • the holes 142 in the floor are used to receive bolts which support the benches. Doors 101, 103, 105 and 107 provide access to each cabin portion between bulkheads.
  • Figure 7 illustrates a seating compartment of Figure 5.
  • the bench 131 is formed of a back support panel 147 and a seat support panel
  • Each of these panels is removably connected to the inside edge of a cabin partition, such as to stub wall 121.
  • Back support panel member 147 has a dimension in the vertical plane relative to the cabin floor, which will close a section 149 of the opening in the partition.
  • the length of the back support panel i.e., a dimension parallel to the plane of the cabin floor, spans the width of the partition, from edge to edge, and a removable hinge pin 148 connects the top of the back support panel to lateral edges of the opening in the partition.
  • the back support panel 147 is hinged to the opening by means of the removable hinge pin 148 and held in place by removable bolt 150.
  • Seat support panel 143 is connected to opposite lateral edges in the opening of the partition by means of a removable hinge pin 151.
  • the forward edge of the seat support panel is supported by a leg panel 153.
  • the length of the seat support panel 143 and the leg panel 153 is equal to the length of the back support panel 147, all of the panels having a width equal to the dimension of the lateral, edge-to-edge opening in the partition.
  • each of these panels is such that when the three panels 143, 147 and 153 are placed in the same plane, the three panels can be used to close the opening in the partition, i.e., the length and width dimensions of the panels combine in a complementary manner to equal, or nearly equal, respective length and ..width dimensions of an opening in the cabin partition.
  • Figure 8 shows a frontal view of the bench 131. - The stub walls 121 and 122 define a partition opening 149, immediately above the back support portion 147 of a bench. In Figure 8, only the edge of seat support panel 143 is visible. Leg panel 153 is seen to provide support for the seat support panel 143, being attached thereto by means of bolts 155, 156 and also to cabin floor 145 by means of bolts 157, 158.
  • a second bench 161 is seen facing bench 131.
  • the second bench 161 is constructed in a similar manner to the first bench including a back support panel 163, a seat support panel 165 and a leg panel 167.
  • the two benches face each other, closing the partitions partially defined by stub walls 121, 171, except above the benches.
  • the facing seats form a compartment which is accessible by means of a door 173 between benches.
  • Each partition along the length of the aircraft is spaced so that compartments of generally the same size are formed, although this is not necessary. Benches of a configuration similar to that shown in Figure 7 are provided, each compartment being serviced by a separate door.
  • respective seat panels of each bench are mounted within each partition toward respective fore and aft sides of each partition.
  • bolt 167 hinges back support panel 163 to the aft side of the stub wall 171 while the bolt 177 hinges the back support panel 175 to the fore side of this same stub wall.
  • Figure 9 illustrates the manner in which a bench may be converted into a bulkhead.
  • Leg panel 153 is disconnected from its forward connection with respect to the seat support panel 143 and it is moved into a position near the bottom of the stub wall 121.
  • the back support panel 147 is rotated 180 clockwise to a similar vertical position and is locked in place by latches or movable bolts.
  • the seat support panel 143 is rotated by about 90 clockwise until it is vertically aligned atop the leg panel 153.
  • the same bolts which connected leg panel 153 to seat support panel 143 may be used to engage the edges of seat support panel 143 to maintain the panel in a vertical orientation.
  • the forward bench 161 is also converted to a bulkhead such that the back support panel 163, the seat support panel 165 and the leg panel 167 close the partition partially defined by stub wall 171.
  • each bench is used to close the opening in each partition adjacent to a back-to-back bench, providing there is such a bench.
  • back support panel 175, seat support panel 176 and leg panel 178 convert to a second closure for the opening in the partition partially formed by stub wall 171, next to the closure formed by panels 163, 165 and 167.
  • the double bulkheads provide for added strength for the wall between compartments.
  • Figure 10 shows an alignment of seat panels 147, 143 and 153 closing the opening in a partition between stub walls 121, 122, forming a bulkhead.
  • Removable bolts on opposite sides of the panels 143 and 147 project into the lateral edges of the stub walls, while vertically disposed removable bolts from panel 153 project into panel 143 for holding it in place.
  • Panel 153 also has bolts projecting into floor 145.
  • the -panels of Figure 10 are shown with their lengthwise dimension parallel to the floor, but the panels could be orthogonally arranged with the lengthwise dimension of each panel perpendicular to the floor 145. It should be noted that the opening in the partition has rounded upper corners and that seat panel 147 has corner edges which match these rounded upper corners.
  • partitions need not be rectangular, but may have curved or irregular edges.
  • seat and back panels must have dimensions, such that when a number of such panels are aligned in a coplanar relation, they will form a bulkhead with a shape which closes the opening in a partition.
