Patent ID: 6148740
Filing Date: 2000-11-21
Classification: B64G,B65D

Abstract:
A lightweight pallet for holding a load, particularly in a spacecraft, said pallet comprising a sandwich construction including longitudinal beams (4) and cross-connectors (6) joining said longitudinal beams in a core grid (CG), a first flat sheet metal cover plate (1) secured to one side of said core grid, a second flat sheet metal cover plate (2) secured to an opposite side of said core grid, said longitudinal beams comprising first and second chords (4A, 4B) and ribbed webs (5) interconnecting said chords, each of said cross-connectors (6) comprising cross-struts (19), and end beams (7, 7A) secured to ends of said longitudinal beams (4) and to ends of said first and second cover plates, said pallet further comprising function plates (10) secured to junctions where said longitudinal beams (4) and said cross-connectors (6) meet, and securing means (11) attaching said junction plates (10) to said first and second cover plates (1, 2), to said longitudinal beams (4) and to said cross-connectors (6).