Warped-floor tolerant aircraft seat

• Main Authors: PACHERO, CHAD R, PINKAL, DONALD R, DAY, MARTIN S
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 12.02.2014
• Subjects: AIRCRAFT; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSIONTRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS; EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLYING SUITS; PARACHUTES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING

A track-mounted aircraft seat (10) has seat track locking pins (44,46) that are capable of moving independently to remain engaged with a seat track assembly (32) in a warped-floor condition. The seat track locking pins (44,46) are actuated by means of a pair of torque tubes (66,78) that rotate independently about a common pilot shaft (88). A control link (94), which is operated by the user, acts on a pair of bell cranks (90,92) each of which acts on one of the torque tubes (66,78). The control link (94) is attached to the bell cranks (90,92) by means of a spherical joint (98). Because the torque tubes (66,78) rotate independently and because the spherical joint (98) allows the bell cranks (90,92) also to move independently, in the event of a warped-floor condition, rotation of one torque tube (66,78) caused by the skewed seat track (36,38) will not cause the other torque tube (66,78) to release its track locking pin (44,46).