Patent Description:
Widebody passenger aircraft may incorporate a main galley aft of the main passenger cabin. Additional galley space (e.g., for preparation or climate controlled storage of food and beverages) may be situated throughout the cabin. The main galley space may extend in a rough V-shape around the aft end of the passenger cabin. The galley complex may be oversized relative to auxiliary galley facilities, leading to excess traffic in the rear aisles associated with inflight catering and service operations. At the same time, said widebody aircraft may position passenger lavatories generally forward and amidships rather than aft of the cabin, encroaching upon the cabin space available for passenger seating. As this cabin space is both limited and highly valuable, lavatory arrangements may prioritize compactness above all. While the configuration of said lavatories may make efficient use of limited cabin space, they may not be optimal for use by passengers of reduced mobility (PRM) who may require additional space to comfortably enter, exit, or use the lavatory facilities. <CIT> relates to a combination galley and lavatory arrangement.

A modular aft galley and lavatory complex is disclosed in accordance with appended claim <NUM>. In embodiments, the galley complex is situated at the aft of a passenger cabin of an aircraft. The galley complex comprises left-side, right-side, and aft galley structures together partially enclosing an interior workspace, the left-side and right-side galley structures separated by a center aisle. Each individual galley structure individually or collectively includes trolley bays capable of securing trolleys (e.g., galley carts) therewithin; each trolley can be removed from its trolley bay into the interior workspace or central aisle for use in catering or service operations inflight. The galley structures include storage bays (sized to a standard unit container) accessible from the interior workspace. The galley structures further include flat worksurfaces (e.g., workdecks) and galley insert bays capable of accepting ovens, chillers, beverage makers, and other galley insert devices. Either the left-side or the right-side galley structure includes a lavatory complex adjacent to the passenger cabin. The lavatory complex includes individual lavatory units accessible from the passenger cabin as well as a galley extension housing additional storage and trolley space.

In embodiments, the galley extension includes additional storage bays.

In embodiments, some of the additional storage bays are accessible from the passenger cabin.

In embodiments, the galley extension includes a passenger self-service compartment stocked with refreshments and accessible from the center aisle or the passenger cabin.

In embodiments, the galley extension includes a fold-down deployable counter set into an exterior wall of the lavatory complex, the exterior wall facing the center aisle and the counter deployable across the center aisle.

In embodiments, the lavatory complex has an exterior wall facing into the interior galley workspace, and a deployable workdeck is set into the exterior wall, capable of folding down into the galley workspace to create a temporary work surface.

In embodiments, the lavatory complex includes dual lavatory units accessible through dual entry doors adjacent to each other.

In embodiments, the dual lavatory units are separated by one or more articulable panels capable of folding or retracting into an interior wall of the lavatory complex to create a single unified space.

In embodiments, one or both of the dual lavatory units is accessible to passengers of reduced mobility (e.g., by combining the two units into a single, larger space).

In embodiments, the galley insert devices include beverage makers, ovens, trash compactors, and refrigerators/chillers.

In embodiments, the galley complex includes cabin attendant seats mounted to an exterior wall of the galley complex opposite the lavatory complex and capable of folding down into the passenger cabin for temporary occupation by a crewmember.

In embodiments, the galley complex includes auxiliary storage within an exterior wall opposite the galley complex and accessible from the passenger cabin.

In embodiments, the center aisle is of sufficient width to accommodate the greatest of the length, the width, and the breadth of the trolley.

In embodiments, each galley structure comprises a lower portion closest to the floor of the passenger cabin and corresponding generally to the trolley bays; an upper portion closes to the ceiling of the passenger cabin and corresponding generally to the storage bays; and a middle portion between the upper portion and the lower portion, the middle portion corresponding generally to the horizontal worksurfaces and galley insert bays.

