Abstract:
A modular adapter plate system ( 1 ) for the installation of mission equipment in vehicles with floor panels ( 30 ), particularly for the installation of mission equipment in aircrafts such as helicopters, each plate ( 2 - 8 ) of said system comprising a pair of parallel seat/cargo tracks ( 9, 10 ) interconnected by stiff beam elements ( 11 - 15 ) and lateral flanges ( 16, 40 ) for releasable fixation to the floor panels ( 30 ) and lateral flanges ( 18, 19, 41, 42 ) for releasable interconnection. The invention is also related to a vehicle with said modular adapter plate system ( 1 ).

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to European application no. EP 11 400009.4 filed Jan. 31, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The invention is related to a modular adapter plate system according to the features of claim  1  and a vehicle with such a modular adapter plate system according to the features of claim  10 . 
     (2) Description of Related Art 
     Seats in known helicopters or other mission equipment are up to now installed onto separate seat/cargo tracks being installed on a cabin floor panels by means of inserts. Said separate seat/cargo tracks have reduced stiffness properties. Depending on the mission, only a part of the installed seat/cargo tracks is required and the remaining seat/cargo tracks are removed. Removing said tracks from the cabin floor is labour-intensive, tedious and time consuming because of the high number of inserts. As the inserts have a short lifetime and the self locking mechanism of the inserts in the cabin floor panels breaks down after 3-5 uses, the inserts have to be replaced frequently, which is a time consuming and expensive operation. Some equipment arrangements are not possible and some seat/cargo tracks cannot withstand the crash loads caused by some equipment in a certain location because the necessary amount of inserts to withstand crash loads cannot be installed wherever required in the cabin floor. 
     The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,708 A discloses a multiple section pallet assembly having a primary pallet member fitted with adjustable article attachment brackets thereon to accommodate and attach a wide range of articles such as vehicle seats of varying sizes. For seat attachment, a support tray and support pedestals adjustably secured to the brackets have connector pins to fit into associated pin openings in seat structure so that the seats can be readily and securely mounted on the pallet member for conveyance and subsequently easily removed therefrom. The primary pallet member can be readily fixed to a bottom sled to form a pallet assembly. The sled has laterally spaced openings for forklift handling. 
     The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,803 A discloses a pallet comprising a substantially rectangle-shaped base plate, a frame-like rising section of a substantially rectangle-shape rising from a surface of the base plate, on which a driver&#39;s seat and assistant driver&#39;s seat or the seat for several passengers are to be carried, and surrounding said base plate, the base plate and frame-like rising section formed as one piece, by reaction injection molding. 
     The document U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,739 B1 discloses a connector housings attached to modules are received within aligned socket formations attached to the modules held assembled therewith forming a platform by joints established between such connector housings and the socket formations by selectively controlled locking balls projected through side walls of the connector housings into the socket formations. Such projection of the balls is guided through sleeves adjustably positioned on the housing side walls. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a reliable system for the arrangement of mission equipment with said system, being easy to install, less onerous to maintain and allowing a wide variety of equipment arrangements. It is a further object of the invention to provide a vehicle with such a system. 
     The solution is provided with a modular adapter plate system with the features of claim  1  of the invention and a vehicle with such a modular adapter plate system according to the features of claim  10 . 
     According to the invention a modular adapter plate system is provided for the installation of mission equipment in vehicles with floor panels, particularly for the installation of mission equipment in aircrafts such as helicopters. Each plate of said system comprises a pair of parallel seat/cargo tracks interconnected by stiff beam elements. The seat/cargo tracks are provided with lateral flanges with releasable seat/cargo track fittings for fixation to already existing seat/cargo rails and/or anchor points of the floor panels. 
     Lateral flanges and releasable seat/cargo track fittings allow higher stiffness for fixation due to the higher stiffness of the inventive plates with an interconnected pair of parallel seat/cargo tracks compared to the reduced stiffness properties of the separate seat/cargo tracks of the state of the art. 
     The invention overcomes any difficulties caused when installing different mission equipment, e.g. in a helicopter with limited attachment points, as compared to the high number of inserts according to the state of the art, while respecting the constraints of FAR 29 (FAR=Federal Aviation Regulations), the constraints of the weight of the system and the equipment to be installed, the size of said equipment and the constraints for the means of attaching/installing said equipment. 
