Modular Aircraft Galley Systems, Apparatus and Methods for Configuration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018016014-A1
Application number	US-201715648359-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 12, 2017
Priority date	Jul 12, 2016
Publication date	Jan 18, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a modular galley monument for an aircraft cabin includes a first side panel, a second side panel, and an upper surface connecting the first side panel and the second side panel. The modular galley monument may include dividers partitioning the monument into a number of compartments. The monument may include an upper monument portion and a lower monument portion connected at a periphery via a seal allowing for vertical deflection between the first monument portion and the second monument portion of at least one inch while maintaining contact with both. The monument may include an integrated heating appliance for a compartment, including an insulation shell, a heated compartment positioned within the insulation shell, an electrical heating unit disposed within the insulation shell and configured to provide heat energy to the heated compartment. and a door assembly rotatably connected about an opening of the heated compartment.

First claim

1 . A modular galley monument for a cabin area of an aircraft, the modular galley monument comprising:
a first monument portion comprising a first side panel, a second side panel, and an upper panel connecting the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein
one of an upper edge and a lower edge of each of the first side panel and the second side panel define in part a periphery of the first monument portion, and
the first monument portion is configured to be secured to a first aircraft attachment point;
a seal connecting the periphery of the first monument portion and a periphery of a second monument portion configured to be secured to a second aircraft attachment point, wherein the first monument portion and the second monument portion are stacked such that the second monument portion is disposed either above or below the first monument portion, and the lower monument portion of the first monument portion and the second monument portion supports at least a portion of the load of the upper monument portion of the first monument portion and the second monument portion; wherein the seal allows for vertical deflection between the first monument portion and the second monument portion of at least one inch while maintaining contact with both the first monument portion and the second monument portion.

2 . The modular galley monument of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the upper panel functions as a galley work surface.

3 . The modular galley monument of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a plurality of ribs along a length of the seal.

4 . The modular galley monument of claim 1 , wherein the seal prevents direct contact between the first monument portion and the second monument portion.

5 . The modular galley monument of claim 1 , wherein the seal allows for vertical deflection of up to two inches while maintaining contact with both the first monument portion and the second monument portion.

6 . The modular galley monument of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of dividers partition the first monument portion into a plurality of compartments, wherein the seal maintains separation of the compartments from the second monument portion, thereby maintaining sanitation of the second monument portion.

7 . The modular galley monument of claim 1 , wherein:
the first monument portion comprises a set of stairs; and the second monument portion is a crew rest area designed for crew members to rest therein.

8 . The modular galley monument of claim 7 , wherein the first monument portion comprises a plurality of compartments for stowing a plurality of galley carts.

9 . A modular galley monument for a cabin area of an aircraft, the modular galley monument comprising:
a first side panel, a second side panel, and an upper panel connecting the first side panel and the second side panel; a plurality of dividers disposed between the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein the plurality of dividers are arranged to divide the first monument portion into a plurality of compartments; a compartment wall door having a lower edge and an upper edge, the lower edge connected to a lower edge of a on opening of a first compartment of the plurality of compartments by a door support hinge; and a door support, wherein the upper edge of the compartment wall door is pivotally connected to a door support; wherein the door support is configured to pivot such that the upper edge of the compartment wall door can be supported by at least one of a side panel and another galley monument.

10 . The modular galley monument of claim 9 , wherein the door support includes at least one door support leg, each door support leg having a first end and a second end, the first end of the door support leg connected to the door support and the second end of the door support leg configured to contact one of a lower surface of the first monument portion and a floor of the cabin area.

11 . The modular galley monument of claim 10 , wherein, when the compartment wall door is opened from the compartment opening, the compartment wall door is configured to form a support platform.

12 . The modular galley monument of claim 10 , wherein the at least one door support leg is configured to secure the compartment wall door and the door support to the compartment opening.

13 . The modular galley monument of claim 9 , wherein the compartment wall door is a waste compartment door configured to assist in emptying waste from a waste bin stowed within the first compartment.

14 . A modular galley monument for a cabin area of an aircraft, the modular galley monument comprising:
a first side panel, a second side panel, and an upper panel connecting the first side panel and the second side panel; a plurality of dividers disposed between the first side panel and the second side panel, wherein the plurality of dividers are arranged to divide the first monument portion into a plurality of compartments; and an integrated heating appliance, comprising
an insulation shell inserted into a first compartment of the plurality of compartments,
a heated compartment positioned within the insulation shell,
an electrical heating unit disposed within the insulation shell and configured to provide heat energy to the heated compartment, and
a door assembly rotatably connected about an opening of the heated compartment to allow access to inside the heated compartment.

15 . The modular galley monument of claim 14 , wherein the integrated heating appliance performs as a conventional oven.

16 . The modular galley monument of claim 14 , further comprising:
a chilled compartment drawer including an insulated shell having an open forward portion and lateral sides connected to the galley monument with a drawer track system; and a hinged rotating door connected to the forward portion of the insulated shell and configured to maintain a thermal seal when closed; wherein the hinged rotating door is configured to pivot forward and allow access to the insulated shell.

17 . The modular galley monument of claim 14 , further comprising a pivoting door assembly including:
a door coupled to at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel; at least one hinge body at a plurality of articulation points along the door; and an articulation limiter rotatably connected to the at least one hinge body for limiting articulation of the door about the at least one hinge body.

18 . The modular galley monument of claim 14 , wherein the first compartment further comprises a plenum mounted above the integrated heating appliance and extending forward of the integrated heating appliance, wherein:
the plenum comprises a cartridge housing containing an air filter cartridge for filtering air flow exiting the plenum; and the plenum is configured to exhaust air from the integrated heating appliance during use.

19 . The modular galley monument of claim 18 , wherein the air filter cartridge is configured to change color as filtration capacity is diminished.

20 . The modular galley monument of claim 18 , wherein the plenum further comprises at least one quick release fastener for replacing the air filter cartridge.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Burd Peter John Leslie
• Elshaw Neil R
• Foster Sam
• Neti Venkata Prasanth Suman
• Coombs Allan
• Brownlie Donna Charlene
• Davidson Merv
• Payne Elizabeth M

Classifications

• F25D23/10

  Arrangements for mounting in particular locations, e.g. for built-in type, for corner type · CPC title

• B64D2013/0629

  with subsystems for cooling food, catering or special loads · CPC title

• Y10T403/75

  having a joining piece extending through aligned openings in plural members · CPC title

• B64D11/04 Primary

  Galleys · CPC title

• F25D2500/02

  Geometry problems · CPC title