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An aircraft cargo handling system has a pair of load restraining rail assemblies, each of which has a shaft assembly running substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The shaft assembly has a plurality of lock pawls, each of which comprises a body having a cylindrical pallet-e

An aircraft cargo handling system has a pair of load restraining rail assemblies, each of which has a shaft assembly running substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft. The shaft assembly has a plurality of lock pawls, each of which comprises a body having a cylindrical pallet-engaging surface. The pallet engaging surfaces of the lock pawls have increasing included angles at stations moving toward the front of the aircraft (or vice versa). This enables the pallets to be locked in place sequentially by rotating the shaft assembly an predetermined angular rotation each time a pallet is loaded. Unloading of the aircraft is carried out in the reverse order, by rotating the shaft assembly in the opposite direction in steps to unlock each pallet individually as the aircraft is unloaded.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Cargo handling apparatus for restraining at least a first and a second pallet aboard an aircraft, each of said first and second pallets having a side edge with a plurality of recesses formed therein, said first and second pallets being positioned on said cargo handling apparatus with the side edg

1. Cargo handling apparatus for restraining at least a first and a second pallet aboard an aircraft, each of said first and second pallets having a side edge with a plurality of recesses formed therein, said first and second pallets being positioned on said cargo handling apparatus with the side edges thereof in a substantially co-linear orientation, said cargo handling apparatus comprising: a load restraining rail assembly, said load restraining rail assembly comprising a shaft assembly mounted for rotation about a rotational axis extending substantially parallel to the side edges of said first and second pallets;a plurality of lock pawls attached to said shaft assembly, said shaft assembly being rotatable from a first position in which said plurality of lock pawls are disengaged from said first and second pallets, to a second position in which a first one of said plurality of lock pawls engages one of said plurality of recesses formed in the side edge said first pallet, to a third position in which said first one of said plurality of lock pawls remains engaged with said one of said plurality of recess formed in the side edge said first pallet and a second one of said plurality of lock pawls engages one of said plurality of recesses formed in the side edge of said second pallet. 2. The cargo handling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a locking plunger for locking said shaft assembly in one of said first, second, or third positions. 3. The cargo handling apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said shaft assembly is rotatable in a reverse direction to sequentially disengage from said second and then said first pallet. 4. The cargo handling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a lateral restraint member comprising a lateral surface and an upper surface, said lateral surface and said upper surface engaging the side edge of one of said first and second pallets adjacent one of said recesses for restraining lateral and vertical motion of said pallet. 5. The cargo handling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a base plate attached to a floor section of said aircraft, said base plate comprising an elongate member having an upper surface, said elongate member further comprising a plurality of cavities formed therein, each of said plurality of cavities having an inverted T-shaped cross section opening to the upper surface, forming a slot in the upper surface extending in a longitudinal direction, the slot further comprising a plurality of circular cutouts spaced at regular intervals along the slot. 6. The cargo handling apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a plurality of guide members having a bearing bore for supporting said shaft assembly, each of said plurality of guide members having a lower surface with a track engaging member, said track engaging member comprising a shank portion with a disk-shaped head portion adapted to pass through one of said plurality of circular cutouts to engage an underside of the slot formed in the base plate. 7. The cargo handling apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a shear plunger extending through the lower surface of said guide member, said shear plunger comprising a spring-loaded pin moveable from a retracted position in which said guide member is free to move along the slot with the track engaging member engaging the underside of the slot, to an extended position in which the shear plunger engages one of said plurality of circular cutouts to prevent said guide member from moving along the slot. 8. The cargo handling apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a toggle operatively attached to said shear plunger, said toggle being capable of manipulation by a user for moving said shear plunger from the extended position to the retracted position. 9. The cargo handling apparatus of claim 6, wherein: said guide members further comprise a lateral restraint member having a lateral surface and an upper surface, said lateral surface and said upper surface engaging the side edge of one of said first and second pallets adjacent one of said recesses for restraining lateral and vertical motion of said pallet. 10. The cargo handling apparatus of claim 6, wherein: each of said plurality of lock pawls comprises a body having a substantially cylindrical pallet-engaging surface having a predetermined included angle. 11. The cargo handling apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the included angle of said first lock pawl is different from the included angle of said second lock pawl.