Abstract: An aircraft interior panel for supporting high-weight loads including a core panel sandwiched between structural plies, a panel insert embedded in the panel and passing through and interrupting the core panel, the insert having an elongate stem capped on each end with an enlarged flange, the elongate stem being arranged axially perpendicular to the core panel and the enlarged flanges being arranged parallel to the core panel, and facing sheets bonded outward of the panel insert for concealing the panel insert within the aircraft interior panel.

Abstract: A payload or cargo is delivered from a cargo hold of an aircraft during flight, by orienting the fuselage into a nose-up and tail-down position of at least 30 degrees off horizontal, and lowering the cargo from a cargo hold in the fuselage by means of one or more lines. Preferred vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft include tilt-rotor or tilt-wing aircraft, and especially preferred aircraft are capable of generating control moments with their rotors to assist in orientating the fuselage of the aircraft into a nose-up and tail-down position.

Abstract: An aircraft with at least two levels situated one above the other, including: a platform that can be moved between a first position and a second position, the first of these positions, as a lower position, being situated at a first level of the aircraft and the second position, as a higher position, being situated at a second level higher than that of the first level; an assembly of traction cables connected on the platform and a mechanism operating the cables for raising and lowering the platform; and an assembly of walls surrounding at least partially the platform and along which the platform moves.

Abstract: A floor structure in an aircraft includes a plurality of seat rails that extend parallel in relation to each other, and at least one floor panel. The floor panel extends over the seat rails and rests on the individual seat rails. In order to be able to fasten interior equipment components to the seat rails situated underneath the floor panels, the at least one floor panel includes a plurality of through-holes through which the interior equipment components of the aircraft can be locked into place on the seat rails.

Abstract: The present invention describes a modular hatrack for an interior of an aircraft, wherein the modular hatrack comprises at least one container and at least one housing to accommodate the container, wherein at least one component from the group comprising a personal supply channel, an electrical line, a light strip, an air duct for an air conditioning system, and an air outlet for an air conditioning system is integrated in the housing. The present invention also describes the use of the modular hatrack in an aircraft or in some other vehicle.

Abstract: A device intended for a hold that can receive containers and luggage simultaneously. The hold includes a freight loading system including rollers defining a rolling surface on which a container can move with the movement of the rollers. The device includes a unit including conveyor belts disposed longitudinally in the hold one after the other such as to extend over at least part of the length of the hold. Each conveyor belt includes an upper section configured to receive an object to be moved and each conveyor belt can move between a first raised position in which the upper section of the belt is located above the rolling surface defined by the rollers of the freight loading system and a second position in which the upper section of the belt is located below the rolling surface.

Abstract: A vertically movable passageway for a space in the ceiling region in an aircraft cabin. The passageway comprises a passageway floor and a displacement device, wherein the displacement device is designed to variably set the height (h1) of the passageway floor.

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: A device for stowage of carts including: a first compartment configured to receive carts lined up side by side; a second compartment configured to receive carts lined up side by side, including an aperture allowing cart entry and exit and arranged above the first compartment; a substantially horizontal platform capable of moving in a vertical direction between a lower position in which it is substantially at floor level and a higher position in which it is substantially level with a lower, substantially horizontal wall of the second compartment and facing the opening thereof; and a mechanism arranged in the second compartment for motorized transfer of at least one cart from the second compartment to the platform and vice versa.

Abstract: Structures, systems and methods provide a load-bearing aircraft flooring within an aircraft's fuselage. Load-supporting aircraft flooring systems preferably are provided with a longitudinally separated series of transverse bridges having an upper doubler flange which defines latitudinally separated upper openings, and a latitudinally separated series of beams which include an upper flange and a pair of separated depending web flanges received within respective upper openings of transverse bridges. The upper flanges and web flanges of the beams may thus be connected to the transverse bridges so as to support aircraft flooring panels connected to the beams. Seat tracks for attaching aircraft seats and/or other interior aircraft structures/monuments are preferably fixed to the upper flanges of the beams coincident with its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A load carrier for aligning a load of an aircraft is provided. The load carrier includes a carrier unit for mounting the load carrier on the aircraft, a load unit for mounting the load and a bearing unit for pivoting the load unit with respect to the carrier unit. The bearing unit has at least one curved rail element and at least one car element, which is displaceable along the rail element.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a cargo hold floor for a cargo hold of an aircraft. The cargo hold floor comprises a multiplicity of panels (110a, 110b) to form the cargo hold floor, wherein the panels have rail segments to form rails extending over several profile panels (120-130, 120?-129?) and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the aircraft. The rail segments comprise full seat rail segments (150, 150b) and partial seat rail segments (155a, 155b, 155b, 155b) for fixing of freight loading components. Such full seat rail segments and partial seat rail segments can be used advantageously to anchor freight items to the cargo hold floor or to fasten function elements there.

