Search

BR-102019012845-B1 - Retractable cargo compartment floor entry guide assemblies for palletized cargo in aircraft and aircraft cargo.

BR102019012845B1BR 102019012845 B1BR102019012845 B1BR 102019012845B1BR-102019012845-B1

Abstract

RETRACTABLE CARGO COMPARTMENT FLOOR ENTRY GUIDE ASSEMBLIES FOR PALLETIZED LOADS IN CARGO AIRCRAFT These are retractable guide assemblies that are provided for guiding cargo loading pallets into a cargo compartment of a cargo aircraft, wherein the guide assembly has a support subassembly comprising a housing box with recesses, a movable guide subassembly rotatably connected to the support subassembly so as to be rotatably movable relative to it, and an actuator subassembly that operationally interconnects the movable guide subassembly and the support subassembly. The actuator subassembly can thus enable the movable guide subassembly to be rotatably movable between (i) a removable locked stowed condition, (ii) a removable locked deployed condition, and (iii) a freely movable unlocked maintenance condition.

Inventors

  • MARIO TADEU CREMA JUNIOR
  • GUILHERME PENELUPPI CORRÊA
  • GUILHERME BARBOSA DE SOUSA
  • SAINT CLAIR TRISOTTO

Assignees

  • EMBRAER S.A

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20190619
Priority Date
20180619

Claims (7)

