Method and device for adapting a cargo container to directly interface with an aircraft cargo bay
View Patent ↗The present invention relates generally to a skid assembly for use with a cargo container. In one particular embodiment, the skid assembly comprises an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface; a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface; and at least two locking fittings, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to at least two corresponding castings located on the lower surface of a cargo container. Alternately, the skid assembly may comprise: an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, two end surfaces, and an end extension extending from each of the two end surfaces for slideably engaging at least two elongate tracks of a cargo locking system. The present invention also relates to methods for adapting a cargo container to directly interface with an aircraft cargo bay floor having a cargo conveyor system to permit cargo to slide along the aircraft cargo bay floor and a cargo locking system to lock the cargo in place.
1. A skid assembly for adapting a cargo container to directly interface with an aircraft cargo bay floor having a cargo conveyor system to permit cargo to slide along the aircraft cargo bay floor and a cargo locking system to lock the cargo in place, the cargo locking system comprising a plurality of elongate tracks attached to a top surface of the aircraft cargo bay floor, and a retractable locking device which is movable between two positions, 1) a retracted position wherein the retractable locking device is substantially retracted so as to permit the skid assembly to move along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, and 2) an engaged position wherein at least one locking pin of the retractable locking device is extended above the top surface of the aircraft cargo bay floor to prevent the skid assembly from moving along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, the skid assembly comprising:
an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;
a plurality of side extensions for slideably engaging at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, a plurality of side extensions being spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface such that the skid assembly can freely move along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks when the retractable locking device is in the retracted position, and such that the skid assembly is restrained from moving along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks when the retractable locking device is in the engaged position;
a first locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a first casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container; and
a second locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a second casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container, and positioned relative to the first locking fitting to permit the first and second locking fittings to be simultaneously removably attached to the first and second castings, respectively.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one extendable portion for varying the spacing between the first locking fitting and the second locking fitting to enable the assembly to be adapted to attach to cargo containers of a plurality of sizes.
3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein:
the extendable portion can be retracted to reduce the overall dimensions of the assembly for storage.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second locking fittings comprises a twist-lock clamping device.
5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the first and second castings comprises an ISO corner casting.
6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the first locking fitting is fixedly attached to the upper surface of the elongate member.
7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein:
the second locking fitting is fixedly attached to the upper surface of the elongate member.
8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the cargo locking system and the cargo conveyor system are part of a 463L cargo system.
9. A skid assembly for adapting a cargo container to directly interface with an aircraft cargo bay floor having a cargo conveyor system to permit cargo to slide along the aircraft cargo bay floor and a cargo locking system to lock the cargo in place, the cargo locking system comprising a plurality of elongate tracks attached to a top surface of the aircraft cargo bay floor, and a retractable locking device which is movable between two positions, 1) a retracted position wherein the retractable locking device is substantially retracted so as to permit the skid assembly to move along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, and 2) an engaged position wherein at least one locking pin of the retractable locking device is extended above the top surface of the aircraft cargo bay floor to prevent the skid assembly from moving along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, the skid assembly comprising:
an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;
a plurality of side extensions for slideably engaging at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, a plurality of side extensions being spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface such that the skid assembly can freely move along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks when the retractable locking device is in the retracted position, and such that the skid assembly is restrained from moving along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks when the retractable locking device is in the engaged position;
a first locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a first casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container;
a second locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a second casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container; and
at least one extendable portion for varying the spacing between the first locking fitting and the second locking fitting to adapt the assembly to attach to cargo containers of a plurality of sizes.
10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein:
the extendable portion can be retracted to reduce the overall dimensions of the assembly for storage.
11. A skid assembly for use with a cargo container, the skid assembly comprising:
an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;
a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface for securing both the skid assembly and the cargo container to a cargo support system;
a first locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a first casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container;
a second locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a second casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container, and positioned relative to the first locking fitting to permit the first and second locking fitting to be simultaneously removably attached to the first and second castings, respectively; and
at least one movable portion for varying the spacing between the first locking fitting and the second locking fitting to enable the assembly to be adapted to attach to cargo containers of a plurality of sizes.
12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein:
the extendable portion can be retracted to reduce the overall dimensions of the assembly for storage.
13. A skid assembly for use with a cargo container, the skid assembly comprising:
an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;
a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface for securing both the skid assembly and the cargo container to a cargo support system;
a first locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a first casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container;
a second locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a second casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container, and positioned relative to the first locking fitting to permit the first and second locking fitting to be simultaneously removably attached to the first and second castings, respectively; and wherein at least one of the first and second castings comprises an ISO corner casting.