Abstract: The system comprises an outer container which is fixed, directly and fully, in the hold of the transport aeroplane (AC), and in which there is an inner container that can be moved longitudinally and brought from a first carrying position (AC) in which it is situated fully inside said outer container into a second off-loading position (P2), position (P2) in which it is longitudinally offset towards the rear of the aircraft (AC) so that a part of said inner container is then situated outside the transport aeroplane (AC).

Abstract: An air cargo loading system also includes a controller, a main control panel and a plurality of PDUs (PDUs), at least the controller and the PDUs being connected by a wired network. Each PDU has a motor, at least one driver roller element coupled to said motor, a light source, a light detector, and a processor. The light detector of each PDU is configured to receive and process an incoming coded light signal from a wireless remote control handset. The PDU's processor determines whether the received coded light signal is a valid command signal and, if so, provides a command information signal to the controller via the wired network. The controller decodes the command information signal and, in view of its knowledge of container locations, various switch settings and other status information, the controller then sends the appropriate control signals to turn on the required PDUs in response thereto.

Abstract: An aircraft fuselage with a shape elongated along a longitudinal axis X along a longitudinal axis of the aircraft that determines a direction toward the front along a direction of motion of the aircraft in flight. A front section with straight cross sections widening relative to the X axis, located at the front of the fuselage and ending in the front of the fuselage in a fuselage nose, and delimited at the rear by a cross section for joining to a rear part of the fuselage behind the front section. The front section includes a cockpit located above a floorboard between a cockpit bulkhead to the rear and a front base to the front.

Abstract: A mounting device is provided for a visual barrier of two areas of a passenger cabin of a transport. The mounting device provides an enlarged visual range in the cabin when the barrier is not used. The mounting device includes, but is not limited to a mounting module that is adapted for being inserted in a luggage compartment.

Abstract: The invention is a flying wing aircraft having a forward fuselage; an aft fuselage segment; a propulsion segments adapted to mate to the fuselage segments; a pair of wing segments adapted to mate with the propulsion segments. The invention further includes a center section adapted to fit between the forward and aft fuselage sections; the center section adapted to receive multiple compartment systems.

Abstract: A support for an aircraft seat, table or other piece of equipment has a lower support link that sweeps out a lateral arc. The lower support link cooperates with a conventional linear track to support the piece of equipment. The linear track provides fore/aft movement substantially orthogonal to a line tangent to the center of the lateral arc. A pilot link is operatively attached to the piece of equipment to form a four-bar linkage that maintains the equipment in a predetermined rotational attitude as the lower support link sweeps out its lateral arc.

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: The invention relates to a fixing rail for attaching loading devices, particularly rollers, locking bars or power drive units to the loading deck of an aircraft. This fixing rail comprises a first and a second rail, each rail having a cheek with first attachment devices, to which the loading devices can be fixed, and first floor sections, to which the cheek is attached by a lower edge, each first floor section having second attachment devices, by means of which the floor section can be attached to the loading deck. In this arrangement, the cheeks separated from each other are mountable on the loading devices, so that they are connected to each other by means of the loading devices and the loading deck, following mounting and attaching to the loading deck. In this way, a considerable weight saving is achieved along with increased variability of use of the fixing rail.

Abstract: An ergonomically improved stowage system includes a supporting structure, a bin having a volume with an opening to receive a load, the bin being movable with respect to the supporting structure from a closed to an open position, and an attaching mechanism for attaching the bin to the structure. The attaching mechanism includes a bin pivot axis that is located in substantial alignment with a center of gravity of the bin in the closed position.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for detecting obstructions, utilizing an obstruction detection system. According to one aspect of the disclosure, the system includes a moveable assembly that includes a moveable structure moveable between a stowed and operational configuration and has a leading surface facing a direction of movement when the moveable structure is moving between the stowed and operational configurations. A protective panel is attached to the moveable structure and has an outer surface separated from the leading surface by an over-travel distance. A proximity sensor detects a displacement of the protective panel towards the leading surface. A control module is responsive to at least one proximity sensor, such that when the proximity sensor detects the displacement of the protective panel towards the leading surface of the moveable structure so as to shorten the over-travel distance, the control module stops the movement of the moveable assembly.

