Aircraft Cargo Floor Assembly with Modular Support Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional aircraft fuselage assemblies require significant effort and time to convert the cargo space from accommodating baggage to cargo containers, due to the connection of cargo floor elements to the primary structure via a framework structure.

Innovation Solution

The aircraft fuselage assembly features first and second rows of support elements connected to the primary structure, with free ends forming lines in a common horizontal plane. A cargo floor assembly with fixedly connected cargo floor elements and a central cargo floor element that can be easily removed, allowing for load transfer without a framework structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cargo floor elements are connected to the primary structure via a framework structure, then load transfer is ensured, but conversion effort and time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload transfer capabilityVSAvoidconversion time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The cargo floor assembly is divided into modular cargo floor elements that can be independently removed and replaced. Each element can be individually detached from the support elements without affecting the entire structure, enabling rapid conversion between different cargo configurations while maintaining load transfer capability through the remaining elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The connection between cargo floor elements and support elements is designed to be dynamically changeable rather than fixed. The elements can be quickly detached and reattached to different support elements, allowing the cargo floor configuration to adapt to different operational requirements without permanent structural modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If cargo floor elements are fixedly connected to the primary structure, then structural stability is maintained, but adaptability to different cargo types decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcargo space flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into multiple discrete support elements arranged in rows, rather than a continuous framework. This allows individual cargo floor elements to be removed and replaced without compromising the overall structural stability provided by the remaining support elements and the primary structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support elements are designed with universal functionality to support different types of cargo floor elements. The same support elements can accommodate various cargo configurations (baggage or ULDs) by simply changing the cargo floor elements, providing multi-functionality without requiring different structural configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Strength

If a framework structure is used to connect cargo floor elements, then load bearing capacity is sufficient, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload bearing capacityVSAvoidframework structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex framework structure connecting cargo floor elements to the primary structure is extracted and replaced with simpler, discrete support elements. Each support element directly connects a cargo floor element to the primary structure, eliminating the need for intermediate framework components while maintaining adequate load bearing capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a framework structure that connects multiple cargo floor elements together and then to the primary structure, the approach is inverted: individual support elements directly connect each cargo floor element to the primary structure. This simplifies the overall structure by removing the intermediate framework layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12240587B2Aircraft fuselage assembly with a cargo floor assembly

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH

AI summary

An aircraft fuselage assembly includes a primary structure with first and second rows of support elements extending parallel to a longitudinal axis and into an interior space of the fuselage where they have a free end. The free ends of the first and second rows are spaced from one another to from a free space below a common plane of the free ends and extending to the primary structure. A cargo floor assembly with at least one first cargo floor element is fixedly connected to the free ends of the first row in the common plane and at least one second cargo floor element fixedly connected to the free ends of the second row in the common plane. At least one central cargo floor element is arranged between the first and second lines and is releasably connected to the support elements of the first and second rows.