U.S. patent application number 13/715046 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for galley unit and galley monument.
This patent application is currently assigned to DRIESSEN AEROSPACE GROUP N.V.. The applicant listed for this patent is DRIESSEN AEROSPACE GROUP N.V.. Invention is credited to Adriaan de heer A Eijkelenboom, Kiran Pal de heer Sagoo.
Application Number | 20130181587 13/715046 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48779496 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130181587 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
de heer Sagoo; Kiran Pal ;
et al. |
July 18, 2013 |
GALLEY UNIT AND GALLEY MONUMENT
Abstract
The invention relates to a galley unit for containing items of
food or other items. The galley unit comprises a cabinet, a first
and a second front door arranged to close the cabinet, a first
guiding rail and a second guiding rail extending both in a lateral
direction for guiding the first and second front doors. The first
and second front doors are arranged to be slideable in the first
and second guiding rails, wherein the first guiding rail is mounted
in a top wall of the cabinet and the first front door is provided
with the second guiding rail for a sliding engagement of the second
front door.
Inventors: |
de heer Sagoo; Kiran Pal;
(Alkmaar, NL) ; de heer A Eijkelenboom; Adriaan;
(Alkmaar, NL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DRIESSEN AEROSPACE GROUP N.V.; |
Alkmaar |
|
NL |
|
|
Assignee: |
DRIESSEN AEROSPACE GROUP
N.V.
Alkmaar
NL
|
Family ID: |
48779496 |
Appl. No.: |
13/715046 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/307 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 96/00 20130101;
Y02T 50/40 20130101; A47B 77/16 20130101; Y02T 50/46 20130101; B64D
11/04 20130101; E06B 3/4663 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/307 |
International
Class: |
A47B 77/16 20060101
A47B077/16; A47B 96/00 20060101 A47B096/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 16, 2011 |
NL |
NL2007989 |
Claims
1. Galley unit for containing items of food or other items
comprising a cabinet, at first and a second front door arranged to
close the cabinet, a first guiding rail and a second guiding rail
extending in a lateral direction for guiding the first and second
front doors, the first and second front doors being further
arranged to be slideable in the first and second guiding rails,
wherein the first guiding rail is mounted at the galley unit to
guide an upper side of the first door and the first front door is
provided with the second guiding rail for a sliding engagement of
the second front door.
2. Galley unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second guiding
rail comprises a first profile arranged for sliding engagement with
a second profile provided on the second front door, the second
profile being similar to the first profile.
3. Galley unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first profile is
protruding from the back of the first front door and the second
profile is extending inwards in the front of the second front
door.
4. Galley unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first profile is
protruding from the front of the first front door and the second
profile is extending inwards at the back of the second front
door.
5. Galley unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second
profiles comprises respectively a first dovetail profile and a
second dove tail profile.
6. Galley unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second guiding
rail is positioned at substantially half of the height of the first
or second front doors.
7. Galley unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second guiding
rail is provided at the second front door.
8. Galley unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second guiding
rail is integrated in one or both of the first and second front
doors.
9. Galley unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and/or the
second profiles are provided with a dust repellent coating.
10. Galley unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second
front doors are moveable between a locked position and a sliding
position.
11. Galley unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the galley unit
comprises latches arranged to hold the first and second doors in
the locked position and to guide the first door from the locked
position to the sliding position.
12. Galley unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the galley unit
comprises an aligning device arranged to align one of the first or
second front door with respect to the other front door in the
sliding position.
13. Galley unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the aligning device
comprises a first magnet positioned at the galley unit and a second
magnet positioned at the backside of the first and/or second front
door, wherein in the locked position the first magnet and second
magnet are positioned such that first and second magnet mutually
repel each other.
14. Galley monument provided with a galley unit as claimed in claim
1.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a galley unit and a galley monument
provided with such galley unit.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Galley units are used in aircrafts for containing items of
food or other items. The galley units are usually mounted in the
galley monument in a pantry of an aircraft. The known galley unit
comprises a cabinet, at least two front doors arranged to close the
cabinet, a first guiding rail and a second guiding rail extending
in a lateral direction for guiding the front doors. The first
guiding rail is mounted at the top wall of the galley unit. The
second guiding rail can be arranged at the bottom wall of the
galley unit. Both guiding rails are required to obtain a rigid
sliding structure. The front doors are arranged to be slideable in
the first and second guiding rails. Furthermore, the front doors
can be moveable between a locked position and a sliding
position.
[0003] In use the front doors of the galley can be opened and
closed to get and store food items or other items. A disadvantage
of the known galley unit is that in an open position the second
guiding rail at the bottom of the galley can accumulate dirt and
food residues. The accumulated dirt in the second guiding rail can
hamper a smooth sliding of the doors. Furthermore, the second
guiding rail can be difficult to clean from the accumulated dirt
and food residues.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a galley unit
with an improved serviceability.