A galley and lavatory complex is disclosed. The galley and lavatory complex may be situated aft of the passenger cabin and incorporate lavatory facilities aft of the rearmost passenger egress door. Cabin space may be preserved for seating by incorporating lavatory facilities into the galley complex while maintaining a large central workspace optimal for inflight catering operations as well as passenger self-service. In addition, lavatory facilities may be made more accessible and comfortable for passengers with reduced mobility.

Referring to <FIG>, a modular aft galley/lavatory complex <NUM> for an aircraft in accordance with example embodiments of this disclosure includes a group of interconnected galley structures, a left-side galley structure <NUM>, a right-side galley structure <NUM>, and an aft galley structure <NUM> connecting the left-side and right-side galley structures. The right-side galley structure <NUM> incorporates a lavatory complex <NUM> accessible from the aircraft passenger cabin <NUM>. In some embodiments, the lavatory complex <NUM> may be incorporated into the left-side galley structure <NUM> (e.g., relative to the aft galley/lavatory complex <NUM>).

In embodiments, the aft galley/lavatory complex <NUM> may be situated at the aft terminus of the passenger cabin <NUM>, such that the left-side galley structure <NUM> (e.g., relative to the aft galley/lavatory complex <NUM>) extends substantially forward along the starboard side of the aircraft and the right-side galley structure <NUM> extends substantially forward along the port side. Accordingly, the aft galley/lavatory complex <NUM> may be situated aft of the rearmost passenger egress door.

In embodiments, the aft galley/lavatory complex <NUM> may be connected to onboard supplies of electrical power and potable water as well as onboard communications or computing networks. Similarly, the aft galley/lavatory complex <NUM> may be connected to vacuum lines, pipes, or ducting systems, e.g., for draining waste water from sinks and toilets, ventilating the lavatory complex <NUM>, or removing under suction solid and liquid waste products from the lavatory complex for secure and sanitary inflight storage.

The aft galley/lavatory complex <NUM> includes an interior galley workspace <NUM> partially enclosed by the left-side galley structures <NUM>, the right-side galley structures <NUM>, and the aft galley structures <NUM>. For example, crewmembers may access the galley workspace <NUM> from the passenger cabin <NUM> via a central aisle <NUM>. From the galley workspace <NUM>, crewmembers may use or access storage spaces, worksurfaces, galley inserts, and trolleys situated within the galley structures. In embodiments, the lavatory complex <NUM> may include a galley extension <NUM> providing additional storage space.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the aft galley/lavatory complex 100a may be implemented and may function similarly to the aft galley/lavatory complex <NUM> of <FIG>, except that the aft galley/lavatory complex 100a incorporates storage bays <NUM>, galley insert bays <NUM>, workdecks <NUM>, and trolleys <NUM> into the left-side galley structures <NUM>, the right-side galley structures <NUM>, and the aft galley structures <NUM> and accessible via the interior galley workspace <NUM> and the central aisle <NUM>.

For example, the storage bays <NUM> may define a top portion of the aft galley/lavatory complex 100a, being situated above other components of the aft galley/lavatory complex. In embodiments, each storage bay <NUM> may be sized to fit a galley standard unit container. Below the topmost level of storage bays <NUM>, the aft galley/lavatory complex <NUM> may incorporate galley insert bays <NUM> into which galley insert devices may be inserted or installed. For example, galley insert devices may include, but are not limited to, conventional ovens, steam ovens or warmers, microwave ovens, beverage makers (e.g., devices for heating water or making coffee, tea, espresso, cappuccino, and other heated drinks), trash compactors, refrigerators, and chillers.

In embodiments, each galley insert bay <NUM> may include a galley insert interface <NUM> to which a galley insert device may connect. For example, via the galley insert interface a galley insert device may submit diagnostic or usage information to an aircraft-based network or controller device, or communicate power requests to a galley-wide power and control unit which in turn may supply operating power to the galley insert device through the galley insert interface according to its priority. In embodiments, sinks <NUM> or other galley insert devices may be directly incorporated into the galley structures, draining through waste water lines incorporated into the galley structure.

