The Boeing Company

Thomas H Shorey

Tom M Jensen

Herbert E Hamilton

Michael E Abdelmaseh

Mark W Shorey

Colin Pinchbeck

A caster bearing assembly attachable to a surface for facilitating the movement of a body along a roller plane located above the surface. The caster bearing assembly (10) includes a base part (16) mounted to the surface, a top part (18), bearings (20), and a roller assembly (22). The bearings fit within a bearing raceway (24) formed by an outer race (42) in the base part and an inner race (56) in the top part, thereby allowing the top part to fully and freely move relative to the base part. The bearings are inserted into the bearing raceway through an opening (58) extending from an exposed surface (54) of the top part to the bearing raceway. The opening is then sealed with a plug (60) having an inner surface (62) substantially matching the inner race at which the opening terminates. The roller assembly is fixedly attached to the top part so that the orientation of its rollers (26) may be varied.

Cargo caster bearing assembly

A stop assembly allowing a body to pass over it in a forward direction but obstructing passage in the opposite backward direction. The rollout stop assembly (10) includes a frame (18) and a pair of stops (20) mounted therein. Each stop includes a camming surface (30) which causes the stop to rotate downwardly into the frame upon engagement by the forward moving body (16), thereby allowing passage. Each stop also includes an abutment surface (32) engagable with the passed body that prevents backward movement of the body.

Rollout stop

A spring-loaded outboard side lock for restraining the movement of a cargo body. The outboard side lock (10) includes a base (20) secured to the outboard sides of a main cargo deck (12), the base having a guideway (38) in which a plunger (22) is slidably mounted. The plunger has formed in it a recess (44) and a pair of abutment walls (52) that extend generally perpendicular to the bottom of the plunger. An actuator (54) is disposed within the recess and is coupled to a lever (24) for reciprocal movement, and a pair of springs (50) extend between a pair of transverse spring abutting wings (64) of the actuator and the abutment walls of the plunger. Activation of the lever moves the actuator toward the cargo body (16) to be restrained, whereby the transverse spring abutting wings of the actuator act against the springs, which act against the abutment walls, to urge the plunger into engagement with the cargo body to restrain its movement and to maintain engagement in the event the cargo body attempts to move away from the outboard side lock. Deactivation of the lever causes the plunger to disengage the cargo body, thereby permitting its movement.

Spring-loaded outboard side lock

A wheel assembly incorporating a solid tire having a controlled deflection under load. A wheel assembly (20,200) includes a solid tire (22,202) mounted on a rim (24,204). The rim includes a plurality of axial grooves (68), radial grooves (60), or 'U' shaped slots (216), which engage the sides and inner circumferential surface of the solid tire to prevent its slipping around the rim when applying a tractional force. In addition, the outer circumference of the rim includes ridges (50) or radial projections (224) between which are disposed depressions into which the solid tire may deform when subjected to a radial load. The volume provided in the depressions around the outer circumference of the rim and the shore hardness of the composition from which the solid tire is made determine the extent of radial deflection of the solid tire as a function of load so that it is within a required range.

Wheel assembly including a solid tire

A cargo roller system (10) having drive rollers (13) and idler rollers (19) mounted in a tray (14) and selectively engageable with a motor (30) through a gear train (44). The motor (30) engages the gear train (44) through an idler gear (48) mounted in a motor mount (32) and a driven gear (50) mounted to the shaft (52) of the gear train (44). Coupling assemblies (60) connect the two halves of the gear train (44) to the driven gear (50). The coupling assembly (60) comprises a shaft (52) having a cylindrical piston (62) formed on one end thereof and a cylinder (66) slidably receiving the piston (62) on the other end thereof. A V-shaped opening (70) in the outer wall (72) of the cylinder (66) cooperates with a retaining pin (74) passing through the piston (62) translationally moving the gear train (44) into engagement with the rollers as the cylinder (66) is rotated by the motor (30).

Aircraft cargo roller system

An elevator system for use in a wide-body commercial aircraft having multiple levels within the aircraft provides an elevator shaft that extends through at least two of the levels of the aircraft. The elevator shaft communicates with an opening in the hull of the aircraft. An elevator car is mounted within the shaft and controls and a drive unit are associated with the car to move it within the shaft and also out through the opening in the hull to provide access to and from the aircraft. At least a portion of the car remains in the shaft at all times to provide some lateral stability to the car.

