초록 ▼

Apparatus and methods for beaming some or all payload component loads out to surrounding support structure and adaptably coupling payload assemblies to a support structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a payload assembly includes a payload member and at least one payload support. The payload mem

Apparatus and methods for beaming some or all payload component loads out to surrounding support structure and adaptably coupling payload assemblies to a support structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a payload assembly includes a payload member and at least one payload support. The payload member is adapted to be positioned proximate the support structure, and the at least one payload support is coupled to the payload member and is adapted to operatively engage at least one of the elongated supports of the support structure. The at least one payload support is further adapted to beam loads from the payload member to the at least one elongated support, and to be moveable with the payload member relative to the support structure. In one particular embodiment, the payload support includes an end portion adapted to engage with a top surface of the elongated support.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A payload assembly adapted to be secured to a support structure having a plurality of elongated, spaced apart supports, comprising: a payload member having a substantially flat portion adapted to be positioned proximate the support structure, the substantially flat portion ha

What is claimed is: 1. A payload assembly adapted to be secured to a support structure having a plurality of elongated, spaced apart supports, comprising: a payload member having a substantially flat portion adapted to be positioned proximate the support structure, the substantially flat portion having a lateral edge that includes a recess; at least one payload support coupled to the substantially flat portion and adapted to span between an adjacent pair of elongated supports of the support structure, the at least one payload support having first and second end portions that are adapted to engage with a top surface of each of the adjacent pair of elongated supports, the first end portion of the payload support including an offset flat portion, the lateral edge of the substantially flat portion being substantially parallel with and adjacent to a corresponding one of the elongated supports such that the offset flat portion is fittingly engaged within the recess and is substantially co-planar with the substantially flat portion, the at least one payload support being adapted to beam loads from the payload member to the adjacent pair of elongated supports, the at least one payload support further being adapted to be disengagable from the adjacent pair of elongated supports and moveable with the payload member relative to the support structure. 2. The payload assembly of claim 1, wherein the offset flat portion includes a plate member that is adapted to project over the top surface. 3. The payload assembly of claim 1, wherein the payload member includes a primary payload component coupled to the at least one payload support, the primary payload component including at least one of a galley, a lavatory, a passenger seat, an attendant seat, a cargo container, a section partition, a fireplace, a shelf, and an article of furniture. 4. The payload assembly of claim 1, wherein the payload member includes a payload panel coupled to an upper surface of the at least one payload support. 5. The payload assembly of claim 4, wherein the payload panel includes at least one recess disposed within a peripheral edge thereof, the at least one-payload support having an upper portion that is fittingly engaged into the at least one recess. 6. The payload assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one payload support is coupled to a lower surface of the payload panel, the at least one payload support including at least one of a substantially flat stiffener, an "I" beam member, a "top hat"-shaped beam member, a "J" beam member, a "C"-shaped beam member, and a "box" beam member. 7. The payload assembly of claim 4, wherein the payload panel comprises at least one of a metal panel, a composite panel, a sandwich panel, and a laminate panel. 8. The payload assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one payload support is integrally-formed with the payload panel. 9. The payload assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one payload support includes a framework having one or more longitudinal members and one or more transverse members, the framework being coupled to a lower surface of the payload panel. 10. The payload assembly of claim 4, wherein the payload member further includes a primary payload component coupled to the payload panel, the primary payload component including at least one of a galley, a lavatory, a passenger seat, an attendant seat, a cargo container, a section partition, a fireplace, and an article of furniture. 11. The payload assembly of claim 4, wherein the payload member further includes at least one payload monument coupled to payload panel. 12. The payload assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one payload monument includes a framework having one or more longitudinal members and one or more transverse members, the framework being coupled to an upper surface of the payload panel. 13. The payload assembly of claim 11, wherein the payload member further includes a primary payload component coupled to the at least one payload monument. 14. The payload assembly of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a floor assembly of a passenger cabin of an aircraft. 15. An assembly, comprising: a floor assembly including a plurality of elongated engagement members, the engagement members being spaced apart and approximately parallel, each engagement member including a top surface; and a payload assembly including: a payload member having a substantially flat portion positioned proximate the floor assembly, the substantially flat portion having a lateral edge that includes a recess; at least one payload support coupled to the substantially flat portion and spanning between an adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the at least one payload support having first and second end portions coupled to the top surface of each of the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the first end portion of the payload support including an offset flat portion, the lateral edge of the substantially flat portion being substantially parallel with and adjacent to a corresponding one of the elongated supports such that the offset flat portion is fittingly engaged within the recess and is substantially co-planar with the substantially flat portion, the payload support being adapted to beam loads from the payload member to the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the at least one payload support being further adapted to be decoupled from the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members and moveable with the payload member relative to the floor assembly. 16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the offset flat portion includes a plate member that is adapted to project over the top surface and operatively coupled thereto. 17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the payload member includes a primary payload component coupled to the at least one payload support, the primary payload component including at least one of a galley, a lavatory, a passenger seat, an attendant seat, a cargo container, a section partition, a fireplace, a shelf, and an article of furniture. 18. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the payload member includes a payload panel coupled to the at least one payload support. 