Patent Publication Number: US-2021179266-A1

Title: Cargo handling system repositionable side guide

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure is directed to systems for reconfiguring a cargo bay of an aircraft by adjusting a position of a rail of a cargo system in the cargo bay. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Aircraft may transport at least one of passengers or cargo. Many aircraft thus have at least one cargo bay designed to receive cargo. In many aircraft applications, the size of cargo pallets (e.g., unit load devices (ULDs)) is a standardized set of sizes. For example, a first aircraft may be designed to transport ULDs having a first dimension and a second aircraft may be designed to transport ULDs having a second dimension that is different than the first dimension. An aircraft operator who has both aircraft may desire to reconfigure the system one type of aircraft to carry the ULDs from the second type. Alternatively, because of the different sizes of the ULDs, some aircraft are optimized to carry one size. This may result in an inefficient use of space for other ULD sizes. 
     SUMMARY 
     Described herein is a system for repositioning rails in a cargo bay of an aircraft. The system includes a base configured to be coupled to a structure in the cargo bay and having a first side and a second side. The system further includes a cradle for receiving a rail for restricting movement of a unit load device (ULD) in at least one direction, the cradle configured to position the rail between a first position and a second position in which the rail is closer to the second side of the base than when the rail is in the second position. 
     In any of the foregoing embodiments, the cradle includes a first wing extending away from the base and a second wing extending away from the base and located closer to the second side of the base than the first wing. 
     In any of the foregoing embodiments, the first wing and the second wing each define a fastener aperture such that the rail is configured to be retained in place relative to the cradle by extending a fastener through the fastener aperture of the first wing and the second wing and through the rail. 
     Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include a plunger configured to be received by the base to resist movement of the plunger, wherein the base further defines a slot configured to receive the plunger and the cradle such that placement of the plunger in the slot resists movement of the cradle. 
     Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include a support rail coupled to the base between the first side and the second side, wherein the plunger and the cradle are configured to be coupled to the slot on both sides of the support rail. 
     Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include at least one support arm coupled to the cradle and pivotably coupled to a pivot point on the base, such that the cradle is configured to move between the first position and the second position by pivoting the at least one support arm about the pivot point on the base. 
     In any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one support arm includes two support arms each coupled to the pivot point on the base via a pin. 
     In any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one support arm is pivotably coupled to the cradle to facilitate alignment of the cradle relative to the base in both of the first position and the second position. 
     Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include a locking mechanism configured to lock the cradle in at least one of the first position or the second position. 
     Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include a roller coupled to the base and configured to facilitate movement of the ULD across the cargo bay. 
     Also disclosed is a system for repositioning rails in a cargo bay of an aircraft. The system includes a base configured to be coupled to a structure in the cargo bay and having a first side and a second side. The system further includes a roller coupled to the base and configured to facilitate movement of a unit load device (ULD) across the cargo bay. The system further includes a cradle for receiving a rail for restricting movement of the ULD in at least one direction, the cradle configured to position the rail between a first position and a second position in which the rail is closer to the second side of the base than when the rail is in the second position. 
     Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include a plunger configured to be received by the base to resist movement of the plunger, wherein the base further defines a slot configured to receive the plunger and the cradle such that placement of the plunger in the slot resists movement of the cradle. 
     Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include a support rail coupled to the base between the first side and the second side, wherein the plunger and the cradle are configured to be coupled to the slot on both sides of the support rail. 
     Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include at least one support arm coupled to the cradle and pivotably coupled to a pivot point on the base, such that the cradle is configured to move between the first position and the second position by pivoting the at least one support arm about the pivot point on the base. 
     In any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one support arm includes two support arms each coupled to the pivot point on the base via a pin. 
     In any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one support arm is pivotably coupled to the cradle to facilitate alignment of the cradle relative to the base in both of the first position and the second position. 
     Also disclosed is a system for repositioning rails in a cargo bay of an aircraft. The system includes a base configured to be coupled to a structure in the cargo bay and having a first side and a second side. The system further includes a cradle for receiving a rail for restricting movement of a unit load device (ULD) in at least one direction, the cradle having a first wing extending away from the base and a second wing extending away from the base and located closer to the second side of the base than the first wing, and the cradle being configured to move the rail between a first position and a second position in which the rail is closer to the second side of the base than when the rail is in the second position. 
     Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include a plunger configured to be received by the base to resist movement of the plunger, wherein the base further defines a slot configured to receive the plunger and the cradle such that placement of the plunger in the slot resists movement of the cradle. 
     Any of the foregoing embodiments may further include at least one support arm coupled to the cradle and pivotably coupled to a pivot point on the base, such that the cradle is configured to move between the first position and the second position by pivoting the at least one support arm about the pivot point on the base. 
     In any of the foregoing embodiments, the at least one support arm is pivotably coupled to the cradle to facilitate alignment of the cradle relative to the base in both of the first position and the second position. 