  • a fuselage section 201 is shown to have a floor 203 which supports lengthwise benches 205 and 207, both indicated by dashed lines.
  • the bench 205 has a back panel 209 which is hinged by the hinge pin 211 and a seat panel 213 connected between partitions by means of a hinge pin 215.
  • the front part of the seat is supported by two or more legs 217, or panels, if required.
  • bench 207 has at least two legs 219, a seat panel 221 connected between partitions by hinge pins, such as hinge pin 225.
  • a back panel 223 is disposed above the seat panel and connected by means of a hinge pin 227.
  • Back panels 209 and 223 may be rotated upwardly, as indicated by- arrows C, taking positions 209' and 223', respectively, where the back panels are latched in place.
  • the back side of the back panel has a filler panel 229' removably connected thereto.
  • the partitions defined by the stub walls which support the seats are not closed at the top, but extend upwardly to the top of the fuselage 201.
  • cabin stub wall 231 is not permanently connected to cabin partition member 233.
  • the partition defined by stub walls 231 and 233 is closed by means of vertical alignment of two adjacent seat panels 235, 237, which form a bulkhead.
  • the back panels which correspond to these seat panels are rotated upwardly and latched in place, as previously mentioned.
  • An auxiliary panel 239 is used to close the space between partition members 231 and 233.
  • the auxiliary panel 239 corresponds to panel 229' carried by the back panel 223' on the reverse side thereof.
  • a metal I-beam 241 which is carried at position 241' when seat panels 235 and 237 are not in place may be swung into position and used to secure the vertically extending seat panels 235 and 237.
  • another I-beam 243 may be used to support the bottom of the same panels. This I-beam is also pivoted and would reside at position 243' when the seat panels are not in the vertical position indicated in the figure.
  • the direction of pivoting for the I-beams 241 and 243 is indicated by the arrows A and
  • auxiliary panel member 239 has latches 245 and 247 for securing the auxiliary panel in position completing the formation of a bulkhead.
  • two seat panels have been used to close the space between partition members 231 and 233.
  • the type of panels used to close the space is variable.
  • Back panels could be used as closures, as well as seat panels, or a mix of the two. Both may be removably hinged in place as bench members. By removal of hinge pins, both may be used as closure members.
  • the number of seat or back panels used to form a partition closure is not critical. While two members are shown, any convenient number may be used.
  • fuselage section 201 may be seen to include the back panel 209, the seat panel 213 and leg members 217, if required.
  • the I-beam 243 may also be seen to be in a vertical position in an open cabin partition.
  • a seat panel 235, formerly occupying position 235' has been moved to a vertical position for -closing cabin portion 251 from cabin portion 253.
  • the I-beam 241 locks seat panel member 235 in place, as well as the auxiliary panel member 239.
  • the -back panel member 223' which formerly was in a seat forming relationship with regard to the seat panel 235' has been rotated upwardly to a more recessed position, just covering the aircraft windows.
  • the back panel 223' is latched in place in this upward position allowing full use of the cabin portion -253 by cargo and allowing full use of cabin portion 251 by passengers.
  • the I-beams may include seals or seal members to prevent the penetration of fire, smoke, odor, etc. through the bulkhead. While the I-beams form a means for holding the various panels in place, a similar function can be achieved by tongue-and-groove construction, by fasteners and similar means. The principal objective is to achieve an interlocking fit or registry between panels and an opening which is to be closed. That opening has been described with reference to stub walls but stub walls are not necessary, as may be seen in the next example.
  • each of the bench type seats 255, 257 and 259 has a seat panel member bolted or otherwise removably connected to a back panel member.
  • the seat panel members are supported from the van floor by means of legs or other supports and connected directly to van si dew all 261.
  • the van 260 is shown in a passenger carrying configuration.
  • the seat or back panel members 256, 258, 260 of the bench type seats may be seen to have been vertically aligned and connected together in order to form a bulkhead.
  • a similar bulkhead could be formed by back panel members.
  • the van may or may not have partitions defined by stub walls for supporting the lateral sides of the panel members. Where stub walls are not provided, it may be necessary to use beams or other members to join panel members for forming a rigid bulkhead, in the manner indicated with respect to Figure 11.
  • Figure 15 shows that bulkheads can be formed from passenger accommodation panels, other than seats. Specifically, hat racks and even false floors may be used.
  • Figure 15 also illustrates exemplary dimensions for an aircraft vehicle cabin in accord with the present invention.
  • the aircraft cabin of Figure 15 corresponds to the cabin of Figure 11, with the addition of opposed longitudinal hat racks.
  • the hat racks 305 and 307 are formed by panels corresponding in length to seat panels 213 and 221.
  • Panel 306 has a width similar to seat support panel 213, while hat rack panel 308 corresponds to seat support panel 221.