19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the payload panel includes at least one recess disposed within a peripheral edge thereof, the at least one payload support having an upper portion that is fittingly engaged into the at least one recess. 20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one payload support is integrally-formed with the payload panel. 21. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one payload support includes a framework having one or more longitudinal members and one or more transverse members, the framework being coupled to a lower surface of the payload panel. 22. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the payload member further includes a primary payload component coupled to the payload panel, the primary payload component including at least one of a galley, a lavatory, a passenger seat, a cargo container, a section partition, a fireplace, and an article of furniture. 23. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the payload member further includes at least one payload monument coupled to payload panel. 24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the at least one payload monument includes a framework having one or more longitudinal members and one or more transverse members, the framework being coupled to an upper surface of the payload panel. 25. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the support structure comprises an airframe of an aircraft, and wherein the payload member comprises at least one of a galley, a lavatory, a passenger seat, an attendant seat, a cargo container, a section partition, a fireplace, a shelf, and an article of furniture. 26. An aircraft, comprising: a fuselage operatively coupled to an airframe; a propulsion system operatively coupled to the airframe; a floor assembly disposed within the fuselage and coupled to the airframe, the floor assembly including a plurality of elongated engagement members coupled to the airframe, the engagement members being spaced apart and approximately parallel, each engagement member including a top surface; and a payload assembly including a payload member having a substantially flat portion positioned proximate the floor assembly, the substantially flat portion having a lateral edge that includes a recess; at least one payload support coupled to the substantially flat portion and spanning between an adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the at least one payload support having first and second end portions coupled to the top surface of each of the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the first end portion of the payload support including an offset flat portion, the lateral edge of the substantially flat portion being substantially parallel with and adjacent to a corresponding one of the elongated supports such that the offset flat portion is fittingly engaged within the recess and is substantially co-planar with the substantially flat portion, the payload support being adapted to beam loads from the payload member to the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the at least one payload support being further adapted to be decoupled from the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members and moveable with the payload member relative to the floor assembly. 27. The aircraft of claim 26, wherein the offset flat portion includes a plate member that is adapted to project over the top surface and operatively coupled thereto. 28. The aircraft of claim 26, wherein the payload member includes a payload panel coupled to the at least one payload support. 29. The aircraft of claim 28, wherein the payload panel includes at least one recess disposed within a peripheral edge thereof, the at least one payload support having an upper portion that is fittingly engaged into the at least one recess. 30. The aircraft of claim 28, wherein the at least one payload support includes a framework having one or more longitudinal members and one or more transverse members, the framework being coupled to a lower surface of the payload panel. 31. The aircraft of claim 28, wherein the payload member further includes a primary payload component coupled to the payload panel, the primary payload component including at least one of a galley, a lavatory, a passenger seat, an attendant seat, a cargo container, a section partition, a fireplace, and an article of furniture. 32. The aircraft of claim 28, wherein the payload member further includes at least one payload monument coupled to payload panel. 33. The aircraft of claim 28, wherein the at least one payload monument includes a framework having one or more longitudinal members and one or more transverse members, the framework being coupled to an upper surface of the payload panel. 34. A method of securing a payload to a support structure, comprising: coupling a plurality of elongated engagement members of a floor assembly to the support structure, the engagement members being spaced apart and approximately parallel, each engagement member including an engagement surface; and providing a payload assembly including a payload member that includes a substantially flat portion having a lateral edge that includes a recess, and a payload support coupled to the substantially flat portion, the payload support having first and second end portions and being adapted to span between an adjacent pair of engagement members; removably coupling the first and second end portions of the payload support with an upper surface of each of the adjacent pair of engagement members, wherein the first end portion of the payload support includes an offset flat portion, the lateral edge of the substantially flat portion being substantially parallel with and adjacent to a corresponding one of the elongated supports such that the removably coupling includes fittingly engaging the offset flat portion within the recess, the offset flat portion being substantially co-planar with the substantially flat portion; and at least partially transmitting loads from the payload member through the payload support to the adjacent pair of engagement members. 35. The method of claim 34, wherein providing a payload assembly including a payload member comprises providing a payload assembly having at least one of a galley, a lavatory, a passenger seat, a cargo container, a section partition, a fireplace, a shelf, and an article of furniture. 36. The method of claim 34, wherein providing a payload assembly comprises providing a payload assembly having a primary payload component operatively coupled to the at least one payload support, the primary payload component including at least one of a galley, a lavatory, a passenger seat, an attendant seat, a cargo container, a section partition, a fireplace, a shelf, and an article of furniture. 37. The method of claim 34, wherein providing a payload assembly comprises providing a payload assembly having a payload panel operatively coupled to the at least one payload support. 38. The method of claim 37, wherein providing a payload assembly having a payload panel comprised providing a payload assembly having at least one recess disposed within a peripheral edge of the payload panel, the at least one payload support having an upper portion that is operatively fittingly engaged into the at least one recess. 39. The method of claim 37, wherein providing a payload assembly including a payload support comprises providing a payload assembly having a framework including one or more longitudinal members and one or more transverse members, the framework being operatively coupled to a lower surface of the payload panel. 40. The method of claim 37, wherein providing a payload assembly further comprises providing a payload assembly having a framework having one or more longitudinal members and one or more transverse members, the framework being operatively coupled to an upper surface of the payload panel.