Method and device for assembling at least one seat into an airplane

Abstract

A seat assembling method for assembling at least one seat into an airplane, the method having the steps of position a seat installing device at a predetermined assembly position in the airplane, convey the at least one seat into the interior of the airplane to the seat installing device by means of a seat conveying device, transfer the seat from the seat conveying device to the seat installing device, and install the seat by means of the seat installing device which is positioned at the assembly position.

Claims

1. A seat assembling method for assembling at least one seat into an airplane, said method having the following steps: a) position a seat installing device at a predetermined assembly position in the airplane, b) convey the at least one seat into an interior of the airplane to the seat installing device by means of a seat conveying device, c) after positioning the seat installing device at the predetermined assembly position, transfer the at least one seat from the seat conveying device to the seat installing device, d) install the at least one seat by means of the seat installing device which is positioned at the assembly position, characterized in that step c) includes: c1) move the seat conveying device into positive locking with the positioned seat installing device; c2) grip and hold the seat by means of a seat gripping and holding device which is mounted on the seat installing device; and c3) remove the seat conveying device.

2. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that step d) includes the following steps which are to be carried out by means of the seat installing device: d1) lower the at least one seat into a seat rail which is arranged on the airplane, d2) move the at least one seat to the desired seat position.

3. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that step b) includes: b1) convey the at least one seat from a seat supplier to the seat installing device.

4. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that step a) includes: a1) position the seat installing device by way of a seat rail in a direction extending transversely with respect to the seat rail and a2) position the seat installing device in a longitudinal direction of the seat rail by means of an optical distance measuring instrument.

5. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the step which is effected after step d): e) release the seat gripping and holding device and remove the seat installing device.

6. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step b) includes conveying the at least one seat into the interior of the airplane to the seat installing device while the seat installing device remains stationary at the predetermined assembly position in the airplane.

7. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step b) includes conveying the at least one seat into the interior of the airplane to the seat installing device without moving the seat installing device from the predetermined assembly position.

8. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step b) includes conveying the at least one seat into the interior of the airplane to the seat installing device positioned at the predetermined assembly position in the airplane using the means of a seat conveying device by hand.

9. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step a) includes position a seat installing device at a predetermined assembly position in the airplane while the at least one seat to be conveyed in step b) is located outside the interior of the airplane.

10. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: prior to step a), bringing the seat installing device inside the interior of the airplane; after step d): e) position the seat installing device at a second predetermined assembly position in the airplane different than that of step a); f) convey a second at least one seat into the interior of the airplane to the seat installing device by means of the seat conveying device while the seat installing device is positioned at the second predetermined assembly position; g) transfer the second at least one seat from the seat conveying device to the seat installing device; and h) install the second at least one seat by means of the seat installing device which is positioned at the second assembly position.

11. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyance of the at least one seat inside the aircraft to the predetermined assembly position is executed entirely using the seat conveying device by hand.

12. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conveyance of the at least one seat inside the aircraft to the predetermined assembly position is executed while the seat installing device is positioned at the predetermined assembly position.

13. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, prior to step a), bringing the seat installing device into the interior of the airplane, wherein the transfer of the at least one seat from the seat conveying device to the seat installing device is executed while the seat installing device is positioned at the predetermined assembly position.

14. The seat assembling method as claimed in claim 1 wherein step b) is executed before step c).

15. A seat assembling method for assembling at least one seat into an airplane, said method having the following steps: a) position a seat installing device at a predetermined assembly position in the airplane, b) convey the at least one seat into an interior of the airplane to the seat installing device by means of a seat conveying device, c) after positioning the seat installing device at the predetermined assembly position, transfer the at least one seat from the seat conveying device to the seat installing device, d) install the at least one seat by means of the seat installing device which is positioned at the assembly position, wherein the method further comprises, after step b) and before step c), interlocking the seat installing device and the seat conveying device in a gripping positive locking manner.

16. A seat assembling method for assembling at least one seat into an airplane, said method having the following steps: a) position a seat installing device at a predetermined assembly position in the airplane, b) convey the at least one seat into an interior of the airplane to the seat installing device by means of a seat conveying device, c) after positioning the seat installing device at the predetermined assembly position, transfer the at least one seat from the seat conveying device to the seat installing device, d) install the at least one seat by means of the seat installing device which is positioned at the assembly position, where step c) is executed while the seat installing device and the seat conveying device are coupled together such that the seat installing device and the seat conveying device are interlocked in a gripping positive locking manner.

