The Boeing Company

Timothy C Hudson

Trevor Milton Laib

Timothy M Erhardt

Apparatus and methods for removably securing payloads are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes coupling the payload to a body of a locking assembly, engaging an insertion portion of the body into the channel, translating the insertion portion of the body along the track from a first position to a second position, the body being substantially constrained from movement away from the track in the second position, and actuating at least one engagement member from an unsecured position to a secured position, a portion of the track being clampably engaged by the at least one engagement member and the insertion portion of the body when the at least one engagement member is positioned in the secured position such that the body is substantially constrained from movement along the track by the at least one engagement member.

Apparatus and methods for removably securing payloads in an aircraft

Apparatus and methods for removably securing payloads are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes coupling the payload to a body of a locking assembly, engaging an insertion portion of the body into a channel of a track, translating the insertion portion to a second position until at least one self-alignment feature of the locking assembly abuts an abutment portion of the track, the body being substantially constrained from movement away from the track in the second position, and actuating at least one engagement member to a secured position, the body being substantially constrained from movement along the track in the secured position. In an alternate embodiment, in the unsecured position the at least one engagement member is withdrawn from the channel, and in the secured position the at least one engagement member projects into the channel.

Apparatus and methods for removably securing payloads are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes coupling the payload to a body of a locking assembly, engaging an insertion portion of the body into the channel, translating the insertion portion of the body along the channel from a first position to a second position, the body being substantially constrained from movement away from the channel in the second position, and actuating at least one engagement member from an unsecured position to a secured position, a portion of the channel being engaged by the at least one engagement member and the insertion portion of the body when the at least one engagement member is positioned in the secured position such that the body is substantially constrained from movement along the channel by the at least one engagement member.

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Edmonds, WA, United States of America

Timothy C Hudson