Abstract:
A flexible cable connection for connecting the monuments to an on-board supply device, which cable connection ensures that displacement of the monument in longitudinal direction of the aircraft becomes possible without disconnecting the connection cable, and the required distance between the connection routes is maintained even during displacement. To this effect, the cable connection comprises a chain device for guiding the connection cable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/897,674 filed Jan. 25, 2007, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to cable connections in aircraft. In particular the present invention relates to a flexible cable connection for electrically connecting a monument to a supply device in an aircraft; to a monument for an aircraft comprising such a cable connection; to an aircraft and to the use of a cable connection in an aircraft. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Within an aircraft cabin increasingly greater flexibility is required, i.e. airlines would like to be able to change the cabin layout in the shortest time possible. There is a resulting demand for the monuments, e.g. galleys or lavatories, to be able to be displaced within the cabin in the direction of flight. At present such displacement may require separation of the electrical connection of the monuments from the on-board supply. 
     At present the monuments with cables from the “monument roof” may be connected to the aircraft structure and to a central supply device. If the monuments are to be repositioned, new cable routing may be required on the side of the aircraft structure, for example because the cables used are too short or are no longer correctly spaced apart from each other. For electrically connecting the monuments, after displacement, new holders, cable ties and possibly new cables may be required. Route separation may not be ensured in every case. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a flexible cable connection for the electrical connection of a monument to a supply device in an aircraft is stated, wherein the flexible cable connection comprises a first connection cable for connecting the monument to the supply device, and a chain device for guiding the connection cable such that displacement of the monument in longitudinal direction of the aircraft may become possible without disconnecting the connection cable. 
     In other words, the flexible (e.g. electrical) cable connection may be able to ensure a connection of the monument to a central energy supply device or to a central control-/regulating line that is characterised in that displacement of the monument in the direction of flight or opposite to the direction of flight may be possible without the need to disconnect the connection of the monument to the supply device. In this way the monuments may quickly and effortlessly be slid to or fro, without this requiring any intervention in the cable structure. In this process there may be no need to disconnect any connectors or cable ties. 
     Thus, displacement of the monuments in the direction of flight may be possible without this requiring any change to the electrical installation. 
     Furthermore, this may provide a flexible electrical connection of monuments to a supply line of an aircraft. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first connection cable forms part of a route, wherein cable connection is designed such that a required distance between the first route and a second route of the monument during displacement of the monument is maintained. 
     In other words, the required route distances between the various connection routes in relation to each other are maintained at any point in time. In this way route separation is maintained. Rearrangement or reconfiguration of the connection routes after displacement of the monument is not required because the cable connection automatically ensures that the required minimum distances and cable alignments are maintained at all times. 
     According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the chain device comprises a first region that is affixed to an aircraft structure of the aircraft. Furthermore, the chain device comprises a second region that is affixed to the monument. 
     The cable connection may thus be firmly connected to the monument and to the aircraft structure by way of the chain device. In this way the stability of the entire arrangement is enhanced. During displacement of the monument the first region and the second region of the chain device are displaced relative to each other, and the chain device moves, for example, in a caterpillar-like manner along the top of the monument. 
     According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first connection cable is arranged on an inside of the chain device. The cable is thus protected towards the outside by the chain. During the caterpillar-like unrolling of the chain at the top of the monument, the first connection cable is taken along by the chain. Due to the guidance of the connection cable by the chain device there is no displacement of the connection cable across the direction of flight. 
     According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cable connection further comprises a second connection cable for connecting the monument to the supply device, wherein the cable connection is designed such that a required distance between the first connection cable and the second connection cable is maintained during displacement of the monument. 
     In this manner the required route distances may be maintained at any time. With a correspondingly wide embodiment of the chain device it is thus possible to connect several connection cables or connection routes to the chain and to have them guided by the chain. There is no need to use several chain devices. 
     According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the supply device comprises a supply line in the aircraft fuselage. For example, the supply device is a central supply device that provides the electrical energy for the monument. Furthermore, the supply device can comprise control—or regulating lines by way of which control—or regulating signals can be transmitted to the monument, or in-flight entertainment lines for the transmission of data to electronic entertainment units for passengers. Furthermore, the supply device can comprise hoses or lines through which liquids, for example fresh water or grey water, or gases, for example oxygen or nitrogen, may be conveyed. 
     According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the monument is a lavatory or a galley element or a complete galley. 
     According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the monument is a stowage cabinet, which comprises, for example, illumination units or monitors etc. 
     According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the monument is a separation element, for example a partition for separating two cabin sections from each other. 
     According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the monument is an in-flight entertainment (IFE) device, such as IFE rack for providing an entertainment program for passengers. 
     According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the first route comprises a connector element by way of which the first route can be connected to the supply device. During installation of the monument, the connection cable is thus connected to the supply device of the aircraft by means of the connector element. In this way the installation of the monument in the aircraft is facilitated. If at a later point in time displacement of the monument takes place, it may then no longer be necessary to disconnect the connector. 
