Ramills: Products

Pictured to the left is a Solidworks rendering of the rear seat bulkhead. This is a major structural component of the VK-30. After a mold was made, the fiberglass part was vacuum-bagged as usual. Carbon fiber reinforcements were added to several areas for additional strength.

The olive green part added to the rendering is the molded fiberglass pan for the seat bottom.

Foam and upholstery will be added to the seat pan. The whole assembly can be easily removed from the rear bulkhead for access to the area under the seat.

Additional luggage space desired by VK-30 owners prompted RAMills to design a folding rear seat back.

Here's an exploded view of the rear seat back.

One major problem encountered can be seen at left. The green arrow pints to the pivot point of the initial mockup. This leaves a 4-inch gap (shown by the red arrow) which would be difficult to hide with upholstery.

The solution was to design a four-bar linkage to minimize the gap. A lot of engineering time was spent figuring out the geometry to get the seat back to do what we wanted.

Side view of the bracket and links.

One of the long links has just been finished on the mill.

Another picture of the link.

All four links finished and ready for anodizing. Oilite bearings and stainless steel bushings will get pressed into these links for years of trouble-free operation.

The completed links attached to the mounting bracket.

Closeup of the assembly mounted in the aircraft. Also shown is the metal tube seat frame.

The frame is set in the horizontal position...

then raised...

even more...

to the upright position.

Here is a solidworks rendering showing the 4130 chromoly tube frame along with initial ideas for the locking mechanism.

The steel frame installed for testing. Everything works like a charm!

Closeup of the linkages with the frame raised.

The frame shown in the horizontal position.

Tim is making the plug for the rear seat back mold.

After the plug was finished, the mold was made.

The part is being vacuum-bagged as usual.

The finished part freshly pulled from the mold.

The fiberglass rear seat back is bolted to the steel frame...then installed in the plane.

The rear seat back folds down to reveal ample space for luggage.

A custom-designed locking mechanism is installed in the seat back.

The seat pan is shown to the left. A plug was made...then a mold...then the part vacuum-bagged as before.

This pan will receive the upholstery and is removeable to gain access under the rear seat closeout.

The complete assembly ready to bolt into the airframe.

Another view of the completed assembly...this time with the rear seat in the down position.

Close-up of the four-bar linkage assembly. The custom-machined aluminum parts have been anodized to aerospace specs and aircraft hardware used throughout.

Shown in this photo is one of two supports for the seat pan.

The completed assembly is installed in the airframe.

The rear seat back shown in the down position.