AIRCRAFT GALLEY MONUMENT STRUCTURE

• US 20130256249A1
• Filed: 03/26/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Burd, Peter John Leslie
• Granted Patent: US 9,359,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 211/153
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0007 Devices specially adapted for food or beverage distribution services
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0015 Arrangements for entertainment or communications, e.g. radio, television
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/003 Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/04 Galleys
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0046 Modular or preassembled units for creating cabin interior structures
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2011/0076 for crew members, e.g. for sleeping during flight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

An improved monument structure combining an integrated construction system with carbon fiber reinforced composites to form an exoskeleton chassis that significantly reduces the build times, manufacturing skill level requirements, post processing activities, and overall weight of a given aircraft monument.

Claims

1. A monument for an aircraft, comprising an above work deck subassembly, a below work deck subassembly, and a rear service wall subassembly, wherein each respective subassembly is formed using carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRC) pre-impregnated panel skins that combine to form a exoskeleton chassis, the subassemblies reinforced with a unidirectional carbon fiber.

2. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1, wherein the monument is a refrigerated centerline galley.

3. The monument for an aircraft of claim 2, wherein the above work deck galley is formed with an array of compartments sized to house galley inserts (GAINs) in the galley.

4. The monument for an aircraft of claim 3, wherein the compartments are formed using a wet lay process where layers of materials are placed in a mold over a wet lay, and then the compartments are reinforced with unidirectional carbon fiber reinforcing plies.

5. The monument for an aircraft of claim 4, wherein a finished molded surface opposite a usual orientation of a lay-up of an above work deck subassembly molding provides an upper section of an air ducting for a chiller in the above work deck.

6. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1, further comprising a pair of channels on an upper surface of the above work deck that each receive a ceiling mount for mounting the monument to an upper portion of an airframe of the aircraft.

7. The monument for an aircraft of claim 6, wherein the ceiling mount is formed of a high strength composite and have orthogonal plates, including a first orthogonal plate slides within one of the channels on the upper surface of the above work deck.

8. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1, wherein the below work deck subassembly includes floor fixtures embedded in the subassembly during a manufacturing process.

9. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1, wherein fixing points are integrated into the subassembly using a wet lay process.

10. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1, wherein the above work deck subassembly and the below work deck subassembly are sealed with a lightweight plastic extrusion.

11. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1, wherein the above work deck subassembly, the below work deck subassembly, and the rear service wall subassembly, are each cured as a single and complete integrated unit.

12. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1, wherein the rear service wall includes vents and recesses that cooperate to vent air through the monument.

13. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1, wherein the monument has no supplemental metallic reinforcements.