Eads Space Transportation Gmbh

Guenter Boerchers

Ingo Retat

Wolfgang Tritsch

Volker Groth

A load, such as a pallet, is releasably secured to a fixed structure, e.g. a cargo bay of a space shuttle. The pallet () is secured to a support (), which holds the pallet and is secured in the cargo bay. A first interlocking device (ID) is provided at each end of the support. A second interlocking device (ID) is provided at each end of the pallet. The first interlocking device (ID) includes a shaft () rotatably held in a shaft mounting bracket (A) secured to a respective support end (). The second interlocking device (ID) includes a bracket () secured to an end of the pallet (), a claw (A) secured to the bracket, a groove in the claw (A) and a fork () in the groove of the claw (A). A central shaft section (A) is received in the fork () for the interlocking. The shaft () is movable in the fork () in the direction of the x-axis and of the z-axis. The shaft is also rotatable about the x-axis and tiltable relative to the y-axis. The fork is turnable about the z-axis. These motions are possible in the locked state due to the construction of the interlocking devices (IDand ID). In the unlocked state, jamming and even seizing are avoided or minimized by increasing play.

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Lilienthal, Germany

Guenter Boerchers