Personnel elevator for commercial aircraft

This invention relates to removable systems for supporting interior passenger elements within an aircraft fuselage (1). The invention is directed toward increasing the efficiency of load transfer, providing quick conversion, and maximizing cargo space. A plurality of longitudinal sections (2, 2') are arranged end-to-end along an axis and connected together by extension/retraction joints (14, 28, 28'). A first end of a diagonal strut (8, 50, 50') is nontranslatably connected to a section (2, 2') just forward of each joint (14, 28, 28'). The other end of strut (8, 50, 50') is nontranslatably connected to the fuselage (1) aft of joint (14, 28, 28'). Axial loads on sections (2, 2') cause sections (2, 2') to slip axially relative to each other, and such loads are transferred from sections (2, 2') to struts (8, 50, 50') and are reacted through fuselage (1). Vertical and side loads are reacted by transverse members (4, 4') that are slip-connected to fuselage ( 1) and by vertical trusses (6, 40).

Method and apparatus for supporting interior aircraft elements

Disclosed is an aircraft cargo loader that is folded for stowage against the interior surface of an aircraft cargo door and is extended between the sill of the cargo door and the surface of the ground for loading and unloading baggage and other relatively small cargo items. The cargo loader includes an endless conveyor belt, with the cargo loader and the conveyor belt being configured so that the conveyor belt remains under relatively constant tension when cargo loaded is extended and when the cargo loader is folded for stowage. An L-shaped deployment track is attached to the upper end of the cargo loader and fastened between the cargo loader deck and ceiling when the cargo loader is deployed. The L-shaped deployment track facilitates cargo loader deployment and retraction in which the folded cargo loader is swung through the cargo opening while extending from the vertical leg of the deployment track; rotated to extend from the horizontal leg of the deployment track; and, while extending from the horizontal leg, folded or unfolded. Both power and manual drives are included for moving the cargo loader along the L-shaped deployment track; for folding and unfolding the cargo loader; for locking the cargo loader in the extended, deployed position; and for extending and retracting a ground support assembly that supports the lower end of the cargo loader above the surface of the ground.

Aircraft cargo loader

A self-contained emergency evacuation system of the type including an inflatable escape slide is disclosed wherein a packboard and three hinged together deployment links form the system stowage pack which is secured to the floor of an aircraft adjacent to an upwardly and outwardly swinging emergency door. As the door opens, a deployment lanyard that is connected between a door-mounted arming and deployment mechanism and the upper portion of the stowage pack tips the stowage pack out of the aircraft door, with the deployment lanyard being automatically released as the stowage pack begins to fall under the force of gravity. Since the first of the three hinged together deployment links is hinged to the system base plate and swings into contact with the door sill region, the two other deployment links and packboard swing arcuately out of the aircraft. When the packboard begins to swing apart from the third deployment link, which is hinged to the upper edge of the packboard, an inflation lanyard is placed under tension. This operates valves that permit compressed air to flow from two compressed gas cylinders to turbine-type air fans that are mounted to the packboard bottom panel. Ambient air, entrained by the turbine-type air fans, rapidly inflates the escape slide as the packboard and lower deployment link swing into contact with the aircraft. A girt, which is formed in the upper end of the escape slide and encompasses a girt bar that is mounted to and contained in the first deployment link, comes under tension as inflation occurs to thereby stabilize the escape slide during the final phase of deployment and use.

Escape slide stowage and deployment system

A cargo ramp configured for stowage on a cargo carrying vessel and deployment between a cargo opening or the outer boundary of a cargo deck and the surface of a cargo handling region such as a runway, dock or pier. The cargo ramp includes two hinged together ramp sections having a motor-driven wheel assembly at the lower terminus of the ramp and a vessel-to-ramp interface at the upper terminus of the ramp. Deployment and retrieval of the cargo ramp is effected through predetermined sequential operation of motor-driven deployment wheels located beneath the upper ramp section, actuators for operation of the hinge and the motor-driven wheel assembly at the lower terminus of the ramp. A power operated deployment mechanism contained in the ramp-to-vessel interface permits vertical adjustment of the upper terminus of the ramp when required. The ramp-to-vessel interface and the wheel assemblies at the lower terminus of the ramp are configured to permit various deflections and movement that can occur during deployment, retrieval and use of the cargo ramp.