In embodiments, workdecks <NUM> may be flat, substantially horizontal work surfaces for food preparation, positioned at approximate waist level. Beneath the workdecks <NUM>, and generally defining the lower level of the aft galley/lavatory complex, the aft galley/lavatory complex 100a may incorporate a series of trolley bays, each trolley bay sized to securely accommodate a trolley <NUM> (e.g., galley cart). In some embodiments, the aft galley/lavatory complex 100a may include internal ducting and a fan/chiller device capable of circulating chilled air throughout some or all of the trolley bays in order to maintain the trolleys <NUM> therein at a sufficiently cold temperature. Each trolley <NUM> may have a forward handle <NUM> via which the trolley may be released from its bay (e.g., via single-hand operation) and drawn therefrom into the galley workspace <NUM> or the central aisle <NUM> for transport along an aisle of the passenger cabin <NUM> (e.g., via wheels mounted to the underside of the cart) for catering or service operations. In embodiments, the central aisle <NUM> may be of the minimum width possible to accommodate the longest dimension (e.g., the lengthwise dimension) of a trolley <NUM>, such that a trolley 208a adjacent to the central aisle may be easily removed from (<NUM>), or returned to, its trolley bay.

In embodiments, the forward end <NUM> of the left-side galley structure <NUM> may incorporate an emergency storage compartment <NUM> and one or more cabin attendant seats <NUM> facing the passenger cabin <NUM>; the cabin attendant seats <NUM> may be folded down for temporary belted accommodation of a cabin crewmember (e.g., during takeoff and landing operations). Similarly, the forward end <NUM> of the lavatory complex <NUM> may incorporate entry doors <NUM>, <NUM> via which the lavatory units of the lavatory complex may be accessed. In embodiments, the galley extension <NUM> may include additional storage bays and a trolley (not shown) accessible from the galley workspace or one or more storage bays 202a set into the forward end <NUM> and accessible from the passenger cabin <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG> and <FIG>, the aft galley/lavatory complex 100b may be implemented and may function similarly to the aft galley/lavatory complex 100a of <FIG> and <FIG>, except that the galley extension <NUM> of the aft galley/lavatory complex 100b may incorporate a deployable counter <NUM>. For example, the deployable counter <NUM> may fold downward into the central aisle <NUM> to create a temporary surface across the central aisle. The deployable counter <NUM> may serve as a barrier extending across the central aisle <NUM> to prevent unauthorized access to the galley workspace <NUM>; at the same time, cabin crew within the galley workspace <NUM> may utilize the deployable counter <NUM> for inflight service of food or drinks to passengers. In embodiments, the deployable counter <NUM> may deploy across the central aisle <NUM> at a sufficient height to permit trolleys <NUM> to pass unobstructed into and out of the aft galley/lavatory complex 100b.

The deployable counter <NUM> may extend fully or partially across the central aisle <NUM>. Referring in particular to <FIG>, in embodiments where the deployable counter <NUM> extends partially across the central aisle <NUM>, an auxiliary counter <NUM> may deploy from the opposite side of the central aisle (e.g., the left-side galley structure <NUM>) to connect with the deployable counter. In some embodiments, the galley extension <NUM> may include a self-service compartment <NUM> which may be set into the galley extension facing the central aisle <NUM> or revealed by the deployment of the deployable counter <NUM>. For example, the self-service compartment <NUM> may be stocked with refreshments <NUM> displayed behind one or more transparent panels or doors, the refreshments accessible to passengers visiting the aft galley/lavatory complex 100b (e.g., when passengers are able to move freely about the cabin). In some embodiments, the self-service compartment <NUM> may be climate controlled or equipped with a chiller device capable of maintaining its contents at a desired temperature.

Referring to <FIG>, the aft galley/lavatory complex 100c may be implemented and may function similarly to the aft galley/lavatory complex 100b of <FIG> and <FIG>, except that the aft galley/lavatory complex 100c may utilize the interior surface <NUM> (e.g., aft surface, facing the galley workspace <NUM>) of the lavatory complex <NUM>. For example, the interior surface <NUM> may include an auxiliary workdeck <NUM> capable of folding downward into the galley workspace <NUM> to provide an additional or enlarged work surface for cabin crew.