  1. 1. Guide assembly (30a, 30b) for guiding cargo loading pellets in a cargo compartment (103) of a cargo aircraft, the guide assembly being characterized in that it comprises: a support subassembly (40a, 40b) comprising surface flanges (40a-1, 40b-1) for being fixed to the cargo compartment floor (10-3), the support subassembly comprising a recessed housing box (42) recessed below the surface flanges (40a-1, 40b-1) and having a locking pin (46) retained within a pair of support openings (44-1, 44-2); a movable subassembly (60a, 60b) receiveable within the recessed housing box (42), the movable subassembly (60a, 60b) comprising a hinge assembly (34a,34b) providing a hinged connection for the support subassembly (40a,40b) along an outer side edge so as to be rotatable in relation thereto; and an actuator assembly (80) and the support subassembly (40a,40b) to enable the movable subassembly (60a,60b) to be rotatable between a removable locked stowed condition and a removable locked deployed condition, wherein the actuator assembly (80) comprises: (i) a grooved rod (82) rotatably connected to a frame component (62) of the movable subassembly (60a,60b); and (ii) a locking lever (88) and a hook element (86a,86b), each connected to the grooved rod (82) for rotatable movement thereon; wherein the movable subassembly (60a,60b) comprises a movable operating handle (90) having a distal end that is removablely engaged with the locking lever (88) when the movable subassembly (60a,60b) is in the stowed condition, and wherein the rotational movement of the operating handle (90) disengages the distal end thereof from the locking lever (88) to allow the frame component to move rotatably from the stowed condition to the implanted condition, and wherein the hook element (86a, 86b) engages the locking pin (46) when the frame component (62) moves rotatably from the stowed condition to the implanted condition so as to establish the removable locked implanted condition.
  2. 2. Guide assembly, according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator subassembly (80) comprises an actuator spring element operationally associated with the grooved rod (92) to exert a spring force on the locking lever (88) in a direction to provide engagement with the distal end of the operating handle (90), wherein optionally the actuator spring element is also operationally associated with the hook element so as to exert a spring force on the hook element causing the hook element (86a, 86b) to rotate in engagement with the locking pin (46) by means of disengagement between the distal end of the operating handle and the locking lever (88).
  3. 3. Guide assembly, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the movable subassembly (60a, 60b) further comprises a mounting pin (92) that is operationally connected to the operating handle (90) to allow the distal end of the operating handle (90) to be rotatably moved upwards relative to the locking lever (88) in order to thereby disengage the locking lever (88) and the distal end of the operating handle (90), wherein the guide assembly optionally further comprises a handle spring element operationally associated with the mounting pin (92) of the operating handle (90) to exert a spring force on the operating handle in a direction opposite to the spring force exerted by the actuator spring element; wherein optionally each of the handle spring element and the actuator spring element is a torsion spring (85a,85b).
  4. 4. Guide assembly, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support subassembly (40a,40b) comprises a pair of locking pins (46), and in that the movable subassembly (60a,60b) comprises a pair of removablely engageable hook elements (86a,86b) with a respective pin between the locking pins (46).
  5. 5. Guide assembly, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the actuator subassembly (80) allows the movable subassembly (60a,60b) to assume a freely movable unlocked holding condition wherein the movable subassembly (60a,60b) can be moved freely relative to the support subassembly to allow access to the recessed housing box (42).
  6. 6. Guide assembly, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the movable subassembly (60a, 60b) comprises: an opposite inner side edge defining a rear guide surface (64a-1, 64b-1) that is angularly inclined in a converging direction with respect to a longitudinal centerline of the cargo aircraft, and a front guide surface (64a-2, 64b-2) that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the cargo aircraft.
  7. 7. Cargo aircraft characterized in that it comprises: a cargo compartment having a cargo compartment (10-3); and a guide assembly (30a,30b), as defined in the preceding claims, operationally associated with the cargo compartment (10-3).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUESTS [0001] This application is based upon and claims domestic priority benefits from Provisional Application Serial Number U.S. 62/686,785 filed June 19, 2018 (Attorney File Number: BHD-44390284), the full contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. FIELD [0002] The embodiments disclosed in this document generally refer to infeed floor guide assemblies for guiding palletized loads on the cargo compartment floor of a cargo aircraft during ground loading operations. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Some cargo aircraft are known to use fixed (non-retractable) guides above the cargo area floor, which hinders the cargo aircraft's workload. Other cargo aircraft are known to use retractable guide mechanisms that mitigate the problems associated with non-retractable guides, but require the use of special hand tools for manual operation. [0004] It is known from U.S. Patent No. 7,530,774 (the full content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference) that a mechanical stop can be provided to prevent longitudinal displacement of palletized loads during ground operations. The mechanical stop proposed by this Patent ‘774 is located above the load floor, thereby hindering the working volume of the load. In the event of a single failure of the locking mechanism, the moving parts will tend to move due to the action of the torsion springs acting on the articulation. In order to properly lock and secure the mechanism in the stowed position, therefore, a secondary action is required, which is provided by sliding the locking mechanism to engage it in the recess in the moving part. [0005] U.S. Patent 8,066,458 (the full content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference) consists of a retractable centering device that guides palletized cargo when displaced during loading operations on the ground. The locking and locking sequence of such a device, however, requires a secondary action and, in the event of a single failure of the locking element, the moving part will also be employed, due to the torsion springs acting on the articulation mechanism. The proposal in patent 458 is also physically located above the cargo floor, even when stowed, due to the fact that it consists of a removable module fixed onto the floor panels. BRIEF DESCRIPTION [0006] Retractable guide assemblies according to the embodiments disclosed herein provide guidance for palletized loads on a cargo compartment floor of a cargo aircraft during ground loading operations for loading and storing palletized loads within the cargo area. When employed, the guide assemblies of the embodiments disclosed herein will function to self-center the pallet in case of misalignment (which could otherwise cause difficulties in loading and/or storing the palletized load within the cargo aircraft). [0007] The operating mechanisms associated with the retractable guide assemblies of the embodiments disclosed herein can be advantageously stowed under the cargo floor level with the cargo compartment floor when not in use in order to preserve the work area of the cargo space and, in this way, do not present any danger or obstruction during air delivery operations and/or the movement of employees on the cargo compartment floor. Furthermore, no special hand tools are required in order to operationally move the guide assemblies between the stowed condition and an deployed condition. [0008] According to certain embodiments, retractable guide assemblies are provided for guiding cargo loading pallets on a cargo compartment floor of a cargo aircraft, wherein the guide assembly has a support subassembly comprising a recessed housing box, a movable guide subassembly rotatably connected to the support subassembly so as to be rotatably movable relative to it, and an actuator subassembly that operationally interconnects the movable guide subassembly and the support subassembly. The actuator subassembly may thereby enable the movable guide subassembly to be rotatably movable between (i) a removable locked stowed condition, (ii) a removable locked deployed condition, and (iii) a freely movable unlocked maintenance condition. [0009] The movable guide assembly may be fitted with a hinged assembly that provides a hinged connection for the support subassembly along an outer side edge thereof. An opposite inner side edge also defines a rear guide surface that is angularly inclined in a converging direction relative to a longitudinal centerline of the cargo aircraft, and a front guide surface that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the cargo aircraft. [0010] In certain embodiments, the supporting subassembly may include a locking pin, while the actuator subassembly may include (i) a frame component, (ii) a rod rotatably connected to the frame component, and (iii) a locking lever and hook element, each connected to the rod for rotary motion thereon. The mobile subassembly may also include a rotary mobile