Optimized configuration for lower lobe passenger rest cabins

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11447250-B2
Application number	US-201816127119-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2018
Priority date	Sep 10, 2018
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin includes passenger rest compartments oriented longitudinally along the roll axis and laterally along the pitch axis. Partial passenger rest compartments are defined by the modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin such that when two modular lower lobe passenger rest cabins are installed in a cargo deck of an aircraft, the partial passenger rest compartments define a single passenger rest compartment or aisle from space that would otherwise be insufficient for the purpose.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin comprising:
one or more exterior cameras;
at least one longitudinally oriented passenger rest compartment configured to accommodate a passenger of an aircraft in a substantially prone position, each of the at least one longitudinally oriented passenger rest compartments comprising a display surface in data communication with the one or more exterior cameras to provide a virtual window;
at least one partial passenger rest compartment, each of the at least one partial passenger rest compartments comprising a display surface in data communication with the one or more exterior cameras to provide a virtual window, and each of the at least one partial passenger rest compartments defining a portion of a longitudinal passenger rest compartment; and
at least one angled passenger rest compartment configured to accommodate a passenger of an aircraft in a substantially prone position, each of the at least one angled passenger rest compartments comprising a display surface in data communication with the one or more exterior cameras to provide a virtual window,
wherein:
the at least one partial passenger rest compartment is disposed to align with a partial passenger rest compartment of a second modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin such that a first portion of a longitudinal passenger rest compartment of one partial passenger rest compartment and a second portion of a longitudinal passenger rest compartment of a partial passenger rest compartment of the second modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin to form a complete longitudinal passenger rest compartment; and
the modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin is configured for disposition within a cargo handling system of an aircraft.

2. The modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin of claim 1 , further comprising a processor in data communication with a cabin crew station, wherein:
the at least one longitudinally oriented passenger rest compartment includes a heat sensor in data communication with the processor; and
the processor is configured to identify heat above a threshold value indicative of a potential fire via the heat sensor and communicate such identification to the cabin crew station.

3. The modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin of claim 1 , further comprising at least one environmental segregation element configured to produce an airtight seal when the modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin is installed adjacent to another modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin.

4. The modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lower longitudinally oriented passenger rest compartment configured to accommodate a passenger of an aircraft in a substantially prone position, disposed beneath the longitudinally oriented passenger rest compartment, and linearly offset such that a bulkhead defining a portion of the lower longitudinally oriented passenger rest compartment provides structural support to the longitudinally oriented passenger rest compartment.

5. The modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin of claim 1 , wherein:
the modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin defines one or more utility spaces corresponding to one or more of electrical, hydraulic, and ventilation conduits used in normal operation of the aircraft; and
the utility spaces are insulated to prevent interference with said conduits by activity within the modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin.

6. The modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one interface disposed on an outside surface, configured to engage an interface of another modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin when installed in the aircraft, the at least one interface providing one or more of electrical power, data communication, or ventilation; and
at least one environmental sealing element configured to create an airtight, noise dampening seal around each of the at least one interface.

7. The modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin of claim 6 , further comprising one or more aircraft engagement features configured to engage a portion of the aircraft cargo handling system to align the interface with an interface of another modular lower lobe passenger rest cabin.

8. A system of passenger rest cabins comprising:
one or more exterior cameras;
at least one entry lower lobe passenger rest cabin comprising:
at least one passenger rest compartment configured to accommodate a passenger of an aircraft in a substantially prone position, each of the at least one passenger rest compartments comprising a display surface in data communication with the one or more exterior cameras to provide a virtual window; and
a first partial passenger rest compartment defining a first portion of a longitudinal passenger rest compartment; and

at least one connected lower lobe passenger rest cabin comprising:
at least one passenger rest compartment configured to accommodate a passenger of an aircraft in a substantially prone position, each of the at least one passenger rest compartments comprising a display surface in data communication with the one or more exterior cameras to provide a virtual window; and
a second partial passenger rest compartment, the second partial passenger rest compartment comprising a display surface in data communication with the one or more exterior cameras to provide a virtual window, and defining a second portion the longitudinal passenger rest compartment,

wherein the first partial passenger rest compartment and the second partial passenger rest compartment are disposed to align such that the first portion of the longitudinal passenger rest compartment and the second portion of the longitudinal passenger rest compartment form a complete longitudinal passenger rest compartment when the system of passenger rest cabins is installed in a cargo handling system an aircraft.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein each of the at least one entry lower lobe passenger rest cabin and at least one connected lower lobe passenger rest cabin further comprises a processor in data communication with a cabin crew station, wherein:
each processor comprises a node in a wireless network of nodes; and
each processor is configured to identify heat above a threshold value indicative of a potential fire via one or more heat sensors and communicate such identification to the cabin crew station.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein:
the at least one entry lower lobe passenger rest cabin defines a first portion of an aisle;
the at least one connected lower lobe passenger rest cabin defines a second portion of the aisle; and
the first portion of the aisle and second portion of the aisle are disposed to align and form a complete aisle between the at least one entry lower lobe passenger rest cabin and the at least one connected lower lobe passenger rest cabin.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein each of the at least one entry lower lobe passenger rest cabin and at least one connected lower lobe passenger rest cabin defines a sealable transitional opening in at least one exterior bulkhead, each sealable transitional opening configured to align with a sealable transitional opening of another entry lower lobe passenger rest cabin or connected lower lobe passenger rest cabin when installed in the cargo handling system.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein each of the at least one entry lower lobe passenger rest cabin and at least one connected lower lobe passenger rest cabin defines one or more utility spaces corresponding to one or more of electrical, hydraulic, and ventilation conduits used in normal operation of the aircraft; the utility spaces are insulated to prevent interference with s

Assignees

• Rockwell Collins Inc

Inventors

• Behr Nicolas
• Skelly Trevor

Classifications

• B64D2011/0046

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

• B64D2011/0084

  Bed units for passengers attached to the ceiling of the fuselage · CPC title

• B64C2001/0027

  arranged one above the other · CPC title

• B64C1/18

  Floors · CPC title

• B64D11/00 Primary

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