     The forgoing features and elements may be combined in various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly indicated herein otherwise. These features and elements as well as the operation of the disclosed embodiments will become more apparent in light of the following description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter of the present disclosure is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. A more complete understanding of the present disclosures, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements. 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an underside of an aircraft, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an aircraft cargo deck of the aircraft of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a system for adjusting a location of a rail in the aircraft cargo deck of  FIG. 2 , in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates the system of  FIG. 3A  in a reconfigured position, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates the system of  FIG. 3A  with a rail attached to a cradle of the system, in accordance with various embodiments; 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a system for adjusting a location of a rail for use in an aircraft cargo deck, in accordance with various embodiments; and 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates the system of  FIG. 4A  in a reconfigured position, in accordance with various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration and their best mode. While these exemplary embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that logical, chemical, and mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may be executed in any order and are not necessarily limited to the order presented. Furthermore, any reference to singular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than one component or step may include a singular embodiment or step. Also, any reference to attached, fixed, connected or the like may include permanent, removable, temporary, partial, full and/or any other possible attachment option. Additionally, any reference to without contact (or similar phrases) may also include reduced contact or minimal contact. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an aircraft cargo deck  29  may be used to implement various embodiments of the present disclosure. A conveyance surface  26  forms a deck of an aircraft, adjacent to a cargo deck loading door  23 . However, there are many other aircraft cargo deck configurations to which the embodiments of the disclosure can be implemented. For example, various aircraft, particularly those configured primarily for the transportation of cargo without passengers, may lack an upper passenger deck and may utilize an additional cargo deck installed in place of the upper passenger deck. The present disclosure allows for reconfiguration of the cargo deck  29  via the use of systems  52 , including a system  54 , that provides for repositioning of rails  58  (including a rail  118 ) in the cargo deck  29 . 
     The cargo compartment includes a system  50  having a plurality of freely rotating conveyance rollers  27  mounted in the cargo deck  29  to define the conveyance plane. Cargo loaded onto the aircraft cargo deck  29  may be moved manually throughout the cargo deck  29  upon the freely rotating conveyance rollers  27 . However, it may be desirable to electro-mechanically propel the cargo with minimal or no manual assistance, as some cargo may be relatively heavy and difficult to manipulate. In that regard, the H-shaped cargo surface may include a number of power drive units (PDUs)  28  that provide a mechanism upon which cargo is propelled over the conveyance rollers  27 . Each PDU  28  may include one or more actuator that may move cargo relative to the cargo deck  29 . 
     In the longitudinal direction, the conveyance surface  26  may include a left track and a right track along which cargo is to be stowed in parallel columns during flight. In the transverse direction, the cargo deck  29  may also be separated into a tail (or “aft”) section  11  and a forward section  12 . Thus, the left and right tracks may be divided into four sections, including two forward sections  13 ,  15  and two aft sections  17 ,  19 . In addition to the four sections, there may be an additional path  21  between both tracks at the cargo deck loading door  23 . This additional path  21  may divide the cargo deck  29  between the forward section  12  and aft section  11 . This path is used to move cargo into and out the aircraft, and also to transfer cargo between the left and right storage tracks. In various embodiments, the cargo deck  29  may be divided into any quantity of sections, from a single section to any quantity that is physically possible. For example, the systems disclosed herein may operate in a cargo handling system having a single longitudinal lane. 
     In various embodiments, a piece of cargo (referred to as a “unit load device” (ULD)  56 )) may be moved relative to the cargo deck  29 . Various ULDs may have differing dimensions such as ULD  56  and  61 . In that regard, the systems  52  may be used to adjust the rails  58  and  62  within the cargo deck  29  to facilitate movement and storage of ULDs of various sizes. For example, a rail  62  may resist movement of the ULD  56  in at least one direction and a rail  58  may resist movement of the ULD  61  in at least one direction. As mentioned above, the ULD  56  and the ULD  61  may have different dimensions. The systems  52  may adjust the positioning of the rails  58  and  60  to facilitate storage of ULDs of various sizes on the cargo deck  29 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A and 3B , additional details of the system  54  are shown. In particular, the system  54  may include a base  100 . The base  100  may be coupled to a floorboard or other structure in a cargo bay. The base  100  may include a first side  102  and a second side  104 . The second side  104  may be located closer to a wall of the cargo bay than the first side  102 . 
     The system  54  may further include a cradle  106 . The cradle  106  may be designed to receive a rail (e.g., the rail  118  of  FIG. 3C ). The cradle  106  may include a first wing  108  extending outward from the base  100 , a second wing  110  likewise extending outward from the base  100 , and a rail support  109  extending from the first wing  108  to the second wing  110 . The first wing  108  may define a first fastener aperture  112  and the second wing  110  may define a second fastener aperture  114 . 
     For example and referring to  FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C , a fastener  116  may extend through the first fastener aperture  112 , the second fastener aperture  114 , and the rail  118  in order to couple the rail  118  to the cradle  106 . 
