Inflatable Cargo Unit Load Device with Rigid Support Surface
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current rigid unit load devices for cargo deployment are bulky, heavy, prone to impact damage, and inefficient in storage and reuse, leading to waste and increased costs, especially in military operations where they are cumbersome to handle and hide after deployment.
Innovation Solution
An inflatable unit load device with patchable bladder cells and a cargo retaining system that forms a rigid support surface, equipped with pressure relief valves and a parachute deployment mechanism, allowing for efficient cargo protection and storage by compressing on impact and rolling up for easy transport and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid unit load devices are used for cargo deployment, then cargo can be securely transported, but the devices consume critical space and weight on the aircraft and are cumbersome to store and handle
Solution Approach 1:
The unit load device transitions from a rigid, fixed-state structure to a dynamic system that can inflate and deflate. The bladder cells are inflated during cargo transport to provide structural support and security, then deflated for compact storage, eliminating the need to permanently occupy aircraft space and storage facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the unit load device is changed by controlling the inflation pressure of the bladder cells. When inflated, the device assumes a rigid, load-bearing configuration; when deflated, it becomes a compact, stowable package. This parameter change allows the same structure to serve multiple functions at different times.
2Reliability
If rigid unit load devices are used for cargo deployment, then cargo can be securely transported, but the devices are heavy and consume weight capacity on the aircraft
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using heavy rigid materials like metal or hard plastic, the invention employs inflatable bladder cells that use air pressure to create structural support. The bladder cells are made from lightweight flexible materials, and when inflated, they provide the necessary rigidity and cargo security without the weight penalty of traditional rigid constructs.
3Productivity
If rigid unit load devices are deployed via parachute, then cargo can be airdropped, but the devices suffer impact damage on landing that renders them useless for future deployments
Solution Approach 1:
The inflatable bladder cells themselves serve as the cushioning element. During parachute deployment, the bladders are already inflated and provide a compliant structure that absorbs impact forces upon landing. The flexible material and air-filled chambers dissipate shock energy, protecting both the device structure and the cargo from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural rigidity of the device is dynamically adjusted based on operational needs. During airdrop, the bladders remain inflated to provide both structural integrity and impact absorption. After landing, the device can be deflated to reduce stress on the structure, allowing it to withstand repeated deployment cycles without fatigue failure.
4Productivity
If rigid unit load devices are deployed via parachute, then cargo can be airdropped, but the devices are cumbersome to carry around or hide after unloading
Solution Approach 1:
The unit load device transitions from a rigid, bulky form during deployment to a flexible, compressible form during storage. After cargo is unloaded, the bladder cells are deflated and the entire device can be folded or rolled into a compact configuration that is easy to transport, carry, and conceal in field operations.
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 inflatable unit load device reduces weight and space consumption, protects cargo from impact, and is reusable, offering a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for military cargo deployment and storage by minimizing waste and fuel consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a bladder having one or more inflatable interior bladder cells and a top surface, the top surface of the bladder forming a rigid support surface when the bladder is inflated
Implementation Method 2
The one or more inflatable interior bladder cells include one or more pressure relief valves. The one or more pressure relief valves are configured to release an internal pressure within the one or more pressure relief valves when the internal pressure exceeds a threshold value.
Implementation Method 3
Current implementations of unit load devices are parachute deployable and the cargo may be deployed out of the aircraft as it flies.
Data Source
AI summary
An inflatable unit load device that is used to deploy cargo from an aircraft is described herein. In some instances, the inflatable unit load device may include a bladder having one or more inflatable interior bladder cells and a top surface, the top surface of the bladder forming a rigid support surface when the bladder is inflated on which cargo can be loaded, an outer material that positions the one or more inflatable interior bladder cells of the bladder, and a cargo retaining system that retains the cargo on the top surface.