Aircraft bulkhead-mounted pilot seat with horizontal and vertical adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12049321-B2
Application number	US-202217941674-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2022
Priority date	Sep 8, 2022
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

A bulkhead-mounted aircraft seat assembly configured for independent vertical and horizontal adjustment includes an aircraft seat (seatback and seat frame/cushion) for supporting a pilot, passenger, or other occupant. Parallel rails attach to the bulkhead and extend along the bulkhead (vertically or near vertically) with opposing slots set into each rail. A sled translates along the rails via paired sliding members set into the slots, each pair of sliding members connected to an axle extending through the sled. A four-bar linkage attached to the sled and to the aircraft seat; the four-bar linkage extends from a default position to allow the aircraft seat to translate along a horizontal linear rail under the seat while maintaining a stable vertical reference point above the cabin floor. The seat is independently configured for substantially vertical adjustment via a metering plate attached to the bulkhead.

First claim

I claim:

1. An aircraft seat assembly, comprising:
an aircraft seat capable of supporting an occupant;
two parallel rails attachable to a bulkhead of an aircraft, each rail including a slot set thereinto and extending along the rail;
a sled disposed between the two rails and slidably attached to each rail via at least two pairs of sliding members, each pair including a left-side sliding member configured for translation along a left-side slot and a right-side sliding member configured to translation along a right-side slot, the sled including at least one first hole set thereinto;
a four-bar linkage pivotably attached to the sled and to the aircraft seat, the linkage including at least an upper portion and a lower portion;
a metering plate disposed between the two parallel rails behind the sled, the metering plate including a substantially vertical array of second holes set thereinto, each second hole associated with a height of the aircraft seat; and
a locking pin controllable by the occupant;
wherein the locking pin is configured for insertion through the first hole and a second hole of the array to secure the aircraft seat at a height associated with the second hole; and
wherein the four-bar linkage is configured for horizontal articulation of the aircraft seat relative to the bulkhead.

2. The aircraft seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least two pairs of sliding members include:
an upper pair connected by an upper axle extending through the sled and a lower pair connected by a lower axle extending through the sled,
the upper portion of the linkage pivotably attached to the upper axle and the lower portion of the linkage pivotably attached to the lower axle.

3. The aircraft seat assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a linear locking mechanism configured to secure the aircraft seat in at least one horizontal position relative to the bulkhead.

4. The aircraft seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein the metering plate is configured for energy attenuation in response to an impact event via controlled deformation in a downward direction.

5. The aircraft seat assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the locking pin is held in a default configuration by at least one spring, the default configuration associated with insertion through the first hole and the second hole; and
wherein the locking pin is operatively coupled to a handle controllable by the occupant, the handle articulable to release the locking pin from the first hole and the second hole for adjustment of the aircraft seat to a new desired height.

6. The aircraft seat assembly of claim 3 , wherein the linear locking mechanism comprises:
a linear track attached to the sled and projecting forward therefrom; and
a sliding carriage attached to the aircraft seat and configured for translating along the linear track and for securing to the linear track to lock the aircraft seat in the at least one horizontal position relative to the bulkhead.

Assignees

• Ami Ind Inc

Inventors

• Pacheco Chad R

Classifications

• B64D25/04

  Seat modifications · CPC title

• B64D11/0698

  Seats suspended from aircraft walls · CPC title

• B60N2/045

  Longitudinal adjustment by means of articulated rods supporting the seat, e.g. parallelogram mechanisms (B60N2/38 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/0284

  Adjustable seat-cushion length (B60N2/0224 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60N2/42736

  of the whole seat · CPC title