Anti-crash seat and an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9382008-B2
Application number	US-201414299145-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2014
Priority date	Jun 10, 2013
Publication date	Jul 5, 2016
Grant date	Jul 5, 2016

Abstract

A seat ( 5 ) comprising a bucket ( 10 ) and a frame ( 15 ) fastened to a floor ( 2 ). Said seat ( 5 ) includes at least one energy absorber system ( 20 ) having a plurality of energy absorbers ( 21 ) arranged in parallel. Said seat ( 5 ) includes an index ( 30 ) that is movable in translation to secure the bucket ( 10 ) to an energy absorber system ( 20 ) by engaging with one end of one or more energy absorbers ( 21 ). Said seat ( 5 ) includes at least one suspension system ( 40 ) having a spring member ( 60 ) suspending said bucket ( 10 ) from said frame ( 15 ) as a function of the weight of a passenger, mechanical indexing means ( 60 ) co-operating with an index ( 30 ), said seat ( 5 ) including a mechanical inhibitor system ( 70 ) for blocking the suspension system ( 40 ) during a crash.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aircraft seat comprising a bucket and a frame fastened to a floor to carry the bucket, the seat including an energy absorber system, and wherein:
the energy absorber system is provided with a plurality of energy absorbers arranged in parallel, each energy absorber having a first end secured to the frame;
the seat including an index that is movable in translation to secure the bucket to the energy absorber system by engaging a second end of one or more energy absorbers of the energy absorber system; and
the seat includes a suspension system having a spring member suspending the bucket from the frame as a function of the weight of a passenger, the suspension system including mechanical indexing means co-operating with the index so that a translation in elevation movement of the suspension system relative to the frame under the action of the weight of at least one passenger sitting on the bucket automatically causes a transverse movement in translation of the index in order to engage the number of energy absorbers that corresponds to the weight, the seat including a mechanical inhibitor system for blocking the suspension system in the event of a crash.

2. A seat according to claim 1 , wherein the energy absorber system includes at least one fusible member secured to the frame and capable of being secured to the index.

3. A seat according to claim 1 , wherein the index comprises at least one cylinder penetrating into respective orifices of the absorbers.

4. A seat according to claim 1 , wherein the index comprises a hollow cylinder sliding around respective ends of the absorbers.

5. A seat according to claim 1 , wherein the seat includes guide means for guiding the index to move in translation.

6. A seat according to claim 1 , wherein the seat includes a sheath in which a head of the index is slidably mounted, at least one spring being interposed between the head and the sheath.

7. A seat according to claim 1 , wherein the index comprises a first finger co-operating with the absorbers of the energy absorber system and a second finger co-operating with a fusible member of the energy absorber system.

8. A seat according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical indexing means comprise a hollow casing provided with a slot presenting an inclined slope, the index having a stud slidable in the slot so that movement in translation in elevation of the suspension system causes the stud to slide along the slot, causing the index to move transversely in translation.

9. A seat according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical indexing means comprise a link hinged to the index and to a movable body of the suspension system.

10. A seat according to claim 1 , wherein the suspension system comprises an actuator having a movable body and a stationary body, the movable body being secured to the bucket and the stationary body being attached to the energy absorber system, the spring member being interposed between the movable body and the stationary body.

11. A seat according to claim 10 , wherein an inhibitor system is provided with a harness winder and a control cable for the actuator, a cam being interposed between the winder and the cable so that rotation of the winder causes the cable to move in translation and inhibit the actuator.

12. A seat according to claim 1 , wherein the suspension system comprises a cylindrical body attached to the energy absorber system and a rod secured to the bucket and projecting from the cylindrical body, together with a spring member, the spring member being interposed between a stop of the cylindrical body and a shoulder of the rod.

13. A seat according to claim 12 , wherein the rod has a threaded portion, and the suspension system includes a nut arranged in the cylindrical body and engaged on the threaded portion.

14. A seat according to claim 13 , wherein an inhibitor system is provided with a blocking ring arranged in the cylindrical body vertically in register with the nut, the cylindrical body including movement prevention means for preventing the blocking ring from moving in rotation about an axis of rotation (AXROT) of the nut, the blocking ring having an inside surface (S 1 ) provided with first splines extending in elevation and the nut having an outside surface (S 2 ) provided with second splines extending in elevation, a spring being interposed between an internal shoulder of the cylindrical body and the blocking ring to separate the first and second splines other than during crash conditions, and to allow the first splines to engage with the second splines during a crash.

15. A seat according to claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises first and second legs, with the energy absorber system, the movable index, and the suspension system being associated with the first leg, and the seat further comprising a second energy absorber system, a second movable index, and a second suspension system associated with the second leg.

16. An aircraft, wherein the aircraft includes the seat according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Airbus Helicopters

Inventors

• Fornecker Florent

Classifications

• B64D11/06 Primary

  Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats (crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04) · CPC title

• B64D11/0619 Primary

  with energy absorbing means specially adapted for mitigating impact loads for passenger seats, e.g. at a crash · CPC title

• F16F15/04

  using elastic means (single elements or their attachment F16F1/00 - F16F13/00); {(F16F15/023, F16F15/03 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/54

  using mechanical springs · CPC title