Abstract: Quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg is used to make parts found in aerospace vehicles. Exemplary aerospace parts that are made using quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg include aircraft window frames, wing fairing supports, flange supports, frame gussets, rudder actuator brackets, shear ties, seat pedestals, cargo floor flange supports, storage bin fittings, antenna supports, torque tube pans, handle boxes, side guide fittings, wing box covers and intercostals.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft fuselage section comprising several longitudinal strengthening beams attached to the fuselage section lower panel and several longitudinal rails intended for supporting the floor boards, characterized by at least one crosspiece laid transversally between two strengthening beams and supporting one longitudinal rail, said crosspiece said crosspiece being mounted swiveling on the fuselage section lower panel in order to permit the rotation of the crosspiece around a longitudinal axis.

Abstract: An equipment support for attaching equipment to an aircraft comprises a gripper foot having a T-shaped slot that engages a track mounted to the aircraft floor. The gripper foot is mounted to a trunnion mount that enables the gripper foot to rotate freely about a vertical axis so that the gripper foot can negotiate curves along a non-linear track. The trunnion mount is mounted to the equipment support frame by means of a horizontal pivot. The horizontal pivot is held against rotation below a predetermined load by a torque-resisting element. If the floor track is warped, for example during a crash, the twisting loads transmitted from the floor track to the gripper foot overcome the torque-resisting element, which allows the trunnion mount and gripper foot to rotate with the floor track thereby allowing the gripper foot to remain attached to the track without imparting excessive loads on the track, gripper foot, or equipment support frame.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the installation of commercial components in an aircraft that features at least one equipment carrier for accommodating the components, wherein the at least one equipment carrier is arranged between a luggage rack and the skin of the aircraft and held on the aircraft structure such that it can be pivoted between a maintenance position and an installation position. In order to accommodate the commercial components in a space-saving fashion and to simplify the installation and maintenance work, the equipment carrier can be at least partially pivoted into the luggage rack and is accessible in order to perform installation and maintenance work from the luggage rack in the maintenance position.

Abstract: A rack includes a compartment which has an open face for inserting and removing luggage, a lower face and an end wall opposite the open face. This compartment is mounted such that it can pivot about a fixed pivot axis between an open position in which the open face of the compartment is accessible, and a closed position in which the open face of the compartment is retracted. It also includes a door that is pivot-mounted in such a way that this door impedes access to the open face when the compartment is in the closed position and allows free access to this face when the compartment is open. A connection mechanism connects the door and the compartment of the luggage rack in such a way that the pivoting movement of the compartment causes the door to pivot.

Abstract: Means for attaching installed parts (14) are cell-side attachment points (15) in a vehicle cell (11) of a vehicle, in particular of an aircraft (10), for conveying goods and passengers. Elastically coupling elements (25, 25a) are installed between the installed parts (14) and their cell-side attachment points (15).

Abstract: A system for supporting a load across non-intersecting beams each having a web depending from an upper chord with an upper surface generally parallel with a chordal plane includes at least one crossing member intersecting the beams at intersection loci. At each intersection locus the beam presents a channel receiving a crossing member in a nesting orientation in an installed orientation. The crossing member includes a support expanse configured for an abutting relation with the upper chord to present the upper surface and a top surface of the crossing member as coplanar in the installed orientation. The beam and the crossing member have aperture-pairs in register in the installed orientation. The apertures accommodate tension resisting members or compression resisting members coupled with the upper chord and traversing the crossing member for resisting tension or compression forces on the upper chord in the installed orientation.

Abstract: A cargo storage and handling system for aircraft. A rack assembly mounts in an upper portion of the fuselage to form a cargo area in the upper lobe thereof. The rack includes a series of frames that are suspended from pre-existing attachment points for luggage bins. Cargo rails mounted on the frames support containers for movement through the upper lobe cargo area. Cargo may be raised to the upper lobe cargo area from the main deck of the aircraft using a lift apparatus. The lift apparatus includes a platform that is raised/lowered by a lift mechanism, the lift mechanism being mounted to/or enclosed within a barrier between the cargo and personnel areas of the aircraft, such as a 9G Barrier. A cover apparatus closes a cargo hole in the main deck of the aircraft for personnel safety.