14. A skid assembly for use with a cargo container, the skid assembly comprising:
an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;
at least one side extension extending from the side surface for securing both the skid assembly and the cargo container to a cargo support system;
a first locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a first casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container; and
a second locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a second casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container, and positioned relative to the first locking fitting to permit the first and second locking fitting to be simultaneously removably attached to the first and second castings, respectively,
wherein the at least one side extension further comprises at least one opening for receiving a locking pin.
15. A skid assembly for use with a cargo container, the skid assembly comprising:
an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first end surface that extends between an end of said upper surface and a proximate end of said lower surface, and a second end surface, opposite said first end surface, that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;
at least one end extension extending from the first end surface for slideably engaging a first elongate track of a cargo locking system;
at least one end extension extending from the second end surface for slideably engaging a second elongate track of a cargo locking system;
a first locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a first casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container; and
a second locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a second casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container, and positioned relative to the first locking fitting to permit the first and second locking fitting to be simultaneously removably attached to the first and second castings, respectively, of the cargo container.
16. The assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
at least one extendable portion for varying the spacing between the first locking fitting and the second locking fitting to enable the assembly to be adapted to attach to cargo containers of a plurality of sizes.
17. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein:
the first locking fitting is attached to a first moveable assembly for varying the position of the first locking fitting relative to at least one of the second locking fitting and at least one end extension, wherein the first moveable assembly comprises a portion of the upper surface that is slideable along the elongate member.
18. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein:
the second locking fitting is attached to a second moveable assembly for varying the position of the second locking fitting relative to at least one of the first locking fitting and at least one end extension wherein the first moveable assembly comprises a portion of the upper surface that is slideable along the elongate member.
19. The assembly of claim 17 , further comprising:
at least one extendable portion for varying the spacing between at least one end extension extending from the first end and at least one end extension extending from the second end, to permit the at least one end extension extending from the first end and the at least one end extension extending from the second end to slideably engage cargo locking systems of a plurality of sizes.
20. The assembly of claim 15 , further comprising:
at least one extendable portion for varying the spacing between at least one end extension extending from the first end and at least one end extension extending from the second end to slideably engage cargo locking systems of a plurality of sizes.
21. A skid assembly for use with a cargo container, the skid assembly comprising:
an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;
at least one side extension extending from the side surface having at least one opening for receiving a locking pin;
a first locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a first casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container; and
a second locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a second casting located on the lower surface of a cargo container, and positioned relative to the first locking fitting to permit the first and second locking fitting to be simultaneously removably attached to the first and second castings, respectively.
22. A skid assembly for use with a cargo container, the skid assembly comprising:
an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;
a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface for securing both the skid assembly and the cargo container to a cargo support system;
a first locking fitting, attached to an end of the upper surface;
a second locking fitting, attached to an opposite end of the upper surface and positioned relative to the first locking fitting to permit the first and second locking fittings to be simultaneously removably attached to corresponding first and second castings of a cargo container, respectively; and
at least one extendable portion for varying the spacing between the first locking fitting and the second locking fitting to enable the assembly to be adapted to attach to cargo containers of a plurality of sizes.
23. The assembly of claim 22 , wherein:
the extendable portion can be retracted to reduce the overall dimensions of the assembly for storage.
24. A skid assembly for use with a cargo container, the skid assembly comprising:
an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;
a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface
a first locking fitting, attached to an end of the upper surface; and
a second locking fitting, attached to an opposite end of the upper surface and positionable relative to the first locking fitting by at least one extendable portion of the elongate member, to permit the first and second locking fittings to be simultaneously removably attached to corresponding first and second castings, respectively, of cargo containers of a plurality of sizes.
25. A method for adapting a cargo container having a bottom surface with at least four castings to directly interface with an aircraft cargo bay floor having a cargo conveyor system to permit cargo to slide along the aircraft cargo bay floor and a cargo locking system to lock the cargo in place, the cargo locking system comprising a plurality of elongate tracks attached to a floor surface of an aircraft, and a retractable locking device which is movable between two positions, 1) a retracted position wherein the retractable locking device is substantially retracted so as to permit the container adapting device to move along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, and 2) an engaged position wherein at least one locking pin of the retractable locking device is extended above the top surface of the aircraft cargo bay floor to prevent the container adapting device from moving along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, the method comprising:
providing a first container adapting device and a second container adapting device, each comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface, at least two locking fittings attached to the upper surface and spaced a predetermined distance apart to simultaneously engage a corresponding at least two castings of the cargo container, and a plurality of side extensions extending at predetermined intervals from the side surface of the container adapting device;
attaching the first container adapting device to at least two of the castings located in proximity to a first edge of the bottom surface of the container such that a plurality of side extensions of the first container adapting device extend outward past the first edge of the bottom surface of the cargo container; and
attaching the second container adapting device to at least two of the castings located in proximity to a second edge of the bottom surface of the cargo container such that a plurality of side extensions of the second container adapting device extend outward past the second edge of the bottom surface of the cargo container, the second edge located opposite the first edge such that when the first and second container adapting devices are attached to the cargo container to form an adapted cargo container, a plurality of side extensions of the first container adapting device are spaced a distance from a plurality of side extensions of the second container adapting device to slideably engage at least two of the plurality of elongate tracks, thereby adapting the cargo container to directly interface with an aircraft cargo bay floor.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein at least one of the two container adapting devices further comprises:
at least one extendable portion of the elongate member for varying the spacing between a first locking fitting and a second locking fitting to enable the container adapting device to be extended or retracted, as necessary, to attach to cargo containers of a plurality of sizes.
