System and method for an under floor seat-to-seat wiring trough to facilitate flat floors in aircraft passenger cabin

• US 10,522,990 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2018
• Issued: 12/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Klein, Aaron Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III, William H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Robinson, Krystal
• Application Number:
  US16/116,182
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/18 Floors
• 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 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/00 Equipment not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0045 Cable-harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/263 Installation, e.g. suspension, of conduit channels or other supports
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/34 using separate protective tubing

Abstract

A seat-to-seat wiring system for an aircraft includes a floor panel and a wiring trough attached to the floor panel. The wiring trough includes a housing defining a raceway for receiving a wire and a first support member coupled to the housing. The first support member is attached to the floor panel is for securing the housing to the floor panel. The housing and the wire are disposed below the floor panel.

Claims

1. A seat-to-seat wiring system for an aircraft, the system comprising:

a floor panel;

a seat track; and

a wiring trough attached to the floor panel and the seat track, the wiring trough including;

a housing defining a raceway for receiving a wire;

a first support member coupled to the housing, the first support member attached to the floor panel for securing the housing to the floor panel, wherein the housing and the wire are disposed below the floor panel; and

a second support member coupled to the housing and attached to the seat track for securing the housing to the seat track.

2. The seat-to-seat wiring system of claim 1, wherein the wiring trough includes a support flange coupled to the housing and attached to the seat track for securing the housing to the seat track.

3. The seat-to-seat wiring system of claim 2, wherein the support flange extends from a bottom portion of the housing.

4. The seat-to-seat wiring system of claim 1, wherein the second support member includes a first arm and a substantially parallel second arm spaced from the first arm to define a gap therebetween, wherein a flange of the seat track is at least partially disposed in the gap.

5. The seat-to-seat wiring system of claim 1, wherein the first support member extends from a first side of the wiring trough, and wherein the second support member extends from an opposing second side of the wiring trough.

6. The seat-to-seat wiring system of claim 1, further comprising a track cover panel removably disposed above the seat track and the wiring trough to provide access to the wiring trough.

7. The seat-to-seat wiring system of claim 6, wherein the track cover panel is substantially aligned with the floor panel such that a floor covering extends over the floor panel and the track cover panel.

8. The seat-to-seat wiring system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of seats disposed over the floor panel, the wiring trough configured to route the wire to the plurality of seats.

9. The seat-to-seat wiring system of claim 1, wherein the first support member includes a first arm and a substantially parallel second arm spaced from the first arm to define a gap therebetween, wherein the floor panel is at least partially disposed in the gap.

10. The seat-to-seat wiring system of claim 1, wherein a floor covering is disposed on the floor panel.

11. The seat-to-seat wiring system of claim 10, wherein the floor covering is substantially planar above the wiring trough.

12. A wiring trough comprising:

a housing defining a raceway for receiving a wire;

a first support member coupled to the housing, the first support member attached to the housing for securing the housing to a first structural member, wherein the housing and the wire are positioned below the first structural member; and

a strength rod coupled to the housing and configured to provide structural support for the housing, wherein the wire is routed below the strength rod within the raceway.

13. The wiring trough of claim 12, wherein the housing defines an opening in a top portion of the housing, the wire configured to be routed through the opening.

14. The wiring trough of claim 13, further comprising an outlet cover plate configured to cover the opening.

15. The wiring trough of claim 12, further comprising a second support member coupled to the housing, the second support member attached to the housing for securing the housing to a second structural member.

16. The wiring trough of claim 15, further comprising a support flange extending from a bottom portion of the housing, the support flange attached to the housing for securing the housing to the second structural member.

17. The wiring trough of claim 12, wherein the first support member comprises a first arm, a second arm, and a gap defined therebetween, the gap configured to receive the first structural member therein to attach the housing to the first structural member.

18. A method of providing wiring beneath a floor panel to a plurality of stations above the floor panel, the method comprising:

positioning a wiring trough below the floor panel such that the wiring trough extends between the plurality of stations, the wiring trough including a housing defining a raceway for receiving a wire and a support member coupled to the housing; and

coupling the support member to the floor panel, wherein the raceway is configured to route the wire to the plurality of stations below the floor panel.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising delivering content to plurality of stations through the wire.