Abstract: A tie-down adapter for attaching a monument, such as an aircraft monument, to a floor structure, such as an aircraft cargo compartment floor. The tie-down adapter includes a base and a stud protruding from the base. The base includes a plurality of fastener through holes configured to align with an existing threaded hole pattern in the cargo compartment floor. The stud is configured to penetrate a mount opening of an attachment bracket on an aircraft monument to be attached. The stud has a threaded shaft configured to receive a fastener for fixing the tie-down adapter to the monument attachment bracket. The tie-down adapter can be provided in a system, and used in a method for mounting aircraft monuments to a cargo compartment floor.

Abstract: A lock is proposed for securing containers or similar freight on a cargo bay floor of an aircraft in a vertical direction perpendicular to the cargo bay floor and in a transverse direction perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the aircraft. The locking element comprises at least one lock attached to a frame for securing containers or similar freight and with a claw in the transverse direction of the aircraft to surround and hold a part section of the container. At least one lock is arranged mobile and fixable in a guide of the frame in order to adapt the spacing of the locks to containers of different sizes.

Abstract: In conventional aircraft cargo compartments panels or similar flat floor elements are fastened to floor beams or similar supporting elements that are installed in the body of the aircraft. Subsequently functional units such as roller elements, latches or PDUs are mounted and connected to one another by way of appropriate control conductors. It is proposed to fasten the floor elements permanently to the supporting beams so as to form prefabricated floor modules and to install these floor modules in the aircraft.

Abstract: An apparatus for transferring cargo between an upper, passenger deck and a lower, cargo deck of an aircraft. A lift platform raises palletized cargo from the lower deck through an opening formed in the upper deck. The drive mechanism is housed entirely within the lift platform itself. The platform is stabilized by flanking, scissors-action leg assemblies, that nest alongside the platform when stowed. The platform is stowed in the raised position, within the opening formed in the upper deck. Locking assemblies attach the lift platform to the sides of the opening so that the platform becomes a load-bearing structural component of the upper deck when stowed. A recess is formed in the lower deck for receiving the lift platform when lowered. A translating floor assembly having folding floor sections lowers to clear the recess, and then raises to define a floor surface over the opening when the lift platform is not in use.

Abstract: A locking element is described for securing containers, pallets or similar freight items in the cargo bay of an aircraft, wherein a first and a second locking claw are mounted on a frame swivellable from a lowered loading position into a raised working position for securing containers. A remotely controllable adjustment device is provided to change and adjust the state of the locking claws between the loading state in which the locking claws are in the loading position, a holding state in which the locking claws are in the working position and fixed, and a trigger state in which the locking claws are in the working position but can be swivelled from the working position into the loading position if a force acting on the locking claws exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Systems and methods for securing seats and other components to a seat track that may be implemented to provide flush symmetric and asymmetric seat track fitting assemblies that accommodate variances in the height of seat track extrusions. A component may be secured to mate directly with a seat track fitting surface and uppermost surface (flange) of a seat track, and with a fitting securing component (retainer or capture component) that provides additional load path in the lateral shear plane (X axis) while optimizing length of thread engagement of the component fastener.

Abstract: Floor elements for a loading deck of an aircraft may be provided. The floor elements may include a hollow profiled element having a cover plate and a base plate which are connected to each other by webs. In order to collect water and/or to heat the loading deck, the hollow profiled element is designed at least in some sections as a conduit for conducting liquids and/or gases. In this way, the cargo deck thus formed by the floor elements simultaneously has several functions, namely the actual cargo deck function and the function of a liquid collecting trough which can be heated or is used as a heater for the cargo hold.

