Pallet adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10040601-B2
Application number	US-201615274716-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2016
Priority date	Jan 14, 2015
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A pallet adapter, system and method for restraining air cargo during flight is disclosed. A pallet adapter shifts a shipping container in an inboard direction of an aircraft so that the container does not contact an interior structure of the aircraft. Rigid restraints restrain the container from moving in the vertical direction during flight. Corner fittings restrain the container from moving in the fore-and-aft direction and the side-to-side direction during flight.

First claim

I claim:

1. A pallet adapter, comprising:
a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is configured to be coupled to a pallet, wherein the second surface defines at least one recessed receptacle configured to receive a corresponding fitting coupled to a shipping container;
an extension zone having two corners and configured to overhang the pallet, wherein the at least one recessed receptacle includes two two-walled recessed receptacles with one at each corner of the extension zone; and
at least one connection point configured to receive a first end of a rigid restraint that is coupled at a second end to the container.

2. The pallet adapter of claim 1 , wherein a male component is coupled to a base of the at least one recessed receptacle, wherein a cooperating female aperture is defined in a bottom surface of the corresponding fitting and is configured to mate with the male component of the at least one recessed receptacle.

3. The pallet adapter of claim 1 , wherein a female aperture is defined in a base of the at least one recessed receptacle, wherein a cooperating male component is coupled to a bottom surface of the corresponding fitting and is configured to mate with the female aperture of the at least one recessed receptacle.

4. The pallet adapter of claim 1 , wherein the second surface has an elevated portion and a base portion.

5. The pallet adapter of claim 4 , wherein the elevated portion has a plurality of corners and defines a recessed receptacle at each of the plurality of corners.

6. The pallet adapter of claim 4 , wherein the elevated portion has a footprint that corresponds to a base of the shipping container.

7. The pallet adapter of claim 1 , wherein the second surface defines at least two three-walled recessed receptacles configured to rest above the pallet.

8. The pallet adapter of claim 7 , wherein the at least two three-walled recessed receptacles are larger than the two-walled recessed receptacles.

9. The pallet adapter of claim 7 , wherein the at least two three-walled recessed receptacles are the same size as the two-walled recessed receptacles.

10. The pallet adapter of claim 7 , wherein the second surface is planar across both the extension zone and an area of the pallet adapter configured to overlie the pallet.

11. The pallet adapter of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is coupled to a plurality of studs configured to be coupled to seat tracking on a first surface of the pallet.

12. The pallet adapter of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of studs each have oversized heads.

13. The pallet adapter of claim 1 , wherein the extension zone is configured to overhang the pallet in an inboard direction towards a center of an aircraft.

14. The pallet adapter of claim 1 , wherein the extension zone has a width ranging from 2 inches to 15 inches.

15. The pallet adapter of claim 1 , wherein the pallet adapter has a width ranging from 98 inches to 111 inches.

16. The pallet adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a twistlock disposed in the at least one recessed receptacle, the twistlock comprising a horizontal surface coupled to a fixed collar having a rotatable head.

17. The pallet adapter of claim 16 , wherein the fixed collar projects upwards from the horizontal surface of the twistlock and is configured to extend into an aperture of a base of the fitting to a height greater than an inner surface of the base of the fitting.

18. The pallet adapter of claim 1 , wherein the first surface is a bottom surface and the second surface is a top surface.

19. The pallet adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sections each having a length ranging from 18 inches to 24 inches and a width ranging from 98 inches to 111 inches.

20. The pallet adapter of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of sections includes a first section arranged at a fore end of the pallet adapter, a second section arranged at an aft end of the pallet adapter, and a third section arranged between the first section and the second section.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Noe Darrin Michael

Classifications

• B65D19/44 Primary

  Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms · CPC title

• B60P7/10

  the load being plates, cases, or boxes · CPC title

• B65D2519/00815

  on the pallet · CPC title

• B65D88/121

  ISO containers · CPC title

• B60P7/132

  twist-locks for containers or frames · CPC title