ISO Container with Adjustable Corner Blocks for Aircraft Cargo Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ISO shipping containers do not directly interface with aircraft cargo handling systems due to differences in requirements, necessitating the use of intermediate structures like airlift pallets for air transport.
Innovation Solution
An ISO container design featuring a base with roller plates for engagement with aircraft rollers, adjustable ISO corner blocks, and removable detent rails to securely position the container within an aircraft, while also meeting ISO standards for surface transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ISO corner blocks are positioned below the base surface to meet ISO standards for surface transport, then the container complies with ISO requirements for truck, train and ship transportation, but the container cannot directly interface with aircraft cargo handling systems that require a flat bottom
Solution Approach 1:
The corner blocks are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be repositioned between a lowered position for ISO surface transport compliance and a raised position for aircraft cargo handling compatibility. This dynamic adjustment enables the same container structure to interface with both aircraft rollers requiring a flat bottom and ISO systems requiring corner blocks below the base surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The container base is designed to serve multiple functions by incorporating adjustable corner blocks that can be positioned to meet different transport mode requirements. The same base structure accommodates both aircraft cargo handling systems (when corner blocks are raised) and ISO surface transport systems (when corner blocks are lowered), eliminating the need for separate specialized containers.
2Adaptability or versatility
If intermediate structures like airlift pallets are used to enable air transport of ISO containers, then the container can be transported by aircraft, but the complexity and cost of the transport system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and integrates the aircraft interface functionality directly into the ISO container structure itself, rather than requiring a separate intermediate airlift pallet. The roller plates and adjustable corner blocks are built into the container base, allowing it to directly interface with aircraft cargo handling systems and eliminating the need for external intermediate structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The container design merges ISO compliance features with aircraft interface features into a single integrated structure. The base incorporates both the corner blocks required for ISO surface transport and the roller plates with detent rails required for aircraft handling, combining what were previously separate requirements into one unified design that eliminates intermediate structures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the container base is modified to include roller plates and detent rails for aircraft handling, then direct air transport is enabled, but the container may no longer meet ISO standards for surface transport
Solution Approach 1:
The corner blocks are designed to be movable between positions, allowing the container to dynamically adapt its configuration. When transported by aircraft, the corner blocks are positioned above the base surface to provide a flat bottom for roller engagement. When transported by truck, train, or ship, the corner blocks are lowered below the base surface to meet ISO standards, ensuring compliance is maintained for all transport modes.
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
Enables direct and secure air transport of ISO containers by adapting to aircraft handling systems while maintaining compliance with ISO standards for surface transport, reducing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
Each adjustment mechanism includes a rotatable threaded shaft coupled to a corner block and an actuator for rotating the shaft about its central axis
Implementation Method 2
The roller plates are adapted to engage the rollers of an aircraft cargo handling system
Implementation Method 3
roller plates that form a bottom surface... adapted to engage the rollers of an aircraft cargo handling system
Implementation Method 4
first and second side rails each of which has a plurality of tabs and detents that are adapted to cooperate with an aircraft cargo handling system to releasably secure the transport device in place
Data Source
AI summary
A transport device such as an ISO container that is adapted to be transported by air or surface transportation. The transport device includes a base, a plurality of movable ISO corner blocks movably coupled to the base, and a plurality of adjustment mechanisms. Each adjustment mechanism is adapted to couple a respective corner block to the base and to selectively move the corner block with respect to the base between an air transport position, wherein the bottom surface of the corner block does not extend beyond the bottom surface of the base, and a surface transport position wherein the bottom surface of the corner block is located below the bottom surface of the base. The base includes a plurality of roller plates that form the bottom surface of the base and that are adapted to engage rollers of an aircraft cargo handling system. The transport device also includes detent rails that are removably attached to the base. The detent rails includes tabs and detents that are adapted to cooperate with an aircraft cargo handling system to releasably secure the transport device in place within an aircraft.