Abstract: To secure containers in a cargo bay of an aircraft, locking elements are known comprising locking lugs which can move from a locked position to a rest position. The locking lugs engage in engagement recesses of freight items. On movement of the locking lugs from the locked position to the rest position, the locking lugs can seize in the engagement recesses. A locking element is proposed to which a pair of locking lugs is allocated which in the locked position each have a stop surface which can be brought into engagement on a stop edge of the engagement recess, wherein the locking lugs are mounted mobile such that on movement from the locked position to a rest position, the two stop surfaces separate from the stop edges. As a result the space required in the holding direction for the locking lugs and the risk of seizing of the locking lugs in the engagement recess are substantially reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rest module for accommodating a least one crew member of an aircraft, wherein the module comprises a first partial module. Further on the first partial module comprises a first section and a second section; wherein the first section and the second section are spatially divided. The first section comprises a first opening, a second opening and a third opening, wherein the three openings are different from each other. The first opening is adapted for providing an access from an above located area of the aircraft, the second opening is adapted for providing an access from the first section to a second partial module and the third opening is adapted for providing a separate access from the first section to the second section.

Abstract: A reconfigurable aircraft and associated methods. In one embodiment the reconfigurable aircraft comprises a plurality of payload retainers. The payload retainers are configured to receive and retain payloads, including fuel, armaments and sensors. The aircraft is configured to cooperate in flight with an airborne supply vehicle to receive the payloads from the supply vehicle.

Abstract: Different advantageous embodiments provide a method and apparatus to increase a clearance of a cargo area of an aircraft. The apparatus and method may comprise an aircraft with a cargo area. A tray system may have a plurality of segment trays with each segment tray positioned between a plurality of floor beams located underneath a surface of the floor of the cargo area. A plurality of rollers in the tray system may be configured to allow an object to be moved across the cargo area.

Abstract: In conventional aircraft cargo compartments panels or similar flat floor elements are fastened to floor beams or similar supporting elements that are installed in the body of the aircraft. Subsequently functional units such as roller elements latches or PDUs are mounted and connected to one another by way of appropriate control conductors. In the present invention it is proposed to fasten the floor elements permanently to the supporting beams so as to form prefabricated floor modules and to install these floor modules in the aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft hold including a floor having a substantially flat central part and a side part disposed along each longitudinal edge of the central part and inclined in relation thereto. The aircraft hold also includes at least one bench with a seat that can move between a position in which it is substantially parallel to the central part of the floor and a position in which it is folded against a wall of the hold.

Abstract: A securing device for a loading system in a cargo compartment of an aircraft. The securing device comprises at least one securing catch arranged in the region of a cargo compartment door, a control mechanism and an activation member, in particular a foot pedal.

Abstract: An aircraft capable of hovering, and having a fuselage in turn having a nose, a tail portion at the opposite end to the nose, and a cabin interposed between the nose and the tail portion; the cabin has a loading opening at the opposite end to the nose, and a first wall movable between a closed position engaging at least one portion of the loading opening, and an open position allowing free access to the portion of the loading opening; and, working from the tail portion towards the nose, the first wall in the open position extends on the opposite side of a first edge of the loading opening with respect to a second edge, opposite the first edge, of the loading opening.

Abstract: A cargo hold floor of an upper and/or a lower deck of an aircraft having a plane of symmetry which divides the cargo hold floor into a first half and a second half is disclosed, said cargo hold floor comprising locking gaps which each encompass all the locking elements located substantially on one level in the longitudinal direction (x direction) of the aircraft, in particular longitudinal locking elements for securing standardised cargo containers, in particular pallets and/or containers, in the longitudinal direction (x direction) of the aircraft whereby all the longitudinal locking elements of at least one locking gap are arranged in only one of the halves.

Abstract: An Environmental Control System (ECS) includes a pallet which supports at least one ECS component. The pallet defines a pallet surface that matches an aircraft outer mold line.

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: To be able to transport and replace in an autonomous manner one of its failing propulsion engines, a plane includes: a fuselage; propulsion engines maintained above the fuselage; maintenance wells traversing the fuselage substantially vertically with respect to the engines in which the engines can be lifted or lowered; a cargo compartment including a floor arranged in the fuselage, where the height, length and width dimensions of the cargo compartment are compatible with the transport of an engine; the cargo compartment and the wells have a common separation wall including an exit whose dimensions allow the passage of an engine; and a lower hatch or ramp for closing the lower opening of the well includes a position in which the upper surface of the ramp is substantially horizontal and substantially in the extension of the floor of the cargo compartment.

Abstract: A device for securing installed equipment in an airplane, with one or more oblong attachment rails, one or more attachment means for securing the attachment rails to an airframe structure, and one or more bracket units that can be attached to or in the attachment rails, wherein the bracket units can be attached to the built-in apparatuses to be secured.