In some embodiments, the interior surface <NUM> may include a monitoring panel <NUM> for use by cabin crew within the galley workspace <NUM> (and who might not otherwise have a direct view of the passenger cabin <NUM>). For example, the monitoring panel <NUM> may incorporate one or more of, e.g., a cabin video monitoring system (CVMS); a wall-mounted emergency light (WMEL) an interactive flight attendant panel (FAP); a remote control center (RCC); an inflight entertainment (IFE) compatible display (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD)); and a communications station/loudspeaker.

Referring now to <FIG>, the aft galley/lavatory complex 100d may be implemented and may function similarly to the aft galley/lavatory complex 100c of <FIG>, except that the lavatory complex <NUM> of the aft galley/lavatory complex 100d incorporates dual lavatory units <NUM>, <NUM> respectively accessible via entry doors <NUM>, <NUM> set into the forward end <NUM> of the lavatory complex <NUM>. In embodiments, the entry doors <NUM>, <NUM> may open into the passenger cabin <NUM> in opposing directions (226a, 228a).

Each individual lavatory unit <NUM>, <NUM> may be designed for use by a single occupant and incorporate a toilet (<NUM>, <NUM>) and sink (<NUM>, <NUM>) in addition to ventilation and lighting fixtures. In embodiments, the individual lavatory units <NUM>, <NUM> may be temporarily combined into a larger interior space to enhance accessibility for passengers of reduced mobility (PRM). For example, the individual lavatory units <NUM>, <NUM> may be separated by a partition <NUM> capable of partially or fully retracting (<NUM>) into either individual lavatory unit <NUM>, <NUM> of the lavatory complex <NUM> to enlarge the size of the individual lavatory unit <NUM>. Temporary enlargement of the individual lavatory unit <NUM> in this way may provide more maneuvering room for passengers using wheelchairs or other assistive equipment and who may consequently have difficulty using a standard-size lavatory. Similarly, the entry doors <NUM>, <NUM> may open in opposing directions 226a, 228a to facilitate entry and egress into and from the enlarged individual lavatory unit <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An aircraft galley complex (<NUM>), comprising:
a plurality of galley structures (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) installable in an aft portion of a passenger cabin of an aircraft, the plurality of galley structures together partially enclosing a galley workspace (<NUM>) accessible through a central aisle (<NUM>), the galley workspace being <NUM>. broader across, i.e. in a direction between a starboard side of the aircraft and a port side of the aircraft, than the central aisle when the aircraft galley complex is installed in the aircraft,
the plurality of galley structures comprising a left-side galley structure (<NUM>) extending forward along the starboard side of the aircraft and a right-side galley structure (<NUM>) extending forward along the port side of the aircraft when the aircraft galley complex is installed in the aircraft, the left-side structure and the right-side structure being coupled to an aft galley structure (<NUM>) which can be situated at an aft terminus of the passenger cabin,
the central aisle extending forward between the left-side galley structure (<NUM>) and the right-side galley structure (<NUM>), each galley structure comprising:
<NUM>) a plurality of first trolley bays, each first trolley bay capable of securing a trolley (<NUM>) removable from the first trolley bay into the galley workspace;
<NUM>) a plurality of storage bays (<NUM>) accessible from the galley workspace;
<NUM>) at least one substantially horizontal worksurface (<NUM>);
and
<NUM>) at least one insert bay (<NUM>) capable of housing a galley insert;
and
a lavatory complex (<NUM>) coupled to one of the left-side galley structure and the right-side galley structure, the lavatory complex comprising:
at least two adjacent lavatory units (<NUM>, <NUM>) accessible from the passenger cabin;
and
a galley extension (<NUM>) attached to at least one of the adjacent lavatory units and extending across therefrom into the central aisle, the galley extension including at least one second trolley bay capable of removably securing a trolley.