CONTAINER FOR AIR FREIGHT TRANSPORT AND FUSELAGE OF AN AIRCRAFT FOR FREIGHT TRANSPORT

• US 20080264936A1
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Godenzi, Christian
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/20 specially adapted for freight
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/0002 Platforms, i.e. load supporting devices without provision for handling by a forklift
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/40 Elements for spacing platforms from supporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/14 by air

Abstract

A container assembly and aircraft fuselage for air transport of freight. The container assembly includes a spacer layer formed of malleable material. The spacer layer is positioned between and in contact with a bottom plate of the container and the floor of an aircraft. The aircraft fuselage for the freight transport is equipped with a floor adapted to receive and bear a load. A spacer layer integral with the floor is positioned between the floor and the load. The spacer layer is formed of a malleable material.

Claims

1. A container assembly for air freight transport in an aircraft, the container assembly comprising:

a container having a mass; and

a spacer layer formed of at least one malleable material, wherein the spacer layer is secured to a bottom plate of the container such that the spacer layer is positioned between the container and a floor of the aircraft, wherein the spacer layer is adapted to follow an elastic movement of the floor of the aircraft, and to maintain a uniform distribution of the mass of the container on the floor.

2. The container assembly according to claim 1 wherein an outer contour of the spacer layer conforms to an outer layer of the container.

3. The container assembly according to claim 1 wherein an area of an outer contour of the spacer layer is greater than an area of an outer layer of the bottom plate of the container.

4. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein the spacer layer comprises an outer envelope made of a solid malleable material bounding at least one cell which is at least partially filled with a malleable material.

5. The container assembly according to claim 4, wherein the spacer layer further comprises an internal envelope positioned between the external envelope and the at least one cell, wherein the internal envelope is formed of an airtight malleable material.

6. The container assembly according to claim 4, wherein the malleable material contained in the at least one cell is a liquid, gel, or gas.

7. The container assembly according claim 1, wherein at least one of a top plate of the spacer layer positioned adjacent to and in contact with the container, and the spacer layer comprises means to distribute forces.

8. The container assembly according to claim 1, wherein a bottom plate of the spacer layer adjacent to and in contact with the floor of the aircraft comprises means to distribute forces.

9. An aircraft fuselage of an aircraft for freight transport, the aircraft fuselage comprising:

a floor adapted to receive and bear a load; and

a spacer layer integrated into the floor and positioned between the floor and the load, wherein the spacer layer is formed of a malleable material, and wherein the spacer layer is adapted to follow elastic movements of the floor and to maintain uniform distribution of the load on the floor.

10. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 9, wherein an external contour of the spacer layer conforms to an external contour of the floor in such a manner that the floor is entirely covered by the spacer layer.

11. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 9, wherein the spacer layer comprises an outer envelope made of a solid malleable material bounding at least one cell which is at least partially filled with a malleable material.

12. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 11, wherein the spacer layer further comprises an internal envelope positioned between the external envelope and the at least one cell, wherein the internal envelope comprises an airtight malleable material.

13. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 11, wherein the malleable material contained in the at least one cell is a liquid, gel, or gas.

14. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 9, wherein a top surface of the spacer layer positioned adjacent to and in contact with the container comprises means to distribute forces.

15. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 9, wherein a bottom surface of the spacer layer positioned adjacent to and in contact with the floor comprises means to distribute forces.