Aircraft Cargo Deck Lateral Guide Locking Against High Load Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing side guides for aircraft cargo decks are prone to detachment and failure under high vertical and horizontal forces due to inadequate connection mechanisms, leading to unreliable cargo securing and potential aircraft downtime.
Innovation Solution
A lateral guide system with a mushroom-shaped positive-locking connection between the fixing element and the side guide rail, featuring a longitudinally displaceable mounting frame and recesses for flexible positioning, along with a reinforcing insert to absorb transverse forces directly, ensuring secure fixation and reliable cargo handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cylindrical sections of different diameters are used in the fixing element connection, then the side guide rail can be released, but under high vertical forces this causes a wedging effect that makes the insert plate bend and the connection unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the cylindrical connection sections with a spherical ball element that engages in a spherical recess. This curved geometry allows smooth rotation and release movement while distributing forces more evenly, eliminating the wedging effect that occurs with cylindrical sections of different diameters. The spherical contact surfaces maintain reliable connection under high vertical forces while still enabling easy release when needed.
2Ease of manufacture
If screw connections are used to attach insert plates to the side guide rail, then the side guide can be assembled, but under high transverse forces the screw connections fail and the insert plates detach
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the force transmission path into separate functional elements: the insert plate is segmented from the force transmission function, which is taken over by a dedicated support section. The support section is designed as a separate structural component that specifically handles transverse forces, while the insert plate focuses on guiding and securing cargo. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, preventing the insert plate from detaching under transverse loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The support section acts as an intermediary element between the insert plate and the mounting frame. Instead of directly attaching the insert plate to the mounting frame with screw connections that fail under transverse forces, the support section mediates the force transmission. It provides a robust mechanical connection that can withstand high transverse forces while still allowing the insert plate to perform its guiding function effectively.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the side guide is designed for quick reconfiguration, then operational flexibility is improved, but the connection mechanisms become more complex and prone to failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal connection system where the ball element and spherical recess combination can accommodate multiple positioning requirements. The same basic mechanism provides both the quick release function and the secure locking function, eliminating the need for separate complex locking mechanisms. This multi-functional design achieves quick reconfiguration capability without increasing overall system complexity, as the ball-element connection simultaneously handles positioning, securing, and release operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a lateral guide (10) for guiding and/or securing cargo items, in particular containers and/or pallets, in an aircraft, comprising at least one lateral guide device (11) and at least one holding unit (12) for the lateral guide device (11), wherein the holding unit (12) comprises a longitudinally extending (v) mounting frame (13) and at least one locking device (14) arranged on the mounting frame (13), the locking device having a plurality of recesses (15) extending transversely to the longitudinal direction (v), wherein the lateral guide device (11) can be inserted into at least one of the recesses (15) at different positions (A, B, C, D, E) and can be locked in the inserted state at the different positions (A, B, C, D, E) by the locking device (14), wherein the lateral guide device (11) has at least one contact element (16).which, in the inserted state, can be brought into engagement with or is in engagement with at least one longitudinally displaceable fixing element (17) of the fixing device (14), wherein the fixing element (17) has at least one fixing contour (23) with which the fixing element (17) engages in a fixing position in the cross-sectional contour (22) of the opening (21) for fixing the side guide device (11) in a form-fitting manner, wherein the fixing contour (23) and the cross-sectional contour (22) are mushroom-shaped.