Removable Cargo Floor Segments for Aircraft Volume Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cargo aircraft are unable to efficiently transport extremely large cargo due to limitations in cargo bay volume utilization, which is constrained by takeoff and landing requirements and the lack of a traditional flat cargo bay floor.
Innovation Solution
A modular cargo floor system featuring removable and replaceable cargo floor segments that can be attached to a rail system in the cargo bay, allowing them to be translated and fixedly secured along the length of the rail to form a continuous flat cargo bay floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cargo aircraft are designed with traditional fixed cargo bay floors, then structural stability is maintained, but cargo bay volume utilization is limited and cannot be adapted to different cargo sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The cargo floor is divided into multiple removable segments that can be independently positioned and configured along the cargo bay. Each segment can be attached at different locations to create flexible floor configurations, allowing the cargo bay volume to be optimized for various cargo sizes and shapes while maintaining structural integrity through the segmented design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If cargo floor segments are made removable and replaceable, then adaptability to different cargo payloads is improved, but the complexity of the attachment system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rail system is designed as a universal attachment mechanism that can accommodate multiple cargo floor segment configurations. The same rail structure serves both as a support element and as an attachment interface, allowing segments to be removed, repositioned, and reattached without requiring different hardware for different configurations, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite increased versatility.
3Productivity
If cargo floor segments are translated along the rail system to desired positions, then cargo bay volume utilization is maximized, but the time and complexity of floor assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
Cargo floor segments are pre-configured with attachment interfaces and positioning features before being installed in the cargo bay. The segments can be prepared on the ground with their attachment mechanisms ready, allowing for rapid installation and positioning along the rail system once in the cargo bay, thereby reducing assembly time while maintaining the ability to maximize cargo bay volume utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for removeably adding a cargo bay floor to the interior cargo bay of cargo aircraft bay are disclosed. The system includes a rail disposed in a cargo bay of a cargo aircraft with the rail extending longitudinally along both a length of a forward portion and an aft portion of the fuselage. The system includes a cargo floor segment configured to be removeably attached to the rail. When attached, the cargo floor segment can transform between a first arrangement with the cargo floor segment translatable along the rail, and a second arrangement with the cargo floor segment fixedly secured to a location along the rail. The cargo floor segment is configured to, when secured to the rail, define a section of a floor of the cargo bay of the cargo aircraft. Multiple floor segments can be used together to form a continuous floor for the aircraft.