Aircraft cargo handling system

Abstract

An on-board aircraft cargo handling system comprises a plurality of tines which are mounted within a cargo ramp and beneath its surface and are capable of extension aft of the ramp across a truck bed or the like. The tines have a plurality of rollers extending above their top surfaces for permitting easy movement of cargo across the tines. The ends of the tines are tapered to allow them to be pushed under the cargo to be moved. Pallet retainers, which consist of arm members which have finger-like projections on one end for allowing interengagement of the arm members with notches on the cargo, are mounted to the cargo ramp in such a way as to permit movement of the arms for aligning them with the cargo notches. Additionally, the cargo ramp surface includes pop-up chocks, which may be extended above the surface to lift the cargo, thus permitting forklift tines to be slid underneath. In a modified embodiment, the tines are mounted in open channels within the ramp, so that they are flush with the surface of the ramp in their retracted mode. Retractable friction brakes are employed on the surface of the tines, thus permitting the cargo to be moved in conjunction with the tines when the tines are being extended or retracted. The advantage of the invention is that cargo may be moved directly and quickly from the aircraft to a truck cargo bed (or vice-versa) without the use of ground-based material handling equipment.