     The inventive modular adapter plate system with improved stiffness and releasable seat/cargo track fittings uses the available seat/cargo rails and/or anchor points in the floor of the vehicle with the advantage that retrofitting of said floor becomes redundant. No protection is required for the available seat/cargo rails and/or anchor points used for the inventive system, contrary to the floor inserts of the state of the art that have to be plugged against dirt. 
     The inventive modular adapter plate system does not require any increased maintenance effort and may be easily mounted/dismounted with the available seat/cargo rails and/or anchor points in the floor of the vehicle as many times as wanted. 
     The inventive modular adapter plate system allows jam free and crash resistant installation of mission equipment like seats, an O2 rack, litter, radar, operator consoles and/or medical equipment. The seat/cargo track fittings can be releasable or removable or can be an integral part of the flanges and/or transversal stiff beam elements. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the seat/cargo tracks and/or at least one of the two transversal stiff beam elements at the ends of the plates are provided with interconnection means for a modular axial extension of the plates of the inventive system. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention lateral flanges are provided with interconnection means for a modular lateral extension of the plates of the inventive system. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention some of the stiff beam elements are cross-linked for even further improved stiffness. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the stiff beam elements are provided with attachment points for fixation to the floor panels for improved stability and for more flexible combinations of the plates of the inventive system. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention the lateral flanges are either an integral part of the plates or are removable for more flexible combinations of the plates. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the modular adapter plate system is applied to vehicles with floor panels, preferably to vehicles with reinforced floor panels, particularly for the installation of mission equipment in aircrafts such as helicopters, particularly for the installation of mission equipment like seats, O2 rack, litter, radar, operator consoles and/or medical equipment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the following description with reference to the attached drawings. 
         FIG. 1  shows a top view of plates for possible combinations of a modular adapter plate system according to the invention, 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of one combination of the modular adapter plate system according to the invention, 
         FIG. 3  shows a top view of another combination of the modular adapter plate system according to the invention, 
         FIG. 4 ,  5  show an exploded view of a plate of the modular adapter plate system on seat/cargo rails and/or anchor points of the floor panels according to the invention, 
         FIG. 6  shows a cross sectional view along A-A of the modular adapter plate system of  FIG. 2  and the floor panels, 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross sectional view along B-B of the modular adapter plate system of  FIG. 2  and the floor panels, 
         FIG. 8  shows a cross sectional view along C-C of the modular adapter plate system of  FIG. 2  and the floor panels, 
         FIG. 9   a  shows a detail D of the modular adapter plate system of  FIG. 2 , 
         FIG. 9   b  shows an alternative detail D of the modular adapter plate system of  FIG. 2 , 
         FIG. 9   c  shows a detail E of the modular adapter plate system of  FIG. 2 , and 
         FIG. 9   d  shows an alternative detail E of the modular adapter plate system of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     According to  FIG. 1  a first combination of a modular adapter plate system  1  for a helicopter (not shown) comprises different plates  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 , and  8  that can be combined in multiple ways. Each of the plates  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  has two essentially parallel seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  with a predefined distance between each other. 
     The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  of plate  2  are interconnected to each other by interconnecting stiff cross beam elements  12  and transversal stiff beam elements  11 . The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  are provided at each end with interconnecting female transversal beam elements  15  for interconnection with plates  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7 , and/or  8 . 
     Lateral flanges  16  directed to the outside of the seat/cargo tracks  9 , are provided with attachment points  17  for releasable seat/cargo track fittings  50  to fix plate  2  to the floor panels (see  FIG. 6 ). The transversal stiff beam elements  11  and the interconnecting female transversal beam elements  15  are provided with attachment points  17  for said releasable seat/cargo track fittings  50  to fix plate  2  to the floor panels. Interconnecting flanges  19 , directed to the outside of seat/cargo track  10  are provided for fixation of plate  2  to plate  6  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  of each of the different plates  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7 , and  8  are provided at one end with interconnecting male elements in transversal beam elements  14  for interconnection with any of the plates  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  with interconnecting female elements in the interconnecting female transversal beam elements  15  (see  FIG. 8 ). 
     The plates  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  are provided with lateral flanges  16 , directed to the outside of the respective seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  for fixation of said plates  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  to the floor panels. Some of the transversal stiff beam elements  11 ,  14  and the interconnecting female transversal beam elements  15  are provided respectively with an attachment point  17  for fixation of plates  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  to the floor panel. 