  • Each of the hat rack panels 306 and 308 may be supported either by struts or for purposes of safety by hinged closure panels 310 and 312.
  • Each of the hat rack panels 306 and 308 has dimensions such that the panels can be combined in a complementary coplanar relationship at least partially closing the opening defined between stub walls 231 and 233.
  • Preferred dimensions for the cabin interior are given for an example of an aircraft having an approximate length of 65 feet and a height of approximately 20 feet, with a wing span of approximately 69 feet.
  • the cabin configuration is shown to be semi-rectangular, a preferred con- figuration, it could also be round or have other shapes.
  • the preferred cabin height is given by the dimension Z, which is six feet.
  • the dimension X is 39 inches, while the dimension of the aisle width, Y, is 26 inches.
  • the width of a seat support panel, V, is approximately 24 inches, while the width of a back support panel, U, is approximately 20 inches.
  • the height of a seat support panel above the floor 243 is approximately
  • each seat supporting panel will allow comfortable accommodation of three passengers, allocating a 30-inch seat width to each passenger.
  • the dimension Z is 72 inches, the seat supporting panels, or hat rack panels of equal or similar dimensions will not completely close the vertical dimension of the partition opening. This may be seen in Figure 16.
  • the auxiliary panel member 239 is placed above hat rack panels 306 and 308 which are used to close the partition between stub walls 231 and 233 in the same manner as the same opening was closed in Figure 11 by panels 235 and 237.
  • the bench type seats have been stored by upward rotation.
  • Back support panel 209 is rotated upwardly, as is the seat support panel 213.
  • the opposite seat has been stored by rotating the panels 221 and 223 so that they are similarly against the lateral cabin wall.
  • the hat rack panels 306 and 308 have been removed to close the opening in the partition between the stub walls 231 and 233, while the auxiliary panel 239 closes the top of the opening as previously mentioned.
  • Small I-beams 241 and 243 form channels keeping the panels 306, 308 and 239 locked in place.
  • Latches 245 and 247 connected to panel 39 assist in locking that panel in place, which is fit into position subsequent to the erection of panels 306 and 308 and after placement of the I-beam 241 over these panels.
  • the former position of the hat rack panels is indicated by the dashed lines 306' and 308'.
  • the hat rack panels 306 and 308 are returned to their respective positions 306' and 308' and retained by bolts or other fasteners in stub walls adjacent to opposite ends of the panel.
  • FIG. 15 While the partition of Figure 15 has been closed with two hat rack panels in Figure 16, the partition could be closed by a mix of hat rack panels, seat support panels, back support panels and auxiliary panels.
  • the present invention contemplates use of any panels in the interior of a vehicle cabin for a second purpose in forming bulkheads for converting passenger compartments to freight compartments. While the closure of partitions in a vehicle cabin has been described with reference to fixtures for accommodating passengers such as seats and hat racks, other cabin interior members such as false floors could also be used.
  • the false floor 203 can be constructed of interlocking panels which can be disassembled and used to close partitions. Similarly, false ceilings or interior walls could also be used.
  • fuselage section 401 is shown having the floor 403 and supporting the bench 405 and the hat rack 407.
  • Bench 405 has back panel 409 disposed between stub walls, one of which is 411.
  • the back panel 409 is disposed above the seat panel 413, also mounted between stub walls and having generally the same length as back panel 409.
  • Hat rack panel 407 has substantially the same length as back panel 409 and seat panel 413. All of the panels are mounted in the left-hand side of the cabin, while conventional seating 415 occupies the right-hand side.
  • the panels forming bench 405, as well as hat rack 407 are individually removable to form a bulkhead or a freight compartment, as shown in Figures 19 and 20.
  • the passenger accommodation panels 407, 409 and 413 may be seen to have been removed from the positions indicated by the dashed lines 407', 409' and 413' and now form a vertically extending bulkhead 414. Note that the bulkhead need not be extending all the way from floor 403 to the upper wall of the fuselage.
  • the bulkhead may extend upward for some distance and then one of the panels may be angled toward a lateral fuselage wall.
  • a hat rack may form an upper wall for a compartment, with a sidewall formed by a vertical alignment of back and seat support panels.
  • the configuration of Figures 19 and 20 allows passenger seating in conventional seats such as seat 415 on one side of the aircraft, while another side of the aircraft has a configuration for freight.
  • an aircraft or other vehicle payload compartment may be divided longitudinally, as well as transversely, by panels which are sometimes used for passenger accommodation.
  • the dividing bulkheads may be either floor to ceiling walls or may be compartments which do not extend from floor to ceiling and which may or may not be closed at the top.
  • Vehicle cabins using bulkheads of the present invention can provide a variable mix of space between passengers and cargo. Moreover, cargo can be segregated in different compartments.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Vehicle Step Arrangements And Article Storage (AREA)

