Vehicle cargo restraint system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11952145-B2
Application number	US-202016734990-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2020
Priority date	Jan 6, 2020
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A cargo restraint system includes a cargo conveyor system, which has a plurality of rollers and a cargo restraint. The cargo restraint includes an inner pawl rotatably attached to the cargo conveyor system and an outer pawl rotatably attached to the cargo conveyor system. A lever is rotatably attached to the cargo loading system. A mechanical linkage connects the lever to the outer pawl and to the inner pawl, the outer pawl and the inner pawl being controlled by movement of the lever through the mechanical linkage.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A cargo restraint system comprising:
a cargo conveyor system including a plurality of rollers;
an inner pawl rotatably attached to the cargo conveyor system;
an outer pawl rotatably attached to the cargo conveyor system;
a lever rotatably attached to the cargo conveyor system;
a mechanical linkage connecting the lever to the outer pawl and to the inner pawl, the outer pawl and the inner pawl being controlled by movement of the lever through the mechanical linkage; and
wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a lift linkage operably connected to the outer pawl, and the lift linkage includes a lift cylinder and a lift rod slidably disposed inside of the lift cylinder.

2. The cargo restraint system of claim 1 , wherein the lift rod and the lift cylinder share a substantially common longitudinal axis.

3. The cargo restraint system of claim 2 , wherein the lift linkage further comprises a first spring disposed proximate a first end of the lift cylinder and a second spring disposed proximate a second end of the lift cylinder, wherein the first spring and the second spring surround the lift cylinder.

4. The cargo restraint system of claim 3 , wherein the lift cylinder comprises an annular ridge disposed between the first spring and the second spring.

5. The cargo restraint system of claim 4 , wherein the lift cylinder comprises a longitudinal slot and the lift rod comprises a lift pin that slides within the longitudinal slot, the lift pin being disposed between the first spring and the second spring.

6. The cargo restraint system of claim 2 , wherein the lift rod comprises an outer pawl attachment having an angled channel and the outer pawl includes a lift pin that is slidably disposed in the angled channel.

7. The cargo restraint system of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a retract linkage mechanically connected to the inner pawl.

8. The cargo restraint system of claim 7 , wherein the retract linkage comprises a retract cylinder and a retract rod that is slidably connected to the retract cylinder, wherein the retract cylinder and the retract rod share a substantially common longitudinal axis.

9. The cargo restraint system of claim 8 , wherein the retract linkage further comprises a first spring proximate a first end of the retract cylinder.

10. The cargo restraint system of claim 9 , wherein the retract cylinder comprises a longitudinal slot and the retract rod comprises a retract pin that slides within the longitudinal slot.

11. The cargo restraint system of claim 1 , wherein the outer pawl includes a sight hole that aligns with another sight hole in the cargo conveyor system when the outer pawl is in a locked position.

12. The cargo restraint system of claim 1 , wherein the lift linkage is connected to a distal end of the lever at a first pivot point, and a retract linkage is connected to the distal end of the lever at a second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point such that the first pivot point and the second pivot point are off-center from each other.

13. An aircraft cargo restraint system, comprising:
a cargo conveyor system installed on a cargo floor of an aircraft, the cargo conveyor system including a plurality of rails and a plurality of rollers;
an inner pawl rotatably attached to a first rail in the plurality of rails;
an outer pawl rotatably attached to the first rail in the plurality of rails;
a lever rotatably attached to the first rail in the plurality of rails via a central axis, wherein the lever includes a first end and a second end spaced from each other, with the central axis disposed between the first end and the second end, and wherein the lever includes a roller disposed along the first end; and
a mechanical linkage connecting the lever to the outer pawl and to the inner pawl, the outer pawl and the inner pawl being controlled by movement of the lever through the mechanical linkage, wherein the mechanical linkage comprises a lift linkage connected to the second end of the lever at a first pivot point, and a retract linkage connected to the second end of the lever at a second pivot point spaced from the first pivot point such that the first pivot point and the second pivot point are off-center from each other along the second end.

14. The aircraft cargo restraint system of claim 13 , wherein the lift linkage is mechanically connected to the outer pawl and the retract linkage is mechanically connected to the inner pawl.

15. The aircraft cargo restraint system of claim 14 , wherein the lift linkage comprises a lift cylinder and a lift rod that is slidably attached to the lift cylinder, wherein the lift rod and the lift cylinder share a substantially common longitudinal axis.

16. The aircraft cargo restraint system of claim 14 , wherein the retract linkage comprises a retract cylinder and a retract rod that is slidably connected to the retract cylinder, wherein the retract cylinder and the retract rod share a substantially common longitudinal axis.

17. The aircraft cargo restraint system of claim 13 , wherein the outer pawl includes a sight hole that aligns with another sight hole in the cargo conveyor system when the outer pawl is in a locked position.

18. The aircraft cargo restraint system of claim 13 , wherein the second pivot point of the retract linkage is disposed between the central axis of the lever and the first pivot point of the lift linkage.

19. A method of securing cargo in an aircraft, the method comprising:
placing a cargo carrying platform on a roller of a cargo conveyor system;
moving the cargo carrying platform over the roller;
contacting a lever of a cargo restraint system with the cargo carrying platform;
rotating the lever, which raises a cargo securing pawl;
raising a cargo release pawl by the cargo securing pawl; and
wherein rotating the lever causes movement of a lift linkage and a retract linkage independently of each other such that the lift linkage and the retract linkage move in different orientations relative to each other, wherein the lift linkage is connected to the lever at a first pivot point and connected to the cargo securing pawl, and the retract linkage is connected to the lever at a second pivot point and connected to the cargo release pawl, and wherein the first pivot point and the second pivot point are spaced from each other.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising continuing to move the cargo carrying platform across the lever until the cargo carrying platform clears the lever; and raising the lever after the cargo carrying platform is clear, which retracts the cargo release pawl and the cargo release pawl retracts the cargo securing pawl.

21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising applying a force to the cargo release pawl, thereby retracting the cargo release pawl, which retracts the cargo securing pawl.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Clos William R

Classifications

• B64D9/003 Primary

  Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers · CPC title

• B60P7/0892

  by preventing lateral movement of the load, e.g. using stop blocks · CPC title

• B60P7/10

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

• B60P7/13 Primary

  Securing freight containers or forwarding containers on vehicles · CPC title

• B60P7/15

  the load bracing means comprising a movable bar · CPC title