Airbus Operations Gmbh

Dirk Meiranke

Hermann Benthien

Ralf Schliwa

Uwe Panzram

Thomas Grabow

Oliver Nuessen

Sascha Nowarre

Dennis Fischer

Lars Uwe Hansen

Matthias Horst

Martin Guse

Andreas Poppe

Paul Adrian Wichtmann

Lucas Gleixner

Gunda Hülsen

Carsten Petzholtz

Benthien Hermann

A system includes a freight carrier, front catch element and rear catch element, the front edge of the base element of the freight carrier having front engagement elements, and the rear edge has rear engagement elements. The front catch element has front floor engagement devices to engage locking elements so movement of the front catch element in the floor surface plane and perpendicular thereto is prevented. The front catch element has front engagement devices to engage the front engagement elements. The rear catch element has rear floor engagement devices to engage locking elements in rails so movement of the rear catch element in the floor surface plane and perpendicularly thereto is prevented. The rear catch element has rear engagement devices to engage the rear engagement elements so movement of the rear catch element relative to the base element parallel to the plane of the supporting surface and perpendicular to the plane towards the supporting surface is prevented.

System consisting of catch elements and freight carriers

A freight carrier for a freight region of an aircraft, having a base element with a support side and roller elements. Each of the roller elements is retained on a retention member to be rotatable about a rotation axis, wherein each of the retention members is displaceable between a deployed position and a retracted position, wherein the spacing of the roller elements from the base face is greater in the deployed position. The rotation axes of the roller elements are in a common rotation axis plane when the retention members are in the deployed position, the roller elements retained on the base element so the rotation axis of each of the roller elements is rotatable about a vertical axis, wherein the vertical axis extends parallel with and with spacing from an axis which extends through the rotation axis of the roller element and perpendicularly to the rotation axis plane.

Freight carrier for being received in the freight region of an aircraft having displaceable roller elements

A freight container configured to fit in an aircraft cargo hold includes a floor element. First and second parallel side walls extend away from first and second opposite edges of the floor element base surface. A top wall, parallel to a floor element resting surface, extends between edges of the first and second side walls, which edges are remote from the first and second edges. A front wall extends between the first and second side walls from a base surface third edge to a top wall front edge. The front wall has a first front wall portion, extending from the base surface third edge at a first angle of at least 90° to the resting surface. The front wall has a second front wall portion, extending from the top wall front edge at a second angle of less than 180° and more than 90° to the top wall.

Freight container intended to be received in the cargo hold of an aircraft

In an aircraft, latches are used to secure cargo within the cargo hold of the aircraft. Such latches include a base plate configured for rigid attachment to a surface of the cargo hold, a latch head attached to the base plate and configured to prevent a movement of at least one cargo unit in a Y-direction and a Z-direction and to allow a movement of the at least one cargo unit in an X-direction, and a roller assembly attached to the base plate, opposite the latch head, and comprising at least one roller, the roller being configured to provide a vertical support to the at least one cargo unit in the Z-direction while allowing the movement of the at least one cargo unit in the X-direction.

Latches for cargo hold loading and storage system and associated methods

A load carrier for an aircraft cargo hold includes a bottom element with a support surface, the load carrier being movable over a floor surface in a floor plane while the support surface faces the floor surface, the bottom element having a base surface. The support surface has rolling elements rotatable about a rotation axis oriented where a parallel to the axis runs parallel to the floor plane, and the rolling elements being retained on the bottom element where the rotation axis of each of the rolling elements can be rotated about a vertical axis running perpendicularly to the floor plane. A load carrier can include a bottom element, the support surface of which has outlet openings, through which air can exit from the support surface to form an air cushion under the support surface. A load carrier can include a bottom element the support surface of which has slider elements.

Freight carrier for accommodation in the cargo hold of an aircraft

A system for ensuring proper installation of components of a cargo management system within a cargo hold has cleats rigidly attached to a floor of the cargo hold, a first subset of the cleats having insets of a first shape, a second subset of cleats having insets of a second shape, keys and rotatable fasteners attached to the components of the cargo management system, a first subset of the keys having the first shape and a second subset of the keys having the second shape. The first subset of keys can only engage with the first subset of cleats and the second subset of keys can only engage with the second subset of cleats and the rotatable fasteners utilize a rotary movement to secure the components of the cargo management system to a respective cleat, against which the rotary fastener is engaged.

Baseplates for keyed installation of components in a cargo hold and loading and storage system and associated methods

In an aircraft, bi-stable power drive units (PDUs) move and secure cargo within an aircraft cargo hold. Such a PDU includes a frame, by which the PDU is rigidly attached to the cargo hold floor; a body pivotably attached, via a hinge, at a first end of the frame at least one drive roller attached at a second end of the body; and an actuator attached to the body and which causes a pivoting angular movement of the body, relative to the frame, about the hinge. The actuator maintains an angular position of the body relative to the frame even upon a loss of power to the PDU. The body is movable between and including a retracted position and a deployed position. A cargo management system includes a plurality of such PDUs, at least one having a controlled area network (CAN) bus interface to control and communicate with a controller.

Bi-stable power drive unit (PDU) for a cargo hold loading and storage system and associated methods

A cargo loading platform for an aircraft, with a plate-like supporting structure, which is configured to support or to receive cargo, and a lifting device. The lifting device is arranged asymmetrically on the plate-like supporting structure and can be moved from a stowage position to a lifting position. In the stowage position, the lifting device is arranged here above a lower side of the plate-like supporting structure and, in the lifting position, is at least partially arranged below the lower side of the plate-like supporting structure. This permits asymmetrical raising of the plate-like supporting structure by the lifting device, as a result of which steps during the transportation of the cargo loading platform can be easily and rapidly overcome. Furthermore, a cargo loading apparatus and a cargo container each with such a cargo loading platform, and also an aircraft with such a cargo loading apparatus are described.

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Hamburg, Germany

Dirk Meiranke