Stowage bin with shear fittings

Abstract

An aircraft stowage bin assembly includes shear fittings configured to route a content load from the bucket of the bin assembly to the airframe in the event of a forward load condition, such as a crash or severe turbulence. When the forward inertial load factor on the stowage bin is greater than about 1 g, the shear fittings create an efficient load path from the bucket to the airframe which bypasses the large metallic or composite endframes required by the designs of many conventional overhead stowage bins. As a result, significant reductions in overall bulk and weight, as well as lower manufacturing costs, can be realized.

Description

BACKGROUND [0001] This disclosure relates generally to stowage bins and, more particularly, to overhead stowage bins in vehicle passenger cabins. [0002] Modern passenger airplanes often include overhead stowage bins in the passenger cabin for storage of carry-on luggage and other items. Such bins are often mounted with numerous mountings located along the ceiling and sidewalls of the passenger cabin. These mountings are typically designed to support a predetermined amount of weight within the bins during normal flight conditions. In addition, the mountings are designed to keep the bins securely fastened to the airframe in the event of a crash or severe turbulence. [0003] For example, current FAA regulations require that each baggage compartment have a means to protect occupants from injury by the contents of the compartment when the ultimate forward inertial load factor exceeds 9 g. To satisfy this requirement, conventional overhead stowage bins are often designed to bear their cont...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] In one embodiment, a stowage bin assembly comprises an upper panel comprising one or more first shear fitting components, a lower panel comprising one or more first shear fitting components, and a bucket comprising one or more second shear fitting components. The bucket is configured to cooperate with the upper panel and the lower panel such that, when the bin assembly is in a closed position, the first shear fitting components engage with the second shear fitting components to create a plurality of shear fittings capable of withstanding a substantial shear force between the bucket and the panels of the bin assembly.

[0007] In another embodiment, an aircraft overhead stowage bin comprises at least one support panel mounted to an interior portion of an airframe and one or more side panels coupled to at least one support panel. The aircraft overhead stowage bin further comprises a bucket coupled to the one or more side panels, the bucket configured to contain a selected weight load, as well as means for routing the weight load from t

Problems solved by technology

On the other hand, these conventional designs also present a number of drawbacks.

For example, conventional overhead stowage bins are often bulky and somewhat heavy.

In addition, conventional overhead stowage bins can be rather costly to manufacture and assemble.

These drawbacks are becoming increasingly significant, as aircraft designers strive to develop more and more efficient aircraft designs.

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