A multi-rail galley includes a countertop on top of a first storage portion, and a second storage portion above the countertop. The countertop includes a first plurality of rails on a top surface that are configured for receiving at least one countertop insert. The second storage portion has a second plurality of rails beneath a bottom surface of the second storage portion and configured for receiving at least one hanging insert. A method of providing a customizable aircraft galley includes providing a countertop above a storage compartment, the countertop having a horizontal surface facing upwards with a plurality of rails disposed on top of the horizontal surface, installing a galley insert onto one of the plurality of rails via a matching slot in the galley insert, and removing the galley insert from one of the plurality of rails, enabling stowage of the galley insert.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosure

Embodiments of this disclosure relate generally to systems for aircraft galleys, and more specifically to systems for interchanging appliances and work surfaces for customizing an aircraft galley.

2. Description of the Related Art

Galleys onboard aircraft may provide appliances for storing and cooking food, as well as open surfaces for preparing food and beverages. Many prior art galleys provide fixed configurations of appliances and open surfaces.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,814,087 to Koschberg et al. discloses a galley compartment with connections that provide electricity, fresh water, and wastewater disposal to two galley appliances and guide rails for mounting the appliances.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,954,761 to Johnson et al. discloses a modular integrated galley used for food preparation and storage that includes a mounting rack with multiple spaces for receiving galley modules.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,780,114 to Doebertin et al. discloses a modular galley for aircraft that includes standardized connection elements and interfaces for receiving interchangeable devices.

SUMMARY

In an embodiment, a multi-rail galley is provided. The multi-rail galley includes a countertop disposed on top of a first storage portion and a second storage portion disposed substantially above the countertop to form an open portion between the countertop and the second storage portion. The galley further includes the countertop having a first plurality of rails disposed on a top surface of the countertop, the first plurality of rails being aligned substantially parallel with one another and configured for receiving at least one countertop insert, and the second storage portion having a second plurality of rails disposed beneath a bottom surface of the second storage portion, the second plurality of rails being aligned substantially parallel with one another and configured for receiving at least one hanging insert.

In another embodiment, a system that provides versatility for configuring a cabin galley is provided. The system includes a rail exposed on a substantially horizontal surface, a galley insert having a slot adapted to securably receive the rail such that the galley insert may be installed via the rail adjacent the substantially horizontal surface, and a locking mechanism for securing the at least one galley insert to the rail.

In yet another embodiment, a method of providing a customizable aircraft galley is provided. The method includes providing a countertop above a storage compartment, the countertop having a horizontal surface facing upwards with a plurality of rails disposed on top of the horizontal surface. The method further includes installing a galley insert onto one of the plurality of rails via a matching slot in the galley insert, and removing the galley insert from one of the plurality of rails, enabling stowage of the galley insert.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Conventionally, most galleys provide fixed configurations of appliances and open surfaces. A portion of a galley may be exchanged, but maintenance personnel are typically required to perform the exchange. What is needed for customizing a galley is a system that provides versatility for configuring and exchanging appliances and open surfaces as desired.

FIG. 1shows a front view of an exemplary multi-rail galley100.FIG. 2shows a side view of multi-rail galley100from a first side indicated inFIG. 1.FIGS. 1 and 2are best viewed together with the following description. Multi-rail galley100may include a horizontal surface105configured with a plurality of lower rails120located thereupon. Lower rails120are configured for inserts to be slid and secured onto horizontal surface105as described below in connection withFIGS. 3 and 4. The inserts include one or more slots configured to receive a corresponding one or more of lower rails120, as described below in connection withFIGS. 5B and 5C. The inserts may include, for example, removable storage compartments, appliances, working surfaces, water units, and medical equipment, in any combination.

