Patent Description:
Cargo handling systems, such as those used by aircraft for transport of containerized cargo or pallets, commonly referred to as unit load devices (ULDs), typically include longitudinal trays containing transport rollers, latches, and/or power drive units (PDU's) positioned along a cargo bay floor to facilitate movement of the ULDs relative to the bay floor. For example, cargo may be loaded from an entrance of the aircraft and transported by the cargo system along a conveyance plane to forward or aft locations, depending upon the configuration of the aircraft.

Cargo systems may benefit from having one or more features to facilitate guidance and/or restraint of the cargo. For example, conventional cargo guidance/restraining systems may include a continuous vertical restraint lip that extends along a side of a track or guide rail. However, a system may require longitudinal guidance, lateral restraint, and/or vertical restraint of ULD's where one or both of the longitudinal edges of the ULD's are positioned such that the guidance and/or restraint is provided along a longitudinal tray. <CIT> describes a locking device for freight loading systems.

According to the invention, the present disclosure provides a restraint assembly of a cargo system according to claim <NUM>. As used herein, the term "restraint assembly" generally refers to an assembly that provides guidance and/or restraint to cargo. The restraint assembly comprises a base configured to be mounted to a tray of the cargo system, a lateral restraint, and a vertical restraint. As used herein, the lateral restraint may provide longitudinal guidance and/or lateral restraint to cargo, as described in greater detail below. The lateral restraint comprises a guide face and a top edge, wherein the lateral restraint is rotatably coupled to the base, according to various embodiments. The vertical restraint extends from the top edge of the lateral restraint, according to various embodiments. In various embodiments, the restraint assembly comprises a stored position and a raised position. In the stored position both the lateral restraint and the vertical restraint are configured to be disposed within a volume defined by the tray of the cargo system. In the raised position the vertical restraint and at least the guide face of the lateral restraint are configured to be disposed above the volume defined by the tray of the cargo system such that the restraint assembly provides at least one of longitudinal guidance, lateral restraining, and vertical restraining to cargo.

According to the invention, a first rotational axis between the lateral restraint and the base is configured to extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tray of the cargo system. The first rotational axis between the lateral restraint and the base is configured to be oblique relative to a conveyance plane of the cargo system.

In various embodiments, a front edge of the vertical restraint, in the raised position, is configured to extend at least partially over a top surface of a rail of the tray of the cargo system.

The vertical restraint may be unitary with and may extend integrally from the lateral restraint. In various embodiments, toggling between the stored position and the raised position comprises rotating the lateral restraint more than <NUM> degrees.

Also disclosed herein, according to various embodiments, is a cargo system comprising a tray and a restraint assembly. The tray defines a volume within which one or more rollers are housed. The rollers are configured to facilitate movement of cargo along a longitudinal axis the tray, according to various embodiments. The restraint assembly comprises a base mounted to the tray, a lateral restraint rotatably coupled to the base, and a vertical restraint extending from the lateral restraint, according to various embodiments. The restraint assembly also comprises a stored position and a raised position, wherein in the stored position the lateral restraint of the restraint assembly is disposed within the volume defined by the tray and in the raised position the lateral restraint of the restraint assembly is disposed above the volume defined by the tray of the cargo system such that the restraint assembly provides at least one of longitudinal guidance, lateral restraining, and vertical restraining to the cargo.

Also disclosed herein, according to the invention, is a method for guiding or restraining cargo according to claim <NUM>.

The forgoing 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.

A more complete understanding of the present disclosure, however, may best be obtained by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the drawing figures.

The detailed description of exemplary embodiments herein makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show exemplary embodiments by way of illustration. 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 changes and adaptations in design and construction may be made in accordance with this disclosure and the teachings herein without departing from the scope of the claims.

As used herein, "aft" refers to the direction associated with the tail of an aircraft, or generally, to the direction of exhaust of the gas turbine. As used herein, "forward" refers to the direction associated with the nose of an aircraft, or generally, to the direction of flight or motion.

Cargo management systems, as disclosed herein, are used to load, move, and unload cargo. While numerous examples and details are included below with reference to aircraft cargo systems, it is expected that the present disclosure may apply to other, non-aircraft type cargo systems.

With reference to <FIG>, an aircraft <NUM> is illustrated having a cargo compartment <NUM>. A cargo door <NUM> provides access to cargo compartment <NUM> from outside aircraft <NUM>. Cargo <NUM> (e.g., pallets, ULDs, luggage, etc.) may be loaded and unloaded through cargo door <NUM> and onto a cargo deck <NUM> of aircraft <NUM>. In various embodiments, cargo deck <NUM> of the cargo system may be equipped with one or more power drive units (PDUs) configured to propel cargo <NUM> across cargo deck <NUM> in a desired direction.

