Luggage compartment that can be lowered comprising a hydraulic cylinder locking mechanism

• US 20050230541A1
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Graf, Oleg, Poberschnigg, Ralf
• Granted Patent: US 7,726,606 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/118.500
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/003 Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage

Abstract

The invention relates to a lowerable luggage compartment (10), in particular for a passenger aircraft, having a pneumatic pressure spring (16) connected to the luggage compartment. In order to be able to latch the luggage compartment (10) in an elegant manner in its closed position, the pneumatic pressure spring (16) is a rigidly blockable pneumatic pressure spring with an externally controllable valve for selectively opening or shutting off the hydraulic system of the pneumatic pressure spring, and the hydraulic system of the pneumatic pressure spring (16) is shut off by means of the valve in the closed position of the luggage compartment (10).

Claims

1. Lowerable luggage compartment (10), in particular for a passenger aircraft, having a pneumatic pressure spring (16) connected to the luggage compartment, characterized in that

the pneumatic pressure spring (16) is a rigidly blockable pneumatic pressure spring with an externally controllable valve for selectively opening or shutting off the hydraulic system of the pneumatic pressure spring, and that

the hydraulic system of the pneumatic pressure spring (16) is shut off by means of the valve in the closed position of the luggage compartment (10).

2. Luggage compartment according to claim 1,

characterized in that the hydraulic system of the pneumatic pressure spring (16) comprises an electrically actuable valve for shutting off and opening the hydraulic system.

3. Luggage compartment according to claim 2,

characterized in that the electrically actuable valve is actuated by an electric motor.

4. Luggage compartment according to claim 2,

characterized in that a signal of a sensor, which detects the closed position of the luggage compartment (10), controls the electrically actuable valve into its shut-off position.

5. Luggage compartment according to claim 2,

characterized in that a device, which detects actuation of a handle of the luggage compartment (10), controls the electrically actuable valve into its open position.

6. Luggage compartment according to claim 5,

characterized in that the device is a sensor provided in the handle region of the luggage compartment (10).

7. Luggage compartment according to claim 6,

characterized in that the sensor is a contact surface.

8. Luggage compartment according to claim 7,

characterized in that the contact surface is a touch-sensitive foil.

9. Luggage compartment according to claim 5,

characterized in that the device is a switch, which interacts with the handle of the luggage compartment (10).

10. Luggage compartment according to claim 1,

characterized in that the pneumatic pressure spring (16) is disposed at the back of the luggage compartment (10).

11. Luggage compartment according to claim 10,

characterized in that the pneumatic pressure spring (16) is disposed at least approximately in the middle of the back of the luggage compartment (10).