Removable storage compartments may include cabinets or drawers, boxes or other storage devices (e.g., smart phone docking stations). Example appliances may include, but are not limited to, coffee/espresso makers, microwave ovens, conventional ovens, dish washers, refrigerators, ice makers, beverage makers, beverage chillers, cook tops, and grills. Working surfaces may be any surface conducive to preparing food and beverages, which may include countertops and cutting boards for example. Water units include dispensers for providing cold and/or hot water for beverages. Medical equipment may include an array of devices (e.g., a defibrillator), monitors, and supplies that allow the aircraft to be equipped for providing air medical services.

In certain embodiments, an insert includes an appliance combined with a working surface. For example, a small appliance having a partial footprint of the available space is combined with or located upon a working surface, such as a coffee/espresso maker located on a countertop working surface. Advantageously, multi-rail galley100enables a crew member to exchange one or more inserts that provide a full or partial working surface, thereby extending the effective countertop space.

A variety of stationary cabinets may be provided, such as upper cabinets110located above horizontal surface105, as well as lower cabinets112and114located beneath horizontal surface105. Cabinets110,112,114, as well as drawers118, may be configured as storage compartments for storing appliances, medical equipment, and working surfaces. An underside115of upper cabinets110may include a plurality of upper rails125configured for inserts to be secured for hanging, as described below in connection withFIGS. 3, 4, and 5A. An open insert116may also be provided to house a large appliance or device, such as a refrigerator, freezer, wine chiller, trash compactor, or medical device, for example.

Lower rails120are, in the disclosed embodiment, aligned equidistant from one another by a first distance D1for accepting countertop storage compartments, appliances, and working surfaces. Similarly, upper rails125are preferably aligned equidistant from one another by a second distance D2for accepting hanging storage compartments and appliances. Alignment of equidistant lower rails120by first distance D1and equidistant upper rails125by second distance D2provides a galley interface that enables exchangeability of removable storage compartments, appliances, medical devices, and working surfaces to enable a variety of galley arrangements. First distance D1and second distance D2may be substantially the same or substantially different without departing from the scope hereof. In certain embodiments, each of lower rails120is aligned beneath a respective one of upper rails125, such that a slidably mounted hanging appliance or device may be located directly above a countertop appliance, device, working surface, or removable storage compartment.

A plurality of electrical power connectors130may be located along a back wall135(as best viewed inFIG. 2) for providing electrical power to appliances. Power connectors130may be electrical busses configured in series, such that larger appliances, configured with matching electrical contacts or connectors on the back (seeFIG. 6), may bridge more than one of power connectors130for providing the necessary electrical power while not overloading the electrical circuit of galley100. For example, power connectors130may each provide twenty-five amps with an option to bridge between more than one connector to provide fifty amps or seventy-five amps to a single appliance. Larger appliances requiring more than twenty-five amps may be configured internally to connect power in series from power connectors130. In other words, a single appliance may plug into more than one of power connectors130(see e.g.,FIG. 6and related description below). This configuration provides the advantage of enabling a crew member to replace two appliances with a single one that has a higher power requirement (e.g., replacing a coffee maker and a wine chiller with a microwave oven that spans two adjacent power connectors130). An additional advantage is the lack of a requirement to provide a high power circuit for galley100due to the option to bridge more than one connector in series.

Lower rails120and upper rails125, together with power connectors130, provide a standard interface that allows rapid installation and removal of storage compartments, appliances, medical devices and working surfaces within a single aircraft, as well as between different aircraft equipped with multi-rail galley100. Thus, depending on the flight plan and passengers onboard, each aircraft galley may be customized accordingly for every flight.

FIG. 3shows a front view of multi-rail galley100,FIG. 1configured with appliances and working surfaces.FIG. 4shows a side view of multi-rail galley100configured with appliances and working surfaces from the first side indicated inFIG. 3.FIG. 7shows a perspective view of multi-rail galley100configured with appliances and working surfaces.FIGS. 3, 4 and 7are best viewed together with the following description. A first device141is configured to accommodate one of upper rails125with, for example, a slot525in a top surface, as depicted inFIG. 5A. First device141is for example a kitchen-type appliance or medical device. As depicted inFIGS. 3 and 4, first device141is located on one of upper rails125in a hanging configuration. Slots525and rails125include matching profiles for interconnecting with one another. For example, along inner opposing sides of slot525are protrusions extending longitudinally and facing each other. The protrusions are configured to insert into matching V-shaped lateral channels that longitudinally-extend along opposing sides of rails125to securely hang an insert, such as first device141. In this way, an insert may be slid into a hanging configuration along the longitudinal direction of a rail, while the protrusions prevent up or down movement between the rail and the slot.

