CARGO HANDLING SYSTEM

• US 3,741,504 A
• Filed: 05/06/1971
• Issued: 06/26/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Alberti, William W. Nanninga
• Original Assignee: John Alberti, William W. Nanninga
• Inventors: Alberti, John, Nanninga, William W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Buchler, Milton
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kelmachter, Barry L.
• Application Number:
  US05/140,772
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 244/137R,118,136 214/84,152 280/179,179A 296/35A 105/369A 193/35R,35MD,37,43R,43D 198/2R,3R,31R,33R,127
• US Class Current: 244/137.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/003 Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers securing freight containers on vehicles B60P7/00

Abstract

A cargo handling system for carriers but specifically for aircraft incorporating an automatic guide and restraint device which is utilized in cooperation with a side manually adjustable fore/aft locking device with a slaved vertical restraint device. During cargo loading operations, the system allows approximate positioning of a cargo carrying means, which means triggers automatically the engagement of center guide restraint devices; thereafter, the manually aligning and subsequent locking of side fore/aft locking devices and thereon engagement of connected slaved vertical restraint devices is accomplished; however, securing of the carrying means incorporates limited freedom so that the carrier structure is independently flexible from the cargo carrying means. During cargo unloading operations, manual disengagement of side fore/aft locking devices and activation of cargo propulsive means will move the cargo carrying means toward the exit and the cargo carrying means will automatically disengage the center guide device'"'"''"'"'s restraints and the slaved vertical restraint devices. The center guide restraint device carries spring loaded restraint lips, mounted on a slidingly positioned body, which lips swing into the cargo carrying means'"'"''"'"' pocket and travel with the pocket for a given stroke length. When the stroke length is surpassed, the lip pivots out of the pocket and the slideable body recycles to its original position. The side lock is adjustable in fore and aft direction and is manually aligned and engaged with the cargo carrying means'"'"''"'"' pocket. The slaved vertical restraint device follows the alignment and provides for simultaneous engagement into a next pocket.

Claims

1. Apparatus for loading, securing, and unloading a cargo container equipped with a plurality of securing pockets on opposite sides thereof, on a freight deck of an airplane comprising:

cargo propulsive means which include a plurality of powered drive wheels located near an entrance door of said airplane, and a plurality of spaced apart powered drive wheels located along the center of each of two adjacent lanes on opposite sides of the longitudinal centerline of said freight deck;

means for turning said plurality of drive wheels located near said entrance door about a vertical axis to a predetermined angle with the airplane centerline to thereby move an incoming container from said entrance door to a selected one of said two adjacent lanes;

control means for driving and for stopping said powered drive wheels after said container has arrived at a predetermined securing location along one of said lanes;

center guide restraint devices located between said lanes for guiding said container along said lane and for automatically engaging the securing pockets located on the inboard side of said container as it moves along said lane and for providing restraint against movement of said container after it has arrived at said predetermined position; and

side-locking devices, located along the outboard sides of said lanes, which may be manually actuated to engage the securing pockets of said container after it arrives at said predetermined position;

wherein after said side-locking devices have been manually disengaged, said center guide restraint devices will automatically disconnect from said securing pockets in response to reverse movement of said container, so that said container may be moved by said powered rollers back to said entrance door for unloading from said aircraft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said center guide restraint devices automatically engage each securing pocket located on the inboard side of said container as it moves along said lane, by means of spring loaded restraint lips, mounted on a slidingly positioned body, which lips swing into said pockets and travel with the pockets for a given stroke length, and in the event the movement of the container causes the stroke length to be surpassed, the lip pivots out of the pocket and returns to its original position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said side-locking devices are adjustable in a fore and aft direction and may be manually aligned and engaged with one of said securing pockets located on the outboard side of said container, and said side-locking devices carry a slaved vertical restraint device which simultaneously engages into the next adjacent securing pocket of said container upon manual actuation thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a main control panel near said entrance door and a plurality local control panels longitudinally spaced apart along each of said two adjacent lanes.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said center guide restraint devices and said side-locking devices will allow a limited freedom of movement of said container when said container is secured on said freight deck, said limited freedom of movement allowing the freight deck structure to be independently flexible with respect to said container.