Aircraft galley compartment retaining assembly
An aircraft galley compartment is provided. The galley compartment comprises a housing and a retaining assembly mounted to the housing. The housing defines a chamber configured to receive a container. The retaining assembly comprises an adjustment mechanism including a moveable part, a connecting rod, a linear to rotary gear arrangement disposed between the moveable part and a first end of the connecting rod, and a retaining lever fixedly attached to the connecting rod towards a second end thereof. The retaining lever is configured to pivot on rotation of the connecting rod between a first position and a second position in which the retaining lever protrudes into the chamber to engage a container therein. Linear movement of the moveable part causes rotation of the connecting rod and movement of the retaining lever between the first position and the second position.
1 . An aircraft galley compartment comprising a housing and a retaining assembly mounted to the housing,
the housing defining a chamber configured to receive a container,
the retaining assembly comprising:
an adjustment mechanism including a moveable part;
a connecting rod;
a linear to rotary gear arrangement disposed between the moveable part and a first end of the connecting rod; and
a retaining lever fixedly attached to the connecting rod towards a second end thereof, and configured to pivot on rotation of the connecting rod between a first position and a second position in which the retaining lever protrudes into the chamber to engage a container therein,
wherein linear movement of the moveable part causes rotation of the connecting rod and movement of the retaining lever between the first position and the second position.
2 . The galley compartment of claim 1 , wherein the linear to rotary gear arrangement comprises a rack and pinion gear, or a roller pinion gear.
3 . The galley compartment of claim 1 , wherein the adjustment mechanism comprises a position indicator.
4 . The galley compartment of claim 1 , wherein the moveable part comprises a grip feature configured to allow the user to grip and move the moveable part, wherein, the grip feature comprises a protrusion, indentation or ridge.
5 . The galley compartment of claim 1 , wherein the moveable part does not protrude beyond the housing, and/or
wherein the galley compartment further comprises a protective mount and the moveable part does not protrude beyond the protective mount.
6 . The galley compartment of claim 1 , wherein the first position is a stowed, disengaged position and the second position is a latched, engaged position, and the retaining lever is moveable between the engaged and disengaged position.
7 . The galley compartment of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one panel.
8 . The galley compartment of claim 7 , wherein the at least one panel comprises a first panel, and the housing comprises a second panel, spaced from and parallel to the first panel.
9 . The galley compartment of claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises a third panel perpendicular to the first and second panels and a fourth panel spaced from and parallel to the third panel.
10 . The galley compartment of claim 7 , wherein the retaining assembly is mounted to one of the at least one panels.
11 . The galley compartment of claim 10 , wherein the panel is substantially hollow and at least part of the retaining assembly is accommodated within the panel.
12 . The galley compartment of claim 10 , wherein the panel comprises an end face on which the adjustment mechanism is disposed.
13 . The galley compartment of claim 7 , wherein the panel comprises an aperture through which the retaining lever extends when in the second position.
14 . The galley compartment of claim 1 , wherein the retaining assembly comprises a mounting plate configured to attach the retaining assembly to the housing.
15 . The galley compartment of claim 1 , wherein the moveable part is linearly moveable between a first linear position in which the retaining lever is in the first position and a second linear position in which the retaining lever is in the second position.