The Boeing Company

Kelly L Morgan

Martin R Grether

Gina C Pischke

Paul R Fortado

Raymond R Reed

W Forrest Frantz

Douglas W Hackett

Todd Evan Jones

Apparatus and methods for situating and securing payloads to support structures are disclosed. In one embodiment, an assembly includes a support structure, a floor assembly, and a payload assembly. The floor assembly includes a plurality of elongated engagement members coupled to the support structure, the engagement members being spaced apart and mostly parallel, each engagement member including an engagement surface. The payload assembly includes a payload component positioned proximate the floor assembly, and at least one payload support coupled to the payload component and engaged with at least some of the engagement members, the payload support being adapted to beam loads from the payload component to the floor assembly and being moveable with the payload component relative to the floor assembly.

Adaptable payload enabling architecture

Processes for positioning, securing, and repositioning payload assemblies onto floor assemblies are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes forming a support structure having a plurality of elongated engagement members, each engagement member including an engagement surface adapted to support a load; forming an adaptable payload assembly that includes a payload member and at least one payload support coupled to the payload member, the payload support being adapted to transmit loads from the payload member to at least one engagement member, the payload support being moveable with the payload member relative to the support structure; and removeably coupling the payload support to at least one of the engagement surfaces of the engagement members. In an alternate embodiment, the engagement surfaces are at least one of approximately flush with and recessed below a lower surface of a panel supported by the support structure.

Adaptable payload processes

Growing community of inventors

Renton, WA, United States of America

Kelly L Morgan