     Interconnecting flanges  19  with receptacles  21  as female elements, directed to the outside of seat/cargo tracks  10  of each of the plates  2 ,  3  and  4  are provided for fixation of plates  2 ,  3  and  4  to panel  6  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  of plate  5  are interconnected to each other by interconnecting stiff cross beam elements  12 . The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  are provided at one end with interconnecting female transversal beam element  15  with receptacles as female elements for interconnection with any of the other plates  3 ,  4 ,  7  and  8 . The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  of plate  5  are provided at the other end with interconnecting stiff transversal beam  14  with pins as male elements for respective interconnection with any of the other plates  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  with an interconnecting female transversal beam element  15  with receptacles as female elements (see  FIG. 8 ). 
     The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  of plate  6  are interconnected to each other by interconnecting stiff cross beam elements  12 , transversal stiff beam elements  11 , and axial stiff beam elements  13 . The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  of plate  6  are provided at each end with interconnecting female transversal beam elements  15  for interconnection with plates  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  7  and/or  8 . 
     Interconnecting flanges  18  with pins  20  as male elements, directed to the outside of seat/cargo track  10  are provided for fixation of plate  6  to any of plates  2 ,  3  and/or  4  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  of plate  7  are interconnected to each other by interconnecting stiff cross beam elements  12 . The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  are provided at one end with interconnecting female transversal beam element  15  with female elements for interconnection with any of the plates  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  8 . The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  of plate  7  are provided at the opposite end with an interconnecting transversal stiff beam element  14  for interconnection with any of the plates  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6  and  8  with interconnecting female transversal beam elements  15  with female element (see  FIG. 8 ). The interconnecting female transversal beam element  15  of plate  7  is provided with releasable seat/cargo track fittings  50  to fix plate  7  to the floor panels. 
     The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  of plate  8  are interconnected to each other by interconnecting stiff cross beam elements  12 , transversal stiff beam elements  11  and an axial stiff beam element  13 . The seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  are provided at each end with interconnecting female transversal beam elements  15  for interconnection with plates  3 ,  4  and  7 . Transversal stiff beam element  14  is provided with an attachment point  17  for releasable seat/cargo track fittings  50  to fix plate  8  to the floor panels. 
     According to  FIG. 2  corresponding features are referred to with the same references as in  FIG. 1 . Aligned plates  4 ,  2  and  8  and parallel aligned plates  5 ,  6  and  7  are combined to a modular adapter plate system  1 , with plate  4  being mounted to plate  2  by fitting the male elements of the respective transversal stiff beam element  14  of plate  4  into the female elements of the respective interconnecting female transversal beam elements  15  of plate  2 . Plate  8  is correspondingly mounted to the opposed end of plate  2 . The aligned plates  5 ,  6  and  7  are mounted by fitting the male elements of the respective transversal stiff beam element  14  of plate  5  into the interconnecting female transversal beam elements  15  of plate  6 . Plate  7  is correspondingly mounted to the opposed end of plate  6 . 
     Plates  4 ,  2  and  8  and plates  5 ,  6  and  7  are fixed by means of the lateral flanges  16  and/or attachment points  17  to the anchor points in the floor panels. Plates  2  and  3  are laterally interconnected to plate  6  by the interconnecting flanges  19  and  18 . 
     According to  FIG. 3  corresponding features are referred to with the same references as in  FIG. 1 ,  2 . Two sets of aligned plates  2 ,  3  and  8  are arranged parallel to each other into two separate modular adapter plate systems  1 . The respectively aligned plates  2 ,  3  and  8  are essentially symmetrical to each other with respect to a longitudinal axis in the middle between the two aligned plates  2 ,  3  and  8 . 
     According to  FIG. 4  corresponding features are referred to with the same references as in  FIG. 1-3 . The plate  3  is shown with its seat/cargo track  9  above a seat/cargo rail  31  and with its seat/cargo track  9  above three anchor points  31 . Releasable seat/cargo track fittings  50  are provided for fixation through the lateral flanges  16  of plate  3  into the seat/cargo rails  31  and through the attachment point  17  and the lateral flanges  16  of plate  3  into the anchor points  31 , to hold said plate  3  to the floor panel  30 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an enlarged anchor point  31  with two essentially U-shaped stringers  32  with a dove tail recess to receive said releasable seat/cargo track fittings  50 . 