[0005] According to an aspect of the invention this object can be
achieved by a galley unit comprising a cabinet, a first and a
second front doors arranged to close the cabinet, a first guiding
rail and a second guiding rail extending in a lateral direction for
guiding the front doors, the first and second front doors are
arranged to be slideable in the first and second guiding rails,
wherein the first guiding rail is mounted at the galley unit to
guide an upperside of the first door and the first front door is
provided with the second guiding rail for a sliding engagement of
the second front door. By providing the second guiding rail on the
first front door it is possible to guide the second front door
along the first front. The position of the second guiding rail on
the first front door reduces accumulation of dirt and food residues
and enables easier cleaning of the second guiding rail compared to
the conventional position of the second guiding rail at the bottom
wall of the galley unit.
[0006] In an embodiment the second guiding rail comprises a first
profile arranged for sliding engagement with a second profile
provided on the second front door, the second profile being similar
to the first profile. In order to improve the engagement between
the first and the second front door, the second guiding rail at the
first front door can be provided with the first profile that
matches the second similar profile of the second guiding rail at
the second front door. Furthermore, the second guiding rail can be
integrally manufactured in the first front door, which may reduce
the weight of the galley unit, assembly costs, bill of material and
maintenance.
[0007] In a further embodiment the first profile is protruding from
the back of the first front door and the second profile is
extending inwards in the front of the second front door. In this
arrangement accumulation of dirt and food residues can be further
reduces because, in a closed position of the first and second front
door the profile protrudes inwards to the inside of the
cabinet.
[0008] In a still further embodiment the first profile is
protruding from the front of the first front door and the second
profile is extending inwards at the back of the second front
door.
[0009] In a further embodiment the first and second profiles
comprises respectively a first dovetail profile and a second dove
tail profile. The dovetail profiles provides a rigid sliding
structure.
[0010] In a still further embodiment the second guiding rail is
positioned at substantially half of the height of the first or
second front doors. Position of the second guide rail at half the
height of the first or second front door result in a stable sliding
structure.
[0011] In a further embodiment the second guiding rail is provided
at the second front door. Providing both doors with the second
guiding rail result in a cabinet from which both the first and
second front door can slide in front of each other.
[0012] In a further embodiment the second guiding rail is
integrated in one or both of the first and second front doors.
Integrating the second guiding rail in the first or second front
door may result in a reduction of weight, bill of material and
maintenance.
[0013] In a further embodiment the first and second profiles are
provided with a repellent coating. Such repellent coating avoids
sticking of dirt on the rails. An example of such a coating is a
hydrophobic coating or a superhydrophobic coating.
[0014] In a further embodiment the first and second front doors are
moveable between a locked position and a sliding position. When the
cabinet is closed both the first and the second front doors are in
a locked position. For opening of the cabinet one of the first or
second front doors is released and moved to the sliding position,
while the other front door remains in its locked position, such
that the one front door can slide before the other front door.
[0015] In a further embodiment the galley unit comprises latches
arranged to hold the first and second doors in the locked position
and to guide the first door from the locked position to the sliding
position. The latches hold the front doors in the locked position
and can guide the front door from the locked position to the
slideable position.
[0016] In a further embodiment the galley unit comprises an
aligning device arranged to align one of the first or second front
door with respect to the other in the sliding position. This
arrangement aligns the one of the first or second front door with
respect to the other door such that the first or second front door
becomes in an aligned and slideable position with respect to each
other front door.
[0017] In a further embodiment the aligning device comprises a
first magnet positioned at the the cabinet and a second magnet
positioned at the backside of the first and/or second front door,
wherein in the locked position the first magnet and second magnet
are positioned such that first and second magnet mutually repel
each other.
[0018] The first magnet can be mounted for example, in the first
rail or at an horizontal wall of the galley unit. When one of the
first or second front doors is released from its locked position,
the repelling force of the magnets aligns the released front door
to its slideable position with respect to the other front door.
[0019] The invention also relates to a galley monument provided
with a galley unit as claimed in any of the claims 1 to 13.
[0020] These and other aspects of the invention will be elucidated
with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter and with
reference to the accompanied drawing wherein;
FIGURES
[0021] FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a galley monument and a galley
unit,
[0022] FIG. 2a shows a side view and FIG. 2b shows a perspective
view of a first front door of the galley unit,
[0023] FIG. 3 shows an details of a profile of first front door of
the galley unit,
[0024] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the second front door in front of
the first front door, and
[0025] FIG. 5 shows the perspective view of the galley unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] In the figures the same reference numbers indicate like or
similar parts.
[0027] FIG. 1 shows a galley monument 1 for mounting a galley unit
2. The galley monument 1 can be provided in a passenger aircraft
for containing items of food or other items. The galley unit is
also suitable for use in any other situations in which catering is
required and is adapted for application in which the space
available is restricted, as is the case in aircrafts and, for
example, in trains and ships.
