The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 22, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 22, 1999
Thomas Huber, Iffeldorf, DE;
Martin Dürrwächter, Irschenberg, DE;
Matthias Urch, Wörth, DE;
Benedikt Kieser, Miesbach, DE;
Telair International GmbH, Hausham, DE;
Abstract
A roller drive unit is provided for an air freight system in an aircraft and comprises a drive roller that can be retracted and raised in order to transport freight containers in various directions. Unlike conventional roller drive units of this type which are only capable of conveying freight containers in forward or backward directions, the roller drive unit of the present invention is adapted to convey freight containers in any desired direction. To this end the roller drive unit comprises a substantially annular fixing device for attachment of the roller drive unit to the floor of a cargo hold and, in a preferably flush relationship thereto, a carrier device for the drive roller. The carrier device can be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the floor of the cargo hold, i.e. about at vertical axis, relative to the fixing device to enable the freight container to be transported in a desired direction.