Cargo ramp

A portable hoist mechanism which is configured for temporary installation proximate the cargo opening of an aircraft to facilitate the loading and unloading of a cargo ramp is disclosed. The hoist mechanism includes a rectangular base unit that is placed on the floor of the aircraft cargo compartment and structurally interconnected with the aircraft sill fittings and end locks of the aircraft cargo handling system. An A-frame, having a cable sheave mounted at the apex thereof, is pivotably attached to the forward portion of the base unit upper surface in an orientation which permits the upper end of the A-Frame to be swung outwardly through the aircraft cargo opening. A ball screw actuator, extending angularly from the central region of the A-frame to the rear portion of the base unit upper surface, is operable to selectively position the A-frame during loading and unloading of a cargo ramp. In operation, the first end of a cable assembly is threaded through the A-frame cable sheave and connected to a winch of the aircraft cargo handling system. A bridle, at the second end of the cable assembly, is interconnected with the upper end of the cargo ramp and the cargo system winch and ball screw are operated to raise or lower the upper end of the cargo ramp between ground level and guide channels that are mounted on the floor of the cargo compartment for receiving the cargo ramp. During this operation, the ball screw is utilized to swing the A-frame so that the upper end of the cargo ramp does not strike the aircraft and the cargo system winch is utilized to raise and lower the upper end of the cargo ramp between the ground and the sill region and to move the upper end of the cargo ramp into or out of the guide channels.

Cargo ramp hoist mechanism

An integrated treadway cargo handling system comprising a plurality of treadway panels suitable for converting an aircraft from passenger use to cargo use is disclosed. The treadway panels include inboard and outboard panels arrayed in spaced rows and columns on the deck of the aircraft. The rows are spaced from, and attached to, one another by panel restraint bars that are affixed to seat tracks located in the deck of the aircraft. The inboard treadway panels support retractable inboard guide rail, vertical restraint and roller assemblies, and the outboard treadway panels support outboard guide rail, longitudinal-vertical restraint and roller assemblies. In addition, adjacent edges of the inboard and outboard treadway panels support flip-up rollers. Further, tie down rings, also affixed to the seat tracks, are located in apertures in the treadway panels. Also, side load tie down brackets form part of the panel restraint bars. Finally, invertible casters and rollers are housed in the panels located at the forward end of the aircraft. The retractable nature of the guide rail and roller assemblies, the flip-up rollers and the invertible casters and rollers allow the aircraft to transport either rolling stock entirely, cargo pallets entirely, or a mixture of rolling stock and cargo pallets.

Integrated treadway cargo handling system

A cargo ramp stowable within the cargo compartment of an aircraft and deployable between the sill region of the aircraft cargo opening and the surface of the ground is disclosed. The cargo ramp, which is arranged for ease of deployment and stowage, includes three hinged together ramp sections with the upper surface of each ramp section including track regions suitable for supporting wheeled vehicular cargo. The cargo ramp is stowed within the aircraft cargo compartment in a folded position with the lower cargo ramp section extending along the upper surface of the other two ramp sections. Each hinged portion of the cargo ramp is power actuated such that the cargo ramp sections can be readily swung together during a deployment sequence which utilizes the aircraft cargo roller system and a first deployment assembly that is mounted on the upper cargo ramp terminus. This deployment assembly includes rollers that are engagable with guide channels mounted on the floor of the aircraft cargo compartment. A power actuated locking mechanism securely fastens the cargo ramp sections together when the cargo ramp is fully deployed. A second deployment assembly, located along each side of the cargo ramp near the upper ramp terminus, securely attaches the cargo ramp to the aircraft sill fittings. Deployable guide rails and rollers facilitate the handling of cargo packed on pallets or other general cargo such as crates with the guide rails being deployable to establish two effective ramp widths for accommodating two standard sized cargo pallets.

Growing community of inventors

Mill Creek, WA, United States of America

Thomas H Shorey