Description

(1) The invention is explained in more detail below by way of the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a first perspective view of a seat installing device;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a second perspective view of a seat installing device;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a top view onto the seat installing device;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view of a detail of the seat installing device with a positioning device and a seat gripping and holding device;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a first perspective view of a seat conveying device;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a second perspective view of a seat conveying device;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a top view of the seat conveying device;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a first method step for seat assembling;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a first perspective schematic representation of a second method step for seat assembling;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a second perspective representation of the second method step;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a first schematic representation of a third method step for seat assembling;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a second schematic representation of the third method step;

(14) FIG. 13 shows a schematic representation of a fourth method step;

(15) FIG. 14 shows a representation of a detail of the fourth method step;

(16) FIG. 15 shows a first schematic representation of a fifth method step for seat assembling;

(17) FIG. 16 shows a second schematic representation of the fifth method step;

(18) FIG. 17 shows a schematic representation of a sixth method step for seat assembling;

(19) FIG. 18 shows a schematic overview representation to explain the concept of seat assembling; and

(20) FIG. 19 shows a flow diagram to represent the overview of an embodiment of the method for seat assembling.

(21) An embodiment of a seat installing device 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, whilst an embodiment of a seat conveying device 12 is shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. A seat assembling device 14 for assembling at least one seat into an airplane is formed as a result of the combination of the seat installing device 10 and the seat conveying device 12.

(22) First of all, the seat installing device 10 will be explained in more detail below by way of the representation in FIGS. 1 to 4.

(23) The seat installing device 10 has a positioning system 16 for positioning the seat installing device 10 at the desired assembly point, a seat gripping and holding device 18 for gripping the seat and for holding the seat for the purposes of assembling it, a first coupling device 20 for coupling with the seat conveying device 12 for transferring the seat and a first handling device 22 for the handling and/or operating of the seat conveying device 12 by means of an operator.

(24) The positioning system 16 has a first positioning device 24 for positioning the seat installing device 10 transversely with respect to the direction of extension of a seat rail and a second positioning device 26 for positioning the seat installing device along the longitudinal direction of the seat rail.

(25) The first positioning device 24 has a first engagement projection 28 for engagement in a first seat rail and a second engagement projection 30 for engagement in a second seat rail.

(26) The two engagement projections 28, 30 have in each case at least one rotatingly mounted roller 32, 34 on a rear edge region 36 of a base part 38 of the seat installing device 10.

(27) The base part 38 has a U-shaped basic frame 40 with two lateral legs 42, 44 and one inner stabilizing frame 46.

(28) Further rollers 50, 51, 52 and 53, which, together with the first roller 32 and the second roller 34, form a displacing device 54 for displacing the seat installing device 10 over the ground, are provided on a front region 48 of the base part 38.

(29) The second positioning device 26 has an optical measuring device 56 with a measuring instrument 58 for detecting a distance to a reference point. The measuring device 56 with the optical measuring instrument 58 is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. As can be seen from FIG. 4, a laser 60 is provided on at least one of the two legs 42, 44 for distance measuring.

(30) The first coupling device 20 has a first receiving means 62 between a first leg 42 and the stabilizing frame 46 and a second receiving means 64 between the second leg 44 and the basic frame 40. The two receiving means 62, 64 serve for receiving in a positive locking manner two complementarily realized positioning projections of the seat conveying device 12 which will be described in more detail hereafter.

(31) The seat gripping and holding device 18 has several pairs of clamping jaws 66, 68 for gripping the seat feet. The clamping jaws 66, 68 are accommodated in each case at opposite points inside the receiving means 62, 64 in the legs 42, 44 and the stabilizing frame 46.

(32) The first handling device 22 has a handle 70 for gripping, holding and moving the seat installing device 10 and an actuating device 72 for actuating the seat gripping and holding device 18. The actuating device 72 has, for example, a foot pedal 74 for moving the clamping jaws 66, 68, for example, in a hydraulic or pneumatic manner. The clamping jaws 66, 68 can be moved toward one another, actuated in particular in a hydraulic or pneumatic manner, by means of the foot pedal 74 in order to clamp the seat feet between them. By means of a pressure relief device (not shown in detail), the pressure on the clamping jaws 66, 68, for example hydraulic pressure or pneumatic pressure, can be removed again such that the clamping jaws 66, 68, which are pretensioned in their pulled-back position which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, move back again. As a result the seat feet can be released again.

(33) The seat conveying device 12 is explained in more detail below by way of the representation in FIGS. 5 to 7.

(34) The seat conveying device 12 has a displacing device 80 for displacing the seat conveying device 12 over the ground; a seat supporting device 82 for supporting and holding the seats; a second coupling device 84 for coupling the seat conveying device 12 with the seat installing device 10 and a second handling device 86 for the handling of the seat conveying device 12 by means of an operator.

