Electrical power transfer system for aircraft passenger entertainment system

• US 4,853,555 A
• Filed: 04/21/1988
• Issued: 08/01/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wheat, Lawrence M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ip, Paul
• Application Number:
  US07/184,226
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9, 307/147, 307/148, 307/149, 307/150, 307/10 R, 455/3, 455/41, 455/57, 455/77, 336/212, 379/55, 340/310 R, 174/82
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/20 specially adapted for freight
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0624 Arrangements of electrical connectors, e.g. for earphone, internet or electric supply
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 25/16 Rails or bus-bars provided with a plurality of discrete connecting locations for counterparts

Abstract

A conductor rail assembly parallel to an aircraft passenger seat track is coupled by direct electrical connection to the aircraft passenger entertainment system power supply. Passenger seat entertainment system power connectors are inserted into and retained in the conductor rail assembly to distribute power to the individual seat receivers.

Claims

1. An electrical power transfer system for an aircraft Passenger entertainment system comprising in combination:

an aircraft passenger seat track having a plurality of apertures distributed there along for insertion of passenger seat legs;

said seat track having a rectangularly shaped cross section;

a plurality of passenger seat entertainment system power connectors;

a conductor rail assembly having a plurality of apertures distributed there along for receiving said plurality of passenger seat entertainment system power connectors, said conductor rail assembly having a rectangularly shaped cross section;

a passenger entertainment system power supply;

said conductor rail assembly having an enclosed conductive strip extending along the length thereof in electrically insulated relationship with respect to said seat track;

said passenger entertainment system power supply coupled between said conductive strip and said seat track; and

,

said plurality of passenger seat entertainment system power connectors making electrical contact with said conductive strip.

2. The electrical power transfer system according to claim 1 wherein said conductor rail assembly comprises an electrically insulative material.

3. The electrical power transfer system according to claim 2 wherein said electrically insulative material comprises polycarbonate.

4. The electrical power transfer system according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of passenger seat entertainment power connectors comprises an electrically insulative housing enclosing a carbon electrical contact for making spring pressure contact with said conductive strip.

5. The electrical power transfer system according to claim 4 wherein rotation through 90 degrees of said electrically insulative housing causes wiping of said conductive strip by said carbon electrical contact.