Pivoting Side Guide Adapter for Aircraft Cargo Deck Retrofitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cargo deck conversion systems for aircraft are inefficient, requiring significant effort and space, and are not robust enough to handle diverse cargo dimensions and harsh environmental conditions, leading to high operational costs and potential aircraft downtime.
Innovation Solution
A side guide adapter with a fastening element and spacer element connected via an articulated joint, allowing for quick assembly and compact storage, which bridges the gap between the cargo item and the side guide, providing a form-fitting holding contour for secure guidance and absorption of transverse forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If adapter rails are arranged on the pallet to bridge the lateral gap, then the gap between cargo item and side guide is bridged, but storage space in the cargo hold is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The side guide adapter is designed with a movable spacer element that can be adjusted laterally to bridge gaps of varying sizes. The articulated connection between the fastening element and spacer element allows the adapter to dynamically adapt to different cargo dimensions, providing reliable gap bridging while maintaining a compact form that minimizes storage space requirements.
2Reliability
If lateral guidance devices are arranged on two spaced-apart seat rails with a slidable locking hook, then lateral cargo guidance is achieved, but retrofitting effort is considerable and overall weight is high
Solution Approach 1:
The side guide adapter is divided into separate modular components: a fastening element for attachment to the rail section and a spacer element for bridging the gap. This segmentation allows the adapter to be easily installed and removed without complex assembly, significantly reducing retrofitting effort while maintaining reliable lateral guidance capability through the articulated connection between components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cargo deck is reconfigured for different cargo dimensions, then configuration flexibility is improved, but conversion time and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The side guide adapters are pre-positioned in storage locations along the cargo deck, ready for quick deployment. When reconfiguration is needed, the adapters can be rapidly installed by attaching the fastening elements to the rail sections and adjusting the spacer elements to the required positions, significantly reducing conversion time while maintaining high configuration flexibility for different cargo dimensions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a side guide adapter (10) for guiding and/or holding a cargo item (51), in particular a pallet (52), in an aircraft, comprising: - at least one fastening element (11) for attachment to a rail section, in particular a slotted rail section, of a side guide (41); - at least one spacer element (12) for bridging a gap to the cargo item (51), wherein the spacer element (12) and the fastening element (11) are pivotally connected to each other; and - at least one holding section (13) for the cargo item (51), which is arranged on an end face (14) of the spacer element (12) and has at least one holding contour (15) for guiding and/or holding the cargo item (51). The invention further relates to a side guide system, a cargo deck, and a method for retrofitting a cargo deck.