(35) In the embodiment shown, the seat conveying device 12 has a U-shaped frame part 88 and a handle 90 which forms the second handling device 86.

(36) The second coupling device 84 is realized in a complementary manner to the first coupling device 20 in order to position the seat installing device 10 and the seat conveying device 12 in a positive locking manner with respect to one another for transferring the seats.

(37) For example, the second coupling device 84 has two positioning projections 92, 94 which are realized for engagement in a suitable, positive locking manner in the two receiving means 62, 64 of the seat installing device 10. The positioning projections 92, 94 are formed by two legs 96, 98 of the U-shaped frame part 88.

(38) The seat supporting device 82 has a grid of elongated receiving indentations 100, which extend transversely with respect to the set-up of the legs 96, 98, or of receiving ribs and stops 102 on the top surface of the legs 96, 98. The receiving indentations 100 serve for receiving the foot points of the seat frames of differently realized seats. The spacing between the grids of the two legs 96, 98 from one another corresponds substantially to a spacing between a pair of seat rails in a passenger cabin of the airplane, for example an aircraft cabin.

(39) The displacing device 80 has several rollers 104 on the bottom surface of the legs 96, 98 and on the bottom surface of a connecting web 106 of the frame part 88.

(40) The seat conveying device 12 is consequently formed by a type of trolley 108, by way of which the seat is able to be provided. The trolley 108 has the basic functions of receiving the seat, conveying the seat and producing a connection to the seat installing device 10.

(41) In a preferred development, the trolley 108 additionally also has the following functions with reference to receiving the seat: fixing the seat on the trolley fixing the trolley in the transporting container, e.g. in the trucke.g. by means of a parking brake or by means of fixing points protecting the seat during transporte.g. by means of protruding legs 96, 98, the handle 90 and/or a protective wrapping (not shown).

(42) The trolley preferably also has the following functions for conveying the seat: displacing the trolleyby means of the displacing device 80 steering the trolleyfor example by means of steerable rollers 104 braking the trolleyfor example by means of braking devices/parking brakes (not shown in detail) indicating the status, e.g. braked/not braked.

(43) With reference to the production of the connection to the seat installing device 10, in a preferred development the trolley 108 has the following functions: introducing the trolley into the seat installing device 10 fixing the trolley in the seat installing device 10 transferring the seat to the seat installing device 10.

(44) The seat installing device 10 serves for positioning the seat and for supporting the seat assembling.

(45) The following can be named as part steps for positioning the seat installing device 10: installing lasers receiving data determining the position of the seat installing device 10.

(46) The step of installing the laser 60 includes, in particular, the fixing of the laser 60 on the seat installing device 10 and the producing of a data connection between the laser and a control device of the seat assembling device 14 (not shown in any detail).

(47) The step of receiving data includes, in particular, the loading of a predetermined cabin layout and the choosing of the seat row in the cabin layout where the current seat is to be installed.

(48) The step of determining the position of the seat installing device 10 includes, in particular, the measuring of the position of the seat installing device 10 by means of the laser 60 and the signaling of the currently measured actual position.

(49) Accordingly, the seat installing device 10 has a data connection (not shown in detail) to the control device.

(50) The supporting of the seat assembling by means of the seat installing device 10 includes, in particular, the steps: taking up the position producing the connection to the seat conveying device 12 positioning the seat.

(51) The step taking up the position preferably includes the following sub-steps: positioning by means of the first positioning device 24 in the direction transversely with respect to the longitudinal rails displacing the seat installing device 10 in the x-direction lengthways of the rail reflecting the laser 60 for determining the x-position fixing the seat installing device 10, for example by means of clamping or gripping devices (not shown in detail) which fix the seat installing device in relation to the seat rail.

(52) The step producing the connection to the trolley includes, in particular, the following sub-steps: receiving the trolley 108 fixing the trolley inside the seat installing device 10 taking over the seat.

(53) The step positioning the seat includes, in particular, the following sub-steps: lowering the seat displacing the seat (for example by half an inch) indicating the status (for example by means of the data interface).

(54) An exemplary embodiment of a method for seat assembling is explained in more detail below by way of the representations in FIGS. 8 to 17.

(55) FIG. 8, in this case, shows a first step of a positioning of the seat installing device 10 inside an airplane, for example inside an aircraft cabin 110.

