IP Library Granted Patent US 10,569,879
Granted Patent B2
US 10,569,879 · App. 15/487,983 · Granted Feb 25, 2020

Aircraft ceiling liner element with a carrier platform

Inventor: Uwe Schneider (Hamburg, DE)
Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
B64D11/003B64C1/066B64C1/22B64D11/0015B64D45/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,569,879
App. No.
15/487,983
Granted
Feb 25, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An aircraft ceiling liner element comprises a load-bearing carrier platform, configured to form a part of an aircraft ceiling liner, and a mounting mounted on the carrier platform, connectable to a primary structure of the aircraft. An electrical connection mounted on the carrier platform is connectable to an electrical supply network of the aircraft. Furthermore, the aircraft ceiling liner element comprises a mechanical interface mounted on the carrier platform, configured to attach various interchangeable modular units detachably and in a load-transferring manner to the carrier platform, and an electrical interface mounted on the carrier platform, which interface is configured to create an electrical connection between the modular unit and the carrier platform.

Claims (31)

1. An aircraft ceiling liner element comprising:

a load-bearing carrier platform configured to form a part of an aircraft ceiling liner,

a mounting mounted on the carrier platform and connectable to a primary structure of the aircraft,

an electrical connection mounted on the carrier platform and connectable to an electrical supply network of the aircraft,

a mechanical interface mounted on the carrier platform and configured to attach various interchangeable modular units detachably and in a load-transferring manner to the carrier platform, and

an electrical interface mounted on the carrier platform and configured to create an electrical connection between the modular unit and the carrier platform.

2. The aircraft ceiling liner element according to claim 1 , wherein a peripheral contour of the carrier platform corresponds to a contour of a standard aircraft ceiling liner element, so that the aircraft ceiling liner element can be installed in the aircraft instead of the standard aircraft ceiling liner element.

3. The aircraft ceiling liner element according to claim 1 , wherein the carrier platform comprises a frame element provided with a recess in which the various interchangeable modular units can be taken up at least in sections.

4. The aircraft ceiling liner element according to claim 3 , wherein the carrier platform further comprises a panel element connected in an installed state of the aircraft ceiling liner element in the aircraft to the frame element on a side of the frame element facing the primary structure of the aircraft and covering the recess in the frame element, and

wherein at least one of the mechanical interface and the electrical interface is mounted on the panel element of the carrier platform.

5. The aircraft ceiling liner element according to claim 3 , wherein at least a first lighting unit is mounted on the carrier platform on the frame element of the carrier platform, the first lighting unit being connectable via the electrical interface to the electrical supply network of the aircraft, and

wherein the first lighting unit comprises an emergency lighting element configured to illuminate a route to an emergency exit of the aircraft.

6. The aircraft ceiling liner element according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical interface comprises a first latching element configured to latch detachably with a complementary second latching element mounted on the various interchangeable modular units in order to attach one of the various interchangeable modular units in a load-transferring manner to the carrier platform, and

wherein the first latching element is formed on a hinge seat into which a first limb of a hinge mounted on the one of the various interchangeable modular units is insertable in order to attach the one of the various interchangeable modular units to the carrier platform pivotably between a closed position and an opening position.

7. The aircraft ceiling liner element according to claim 1 , wherein the mechanical interface comprises a first locking element configured to interact detachably with a complementary second locking element mounted on the various interchangeable modular units, and

wherein one of the various interchangeable modular units is held in a closed position on the carrier platform by the interaction of the first locking element with the second locking element.

8. The aircraft ceiling liner element according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical interface comprises a connection element for connecting to an electrical connector of one of the various interchangeable modular units, the connection element including a connection cable for connecting the electrical interface to the electrical supply network of the aircraft, and

wherein the connection element is arranged in an area of a surface of the panel element of the carrier platform and the surface facing away from the primary structure of the aircraft in the installed state of the aircraft ceiling liner element in an aircraft, and

wherein the connection cable is arranged in the area of a second surface of the panel element of the carrier platform and the second surface facing the primary structure of the aircraft in the installed state of the aircraft ceiling liner element in an aircraft.

9. An aircraft ceiling liner system, which comprises:

an aircraft ceiling liner element according to claim 1 , and

at least one of the various interchangeable modular units attached detachably and in a load-transferring manner and interchangeably with another modular unit to the carrier platform.

10. The aircraft ceiling liner system according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one modular unit comprises at least one of: a first storage compartment with a first storage volume; a second storage compartment with a second storage volume smaller than the first storage volume of the first storage compartment; a cover element; or, a lighting panel designed in the form of at least one of an ambient light panel and a display monitor.

11. The aircraft ceiling liner system according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a lighting unit mounted on the at least one modular unit and connectable to the electrical supply network of the aircraft, via the electrical interface by connection of an electrical connector of the least one modular unit to a connection element of the electrical interface.

12. The aircraft ceiling liner system according to claim 11 , wherein the lighting unit comprises an illuminated exit sign, an illuminated sign for displaying an operating status of a sanitary module, a flight attendant call light, or a combination thereof, and

wherein the exit sign, the sign for displaying an operating status of a sanitary module, or both are mounted on an end face of a modular unit in the form of a storage compartment, the end face extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft in the fitted state of the modular unit in an aircraft, and

wherein the flight attendant call light is mounted on a base area of a modular unit in the form of a storage compartment, the base area facing a cabin floor of the aircraft in a fitted state of the modular unit in an aircraft.

13. The aircraft ceiling liner system according to claim 9 , further comprising:

a modular unit in the form of a storage compartment having an interior provided with a recess for a transport item, and

wherein at least one of side walls and a base of the recess has a shape corresponding, at least in sections, to a shape of the transport item received in the recess.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2017
From: SCHNEIDER, UWE
To: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 043305/0264 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2016 206 383 · Apr 15, 2016 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170297714A1 · Oct 19, 2017
Cited By (1)
US 12,263,946