Flexible and simple turnaround cargo handling assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11535359-B2
Application number	US-201916260919-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2019
Priority date	Jan 29, 2019
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A convertible cargo handling assembly may comprise a mat, a fitting, and a removable cargo handling component. The fitting may include a fixed component and a coupling component. The fixed component may be located in an opening defined by the mat. The removable cargo handling component may be located over the mat and removably coupled to the fixed portion of the fitting via a coupling between the coupling component and the fixed component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A convertible cargo handling assembly, comprising:
a mat;
a first fitting including a first fixed component located in a first opening defined by the mat and a first coupling component configured to engage the first fixed component, the first fixed component fixed to an aircraft frame structure; and
a first roller tray located over the mat and removably coupled to the first fixed component of the first fitting via the first coupling component, thereby coupling the first roller tray to the aircraft frame structure via the first fitting.

2. The convertible cargo handling assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second fitting including a second fixed component located in a second opening defined by the mat and a second coupling component configured to engage the second fixed component; and
a first ball mat located over the mat and removably coupled to the second fixed component of the second fitting via the second coupling component.

3. The convertible cargo handling assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a power drive unit located in the first ball mat.

4. The convertible cargo handling assembly of claim 3 , further comprising:
a second ball mat, wherein the first roller tray is located between the first ball mat and the second ball mat; and
a first electrical connector located in the first roller tray and electrically coupled to the power drive unit in the first ball mat.

5. The convertible cargo handling assembly of claim 4 , further comprising:
a second roller tray located over the mat; and
a second electrical connector located in the second roller tray and electrically coupled to the first electrical connector.

6. The convertible cargo handling assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a container configured to store the first roller tray, the second roller tray, the first ball mat, and the second ball mat, wherein a longitudinal length of the first roller tray, a longitudinal length of the second roller tray, a longitudinal length of the first ball mat, and a longitudinal length of the second ball mat are each less than a width of the container.

7. The convertible cargo handling assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first fixed component of the first fitting comprises:
a base portion defining a threaded orifice;
a threaded cup located within the threaded orifice; and
a threaded post located in the threaded cup.

8. A cargo compartment of an aircraft comprising:
a first aircraft frame structure; and
a convertible cargo handling assembly formed over the first aircraft frame structure, the convertible cargo handling assembly comprising:
a mat located over the first aircraft frame structure;
a first fitting including a first fixed component located in a first opening defined by the mat and a first coupling component, wherein the first fixed component is coupled to the first aircraft frame structure, and wherein the first coupling component is configured to rotate relative to the first fixed component; and
a first removable cargo handling component located over the mat and removably coupled to the first fixed component of the first fitting via a threaded coupling between the first

coupling component and the first fixed component, thereby coupling the first removable cargo handling component to the first aircraft frame structure via the first fitting,
wherein the first removable cargo handling component comprises a first roller tray or a first ball mat.

9. The cargo compartment of claim 8 , wherein the first removable cargo handling component comprises the first roller tray.

10. The cargo compartment of claim 9 , wherein the convertible cargo handling assembly further comprises:
a second fitting including a second fixed component and a second coupling component, wherein the second fixed component is located in an opening defined by the mat, and wherein the second coupling component is configured to rotate relative to the second fixed component; and
a ball mat removably coupled to the second fitting via a threaded coupling between the second coupling component and the second fixed component, wherein the ball mat includes a power drive unit.

11. The cargo compartment of claim 10 , further comprising an electrical connector located in the first roller tray and electrically coupled to the power drive unit.

12. The cargo compartment of claim 9 , further comprising a second aircraft frame structure adjacent to the first aircraft frame structure, wherein the convertible cargo handling assembly further comprises:
a second fitting including a second fixed component and a second coupling component, wherein the second fixed component is coupled to the second aircraft frame structure, and wherein the second coupling component is configured to rotate relative to the second fixed component; and
a second roller tray located over the mat and removably coupled to the second fixed component of the second fitting via a threaded coupling between the second coupling component and the second fixed component.

13. The cargo compartment of claim 12 , further comprising:
a first electrical connector located in the first roller tray; and
a second electrical connector located in the second roller tray and electrically coupled to the first electrical connector.

14. The cargo compartment of claim 13 , wherein a surface of the first fixed component is flush with a surface of the mat.

15. A convertible cargo handling assembly, comprising:
a mat;
a first fitting including a first fixed component and a first coupling component, wherein the first fixed component is located in a first opening defined by the mat, the first fixed component fixed to an aircraft frame structure; and
a first removable cargo handling component located over the mat and removably coupled to the first fixed component via a coupling between the first coupling component and the first fixed component, thereby coupling the first removable cargo handling component to the aircraft frame structure via the first fitting,
wherein the first removable cargo handling component comprises a first roller tray or a first ball mat.

16. The convertible cargo handling assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first fixed component comprises:
a base portion defining a threaded orifice;
a threaded cup located within the threaded orifice; and
a threaded post located in the threaded cup.

17. The convertible cargo handling assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first removable cargo handling component comprises the first roller tray.

18. The convertible cargo handling assembly of claim 17 , further comprising:
a second fitting including a second fixed component and a second coupling component, wherein the second fixed component is located in a second opening defined by the mat; and
a ball mat located over the mat and removably coupled to the second fixed component of the second fitting via a coupling between the second coupling component and the second fixed component.

19. The convertible cargo handling assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a first electrical connector located in the first roller tray, wherein the ball mat comprises a power drive unit, and wherein the power drive unit is electrically coupled to the first electrical connector.

20. The convertible cargo handling assembly of claim 19 , further comprising:
a third fitting including a third fixed component and a third coupling component, wherein the third fixed component is located in a third opening defined by the mat;
a second roller tray located over the mat and r

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Stegmiller Wesley K
• Scheer Dustin Paul
• Roberts Aaron J

Classifications

• B65G39/025

  having spherical roller elements · CPC title

• B64C1/20 Primary

  specially adapted for freight · CPC title

• B64D9/00 Primary

  Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like · CPC title

• B64D2009/006

  Rollers or drives for pallets of freight containers, e.g. PDU · CPC title

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title