Abstract

Construction de cabine pour un vehicule (11), particulierement pour un avion, dans laquelle l'interieur de la cabine est compose de panneaux demontables. La structure interieure de la cabine telle que les sieges des passagers (31, 33), possedant des panneaux posterieurs (47) et des panneaux de support de siege (43), et des galeries (305, 307) integres aux panneaux, peuvent etre demontes et reemboitees dans une relation coplanaire de verrouillage pour former des cloisons (32, 34) qui divisent la cabine. Des telles cloisons peuvent former une pluralite de compartiments de marchandise ou de compartiments de passagers ou un melange des deux dans une cabine de vehicule.
EP80901868A 1979-10-01 1980-09-08 Structure interieure de cabine convertible en cloisons pour une configuration variable de cabine de vehicule Withdrawn EP0040199A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US8095079A 1979-10-01 1979-10-01
US80950 1979-10-01
US12039380A 1980-02-11 1980-02-11
US120393 1980-02-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0040199A1 true EP0040199A1 (fr) 1981-11-25

Family

ID=26764171

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP80901868A Withdrawn EP0040199A1 (fr) 1979-10-01 1980-09-08 Structure interieure de cabine convertible en cloisons pour une configuration variable de cabine de vehicule

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0040199A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA1146522A (fr)
GB (1) GB2072604B (fr)
WO (1) WO1981000836A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5083727A (en) * 1990-01-02 1992-01-28 The Boeing Company Aircraft cabin system for selectivley locating interior units
DE102016105503B4 (de) * 2016-03-23 2024-08-01 Airbus Operations Gmbh System zum Aufnehmen von Fracht oder Passagieren in einem Fahrzeug sowie ein Fahrzeug mit einem derartigen System
EP3375706B1 (fr) * 2017-03-15 2022-05-18 Airbus Operations S.L. Fuselage résistant aux chocs
US12139256B1 (en) * 2023-09-07 2024-11-12 Jetzero, Inc. Long range freighter aircraft

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1180321A (en) * 1912-10-29 1916-04-25 Nat Pneumatic Co Passenger-car.
US2396039A (en) * 1941-11-10 1946-03-05 Douglas Aircraft Co Inc Aircraft interior
DE935708C (de) * 1951-04-21 1955-11-24 Hubertus Josephus Van Doorne In ein Lastfahrzeug umwandelbares Fahrzeug zur Personenbefoerderung
US2710731A (en) * 1952-06-25 1955-06-14 Glenn L Martin Co Removable bulkhead for aircraft
US4185799A (en) * 1978-03-14 1980-01-29 Boeing Commercial Airplane Company Aircraft partition mounting assembly
PH11774A (en) * 1978-05-25 1978-06-30 E Alcanzare Combat and transport vehicle body

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8100836A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1981000836A1 (fr) 1981-04-02
GB2072604B (en) 1983-09-01
GB2072604A (en) 1981-10-07
CA1146522A (fr) 1983-05-17

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