With reference to <FIG>, a portion of cargo deck <NUM> is illustrated in greater detail. Cargo deck <NUM> may include one or more ball mats <NUM> and one or more trays <NUM>. Ball mats <NUM> may include a plurality of freely rotating conveyance balls <NUM> and trays <NUM> may include a plurality of freely rotating conveyance rollers <NUM>. In various embodiments, a number of PDUs <NUM> may be mounted along cargo deck <NUM>. For example, PDUs <NUM> may be located in ball mats <NUM> and/or in roller trays <NUM>. PDUs <NUM> may be configured to propel cargo over conveyance balls <NUM> and/or conveyance rollers <NUM> and across cargo deck <NUM>. In accordance with various embodiments, a number of restraint assemblies <NUM> may be located along cargo deck <NUM>. The restraint assemblies <NUM> generally provide longitudinal guidance and/or restraint to cargo items, such as ULDs. Accordingly, the term "restraint assembly" refers generally to an apparatus, device, or system that provides guidance and/or restraint to cargo. That is, the embodiments of the restraint assemblies <NUM>/<NUM> provided herein may be configured to provide guidance to cargo as it moves along the cargo system, to restrain and retain cargo once it is in a desired position, or to provide both guidance and restraint to cargo. The restraint assemblies <NUM> may be mounted to the trays <NUM>, or could otherwise be implemented and/or mounted relative to a panel, a hogout, or other structure of a cargo system. For example, restraint assemblies <NUM> may be installed between a first rail 30a and a second rail 30b of tray <NUM>. Second rail 30b may be parallel to first rail 30a. As described in greater detail below, the restraint assemblies <NUM> can be in a stored position when not needed, and can be transitioned to a raised position when cargo guidance/restraint is desired. In various embodiments, the trays <NUM> are coupled/mounted to an airframe of the aircraft.

In the stored position, the restraint assemblies <NUM> are disposed below/beneath the conveyance plane, which is defined as the plane tangent to the top of the conveyance rollers. For example, the restraint assemblies <NUM> may be disposed below/beneath the conveyance plane (e.g., in a volume <NUM> defined between first and second rails 30a, 30b that comprise the tray <NUM>) in the stored position. In the raised position, the restraint assemblies <NUM> are disposed above the conveyance plane (e.g., above the volume <NUM> defined between first and second rails 30a, 30b that comprise the tray <NUM>). As used herein, the term "volume" refers to the space bounded below the conveyance plane, and the conveyance plane is defined as the plane that is tangent to the top of the conveyance rollers. As used herein, the terms "beneath" or "below" refer to the negative Z-direction, and the term "above" refers to the positive Z-direction with respect to the conveyance surface/plane. In the raised position, the one or more restraint assemblies <NUM> provide longitudinal guidance, lateral restraint, and vertical restraint. As used herein, the term "longitudinal" refers to directions along the x-axis, the term "lateral" refers to directions along the y-axis, and the term "vertical" refers to directions along the z-axis. The restraint assemblies <NUM> may be held or biased in either the stored or raised position (e.g., spring-loaded or latched). The restraint assemblies <NUM> may be controlled using actuators (e.g., motor driven actuators) and the restraint assemblies <NUM> may be reversibly locked into either position. The restraint assembly <NUM> may include a controller and a motor. In various embodiments, the restraint assembly <NUM> may be in mechanical communication with the restraint motor, which may be, for example, an electromagnetic, electromechanical or electrohydraulic actuator or other servomechanism. In various embodiments, the controller is configured to control operation of the restraint assembly <NUM>. The restraint controller may include a processor and a tangible, non-transitory memory. The processor may comprise one or more logic modules that implement logic to control operation of the restraint assembly (e.g., switching between the stored and the raised positions.

In various embodiments, a human operator manipulates control elements to selectively and mechanically or electrically actuate the restraint assemblies <NUM>. For example, the a restraint assembly <NUM> may be actuated by a lever, a latch, or other mechanical features disposed in proximity to the restraint assembly <NUM> (e.g., hand or foot operable). The user/control interface may be mounted on a wall or other structure within the cargo bay or may be portable, e.g., the controls may be in a hand held device. In various embodiments, the cargo system may include one or more cargo shuttles that are configured to slide across floor panels or roll across the conveyance rollers <NUM>. In various embodiments, the system controller may include a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or some other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The cargo handling system may also include a power source configured to supply power to the restraint assemblies <NUM> via one or more power busses.

With reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the restraint assembly <NUM> generally includes a base <NUM>, a lateral restraint <NUM>, and a vertical restraint <NUM>. The term "lateral restraint" <NUM> refers generally to the portion of the restraint assembly <NUM> that provides lateral restraint and/or longitudinal guidance to the cargo (i.e., the modifier "lateral" does not refer to the orientation or extension direction of the restraint). That is, the lateral restraint <NUM> may provide guidance to cargo as it moves along the cargo system, may retain or restrain cargo once it is in a desired position, or may provide both guidance and restraint to cargo. The term "vertical restraint" refers generally to the portion of the restraint assembly <NUM> that provides vertical restraint (i.e., the modifier "vertical" does not refer to the orientation or extension direction of the restraint). In <FIG> and <FIG>, the restraint assembly <NUM> is shown in a raised position (e.g., deployed position). The lateral restraint <NUM> includes a guide face <NUM> configured to engage lateral sides of cargo, such as ULDs, to provide longitudinal guidance while conveying the cargo and/or to provide lateral restraint to the cargo.

