Abstract: A freight loading system for an aircraft includes roller drive units for transporting freight load units such as containers or pallets or the like, latching units for latching the freight load units, and control units for operating the drive units and/or the latching units. At least one of the roller drive units and the latching units is embodied as a pneumatically operated component including a pneumatic actuator. Pressurized air is supplied to the pneumatic components through a pressurized air line system. A pneumatic controller provides pneumatic control signals through pneumatic lines to the pneumatic components to achieve a purely pneumatic system, or an electric controller provides electric control signals over electric conductors to control valves for the pneumatic components to achieve a hybrid electro-pneumatic system. The sparking, overloading, and fire hazard problems of fully electric systems are avoided, and the weight, cost, and maintenance are reduced.

Abstract: A freight loading system for an aircraft includes roller drive units for transporting freight load units such as containers or pallets or the like, latching units for latching the freight load units, and control units for operating the drive units and/or the latching units. At least one of the roller drive units and the latching units is embodied as a pneumatically operated component including a pneumatic actuator. Pressurized air is supplied to the pneumatic components through a pressurized air line system. A pneumatic controller provides pneumatic control signals through pneumatic lines to the pneumatic components to achieve a purely pneumatic system, or an electric controller provides electric control signals over electric conductors to control valves for the pneumatic components to achieve a hybrid electro-pneumatic system. The sparking, overloading, and fire hazard problems of fully electric systems are avoided, and the weight, cost, and maintenance are reduced.

Abstract: A pallet that is initially not completely aligned with a support structure, such as support rails in the floor of an aircraft, is properly aligned by the function of an aligning and coupling device which has two sections interconnected by a coupling member, such as a screw bolt that can be tightened. One section is connected to the support and the other section is connected to the pallet. Relative movement at least in a radial direction of the components of one section permit an adjustment. The relative movement is preferably permitted in the radial and axial direction. The continued tightening of the two sections to each other provide the required alignment.

Abstract: Loads, such as pallets or freight containers, are guided and restrained on the loading floor of an aircraft by a device which provides guide rollers oriented in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the aircraft to hold pieces of freight in the horizontal direction. Additionally, cantilevered latching members hold a piece of freight against vertical and/or tilting movements. Both, the guide elements and the latching members are mounted to be tilted into the floor structure. The latching members perform simultaneously a rotating movement and a tilting movement when the device is moved or tilted into its recessed position below a top surface of the loading floor.

Abstract: A guiding mechanism for loads on the loading floor of an aircraft has two separate guide elements tiltably mounted in a support frame. The frame with its guide elements is arranged so that the longitudinal frame axis extends substantially perpendicularly to the freight moving direction on the loading floor. Each guide element is equipped with guide rollers for guiding a vertical edge of a pallet and with a latching hook for guiding a horizontal edge of a pallet. The guide hooks prevent a tilting of a pallet. The guide elements are journalled in the frame, so that one of the guide elements is tiltable into the frame with its guide surface facing downwardly, while the other guide element is tiltable into the frame so that its guide surface faces substantially upwardly. Further, one of the two guide elements is equipped with a roll-over bail which tilts the respective guide element into the frame when a load rolls over the bail.

Abstract: The door sill of a cargo loading and unloading opening in an aircraft body is protected against damage by a cover plate that is hinged to the loading floor alongside the door opening to be tiltable outwardly to cover the sill when in the operative position. The outwardly pointing edge of the cover plate is supported by a support linkage, including a support link or section and a tie rod or bracing link, which are pivoted to the cover plate and to each other, so that the plate and its support linkage may be tilted into a recessed position in which the plate with its support linkage extends substantially in parallel and close to the door or gate that closes the cargo opening, thereby using very little space in the stowed condition.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for latching cargo pieces to a loading floor of aircraft has two latches housed in a common latch housing. The latching claws face in opposite directions. The latches rotate on journal shafts arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft with a lateral on-center spacing between the journal shafts. Tension springs act eccentrically to hold the latches in their extended locking position. In the locking position the latches support each other by bearing against respective stops. An inclined ramp, provided on each latch and extending in the loading direcion, cooperates with a connecting lever joint to assure that the latches can be rolled over by cargo pieces of full width, while pieces of half the full width are arrested in lateral and vertical directions when the mechanism is located between two pieces of half width closely spaced from each other.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for tying down a piece of freight on a loading floor in an aircraft has a housing (11) recessed in the loading floor. A latch operating member (1) and a latching member (10) are journalled in the housing to tilt toward each other or away from each other. Follower cams (16) of the latching member (10) ride in respective cam guide tracks (15) of the latch operating member (1). A tension spring (20) tends to bias the latching member (10) and the latch operating member (1) in opposite directions in a freight latching position or into a recessed beyond dead center position. Stop members (17, 18) are so positioned on the latch operating member and on the latching member that the latter cannot be tilted without activating the latch operating member which can be rolled over by a piece of freight in one direction when projecting from the housing and in the other direction when recessed into the housing.

Abstract: A locking dog for restraining pieces of cargo in the cargo area of an aircraft is disclosed having a frame in which a locking member is pivotally mounted and can be folded down by means of an actuator flap either upon passage of a piece of frieght or manually by pushing the actuator flap down into an overcenter position in which a spring locks the folded down locking member, the member being released upon pulling the actuator flap up and over the dead center position.