Pallet adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10494142-B2
Application number	US-201816017297-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2018
Priority date	Jan 14, 2015
Publication date	Dec 3, 2019
Grant date	Dec 3, 2019

Abstract

A pallet adapter, system and method for restraining air cargo during flight are 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 method for restraining cargo, the method comprising:
attaching a first surface of a pallet adapter to a pallet such that an extension zone of the pallet adapter overhangs the pallet, wherein the extension zone of the pallet adapter has two corners that each have a two-walled recessed receptacle;
attaching a container to a second surface of the pallet adapter such that two fittings coupled to the container are each received in one of the two-walled recessed receptacles of the extension zone of the pallet adapter; and
attaching at least one rigid restraint between the container and one of the pallet adapter and the pallet.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the first surface of the pallet adapter to the pallet includes attaching the pallet adapter to seat track features of the pallet.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the seat track features of the pallet comprise a plurality of track holes arranged around a perimeter of the pallet, wherein a plurality of studs having over-sized heads are disposed on the first surface of the pallet adapter, and wherein attaching the pallet adapter to the seat track features of the pallet includes retaining the plurality of studs having over-sized heads within the plurality of track holes.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the container to the second surface of the pallet adapter includes shifting the container away from an interior structure of an aircraft relative to the pallet thereby providing a clearance between a top of the container and the interior structure of the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rigid restraint includes a container lashing rod, and wherein attaching the at least one rigid restraint between the container and one of the pallet adapter and the pallet includes attaching a first end of the container lashing rod to a top edge of the container and attaching a second end of the container lashing rod to one of the pallet adapter and the pallet.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the at least one rigid restraint between the container and one of the pallet adapter and the pallet includes attaching a first end of the at least one rigid restraint to a top edge of the container and attaching a second end of the at least one rigid restraint to a connection point of the pallet adapter or the pallet in the form of an eye, a hole slot, a knob or a hook.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
maintaining a positive restraint on the container via the at least one rigid restraint and thereby reducing movement of the container in a vertical direction.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the at least one rigid restraint between the container and one of the pallet adapter and the pallet includes implementing a tie down plan that indicates a predetermined number of rigid restraints and corresponding attachment locations for each end of the predetermined number of rigid restraints.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the container to the second surface of the pallet adapter such that the two fittings coupled to the container are each received in one of the two-walled recessed receptacles of the extension zone of the pallet adapter includes receiving a male component disposed at a base of each of the two-walled recessed receptacles within a corresponding female aperture defined in a base of each of the two fittings coupled to the container.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each male component comprises a fixed collar and a rotatable head that is configured to project upwards into the corresponding female aperture such that the rotatable head is disposed at a height above an inner surface of the base of each of the two fittings coupled to the container.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
accessing the rotatable head of each male component via at least one aperture defined in an outward-facing wall of each of the two fittings coupled to the container; and
rotating the rotatable head into a locked position.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pallet adapter has a plurality of separate sections that includes a first section and a second section, wherein attaching the first surface of the pallet adapter to the pallet such that the extension zone of the pallet adapter overhangs the pallet includes attaching the first section of the pallet adapter to a fore end of the pallet and attaching the second section of the pallet adapter to an aft end of the pallet.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of separate sections of the pallet adapter includes a third section, wherein attaching the first surface of the pallet adapter to the pallet such that the extension zone of the pallet adapter overhangs the pallet further includes attaching the third section of the pallet adapter to the pallet between the fore end and the aft end of the pallet.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing the container from the pallet adapter;
removing the pallet adapter from the pallet; and
attaching a first surface of a second pallet adapter to the pallet such that an extension zone of the second pallet adapter overhangs the pallet, wherein a length of the extension zone of the second pallet adapter in an inboard direction is different than a length of the extension zone of the pallet adapter removed from the pallet.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
attaching a second container to a second surface of the second pallet adapter, wherein the second container is taller than the container removed from the pallet adapter.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the length of the extension zone of the second pallet adapter is greater than the length of the extension zone of the pallet adapter removed from the pallet.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
prior to removing the container from the pallet adapter, accessing a twistlock disposed within each of the two fittings coupled to the container via at least one aperture defined in an outward-facing wall of each of the two fittings coupled to the container; and
rotating the twistlock into an unlocked position.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
prior to removing the container from the pallet adapter, detaching the at least one rigid restraint from between the container and one of the pallet adapter and the pallet.

19. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing the container from the pallet adapter;
removing the pallet adapter from the pallet; and
attaching a second container to the pallet, wherein the second container is shorter than the container removed from the pallet adapter.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the container removed from the pallet adapter is an ISO 1CC container and the second container attached to the pallet is an ISO 1C container.

Assignees

• Boeing Co
• The Boeing Co

Inventors

• Noe Darrin Michael

Classifications

• B65D19/44 Primary

  Elements or devices for locating articles on platforms · CPC title

• B65D2519/00815

  on the pallet · CPC title

• B65D88/129

  Transporter frames for containers · CPC title

• B64D9/003

  Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers · CPC title

• B60P7/13

  Securing freight containers or forwarding containers on vehicles · CPC title