Electronically actuated cable release mechanism for adjustable aircraft passenger seat features and method therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9789964-B2
Application number	US-201615282518-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2016
Priority date	Mar 31, 2014
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a mechanical cable release mechanism for actuating an adjustable feature of an aircraft passenger seat includes a driving control mechanism disposed within a seat bottom region of the passenger seat, a moveable control mechanism disposed between the seat bottom region and the adjustable feature, a mechanical cable connected at one end to the moveable control mechanism and at the other end to the driving control mechanism, and an electronic actuation mechanism configured, upon triggering, to activate the driving control mechanism to pull or push the mechanical cable, thereby actuating the moveable control mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable release mechanism for actuating an adjustable feature of an aircraft passenger seat, comprising:
a means for driving a mechanical cable;
a means for switching on an operating mode of the means for driving, wherein the means for switching comprises an electronic switching mechanism;
a means for activating the means for switching, wherein the means for activating comprises a passenger-activated control, and
one of a wired signal and a wireless signal transmitted to the means for switching due to activation of the passenger-activated control; and

a means for locking and unlocking the adjustable feature, wherein the means for locking and unlocking is connected to an opposite end of the mechanical cable from the means for driving;
wherein, the means for switching, the means for driving, and the mechanical cable are designed for installation within a seat bottom region of the passenger seat;
and wherein, upon activating the means for activating when installed in the passenger seat, the means for switching activates the means for driving, causing translation of the mechanical cable which translates the means for locking and unlocking, causing actuation of the adjustable feature.

2. The cable release mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the means for driving comprises a motor.

3. The cable release mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the means for activating comprises a control mounted on an armrest of the passenger seat.

4. The cable release mechanism of claim 3 , wherein the means for activating comprises a wired signal traveling through a wire connecting the control to the means for switching, wherein the wire is installed through the arm rest to contact the means for activating.

5. The cable release mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable feature is an extendable foot rest of the passenger seat.

6. The cable release mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable feature is adjustable, using the means for activating, to a plurality of positions within a range from a fully stowed position to a fully deployed position.

7. The cable release mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the means for moving comprises a locking gas spring.

8. An aircraft passenger seat with an electronically-activated cable release mechanism for actuating an adjustable feature of the passenger seat, comprising:
a mechanical cable release mechanism, comprising
a control mechanism comprising
a driving control mechanism disposed within a seat bottom region of the passenger seat, and
a moveable control mechanism disposed between the seat bottom region and the adjustable feature, wherein the moveable control mechanism includes a locking and unlocking function; and

a mechanical cable connected at one end to the locking and unlocking function of the moveable control mechanism and at the other end to the driving control mechanism; and

an electronic actuation mechanism configured to activate the driving control mechanism.

9. The aircraft passenger seat of claim 8 , wherein the driving control mechanism comprises a motor.

10. The aircraft passenger seat of claim 8 , further comprising a control mounted on an armrest of the passenger seat and a wire leading from the control to the electronic actuation mechanism for activating the driving control mechanism.

11. The aircraft passenger seat of claim 8 , further comprising a control accessible to a passenger in the passenger seat, wherein the control is configured to issue a wireless activation signal to the electronic actuation mechanism.

12. The aircraft passenger seat of claim 8 , wherein the adjustable feature is a reclining seat back of the passenger seat.

13. The aircraft passenger seat of claim 8 , wherein the adjustable feature is adjustable to a plurality of positions within a range from a fully stowed position to a fully deployed position.

14. The aircraft passenger seat of claim 8 , wherein the moveable control mechanism comprises a tensioner device and wherein the locking and unlocking function serve to lock and to unlock the travel of a rod along a stroke course.

15. The aircraft passenger seat of claim 8 , wherein the electronic actuation mechanism comprises a capacitive switch.

16. A method for retrofitting an aircraft passenger seat with an electronically-activated cable release mechanism, comprising:
removing a cable activation mechanism disposed between a control mounted on an arm rest of the aircraft passenger seat and a moveable control mechanism, wherein the cable activation mechanism is configured to actuate an adjustable feature of the aircraft passenger seat;
installing a driving control mechanism connected to a short mechanical cable in a seat bottom region of the aircraft passenger seat;
connecting an opposite end of the short mechanical cable to a locking and unlocking function of the moveable control mechanism; and
replacing the cable activation mechanism with an electronic actuation mechanism, wherein replacing the cable activation mechanism comprises installing a wire between the control mounted on the arm rest and the driving control mechanism.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Garing Francis Xavier L

Classifications

• B64D11/0643

  Adjustable foot or leg rests · CPC title

• Y10T74/18832

  including flexible drive connector [e.g., belt, chain, strand, etc.] · CPC title

• B64D11/0639 Primary

  with features for adjustment or converting of seats · CPC title

• B60N2/231 Primary

  by hydraulic actuators · CPC title

• F16C1/16

  in which the end-piece is guided rectilinearly · CPC title