Abstract: The present invention relates to a lateral guide for guiding cargo items in an aircraft. Such lateral guides are used to guide containers or pallets during their transport from the tail to the nose and to secure them in their final position. The proposed lateral guide has a mounting frame extending in the longitudinal direction and at least one lateral guide device having a sliding carriage, whereby the lateral guide device is movably supported in the mounting frame in the longitudinal direction. The sliding carriage has at least one guide roller for supporting the cargo items.

Abstract: Fastening elements are known in which locking elements can be swivelled out of a non-operative position and into a fixing position. Usually, each of these locking elements has a locking lug. The known fastening devices are mostly very complex in their structure. The some embodiments of present application propose the provision of a fastening device for at least partially securing a first and a second freight item, which fastening device comprises a frame and comprises a locking claw having a first locking lug and a second locking lug. The locking lugs in this case are aligned along a longitudinal direction of the fastening device, for the purpose of encompassing and holding partial portions of the freight items. The locking claws are pivotally fastened to the frame of the fastening device in such a way that the locking claw can be swivelled out of a fixing position, for securing the freight items, into a non-operative position.

Abstract: A loading system for loading a cargo hold (2) of an aircraft (1), containers, pallets or like ULDs (20) for accommodating freight being introduced into the cargo hold through an access opening, being transported by means of a transport device (60) and being fastened in transport positions. With the ULDs are identification devices (30), e.g. RFID transponders, which identification devices have storage devices for storing first data, especially identification data. The system comprises at least one first reading device (40) for reading the first data of a ULD introduced into the cargo hold, and at least one first transmitter device (50) for transmitting the first data to at least one first recipient (11).

Abstract: An aircraft comprises a cargo compartment having a cargo-compartment floor, and at least one functional unit, such as a water tank, a waste-water tank, or an electrical equipment rack. The functional unit is disposed on a pallet so that the functional unit can be transported into, and installed in, the cargo compartment. A fixation device attaches the pallet to the cargo-compartment floor.

Abstract: Cargo hold floors are provided, and comprise panels or similar two-dimensional floor elements for the attachment of roller elements, ball elements, locking bar elements or similar functional elements. Support elements, in particular floor beams, are provided which support the two-dimensional floor elements whereby the floor elements are permanently joined to the support elements to make pre-fabricated floor modules and the floor modules are installable in the aircraft. To make installation work easier, separate load-bearing elements, for supporting the floor modules on and joining the floor modules to a body or a skin of the aircraft, are provided which, before the floor modules are installed in the aircraft, are joinable to the body or skin of the aircraft, and, when the floor modules are installed in the aircraft, are joinable to the support elements. As a result, it is possible in particular cases to make installation significantly easier.

Abstract: A floor module with roller conveyors which define an aircraft cargo hold floor with a loading level is provided. The floor modules have cross-members to which the roller conveyor is attached. A rail with two side pieces is provided, between which rollers are rotatably mounted in such a way that they protrude above upper edges of the rails. The side pieces are joined to one another by a floor section. To improve the strength of the floor module, the floor section has a bent region inclined in cross-section at an angle to the loading level, the bent region dividing the floor section into one partial section lying higher and one partial section lying lower relative to the upper edges.

Abstract: A fastening device of a floor module in an aircraft hull is provided. The fastening device comprises an intermediate element that on one hand can be fastened to the aircraft hull using a joining device and on the other comprises a receiving device for a holding portion of the floor module. In this case the fastening device is designed in such a way that mobility of the holding portion relative to the aircraft is guaranteed in the aircraft's longitudinal direction by means of which it is possible to guarantee stress-free installation inside the aircraft hull.

Abstract: Floor modules of a cargo deck in a hull of an aircraft which comprise support devices for carrying functional elements, e.g. panels, roller conveyors or ball mats, are provided. The support devices are attachable in the hull of the aircraft directly or by way of intermediate elements. To improve stability at reduced weight, end support devices, as seen in the aircraft's longitudinal direction, have a thickness reduced in such a way compared to the other support devices of the floor module that only together with the end support devices of a floor module installed adjacently in the hull do they ensure a loading capacity that corresponds to at least the loading capacity of the other support devices.

Abstract: Roller conveyors of an aircraft cargo deck, including rollers for transporting freight packages, particularly containers, and a channel with side walls and a base for the installation of locking bar elements to hold the freight packages, are provided. The side walls have reinforcing sections with recesses in which the rollers are installed, whereby axles on which the rollers are rotatably mounted are fixed in each of the side walls.

Abstract: In the cargo hold of an aircraft, a cargo deck is known on which several mounting profiles are installed in the long direction of the aircraft. In the mounting profiles functional elements, in particular rollers, ball elements, latches, power drive units (PDUs) or the like can be mounted. In the present invention it is proposed that the mounting profiles be disposed at identical distances from one another over a width of the cargo space, so that identical structural floor elements can be mounted between them and will fit exactly.