A second device142is configured to accommodate one of lower rails120with, for example, a matching slot defined into a bottom surface. Second device142is for example a kitchen-type appliance or medical device. As depicted inFIGS. 3 and 4, second device142is located on one of lower rails120in a countertop configuration. First and second devices141,142are examples of smaller appliances or medical devices requiring power from only one of power connectors130and configured in combination with a working surface. For example, first device141is located above a first working surface151, and second device142is located in combination with, or behind, a second working surface152(seeFIG. 5B). Second surface152provides a working surface in front of second device142for preparation of a food or beverage, for example. In an embodiment, second device142is a coffee/espresso maker and second surface152is a substantially flat and smooth countertop-type of material. In certain embodiments, second device142and second working surface152are mechanically coupled together for easy and rapid installment, and removal for storage, via one of rails120.

A third device143is located on two of lower rails120and connected to two of power connectors130. Third device143is an example of a larger appliance or medical device that takes up most of the footprint of the countertop leaving little or no room for a working surface. Third device may require electrical power from more than one of power connectors130(seeFIG. 6), such as a large microwave oven. Electrical power from the more than one power connectors130may be bridged together in series.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5Cshow exemplary inserts having slots for receiving rails of the multi-rail galley ofFIG. 1.FIG. 5Ashows protrusions inside slot525for holding hanging insert141via matching grooves in upper rails125(seeFIG. 3).FIGS. 5B and 5Cshow slots520, which are configured for receiving a respective lower rail120.FIG. 5Bfurther shows an example of a galley insert having both a device (e.g., second device142) and a surface (e.g., second surface152) in combination. Second device142and second surface152may be mechanically coupled together for convenient installation and removal. In certain embodiments, lower rails120may include grooves extending longitudinally along opposing inner sides (similar to upper rails125) that are configured to receive corresponding protrusions of slots520(similar to slot525). In other words, slots520and lower rails120may include matching profiles for interconnecting with one another. In certain embodiments, the location of protrusions and corresponding grooves are swapped such that lower and upper rails120,125include protrusions that correspond with grooves in opposing sides of slots520,525.

FIG. 6shows a perspective view of third device143revealing two electrical power connectors631. Electrical power connectors631are compatible with electrical power connectors130of multi-rail galley100(seeFIGS. 1-3). In the embodiment depicted inFIG. 6, third device143is configured with two electrical power connectors631to receive electrical power from two power connectors130bridged together in series.

In operation, a crew member or passenger may locate an insert containing a device, appliance or working surface from a stored location, such as one of cabinets110,112,114,116or drawers118. The insert may be slid onto one of lower rails120in a countertop configuration, or if properly configured the insert may be slid onto one of upper rails125in a hanging configuration. The insert may then be locked in place along the rail via a latch, a lever lock, or a magnetic lock, for example. Alternatively, the rail may include notches configured to receive a pin mechanically coupled to the insert. The pin may be a releasable, spring-loaded pin, for example.

Once the insert is fully slid into place abutting the back surface135, in embodiments, an electrical connection will be made between electrical connectors130of multi-rail galley100and corresponding electrical connectors631on the backside of the insert. Thus, connectors130are located such that they correspond with reciprocating electrical connectors631(seeFIG. 6) existing on the back ends of each of the inserts, if the particular insert is one that requires electrical power. This enables rapid installation and removal of a device requiring electrical power.

After an installed insert is no longer needed, the crew member or passenger may clean and store it, and may optionally replace it with another insert in the same location.