In various embodiments, and with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the base <NUM> is mounted to the tray between the rails 30a, 30b. The lateral restraint <NUM> is rotatably coupled (e.g., via a first rotational axis <NUM>) to the base <NUM>. The first rotational axis <NUM> may be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tray (e.g., may be perpendicular to the direction in which cargo is configured to be conveyed along the trays). As shown in <FIG>, and according to the invention, the first rotational axis <NUM> is oblique relative to a conveyance plane of the cargo system. That is, the first rotational axis <NUM> may extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tray but at an angle relative to the y-axis. Not according to the invention, the first rotational axis <NUM> may also be skewed into or out of the page. Accordingly, the first rotational axis may be tilted/skewed relative to the standard xyz axes. By orienting the first rotational axis in this tilted manner, a front edge <NUM> of the vertical restraint <NUM> may at least partially overlap the rail 30b in the raised position while also being stowable in the stored position within the cavity/volume <NUM> defined by the tray. That is, if the first rotational axis <NUM> were not tilted in this manner and if at least the front edge <NUM> of the vertical restraint <NUM> extended over a top surface <NUM> of the rail 30b in the raised position, the restraint assembly <NUM> would collide with the rail 30b upon trying to rotate the restraint down to the stored position. With reference to <FIG>, the restraint assembly <NUM> is shown in the stored position, with both the lateral restraint <NUM> and the vertical restraint <NUM> disposed within a volume defined by the tray (i.e., within a volume <NUM> defined between the two rails 30a, 30b). Toggling between the stored position and the raised position may comprise rotating the lateral restraint more than <NUM> degrees. That is, the restraint assembly <NUM> may be configured to provide more than <NUM> degrees of rotational movement of the lateral restraint to ensure the lateral restraint <NUM> is sufficiently below the conveyance plane. In various embodiments, the vertical restraint <NUM> is unitary with and integrally extends from the lateral restraint <NUM>.

Not according to the invention, and with reference to <FIG>, the vertical restraint <NUM> is rotatably coupled to the lateral restraint <NUM> via a second rotational axis <NUM>. The second rotational axis <NUM> may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tray (e.g., may be parallel to the direction in which cargo is configured to be conveyed along the trays). In various embodiments, this coupling between the lateral restraint <NUM> and the vertical restraint <NUM> is along a top edge <NUM> of the lateral restraint <NUM> (e.g., a top edge of the guide face <NUM>). Because of the rotational coupling between the lateral restraint <NUM> and the vertical restraint <NUM>, the vertical restraint <NUM> can be rotated to provide vertical restraining force to cargo. The second rotational axis <NUM> may be perpendicular to the first rotational axis <NUM>.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the restraint assembly <NUM> may include a link <NUM>. The link <NUM> may extend between the lateral restraint <NUM> and the tray (e.g., rail 30a) of the cargo system to reversibly lock the restraint assembly <NUM> in the raised position. In various embodiments, restraints <NUM>, <NUM> may be independently or sequentially deployed. In various embodiments, the lateral restraint <NUM> and the vertical restraint <NUM> may transition between the stored and raised positions together. That is, actuation of the lateral restraint <NUM> may automatically trigger actuation of the vertical restraint <NUM> (or vice-versa).

In various embodiments, and with reference to <FIG>, a method <NUM> for guiding and/or restraining cargo is provided. The method <NUM> may include rotating a lateral restraint of a restraint assembly, relative to a tray of a cargo system, from a stored position to a raised position at step <NUM>. The method may also include rotating a vertical restraint of the restraint assembly, relative to the lateral restraint, from the stored position to the raised position at step <NUM>. In the stored position the lateral restraint and vertical restraint are disposed within a volume defined by the tray of the cargo system and in the raised position the vertical restraint and at least a guide face of the lateral restraint are disposed above the volume. Step <NUM> is performed about a first rotational axis, step <NUM> is performed about a second rotational axis, and the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis are perpendicular to each other.

The scope of the disclosure is accordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims.

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.

Claim 1:
A restraint assembly of a cargo system, the restraint assembly comprising:
a base (<NUM>) configured to be mounted to a tray of the cargo system;
a lateral restraint (<NUM>) comprising a guide face and a top edge, wherein the lateral restraint is rotatably coupled to the base; and
a vertical restraint (<NUM>) extending from the top edge of the lateral restraint;
wherein:
the restraint assembly (<NUM>) is configured to have a stored position and a raised position;
in the stored position both the lateral restraint and the vertical restraint are configured to be disposed within a volume defined by the tray of the cargo system;
in the raised position the vertical restraint and at least the guide face of the lateral restraint are configured to be disposed above the volume defined by the tray of the cargo system such that the restraint assembly provides at least one of longitudinal guidance, lateral restraining, and vertical restraining to cargo;
and a first rotational axis between the lateral restraint and the base is configured to extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tray of the cargo system; and
characterized by the first rotational axis between the lateral restraint and the base being configured to be oblique relative to a conveyance plane of the cargo system.