Vertically Biased Cargo Support Wheels for Low Floor Point Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cargo supports in aircraft passenger cabins face limitations in maximum weight capacity due to point loads on the floor surface, especially when wheels are used, and maneuverability issues arise from high inertia forces during landing and interaction with floor elements.
Innovation Solution
A cargo support with vertically biased wheel assemblies that pivot between extended and retracted positions, using a biasing force exceeding gravitational force by up to 50% to maintain maneuverability and prevent high point loads, automatically adjusting to reduce floor contact when excessive forces are applied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wheels are used on the cargo support to enable movement along the floor surface, then maneuverability is improved, but point loads on the floor surface increase significantly during landing and operation
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel members are made vertically adjustable and steerable, allowing them to dynamically adapt their position and orientation. The wheels can be raised or lowered relative to the support plane, and their steering angle can be changed, enabling the cargo support to navigate over floor irregularities while maintaining contact with the floor surface for maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertical position of the wheel members is changed as a parameter to adapt to different operating conditions. By adjusting the vertical position (raising or lowering the wheels), the system can maintain maneuverability when needed while reducing point loads when carrying heavy cargo, thus dynamically changing the contact parameters with the floor surface.
2Force
If the cargo support is lowered to rest on seat rails to increase weight capacity, then maximum weight carried is improved, but the entire cargo support must be actively lowered and wheel members require vertical adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel members are designed with vertical adjustability, allowing them to move between different height positions. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the cargo support to adapt its configuration for different loading scenarios without requiring the entire support structure to be actively lowered, simplifying the overall system while maintaining weight capacity options.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wheels impinge on lower floor regions after maneuvering over elevated elements, then the cargo support can traverse the floor, but high point loads are applied to adjacent floor regions
Solution Approach 1:
The steerable wheel members can dynamically adjust their steering angle and vertical position in response to floor irregularities. When encountering elevated elements or transitions, the wheels can be steered and positioned to smoothly traverse the obstacle rather than impinging on lower regions, thereby maintaining traversal capability while avoiding excessive point loads on adjacent floor areas.
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 solution ensures the cargo support can carry maximum weight without damaging the floor by automatically retracting wheels to distribute load via support sections, reducing point loads and avoiding active retraction mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
each wheel assembly comprises a biasing member biasing the wheel member towards the extended position with a biasing force acting in the direction of the pivot axis
Implementation Method 2
the biasing force is higher than the maximum gravitational force which acts on the wheel member and forces it towards the retracted position
Data Source
AI summary
A movable cargo support for an aircraft cargo hold or passenger cabin includes a base. The base has a bottom surface with support(s) to support the base member on a floor surface of the cargo hold or passenger cabin. The base has wheel assemblies, each wheel assembly having at least one wheel rotatable about a rotation axis and movably mounted on the base to pivot about a steering axis of the wheel assembly. The at least one wheel of each wheel assembly is movable between an extended position, in which the at least one wheel protrudes beyond the support plane, and a retracted position, in which the at least one wheel does not extend beyond the support plane. Each wheel assembly has a biasing member for biasing the at least one wheel towards the extended position.