     According to  FIG. 6  corresponding features are referred to with the same references as in  FIG. 1-5 . Preferably the floor panels  30  inside of a helicopter cabin are relatively stiff. The floor panels  30  are provided with said seat/cargo rails and/or anchor points  31  formed respectively as a reinforced structural element of two essentially U-shaped stringers  32  linked to each other by an integral beam element  33  forming the base for the dove tail recess to rectangularly receive said releasable seat/cargo track fittings  50  complementary to said dove tail shaped recesses in the seat/cargo rails and/or the anchor points  31 , said releasable seat/cargo track fittings  50  being fitted through any of the lateral flanges  16  or any of the attachment points  17  of plate  2  into the seat/cargo rails and/or anchor points  31 , to hold said plate  2  to the floor panel  30 . The interconnecting female transversal beam element  15  with the attachment point  17  is integral with the seat/cargo tracks  9  and  10  of plate  2  and is provided with equally distant rips  34 . The lateral flange  16  is integral with the seat/cargo track  9 . The lateral flanges  16  extend essentially parallel to plate  2 . 
     Any lateral flanges  16  and attachment points  17  of plates  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7  and  8  are fitted correspondingly releasable with said seat/cargo track fittings  50  into the seat/cargo rails and/or anchor points  31  provided in the floor panel  30 . 
     According to  FIG. 7  corresponding features are referred to with the same references as in  FIG. 1-6 . The plate  2  on the floor panel  30  is provided with the seat/cargo track  10 , shaped as dove tail shaped recess and the interconnecting lateral flanges  19  with receptacles  21  as female elements to laterally mount plate  2  to the respective interconnecting lateral flanges  18  with respective pins  20  as coaxial male elements of plate  6 . Plate  6  is provided with the dove tail shaped seat/cargo tracks  9  and  10 . The interconnecting lateral flanges  18 ,  19  are integral with and extend essentially parallel to plates  2  and  6 . 
     Any lateral flanges  19  and receptacles  21  of plates  3  and  4  are fitted correspondingly to plate  6 . 
     According to  FIG. 8  corresponding features are referred to with the same references as in  FIG. 1-7 . The plate  2  on the floor panel  30  is axially interconnected to the plate  4  by inserting the pins  20  as male elements in the transversal stiff beam element  14  on one side of plate  4  into the respectively opposite receptacles  21  as female elements in one of the interconnecting female transversal beam elements  15  on either side of plate  2 . 
     According to  FIG. 9   a  corresponding features are referred to with the same references as in  FIG. 1-8 . The lateral flange  16  is integral with plate  8 . The releasable seat/cargo track fitting  50  is fitted through the lateral flange  16  into any of the seat/cargo rails and/or anchor points  31 , to hold said plate  8  to the floor panel  30 . 
     According to  FIG. 9   b  corresponding features are referred to with the same references as in  FIG. 1-8 . A removable flange  40  is laterally mounted to plate  8  by means of pins  20  into coaxial receptacles  23  of plate  8  and bolts  22  fixed into coaxial receptacles  24  of plate  8 . The seat/cargo track fitting  50  is releasable fitted through the removable flange  40  into any of the seat/cargo rails and/or anchor points  31 , to hold said plate  8  to the floor panel  30 . 
     According to  FIG. 9   c  corresponding features are referred to with the same references as in  FIG. 1-8 . The interconnecting flange  18 , with pin  20  as male element, is integral with plate  6 . Interconnecting flange  19 , with receptacle  21  as female element, is integral with plate  2 . Pin  20  is coaxially introduced into receptacle  21  to laterally combine plate  2  to plate  6 . 
     According to  FIG. 9   d  corresponding features are referred to with the same references as in  FIG. 1-8 . A removable flange  41  is laterally mounted to plate  6  by means of pins  20  into coaxial receptacles  23  of plate  6  and bolts  22  fixed into coaxial receptacles  24  of plate  6 . Correspondingly a removable flange  42  is laterally mounted to plate  2  by means of pins  20  into coaxial receptacles  23  of plate  2  and bolts  22  fixed into coaxial receptacles  24  of plate  2 . The removable flange  41  is provided with an outwardly directed pin  20  for introduction into an outwardly directed receptacle  21  of removable flange  42 . Pin  20  of removable flange  41  is coaxially introduced into receptacle  21  of removable flange  42  to laterally combine plate  2  to plate  6 . 
     Seats (not shown) can be arranged into the seat/cargo tracks  9 ,  10  of the plates  2 - 8 .