초록 ▼

A conveyor apparatus for use in an aircraft cargo hold a plurality of direction-independent conveyor elements such as ball elements or similar, on which an item of freight such as a container can be transported in a transport plane linearly and with a change of direction. In order to improve the han

A conveyor apparatus for use in an aircraft cargo hold a plurality of direction-independent conveyor elements such as ball elements or similar, on which an item of freight such as a container can be transported in a transport plane linearly and with a change of direction. In order to improve the handling of items of freight, in particular to avoid damage, the apparatus comprises at least one brake element, for example in a door region of the cargo hold, in order to brake movement of the item of freight with a predetermined, finite braking force while it is being transported into the cargo hold or out of the cargo hold.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Passive conveyor apparatus for use in an aircraft cargo hold comprising: a support structure;a plurality of direction-independent conveyor elements disposed in the support structure and on which an item of freight can be transported in a transport plane,at least one braked swivel caster conveyor

1. Passive conveyor apparatus for use in an aircraft cargo hold comprising: a support structure;a plurality of direction-independent conveyor elements disposed in the support structure and on which an item of freight can be transported in a transport plane,at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element disposed in the support structure, wherein the at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element comprises a roller mounted in the plane of the support structure, the roller seated on a shaft having a first end and a second end;a swivel plate configured to rotate about a vertical axis wherein the shaft is offset from the vertical axis to orient the roller in a trailing direction with respect to cargo moved along the support structure while the swivel plate provides, at least in part, a surface proximate to a top surface of the support structure, and the surface covers, at least in part, the roller, the first end and the second end of the shaft being seated on the swivel plate;wherein the at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element is configured and arranged to brake movement of said item of freight with a predetermined, finite braking force while said item of freight is being transported into the cargo hold and out of the cargo hold wherein the direction-independent and braked swivel caster conveyor elements are not associated with a motor. 2. Conveyor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of direction-independent conveyor elements comprise at least one ball element on which an item of freight can be transported linearly in said transport plane and with a change of direction. 3. Conveyor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said swivel caster further comprises a free-wheel such that braking of the roller occurs only in a trailing direction. 4. Conveyor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element is configured and arranged such that said predetermined braking force can be altered in dependence on a load force that is applied to said braked swivel caster conveyor element perpendicular to the transport plane of said item of freight. 5. Conveyor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element is configured and arranged such that said predetermined braking force can be altered in dependence on a transport velocity. 6. Conveyor apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element is configured and arranged such that the braking force can be turned off. 7. Passive conveyor apparatus for use in an aircraft cargo hold comprising: a support structure;a plurality of direction-independent conveyor elements including a roller disposed in the support structure and on which an item of freight can be transported in a transport plane; anda swivel plate configured to cover at least part of the roller;a biasing element biasing the roller to a first position away from a braking element,wherein the at least one braked conveyor element is configured and arranged to brake movement of said item of freight with a predetermined, finite braking force while said item of freight exerts a force against the biasing element; wherein the direction-independent and braked conveyor elements are not associated with a motor. 8. The conveyor apparatus of claim 7, wherein the braking element includes a brake finger configured to brake the roller when the roller is moved against the biasing element away from the first position. 9. Passive conveyor apparatus for use in an aircraft cargo hold comprising: a support structure;a plurality of direction-independent conveyor elements disposed in the support structure and on which an item of freight can be transported in a transport plane,at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element disposed in the support structure, wherein the at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element comprises a roller mounted in the plane of the support structure;a swivel plate configured to rotate to orient the roller in a trailing direction with respect to cargo moved along the support structure while the swivel plate provides, at least in part, a surface proximate to a top surface of the support structure, and the surface covers, at least in part, the roller;wherein the at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element is configured and arranged to brake movement of said item of freight with a predetermined, finite braking force while said item of freight is being transported into the cargo hold and out of the cargo hold wherein the direction-independent and braked swivel caster conveyor elements are not associated with a motor;wherein said swivel caster further comprises a biasing element biasing the roller to a first position away from a braking element, and a free-wheel such that braking of the roller occurs only in a trailing direction. 10. Passive conveyor apparatus for use in an aircraft cargo hold: a support structure;a plurality of direction-independent conveyor elements disposed in the support structure and on which an item of freight can be transported in a transport plane,at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element disposed in the support structure, wherein the at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element comprises a roller mounted in the plane of the support structure and seated on a shaft;a swivel plate configured to freely rotate about a vertical axis, wherein the shaft is offset from the vertical axis to orient the roller in a trailing direction with respect to cargo moved along the support structure while the swivel plate provides, at least in part, a surface proximate to a top surface of the support structure; anda biasing element biasing the roller to a first position away from a braking element;wherein the at least one braked swivel caster conveyor element is configured and arranged to brake movement of said item of freight with a predetermined, finite braking force while said item of freight is being transported into the cargo hold and out of the cargo hold wherein the direction-independent and braked swivel caster conveyor elements are not associated with a motor.