Aircraft Freight Carrier With Retractable Rollers for Hatch Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing freight containers and conveyor systems for aircraft freight regions are heavy, require additional conveyor devices, and face challenges with size and stability during loading, especially when moving inclined surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A freight carrier with a base element featuring a support side and multiple roller elements, each retained on a retention member, allowing rotation and displacement between deployed and retracted positions, enabling maneuverability without additional devices and adapting to different base faces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional freight containers and conveyor systems are used, then freight can be transported into the aircraft freight region, but the weight of the aircraft increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the roller elements movable relative to the base element. The roller elements can be displaced between a retracted position (where they are close to the base face) and a deployed position (where they are spaced farther from the base face). This dynamic configuration allows the freight carrier to adapt its rolling surface area based on operational needs, enabling easy maneuvering when rollers are deployed while maintaining a compact profile when stored, all without adding significant weight to the aircraft.
2Ease of operation
If conveyor devices are installed in the freight region, then freight containers can be conveyed, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by equipping the freight carrier itself with roller elements that enable it to be maneuvered directly by loading operators on the base face of the freight region. This eliminates the need for separate conveyor devices within the aircraft, as the freight carrier becomes self-sufficient for maneuvering. The system reduces device complexity by transferring the conveying function from a fixed aircraft infrastructure to the movable freight carrier unit.
3Ease of operation
If the freight carrier is moved in an inclined manner through the loading hatch, then freight can be loaded from the taxiway, but the cross section becomes too large to pass the loading hatch
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the roller elements displaceable between retracted and deployed positions. During loading through the hatch, the roller elements can be retracted to minimize the cross-sectional volume of the freight carrier, allowing it to pass through the loading hatch. Once positioned, the roller elements can be deployed to provide a stable base for maneuvering and positioning the freight carrier within the freight region.
4Ease of operation
If the base face is inclined during conveyor belt transport, then freight can be moved from taxiway to loading hatch, but the freight slides on the base face
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by providing roller elements that can be deployed to create a stable, level rolling surface on the base face of the freight carrier. This dynamic rolling surface compensates for inclinations during transport, preventing freight from sliding by providing consistent horizontal contact points for the freight load, while still allowing the carrier itself to be moved along inclined conveyor belts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The freight carrier is lightweight, maneuverable by a single person, and can be securely positioned in various aircraft regions, including passenger cabins, without relying on conveyor systems, enhancing loading flexibility and stability.
Implementation Method 1
the support side is provided with a large number of roller elements (21), wherein each of the roller elements (21) is retained on a retention member (31) so as to be able to be rotated about a rotation axis (25)
Data Source
AI summary
A freight carrier for a freight region of an aircraft, having a base element with a support side and roller elements. Each of the roller elements is retained on a retention member to be rotatable about a rotation axis, wherein each of the retention members is displaceable between a deployed position and a retracted position, wherein the spacing of the roller elements from the base face is greater in the deployed position. The rotation axes of the roller elements are in a common rotation axis plane when the retention members are in the deployed position, the roller elements retained on the base element so the rotation axis of each of the roller elements is rotatable about a vertical axis, wherein the vertical axis extends parallel with and with spacing from an axis which extends through the rotation axis of the roller element and perpendicularly to the rotation axis plane.