27. The method of claim 25 , wherein:
the cargo container is a selected one of a 20-foot container, a 10-foot container, a quadcon container, and a tricon container.
28. An adapted storage container assembly, the assembly comprising:
a cargo container having a bottom surface, the bottom surface having a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge;
a first container adapting device having an upper surface, a lower surface, a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface, and a plurality of side extensions extending at predetermined intervals from the side surface of the container adapting device, the upper surface being secured to the bottom surface of the cargo container such that a plurality of side extensions of the first container adapting device extend outward past the first edge of the bottom surface of the cargo container; and
a second container adapting device having an upper surface, a lower surface, a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface, and a plurality of side extensions extending at predetermined intervals from the side surface of the container adapting device, the upper surface being secured to the bottom surface of the cargo container such that a plurality of side extensions of the second container adapting device extend outward past the second edge of the bottom surface of the cargo container.
29. The assembly of claim 28 , wherein:
the bottom surface of the cargo container further comprises at least four castings;
each of the first and second container adapting devices has at least two locking fittings attached to its respective upper surface and spaced a distance apart to simultaneously engage a corresponding at least two castings of the cargo container;
the upper surface of the first container adapting device is secured to the bottom surface of the cargo container by removably attaching at least two locking fittings to a corresponding at least two castings of the bottom surface of the cargo container; and
the upper surface of the second container adapting device is secured to the bottom surface of the cargo container by removably attaching at least two locking fittings to a corresponding at least two castings of the bottom surface of the cargo container.
30. A method for loading a cargo container within the cargo bay of a cargo aircraft with the use of a new and improved skid assembly, the cargo container having a bottom surface with a plurality of castings, the cargo bay having a cargo locking system and a cargo conveyor system, the cargo locking system comprising a plurality of elongate tracks attached to a floor surface of the cargo bay, and a retractable locking device which is movable between two positions, 1) a retracted position wherein the retractable locking device is substantially retracted so as to permit the container adapting system to move along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, and 2) an engaged position wherein at least one locking pin of the retractable locking device is extended above the top surface of the aircraft cargo bay floor to prevent the container adapting system from moving along at least one of the plurality of elongate tracks, the method comprising:
providing a first container adapting system and a second container adapting system, each comprising an upper surface, a lower surface, a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface, at least two locking fittings attached to the upper surface and spaced a predetermined distance apart to simultaneously engage a corresponding at least two castings of the cargo container, and a plurality of side extensions extending at predetermined intervals from the side surface of the container adapting system;
attaching the first container adapting system to at least two of the plurality of castings located in proximity to a first edge of the bottom surface of the cargo container such that a plurality of side extensions of the first container adapting system extend outward past the first edge of the bottom surface of the cargo container;
attaching the second container adapting system to at least two of the plurality of castings located in proximity to a second edge of the bottom surface of the cargo container such that a plurality of side extensions of the second container adapting system extend outward past the second edge of the bottom surface of the cargo container, the second edge located opposite the first edge such that when the first and second container adapting systems are attached to the cargo container to form an adapted cargo container, a plurality of side extensions of the first container adapting system are spaced a distance from a plurality of side extensions of the second container adapting system to slideably engage at least two of the plurality of elongate tracks;
sliding the adapted cargo container along the cargo conveyor system to a locking position such that a plurality of side extensions of the adapted cargo container do not block the movement of the retractable locking device from the stowed position to the engaged position; and
locking the adapted cargo container in the locking position by moving the retractable locking device from the retracted position to the engaged position, thereby preventing the movement of the adapted cargo container, including while the cargo aircraft is in motion.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein at least one of the two container adapting systems further comprises:
at least one extendable portion for varying the spacing between a first locking fitting and a second locking fitting to enable the container adapting system to be adapted to attach to cargo containers of a plurality of sizes.
32. The method of claim 30 , wherein:
the cargo locking system and the cargo conveyor system are part of a 463L cargo system.
33. The method of claim 30 , wherein:
the cargo container is a selected one of a 20-foot container, a 10-foot container, a quadcon container, and a tricon container.