Overhead payload module with integrated stowbins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10850845-B2
Application number	US-201816134685-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2018
Priority date	Sep 18, 2018
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

In an example, an overhead payload module is described. The overhead payload module comprises a ceiling assembly, an aisle floor assembly, a first payload assembly attached to the ceiling assembly and the aisle floor assembly to form a first side of the overhead payload module, and a second payload assembly attached to the ceiling assembly and the aisle floor assembly to form a second side of the overhead payload module. The first payload assembly comprises a first payload module and a first overhead stowbin module structurally integrated with the first payload module and having a first stowage area configured to receive stowbins. The second payload assembly is positioned opposite the first payload assembly to form an aisle therebetween and comprises a second payload module and a second overhead stowbin module structurally integrated with the second payload module and having a second stowage area configured to receive stowbins.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An overhead payload module for installation in an aircraft, the overhead payload module comprising:
a ceiling assembly;
an aisle floor assembly;
a first payload assembly attached to the ceiling assembly and the aisle floor assembly to form a first side of the overhead payload module, wherein the first payload assembly comprises:
a first payload module comprising a first floor panel, and
a first overhead stowbin module structurally integrated with the first payload module and having a first stowage area configured to receive stowbins and accessible via a main cabin area of the aircraft, wherein the first overhead stowbin module comprises a first pair of end walls attached to a first stowbin side wall, wherein the first pair of end walls, the first stowbin side wall, and the first floor panel define the first stowage area, and

a second payload assembly attached to the ceiling assembly and the aisle floor assembly to form a second side of the overhead payload module, wherein the second payload assembly is positioned opposite the first payload assembly to form an aisle therebetween, wherein the second payload assembly comprises:
a second payload module comprising a second floor panel, and
a second overhead stowbin module structurally integrated with the second payload module and having a second stowage area configured to receive stowbins and accessible via the main cabin area of the aircraft, wherein the second overhead stowbin module comprises a second pair of end walls attached to a second stowbin side wall, wherein the second pair of end walls, the second stowbin side wall, and the second floor panel define the second stowage area; and

a plurality of aisle support structures attached to the overhead payload module at a plurality of different locations along a length of the aisle floor assembly, wherein each aisle support structure of the plurality of aisle support structures comprises:
a first support bracket having a first arm attached to the first payload assembly and a second arm attached to the aisle floor assembly,
a second support bracket positioned opposite the first support bracket and having a first arm attached to the second payload assembly and a second arm attached to the aisle floor assembly, and
a cross member having a first end portion attached between the aisle floor assembly and the first support bracket and having a second end portion attached between the aisle floor assembly and the second support bracket.

2. The overhead payload module of claim 1 , wherein the first overhead stowbin module further comprises a first center support wall attached to the first stowbin side wall between the first pair of end walls and dividing the first stowage area into two stowage areas each configured to receive stowbins,
wherein the second overhead stowbin module further comprises a second center support wall attached to the second stowbin side wall between the second pair of end walls and dividing the second stowage area into two stowage areas each configured to receive stowbins,
wherein the first center support wall is substantially perpendicular to the first stowbin side wall and substantially parallel to the first pair of end walls, and
wherein the second center support wall is substantially perpendicular to the second stowbin side wall and substantially parallel to the second pair of end walls.

3. The overhead payload module of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of aisle support structures comprises:
a first aisle support structure attached to a first end wall of the first pair of end walls and a first end wall of the second pair of end walls,
a second aisle support structure attached to a second end wall of the first pair of end walls and a second end wall of the second pair of end walls, and
a center aisle support structure attached to the first center support wall and the second center support wall.

4. The overhead payload module of claim 3 , wherein the center aisle support structure is positioned substantially equidistant from the first aisle support structure and the second aisle support structure.

5. The overhead payload module of claim 1 , wherein the first payload assembly further comprises a first plurality of supplemental brackets,
wherein each supplemental bracket of the first plurality of supplemental brackets has a first arm attached to the first stowbin side wall and a second arm attached to the aisle floor assembly,
wherein the second payload assembly further comprises a second plurality of supplemental brackets, and
wherein each supplemental bracket of the second plurality of supplemental brackets has a first arm attached to the second stowbin side wall and a second arm attached to the aisle floor assembly.

6. The overhead payload module of claim 1 , wherein the first payload module further comprises a first pair of side walls,
wherein the second payload module further comprises a second pair of side walls,
wherein the first pair of end walls are integrally formed with the first pair of side walls of the first payload module, and
wherein the second pair of end walls are integrally formed with the second pair of side walls of the second payload module.

7. The overhead payload module of claim 1 , wherein the first support bracket includes a first stowbin pivot fitting integrally formed with the first arm and the second arm of the first support bracket,
wherein the second support bracket includes a second stowbin pivot fitting integrally formed with the first arm and the second arm of the second support bracket, and
wherein each stowbin pivot fitting of the first stowbin pivot fitting and the second stowbin pivot fitting defines an axis about which a stowbin rotates when the stowbin is rotatably attached to the stowbin pivot fitting.

8. An aircraft comprising:
a fuselage;
an overhead payload module comprising:
a ceiling assembly,
an aisle floor assembly positioned above a main cabin area of the aircraft,
a first payload assembly attached to the ceiling assembly and the aisle floor assembly to form a first side of the overhead payload module, wherein the first payload assembly comprises:
a first payload module comprising a first floor panel, and
a first overhead stowbin module structurally integrated with the first payload module and having a first stowage area configured to receive stowbins and accessible via the main cabin area of the aircraft, wherein the first overhead stowbin module comprises a first pair of end walls attached to a first stowbin side wall, wherein the first pair of end walls, the first stowbin side wall, and the first floor panel define the first stowage area, and

a second payload assembly attached to the ceiling assembly and the aisle floor assembly to form a second side of the overhead payload module, wherein the second payload assembly is positioned opposite the first payload assembly to form an aisle therebetween, wherein the second payload assembly comprises:
a second payload module comprising a second floor panel, and
a second overhead stowbin module structurally integrated with the second payload module and having a second stowage area configured to receive stowbins and accessible via the main cabin area of the aircraft, wherein the second overhead stowbin module comprises a second pair of end walls attached to a second stowbin side wall, wherein the second pair of end walls, the second stowbin side wall, and the second floor panel define the second stowage area, and

a plurality of aisle support structures attached to the overhead payload module at a plurality of different locations along a length of the aisle floor assembly, wherein each aisle support structure of the plurality of aisle support structures comprises:
a first support bracket h

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Young Stephen M
• Egging Duane M
• Seiersen Douglas J
• Kim Kyong S

Classifications

• B64D2011/0076

  for crew members, e.g. for sleeping during flight · CPC title

• B64D2011/0046

  Modular or preassembled units for creating cabin interior structures · CPC title

• B64D11/00 Primary

  Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64D11/003 Primary

  Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage · CPC title