(56) The aircraft cabin 110 has a floor 112 with a pair of seat rails 114, 116. The seat rails 114, 116 extend parallel to one another. The receiving means 62, 64 and the first roller 32 and the second roller 34 are realized corresponding to the spacing between the seat rails 114, 116 such that, when the first roller 32 is inserted into the first seat rail 114 and when the second roller 34 is inserted into the second seat rail 116, the seat rails 114, 116 are aligned centrally and parallel to the receiving means 62, 64. As a result of the engagement of the rollers 32, 34 in the seat rails 114, 116, the seat installing device 10 can only be moved parallel to the seat rails 114, 116 in the case of said alignment. To this end, the rollers 32, 34 have a relatively large diameter and a thickness such that they are received inside grooves in the seat rails 114, 116 with a small amount of play such that it is only possible to insert them in the seat rails 114, 116 in the appropriate alignment with respect to the said seat rails.

(57) A first operator 120 positions the seat installing device 10 at the desired position with the help of the optical measuring instrument 58. As a result of the engagement of the rollers 32, 34 in the seat rails 114, 116, in this case, the rear edge region 36 rests on the floor 112 such that the seat installing device can be fixed in a corresponding manner by pressure downward onto the handle 70.

(58) FIGS. 9 and 10 show a second method step for the seat assembling, a second operator 122 moving a seat 124 into the aircraft cabin 110 by means of the seat conveying device 12 and displacing it toward the positioned seat installing device 10. The seat 124 is realized as a row of seats 126 with several individual seats 128, 129, 130 which each have a backrest 132, a sitting surface 134 and arm rests 136. The seat 124 has a seat frame 138. The seat frame 138 has, for example, four seat feet 140, 141, 142, 143, two front seat feet 140, 141 being positioned on the support device 82 in abutment against the stops 102 and two rear seat feet 142, 143 engaging in suitable receiving indentations 100.

(59) FIG. 11 shows a third method step for the seat assembling, the seat conveying device 12 and the seat installing device 10 being positioned with respect to one another.

(60) In this connection, the second operator 122 pushes the seat conveying device 10 toward the seat installing device 12 until the two coupling devices 20, 84 detect one another. The positioning projections 92, 94 are pushed into the receiving means 62, 64 up to the stop. The second operator 120, in this case, checks that the positioning of the seat installing device 10 is maintained.

(61) FIGS. 12 and 13 show a fourth step of the seat assembling. In this case, the seat installing device 10 and the seat conveying device 12 are fixed to one another, the seat installing device 10 being located at the predetermined position. The first operator actuates the seat gripping and holding device 18 by means of the actuating device 72 in order to grip and hold the seat 124. To this end, the first operator 120 actuates the foot pedal 74, as a result of which the four pairs of clamping jaws 66, 68 are extended and at the same time clamp the four seat feet 140, 141, 142, 143. FIG. 14 shows seat feet 140, 141, 142 and 143 clamped between the clamping jaws 66, 68.

(62) Subsequently to this, the second operator 122 pulls the seat conveying device 12 out of its receiving means in the seat installing device 10 and removes the seat conveying device 12.

(63) FIGS. 15 and 16 then show the seat installing device 10 with the seat 124 held in the seat gripping and holding device 18 and consequently explain the fifth step of the seat assembling, in which the seat conveying device 12 is removed.

(64) In said position shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the first operator 120 actuates the seat gripping and holding device 18 in order to release the clamping jaws. As a result, the seat 124 is lowered and the seat feet 140-143 engage in the seat rail. The seat 124 is then pushed forward again by a certain distance, for example half an inch (1.27 cm), into the final assembly position by means of the seat installing device 10.

(65) FIG. 17 shows the sixth and last step of the seat assembling in which the clamping jaws 66, 68 are released and the seat installing device is removed by being pulled rearward.

(66) FIG. 18 shows a schematic overview of the aircraft cabin 110 during the seat assembling in order to explain the method for seat assembling once again in a summarizing manner.

(67) Several of the seats 124 with corresponding seat conveying devices 12 (in each case one per seat 124) are transported by the seat manufacturer to a work platform 150. The seats 124 can be moved from the work platform 150 along a ramp 152 into the interior of the aircraft cabin 110 by means of the seat conveying device 12. Two pairs of seat rails 114, 116 are situated inside the aircraft cabin 110, the already positioned seat installing device 10 being indicated on one of said pairs of seat rails 114, 116. The seat installing device 10 takes the seat 124 over from the seat conveying device 12, positions the seat 124 corresponding to a cabin layout specification using the laser 60, lowers the seat into the seat rails 114, 116 at a target position and carries out a displacement by a predetermined distance into the final seat position.

(68) The laser 60 positions the seat installing device 10 including the seat 124 to the target position corresponding to the cabin layout specification. It is possible to provide several lasers 60 for a fail-safe operation and to achieve minimum tolerances.