     The system  54  may further include support arms  120  which may include a first support arm  122  and a second support arm  124 . The support arms  120  may be pivotably coupled to the base  100  at a pivot point  126  (e.g., via a pivot mechanism). For example, a pin  128  may extend through the support arms  120  and the base  100  in order to pivotably couple the support arms  120  to the base  100 . The support arms  120  may likewise be pivotally coupled to the cradle  106  (e.g., via a pivot mechanism, for example, via pins  130 ). 
     In order to adjust the position of the rail  118  relative to the base  100  (and, thus, the cargo bay), the support arms  120  may pivot about the pivot point  126 , thus moving the cradle  106  (and the rail  118 ) between a first position (shown in  FIG. 3B ) and a second position in which the cradle  106  is closer to the second side  104  than in the first position (as shown in  FIG. 3A ). Due to the pivotable coupling of the support arms  120  to the cradle  106  (i.e., via the pivot mechanism), the cradle  106  (and thus the rail  118 ) may remain in an upright (or any configured) position during the transition between the first position and the second position (as shown in  FIG. 3C ), and in response to the cradle  106  being in the first position and the second position. 
     The system  54  may further include a lock, or locking mechanism,  132 . The lock  132  may include any locking mechanism such as a pin and socket, a movable lever (as shown), or the like. As shown, the lock  132  includes a movable lever coupled to at least one of the support arms  120 . The movable lever may slide underneath the base  100  in response to the system  54  being in the desired position (e.g., first position or second position) in order to resist movement of the cradle  106  relative to the base  100 . 
     In various embodiments, the system  54  may further include rollers  134  (e.g., conveyance rollers) coupled to the base. In particular, the system  54  includes a first roller  136  and a second roller  138 . In various embodiments, the cradle  106  may be positioned on one side (e.g., towards the first side  102 ) of the second roller  138  in response to the system  54  being in the second position, and on the other side (e.g., towards the second side  104 ) of the second roller  138  in response to the system  54  being in the first position. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , another system  254  may function in a similar manner as the system  54  of  FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C . In particular, the system  254  may include a base  200  that has a first side  202  and a second side  204 . The base  200  may be designed to be coupled to a floor panel or other structure in a cargo bay. 
     The system  254  may further include a cradle  206  having similar features as the cradle  106  of  FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C . In particular, the cradle  206  includes a first wing  208 , a second wing  210 , and the rail support  209  connecting the first wing  208  to the second wing  210 . A rail may be designed to be coupled to the cradle  206 . 
     The base  200  may include a first support rail  221  located at or near the second side  204  along with a second support rail  222  located between the first side  202  and the first support rail  221 . 
     The system  254  may further include a plunger  212  and a plunger stop  214 . The plunger  212  and the plunger stop  214  are designed to be received by a slot  216  defined by the base. The base  200  may further define first plunger apertures  218  and second plunger apertures  220  located closer to the second side  204  than the first plunger apertures  218 . The plunger  212  and the plunger stop  214  are designed to be received by at least one of the slot  216 , the first plunger apertures  218 , or the second plunger apertures  220 . For example, the plunger  212  and the plunger stop  214  may each be designed to be received by one of the first plunger apertures  218  or by one of the second plunger apertures  220 . For example, a nut may be applied to a portion of the plunger  212  after the plunger  212  is inserted into one of the plunger apertures  218 ,  220 . As another example, the plunger  212  may press-fit into one or both of the plunger apertures  218 ,  220 . 
     The cradle  206  is designed to be located in a first position (as shown in  FIG. 4B ) and a second position (as shown in  FIG. 4A ). The cradle  206  is designed to be closer to the second side  204  in response to the cradle  206  being in the second position. 
     In order to couple the cradle  206  in the first position, the cradle  206  may be positioned adjacent to the second support rail  222 . The plunger  212  and the plunger stop  214  may be received by the first plunger apertures  218 . In that regard, the cradle  206  (and thus any rail) may be restricted from movement along the base  200  by being sandwiched between the plunger  212  and the second support rail  222 . 
     In order to couple the cradle  206  in the second position, the cradle  206  may be positioned adjacent to the first support rail  221 . The plunger  212  and the plunger stop  214  may be received by the second plunger apertures  220 . In that regard, the cradle  206  may be restricted from movement along the base  200  by being sandwiched between the plunger  212  and the first support rail  221 . 
     The system  254  may further include a first roller  224  and a second roller  226 . In various embodiments, the cradle  206  may be located on a first side (e.g., closer to the first side  202 ) of the second support rail  222  and the second roller  226  in response to the cradle  206  being in the first position. In various embodiments, the cradle may be located on a second side (e.g., closer to the second side  204 ) of the second support rail  222  and the second roller  226  in response to the cradle  206  being in the second position. 
     Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described herein with regard to specific embodiments. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in a practical system. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, in which reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C” is used in the claims, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Different cross-hatching is used throughout the figures to denote different parts but not necessarily to denote the same or different materials. 
     Systems, methods and apparatus are provided herein. In the detailed description herein, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure in alternative embodiments. 
     Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f), unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.