Patent ID: 6302358
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: B64C,B64D,Y02T

Abstract:
A system for quickly and repetitively converting at least part of a main deck of an aircraft, from one of at least two configurations to another, the system including in combination:at least a part of a main deck of an aircraft;at least one seat pallet and at least one cargo loading assembly, each seat pallet and cargo loading assembly having lower displacement means for transporting said seat pallet and said cargo loading assembly on the deck;static locking means secured to the deck for locking at least one seat pallet to the deck in a passenger transport configuration PAX;static anchoring means rigidly secured to the deck for anchoring at least one cargo loading assembly to the deck in a freight transport configuration,characterized in that: the static locking means are rigidly secured to, and constantly flush with, the deck, and wherein an interlock with a moveable locking element is attached to the seat pallet;the static anchoring means are at least partly common with the static locking means, and are rigidly secured to, and flush with, the deck and interlock with moveable anchoring elements of the cargo loading assembly;the lower displacement means of the seat pallet are retractable displacement means attached on at least one seat underframe of the seat pallet on which a non-bearing floor panel is rigidly secured, the lower displacement means attached to the cargo loading assembly being retractable displacement means in the form of a retractable ball bearing, the loading cargo assembly further comprising upper displacement means, attached to the assembly by retractable ball bearing elements, attached to the assembly for transporting at least one unit load device on a top surface of the assembly;the system further including at least a unit module having retractable displacement means in the form of a retractable ball bearing attached to the module unit for transporting it on the deck; andstatic securing means for anchoring the at least one unit module to the deck in a modular transport configuration, said static securing means being at least partly common with the static locking and anchoring means, the static securing means having moveable securing elements and being rigidly secured to, and flush with, the deck of interlocking, with said moveable securing elements, the at least one unit module.