AIRCRAFT PASSENGER SEAT AND SEAT SWIVEL ASSEMBLY

• US 20130161990A1
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Published: 06/27/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace Incorporated (Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace Incorporated (Spirit Realty Capital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Oleson, Michael L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,493,242 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/344.21
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/062 transversally slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0717 Rounded, e.g. circular
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/146 characterised by the locking device
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06 Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/064 Adjustable inclination or position of seats
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly for an aircraft seating unit that includes a pair of transversely spaced-apart base rails, each including fore and aft fittings for connecting the base rails to an aircraft deck. The base rails define a transversely-extending horizontal plane extending between the pair of base rails. A swivel assembly is mounted between the pair of base rails in the laterally-extending horizontal plane. The swivel assembly provides a low profile seat with a spar that forms a part of the swivel assembly and transfers loads from the seat efficiently to the aircraft deck. A slide assembly enables the seat occupant to slide the seat fore-and-aft and side-to-side independent of the rotation of the seat on the swivel.

Claims

1. An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly for an aircraft seating unit, comprising:

(a) a pair of transversely spaced-apart base rails each including fore and aft fittings for connecting the base rails to an aircraft deck and defining a transversely-extending horizontal plane extending between the pair of base rails; and

(b) a swivel assembly mounted between the pair of base rails in the laterally-extending horizontal plane.

2. An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the swivel assembly defines a transversely extending spar connected to and bridging the space between the base rails in the transversely-extending horizontal plane extending between the pair of base rails.

3. An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the swivel assembly includes a stationary swivel plate and an annular swivel ring mounted for rotation in the swivel plate for attachment to a seat pan.

4. An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly according to claim 2, wherein the transversely extending spar is integrally-formed with the swivel plate.

5. An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly according to claim 2, wherein the transversely extending spar includes elongate connecting members for being positioned in complementary locking apertures formed in the base rails.

6. An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly according to claim 5, wherein the locking apertures comprise bolt holes extending through top and bottom surfaces of the base rails and aligned with aligned bolt holes in the connecting members for receiving bolts therethrough.

7. An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly according to claim 5, wherein the locking apertures comprise first and second vertically-extending spaced-apart bolt holes extending through top and bottom surfaces of the base rails and aligned with first and second spaced-apart bolt holes in the connecting members for receiving bolts therethrough.

8. An aircraft passenger seat swivel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fore and aft fittings of the base rails are adapted to position the base rails in spaced-apart relation to the aircraft deck.

9. An aircraft passenger seat, comprising:

(a) a pair of transversely spaced-apart base rails each including fore and aft fittings for connecting the base rails to an aircraft deck and defining a transversely-extending horizontal plane extending between the pair of base rails;

(b) a swivel assembly mounted between the pair of base rails in the laterally-extending horizontal plane;

(c) a slide assembly mounted on the swivel assembly for permitting side-to-side and fore-and-aft movement of the seat independent of the swivel assembly;

(d) a seat pan mounted on the swivel assembly for rotational movement on a vertical axis defined by the swivel assembly and on at least one translational axis defined by the slide assembly; and

(e) a seat back mounted on a rear side of the seat pan.

10. An aircraft passenger seat according to claim 9, wherein the swivel assembly defines a transversely extending spar connected to and bridging the space between the base rails in the transversely-extending horizontal plane extending between the pair of base rails.

11. An aircraft passenger seat according to claim 9, wherein the swivel assembly includes a stationary swivel plate and an annular swivel ring mounted for rotation in the swivel plate and attached to a seat pan for rotation of the seat pan around a vertical axis defined by the annular swivel ring.

12. An aircraft passenger seat according to claim 10, wherein the transversely extending spar is integrally-formed with the swivel plate.

13. An aircraft passenger seat according to claim 10, wherein the transversely extending spar includes elongate connecting members for being positioned in complementary locking apertures formed in the base rails.

14. An aircraft passenger seat according to claim 9, wherein the slide assembly comprises:

(a) a slide mounting plate mounted to the swivel plate;

(b) a first plurality of slide bushings and a respective first pair of slides positioned therein for side-to-side movement of the seat pan;

(c) a second plurality of slide bushings and a respective second pair of slides positioned therein for fore-and-aft movement of the seat pan; and

(d) the seat pan carried by and movable in relation to the first and second pairs of slides.

15. An aircraft passenger seat according to claim 14, wherein the seat pan is mounted for side-to-side translation into and out of lateral alignment with the swivel assembly.

16. An aircraft passenger seat according to claim 15, wherein the first pair of slides and the second pair of slides each comprise cylindrical tubes mounted in the first and second pluralities of slide bushings for sliding movement in a lateral plane parallel to the transversely-extending horizontal plane extending between the pair of base rails.