Aircraft galley monument structure
View Patent ↗An improved monument structure combining an integrated construction system with carbon fiber reinforced composites to form an exoskeleton chassis. The chassis includes an above work deck subassembly, a below work deck subassembly, and a rear service wall subassembly, each respective subassembly is formed using carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRC) pre-impregnated panel skins. The subassemblies are reinforced with a unidirectional carbon fiber.
1. A monument for an aircraft, comprising an above work deck subassembly, a below work deck subassembly, and a rear service wall subassembly, wherein the above work deck subassembly and below work deck subassembly are each manufactured and cured as a complete integrated structural subassembly of carbon fiber reinforced composites (CFRC) pre-impregnated panel skins, and wherein localized reinforcement at mating surfaces is established by application of unidirectional carbon fiber plies at a juncture of the mating surfaces over the CFRC pre-impregnated panel skins.
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 subassembly 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 array of 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 of an above work deck subassembly molding provides an upper section of an air ducting for a chiller in the above work deck subassembly.
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 composite and have orthogonal plates, including a first orthogonal plate sliding within one of the channels on the upper surface of the above work deck subassembly.
8. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the below work deck subassembly includes floor fixtures embedded in the below work deck subassembly during a manufacturing process.
9. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1 , wherein fixing points are integrated into the monument 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 plastic extrusion.
11. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the rear service wall subassembly includes vents and recesses that cooperate to vent air through the monument.
12. The monument for an aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the monument has no supplemental metallic reinforcements.