Abstract: Conventional support rollers are installed on the floor of an aircraft cargo hold in a mounting profile that comprises side walls, and in an interior space of the mounting profile latch elements can be mounted in order to secure containers, pallets or similar items of freight. To reduce the construction expense, the weight, and the work of assembly, it is proposed that two external rollers be rotatably mounted, outside the interior space of the mounting profile, on an axle that passes through the side walls of the mounting profile.

Abstract: There are known cargo decks for aircraft that comprise floor beams or an equivalent floor substructure and floor panels, ball mats, roller tracks, or other such transport devices connected thereto for conveying and fixing in position pallets, containers or similar objects. In order to create a tight seal between a cargo space above the cargo deck and a bilge space below the cargo deck, sealing devices are provided, so that the floor panels, ball mats, roller tracks, etc. can be replaced at any time with no need to seal them off.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Some known types of conveyor apparatus on a cargo deck of an aircraft comprise roller tracks with a U-shaped cross section that are attached to or on the cargo deck, as well as ball units attached to the roller tracks. In order to enable simple and reversible attachment combined with great durability, it is proposed that holder frames be provided, in each of which one or more ball units are attached, and that can in turn be attached to or in the roller tracks. Locking elements are provided with which to fix the holder frames releasably to the roller tracks.

Abstract: In the cargo hold of an aircraft, a cargo deck is known on which several mounting profiles are installed in the long direction of the aircraft. In the mounting profiles functional elements, in particular rollers, ball elements, latches, power drive units (PDUs) or the like can be mounted. In the present invention it is proposed that the mounting profiles be disposed at identical distances from one another over a width of the cargo space, so that identical structural floor elements can be mounted between them and will fit exactly.

Abstract: Conventional support rollers are installed on the floor of an aircraft cargo hold in a mounting profile that comprises side walls, and in an interior space of the mounting profile latch elements can be mounted in order to secure containers, pallets or similar items of freight. To reduce the construction expense, the weight, and the work of assembly, it is proposed that two external rollers be rotatably mounted, outside the interior space of the mounting profile, on an axle that passes through the side walls of the mounting profile.

Abstract: Various kinds of apparatus are known for mounting functional units of conveyor systems, in particular latch units, which can be installed on the floor of a cargo hold in an aircraft. They are provided with detachable fixation devices to fix the functional units to retaining devices attached to the floor, such as seat rails or lock trays. In order to make better use of a cargo hold without the need for installing special fixation devices on its floor, it is proposed to equip the mounting apparatus with a support base that comprises, on opposite sides thereof, different fixation devices, a first of which can be fixed to a first kind of retaining device, such as a seat rail, while simultaneously a second fixation device can be fixed to a second kind of retaining device, such as a lock tray.

Abstract: The invention relates to a latch unit for use in an aircraft cargo hold to secure freight. The latch unit includes a claw that can be depressed out of an elevated, position in which an item of freight can be brought into an immobilizing engagement with the claw, into a resting position in which an item of freight can travel over the latch unit. The latch unit is constructed to engage freight that approaches in a direction leading out of the cargo hold and allows freight to freely move when the freight approaches from all other directions. In addition, the latch unit allows freight to rotate while in the door region, while at the same time prevents freight from accidentally rolling out of the cargo hold.

Abstract: A freight-loading system in a cargo hold of an aircraft is provided that offers enhanced operating safety. The freight-loading system comprises a plurality of power drive units (PDUs), which can be actuated by control signals in such a way that items of freight can be maneuvered into or out of the cargo hold as well as within it. The power drive units (PDUs) are connected by control leads to control panels for actuation by personnel. A control maintenance computer (CMC) is provided and connected to the power drive units (PDUs) and the control panels, and is so designed that status information from the power drive units (PDUs) and the control panels can be read out, and that the power drive units (PDUs) and/or the control panels are controllable by the control maintenance computer (CMC).

Abstract: Roller drive units are used for conveying objects, in particular cargo containers, on a roller conveyor track of an aircraft. They comprise a drive motor, a planetary gear with an input connected to the drive motor and with a first as well as a second gear output. A drive roller is connected to the first gear output to propel the object and a lifting apparatus is connected to the second gear output to lift the drive roller out of a retracted resting position, in which the drive roller does not contact the object, into a raised operating position in which the drive roller can engaged with the object. A first brake is provided to slow down the drive roller and a second brake is provided to keep the lifting apparatus in position. To improve the traction characteristics and in particular to improve the force with which the drive roller can press against the object to be conveyed, the first and second brakes are constructed so as to be controllable.