[0028] The galley unit 2 comprises a cabinet 3 provided with side
walls 4,5, a top wall 6 and a bottom wall 7. Furthermore, the
galley unit 2 comprises a first front door 8, a second front door 9
and a first guiding rail 10 mounted on the top wall 6 of the galley
unit, the first guiding rail 10 is extending in a lateral direction
for guiding an upper side of the first and second front doors.
Furthermore, a second guiding rail 11 can be laterally provided on
the first front door 8 and/or the second front door 9. The first
and second front doors 8,9 are arranged to be slideable in the
first and second guiding rails 10,11. The second guiding rail 11 is
arranged to provide a sliding engagement between the first front
door 8 and second front door 9.
[0029] An advantage of the position of the second guiding rail
compared to a conventional galley unit wherein the first and second
front doors are slideable mounted in a first and second guiding
rails, which are respectively provided at the top and bottom wall
of the galley unit, is that accumulation of dirt and food residues
on the second rail is reduced. Furthermore, the position of the
second guiding rail 11 enables an easier accessibility for
cleaning.
[0030] FIG. 2a shows a side view and FIG. 2b shows a perspective
view of an embodiment of the first front door 8 and a second front
door 9. The second guiding rail 11 may comprise a first dovetail
profile 12 protruding from the back of the first front door 8 and a
second dovetail profile 13 extending inwards in the front of the
second front door 9. The second guiding rail 11 can be provided at
half the height of the first and second front doors 8,9. In this
embodiment the outer circumference of the first dovetail profile 12
matches the inner circumference of the second dovetail profile 13
for a sliding engagement of the first and the second front door
8,9. In an embodiment the first and second dovetail profiles 12,13
can be provided on both the front and back sides of the first and
second front doors 8,9.
[0031] Alternatively, the second guiding rail 11 may comprise a
first dovetail profile protruding from the back of the first front
door and a second dovetail profile extending inwards in the front
of the second front door. In an embodiment the first and second
dovetail profiles can be provided on both the front and back sides
of both the first and second front doors 8,9.
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a detail of the first and second dovetail
profiles 12,13 at the front and back side of the first front door
and second front doors 8,9.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows a detail of an slideable arrangement of the
first and second front door 8,9 wherein the first dovetail profile
12 is engaged with the second dovetail profile 13. The front doors
8,9 can be made of aluminum panels. The dovetail profiles in the
front doors 8,9 can be obtained by extruding aluminum panels. In
this way, the second guiding rail 10 can be integrated in the first
and second front doors 8,9, which reduces weight and assembly time
required for assembling the galley unit. This arrangement enables
the guiding of one of the front doors 8 in front of the other front
door 9 or vice versa along the guiding rails 10,11.
[0034] Furthermore, the dovetail profiles 12,13 can be provided
with a dirt or dust repelling coating. Such a coating can be for
example a hydrophobic coating which is well known for the person
skilled in the art.
[0035] In an embodiment the first front door 8 and second front
door 9 are moveable between a locked position and a sliding
position. Furthermore, the galley unit can comprise latches
14,15,16,17 to hold the first and second front door 8,9 in the
locked position and to guide the first or second front door from
the locked position to the slideable position. Two latches 16,17
can be positioned near the upperside of the front doors at the
galley unit and two latches 14,15 can be positioned near to bottom
side of the front doors 8,9 at the galley unit. Furthermore, the
galley unit can be provided with an alignment device comprising a
first permanent magnet mounted at the top wall of the galley unit
or the first guiding rail 8 and a second permanent magnet mounted
at the top of the back sides of the first and second front
doors.
[0036] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the galley 50 provided
with a first permanent magnet 51 mounted at the top wall 6 of the
galley 50 and a second permanent magnet 52 mounted at the top of
the back sides of the first and second front doors 8,9. The first
and second permanent magnets 51,52 may comprise neodymium magnets,
which are aligned parallel to each other so that the first and
second neodymium magnets repel each other when the first and/or the
second front door is in the locked position. If one of the first or
second front door 8,9 is released from the locked position, a
repelling force between the first and second neodymium magnets
51,52 moves the released front door 8 with respect to the other
front door 9, such that the first dovetail profiles 12 becomes
aligned with the second dovetail profile 13 so that the first font
door 8 is slideable along the second front door 9.
[0037] In an embodiment multiple guiding rails 11 can be laterally
mounted on the first and second front doors, for example, at one
third and at two third of the height of the first and second front
doors.
[0038] The invention can be summarized as a galley unit for
containing items of food or other items. The galley unit comprises
a cabinet, a first and a second front door arranged to close the
cabinet, a first guiding rail and a second guiding rail extending
both in a lateral direction for guiding the first and second front
doors. The first and second front doors are arranged to be
slideable in the first and second guiding rails, wherein the first
guiding rail is mounted in a top wall of the cabinet and the first
front door is provided with the second guiding rail for a sliding
engagement of the second front door.
* * * * *