Load Bearing Rail Tie-Down Ring Assembly Stress Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air cargo pallets face issues with difficult fastener removal, high repair costs due to fixed tie-down ring and bracket assemblies, and concentrated stress points, which lead to inefficient load distribution and increased risk of damage.
Innovation Solution
A load bearing rail and ring assembly with protruding bosses that allow for easy assembly and disassembly, distributing loads and reducing stress concentrations, using a tie-down ring and pin system that can rotate and withstand high forces without yielding, and incorporating recessed load bearing features for additional attachment options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional one-time use fasteners are used to attach tie-down rings to outer rails, then the assembly is simple to manufacture, but the fasteners are difficult to remove and both the tie-down ring and bracket must be replaced when one component is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is divided into separate reusable components: the outer rail with integrated load bearing features, the tie-down ring, and the fastener. This segmentation allows individual components to be replaced independently rather than replacing the entire assembly, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and repair ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a system where the outer rail, tie-down ring, and fastener can be disassembled and recovered for reuse. When one component becomes damaged, only that specific component needs to be replaced while the other components can be recovered and reused, eliminating the need to replace both the tie-down ring and bracket as required by conventional fixed assemblies.
2Device complexity
If conventional fixed tie-down ring and bracket assemblies are used, then the structure is simple, but concentrated high stress loading points occur at the attachment points between the outer rail and tie-down ring
Solution Approach 1:
The outer rail incorporates integrated load bearing features with specific local geometric properties designed to distribute stress. These features include optimized attachment geometries and material distributions at critical stress points, allowing the structure to maintain simplicity while reducing stress concentrations through locally optimized quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system allows for dynamic adjustment and redistribution of loads through the reusable fastener mechanism. The system can adapt to varying load conditions by allowing controlled movement and redistribution of forces, preventing fixed stress concentration points while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
3Device complexity
If conventional tie-down ring and bracket assemblies are used, then the design is straightforward, but the assembly cannot withstand high loads without yielding and repair costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes composite construction where the outer rail, tie-down ring, and fastener are made from materials optimized for their specific functions. This composite approach allows the assembly to withstand high loads while maintaining design simplicity, as each component is engineered from materials that provide the necessary strength and durability for its specific role in the load path.
Data Source
AI summary
A cargo restraint system having a load bearing perimeter rail and a tie-down ring assembly. The load bearing perimeter rail further comprised of a plurality of protruding bosses with a hole within each boss. Further, a tie-down ring assembly comprised of a tie-down ring and a pin wherein the tie-down ring is inserted through the hole in the plurality of protruding bosses of the load bearing perimeter rail. Protruding bosses and/or recessed load bearing features within a load bearing rail are capable of accepting additional components beyond a tie-down ring assembly to increase interchangeability of load bearing platforms.