(69) The seat conveying device 12 serves for conveying the seats 124 from the seat manufacturer to the warehouse, from the warehouse to the work platform 150 and from the work platform 150 into the aircraft cabin 110. It supplies the seat 124 to the seat installing device 10 without lifting the seat 124.

(70) As the seat conveying device 12 only fulfills transporting jobs and no lifting or assembling functions, the seat conveying device 12 is able to be constructed simply and cost-efficiently. Consequently, it is possible, in a cost-efficient manner, to use a plurality of seat conveying devices 12 which all interact with one single seat installing device 10. The seat installing device 10 can correspondingly be constructed in a more expensive and costly manner, it being possible for positioning tasks as well as data transferring functions to be performed along with the functions of taking over and assembling the seats.

(71) FIG. 19 shows an embodiment by way of a flow diagram which is self-explanatory by way of the following legend:

LEGEND

(72) The individual steps in the flow diagram of FIG. 19 designate the following: S1 Commissioning of seats S2 Production of seats S3 Delivery of seats S4 Query warehouse or dock S5 Warehouse S6 Prepare seats (row of seats) at the dock S7 Adjust seat installing device in first position S8 Introduce seat (row of seats) from the dock into the seat installing device S9 Query: correct position? S10 Remove seat conveying device S11 Introduce seat feet into seat rails S12 Displace seat feet by half an inch in the seat installing device S13 Remove seat installing device S14 Fasten seat (row of seats) in the seat rail S15 Re-adjust seat installing device in the next installation position

(73) After step S15, return to step S8 until all the seats (rows of seats) are installed.

(74) Advantages of the seat assembling method are: improved working safety, certain method stability and reliability, a certain position of a consistent process per se between the individual platforms; reduction in used-up resources and reduction in work times required for the installation.

(75) To optimize the method, it is advantageous to create data banks and catalogs for seats, seat frames, fastenings and bottom seat frames as well as seat rail configurations.

(76) The seat arrangement layouts can be analyzed and made available in a machine-readable form.

(77) To optimize the seat conveying device, it is advantageous to analyze the supply chain for the seats in a detailed manner.

(78) It is possible to optimize the positioning, transferring and assembling procedures using the seat installing device 10 by analyzing the seat installation process.

(79) In addition, the seat installing device 10 and the seat assembling device 14 shown make possible an advantageous combination between the optical measuring device 56 and seat rail reference marks. As a result, cabin compartments and installation processes can be shown in a virtual manner in order to make new tools for planning and simulation available.

(80) A further possible use of the seat installing device 10 is the possibility of quickly modifying the seat cabin layout, for example following maintenance jobs or conversions.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(81) 10 Seat installing device 12 Seat conveying device 14 Seat assembling device 16 Positioning system 18 Seat gripping and holding device 20 First coupling device 22 First handling device 24 First positioning device 26 Second positioning device 28 First engagement projection 30 Second engagement projection 32 First roller 34 Second roller 36 Rear edge region 38 Base part 40 Basic frame 42 Leg 44 Leg 46 Stabilizing frame 48 Front region 50 Third roller 51 Fourth roller 52 Fifth roller 53 Sixth roller 54 Displacing device 56 Optical measuring device 58 Measuring instrument 60 Laser 62 Receiving means 64 Receiving means 66 Clamping jaw 68 Clamping jaw 70 Handle 72 Actuating device 74 Foot pedal 80 Displacing device 82 Seat supporting device 84 Second coupling device 86 Second handling device 88 Frame part 90 Handle 92 Positioning projection 94 Positioning projection 96 Leg 98 Leg 100 Receiving indentations 102 Stops 104 Rollers 106 Connecting web 108 Trolley 110 Aircraft cabin 112 Floor 114 Seat rail 116 Seat rail 120 First operator 122 Second operator 124 Seat 126 Row of seats 128 Individual seat 129 Individual seat 130 Individual seat 132 Back rest 134 Sitting surface 136 Armrest 138 Seat frame 140 Front seat foot 141 Front seat foot 142 Rear seat foot 143 Rear seat foot 146 Airplane 150 Work platform 152 Ramp S1 Commissioning of seats S2 Production of seats S3 Delivery of seats S4 Query warehouse or dock S5 Warehouse S6 Prepare seats (row of seats) at the dock S7 Adjust seat installing device in first position S8 Introduce seat (row of seats) from the dock into the seat installing device S9 Query: correct position? S10 Remove seat conveying device S11 Introduce seat feet into seat rails S12 Displace seat feet by half an inch in the seat installing device S13 Remove seat installing device S14 Fasten seat (row of seats) in the seat rail S15 Re-adjust seat installing device in the next installation position