Container for air freight transport and fuselage of an aircraft for freight transport

• US 8,672,265 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2008
• Issued: 03/18/2014
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins, Timothy D
• Assistant Examiner(s): O'Hara, Brian M
• Application Number:
  US12/042,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,204 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.1, 244/119, 244/120, 244/118.2, 244/118.5, 244/121, 244/138.R, 244/140, 108/57.12
• US Class Current: 244/118.1
• 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. An aircraft fuselage of an aircraft for freight transport, the aircraft fuselage being traversed by a central wing box, the aircraft fuselage comprising:

a floor coupled to the central wing box and adapted to receive and bear a load, the floor presenting an external contour, the floor being subject to elastic movement in response to flexion in the central wing box; and

a spacer layer interdependent with the floor, removeable and positioned between the floor and the load, wherein the spacer layer comprises an outer envelope bounding at least one cell, the spacer layer presenting a load engaging surface and a floor engaging surface separated by a thickness of the spacer layer, the spacer layer being in continuous contact with the external contour of the floor over substantially an entire width of the floor,

wherein the floor engaging surface of the spacer layer is elastically conformable with the external contour of the floor such that the floor engaging surface is adapted to follow the elastic movement of the floor in response to the flexion in the central wing box, and

wherein the load engaging surface of the spacer layer is elastically conformable with the load such that the load engaging surface is adapted to follow elastic movement of the load different from the elastic movement of the floor to maintain uniform distribution of the load on the floor.

2. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 1, wherein the floor is entirely covered by the spacer layer.

3. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cell is at least partially filled with a malleable material.

4. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 3, wherein the spacer layer further comprises an internal envelope positioned between the outer envelope and the at least one cell, wherein the internal envelope comprises an airtight malleable material.

5. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 3, wherein the malleable material contained in the at least one cell is a liquid, gel, or gas.

6. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 1, wherein the load engaging surface of the spacer layer is positioned adjacent to and in contact with the load, and comprises means to distribute forces.

7. The aircraft fuselage according to claim 1, wherein floor engaging surface of the spacer layer is positioned adjacent to and in contact with the floor, and comprises means to distribute forces.