     According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a monument for an aircraft is stated that comprises a cable connection according to the invention. It is thus possible to provide the monument with the flexible cable connection directly at the factory before the monument is installed in the aircraft cabin. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the monument is a lavatory or a galley element. 
     Moreover, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an aircraft is stated that comprises a cable connection according to the invention. 
     Furthermore, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the use of a cable connection in an aircraft is stated. 
     Below, with reference to the figures, preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an aircraft fuselage comprising an aircraft monument. 
         FIG. 1B  shows a diagrammatic view of an aircraft fuselage comprising an aircraft monument according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a diagrammatic view of an electrical connection of an aircraft monument to the aircraft structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows the electrical connection of  FIG. 2  during displacement of the monument in the direction of flight. 
         FIG. 4  shows the electrical connection of  FIG. 2  during displacement of the monument opposite to the direction of flight. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The diagrams in the figures are schematic and not to scale. 
     In the following description of the figures the same reference characters are used for identical or similar elements. 
       FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of an aircraft fuselage  101 . The fuselage  101  comprises a ceiling structure  102  and a cabin floor  103  on which the aircraft monument  201  is arranged. By way of a connection cable the aircraft monument  201  is connected to the on-board supply device  202 . If the monument  201  is to be displaced along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft (in the direction of flight or opposite to the direction of flight), the connection to the on-board supply device  202  has to be disconnected. After the monument  201  has been displaced, the installation of a new, extended or shortened, cable or cable route may be necessary. Furthermore, it must be ensured that the cable routes are always positioned such that a required route separation is ensured. Displacement of the monument  201  may require an increase in installation effort. 
       FIG. 1B  shows a longitudinal view of the aircraft fuselage  101  with an aircraft monument  201  that is installed on the floor structure  103 . Displacement of the monument  201  in the direction of flight  104  or opposite to the direction of flight  104  (indicated by a double arrow  105 ) does not require disconnection of connectors or cable ties because the aircraft monument  201  is connected to the on-board supply by way of the flexible cable connection  200 . In this way the stringent requirements concerning route separation are met. The various routes by means of which the monuments are connected thus at all times maintain the required minimum distance from each other. By means of the new flexible cable connection it is ensured that route separation is maintained and that no connectors or cable ties have to be disconnected. 
       FIG. 2  shows a diagrammatic detail view of the electrical connection of the aircraft monument  201  to the on-board supply  202 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the flexible cable connection  200  comprises a chain device  204  that comprises several chain links. In this arrangement the chain device  204  guides the cable, the cable loom or the route  203  on its inside so that the cable, the cable loom or the route  203  are not only protected by the chain device, but also run along a defined fixed path. 
     The chain device comprises a first region  205  by way of which the chain device is firmly connected to the aircraft structure. Furthermore, the chain device  204  comprises a second region  206  by way of which the chain device is fixed to the monument  201 . The cable loom  203  comprises a connector  207  by way of which it can be connected to the supply device  202 . To this effect the supply device  202  comprises, for example, a corresponding socket  208 . 
     In this way displacement of the monument  201  in the direction of flight may be possible without there being a need to worry about the route or the connection of the supply cables. 
     In other words, the electrical connection of the monument  201  takes place by way of cables  203  that are guided by means of the chain  204  and that are connected to the aircraft structure  102  at the top of the monument  201 . 
     Depending on the number of existing routes it is also possible to use several chain devices, or to install the various routes to the same chain device on opposite sides. When the monument  201  is displaced, the chain is displaced while the route distances are maintained. There is no need to disconnect and subsequently reconnect the cable looms. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  show such a displacement of the monument  201  in the direction of flight  301 , and opposite to the direction of flight  401 . In the case of displacement of the monument  201  in the direction of flight  301  the second region  206  of the chain device  204 , which region is fastened to the monument, moves with the monument  201 . In this process the chain  204  unrolls in a caterpillar-like manner on the top of the monument  201 . The cable loom  203  is unrolled together with the chain. This may prevent the cable loom  203  from being able to move across the direction of flight. 
     In contrast to the above, if the monument  201  is displaced opposite to the direction of flight  401 , the fastening region  206  moves along with the monument in the direction of the arrow  401 , and the chain  204  is unrolled from the top of the monument  201 , thus taking the cable  203  along with it. In this way “excess” cable  203  can be stored without this requiring new cabling or without this compromising route separation. 
     Deinstallation of cabling is not necessary. Displacement of any monuments does not require the services of an electrician. This results in time saving during displacement of the monuments because no new cabling is required. Route separation is maintained in each case. Since during displacement of the monuments no mechanical intervention in the cabling is required it eliminates the danger of loss of any small parts such as cable ties, screws or the like, or of such parts being forgotten during reinstallation. 
     In addition, it should be pointed out that “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and “a” or “one” does not exclude a plural number. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that characteristics or steps which have been described with reference to one of the above exemplary embodiments can also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps of other exemplary embodiments described above. Reference characters in the claims are not to be interpreted as limitations.