US3861541A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intermodal unitized cargo control system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-02-07
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Granted: 1975-01-21
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Expires: 1992-02-07
Abstract
Abstract Airborne unit load devices (cargo containers, pallets, bins, vans and boxes, etc.) presented for loading at the aircraft cargo opening are translated into the aircraft and positioned for final placement therein by a set of retractable transverse mechanisms. The unit load device is then finally placed and lowered by means of a traveling carriage equipped with low-profile roller supported fingers. Serrated land and groove structure on the under surface of the unit load device interengages with a complemental floor structure as the unit load device is lowered into place. This prevents inadvertent lateral, longitudinal and vertical shifting of the unitized load caused by intransit stress or impact. Unloading from the aircraft is accomplished by reversing the loading process. Unit load devices leaving the aircraft are placed upon a ground handling attachment pallet for immediate or later transfer to and between truck, rail car and freight terminal. Upper surface of the ground handling attachment pallet is structured to interfit with the under surface of the unit load device to effect a positive cooperative engagement. The lower surface of the ground handling attachment pallet is structured to interfit with mating structure on the supporting surface of truck or rail car, thus locking together the cargo load, unit load device, ground handling attachment pallet and the vehicle, which prevents inadvertent shifting of the load caused by intransit stress or impact. Forklift tine pockets around the periphery of the ground handling attachment pallet facilitate its lift and placement by conventional load handling machinery. The interfitting groove structure on the vehicle floor supplies additional structural strength when securely installed or when integrally incorporated during vehicle construction. While in restraint position all mating structures complement each other by acting as a single laminated member stronger in bending than the sum of the separate members individually. Thus, the resultant strength of the supporting floor structure tends to increase as a function of the practical weight of the unit load placed upon it.
Inventors
- 👤 George H Taft
- 👤 Robert L Yelland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:44
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64D; B64D9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
363 words
An intermodal unitized cargo control system which restrains, handles, positions and structurally supports unitized loads for transportation in aircraft and on surface transport vehicles, comprising: a. a unitizing load device bottom anchoring structure consisting of first anchoring means distributed substantially over its under surface and a second anchoring means distributed over the load supporting surface of its transporting vehicle substantially corresponding to the distribution of first anchoring means, the interengagement thereby effected between first and second anchoring means resulting in: truss-like augmentation of load bearing surface, increasing its allowable load; limitation of transverse and lengthwise movement of the load relative to the aircraft or vehicle load support structure; and substantial augmentation of inflight vertical restraint capability of standard industry unitized load latch mechanisms disposed to engage the side edges of said unit load devices; b. an intermediate attachment pallet or structure substantially corresponding in dimensions to the length and width of the unitizing load device, having an upper surface essentially complementary to and interengagable with the first anchoring means on under surface of said unit load device, and a lower surface essentially complementary to and interengagable with second anchoring means on transporting vehicle''s load support surface; said upper and lower surfaces separated by deep web sections having channeled openings on its four peripheral sides providing handling means for conventional tine-equipped and other ground handling machinery; c. a compact retractable low-profile transverse mechanism device capable of moving or shifting heavy unit load devices with smooth or irregular under surfaces across aircraft or vehicle load supporting surfaces and within constricted compartments with minimum clearance between unit load and vehicle structure, and of being retracted sufficiently to permit a superimposing unit load device whose under surface incorporates first anchoring means to be anchored to a surrounding second anchoring means distributed over the aircraft or vehicle''s supporting surface; d. a powered carriage-device operating system limited to prescribed track or travel ways for moving, handling, loading, unloading and storage of unit load devices: in, on and between aircraft, trucks, rail cars, or other cargo handling and transporting vehicles; in multilevel cargo terminals, depots, storage areas, specialized connective ways, passages, tunnels, viaducts, bridges, turntables and container terminal access areas.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
363 words
An intermodal unitized cargo control system which restrains, handles, positions and structurally supports unitized loads for transportation in aircraft and on surface transport vehicles, comprising: a. a unitizing load device bottom anchoring structure consisting of first anchoring means distributed substantially over its under surface and a second anchoring means distributed over the load supporting surface of its transporting vehicle substantially corresponding to the distribution of first anchoring means, the interengagement thereby effected between first and second anchoring means resulting in: truss-like augmentation of load bearing surface, increasing its allowable load; limitation of transverse and lengthwise movement of the load relative to the aircraft or vehicle load support structure; and substantial augmentation of inflight vertical restraint capability of standard industry unitized load latch mechanisms disposed to engage the side edges of said unit load devices; b. an intermediate attachment pallet or structure substantially corresponding in dimensions to the length and width of the unitizing load device, having an upper surface essentially complementary to and interengagable with the first anchoring means on under surface of said unit load device, and a lower surface essentially complementary to and interengagable with second anchoring means on transporting vehicle''s load support surface; said upper and lower surfaces separated by deep web sections having channeled openings on its four peripheral sides providing handling means for conventional tine-equipped and other ground handling machinery; c. a compact retractable low-profile transverse mechanism device capable of moving or shifting heavy unit load devices with smooth or irregular under surfaces across aircraft or vehicle load supporting surfaces and within constricted compartments with minimum clearance between unit load and vehicle structure, and of being retracted sufficiently to permit a superimposing unit load device whose under surface incorporates first anchoring means to be anchored to a surrounding second anchoring means distributed over the aircraft or vehicle''s supporting surface; d. a powered carriage-device operating system limited to prescribed track or travel ways for moving, handling, loading, unloading and storage of unit load devices: in, on and between aircraft, trucks, rail cars, or other cargo handling and transporting vehicles; in multilevel cargo terminals, depots, storage areas, specialized connective ways, passages, tunnels, viaducts, bridges, turntables and container terminal access areas.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
In an intermodal cargo control system as claimed in claim 1, including the said unitizing load device bottom anchoring structure, comprising: a. first anchoring means including a structure comprising parallel land-like projections complementary to and interengagable with second anchoring means on vehicle support surface including a structure comprising parallel groove-like recesses; both anchoring means disposed in rows lengthwise to line of travel limiting translational movement of first anchoring means transversely of said second anchoring means from intransit lateral inertial forces; b. first anchoring means including parallel alternating land-like projections and alternate second anchoring means on vehicle support surface including symmetrical angular upwardly projecting knobs arranged in parallel rows lengthwise and transversely to transporting vehicle line of travel permitting facile engagement with said first anchoring means limiting its translational movement caused by intransit inertial forces laterally of the groove-like projections of said first anchoring means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
a thin, strong, expandable load raising mechanism including roller supported track mounted lowprofile finger assemblies capable of insertion beneath a unit load device anchored to its aircraft or surface vehicular supporting surface and by applied force capable of raising said load device from its anchored position for purposes of moving, repositioning, or otherwise relocating said unit load device in, on or between said aircraft or surface vehicles and other said cargo terminal facilities, storage areas, access ways, etc;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
a thin, strong, expandable load raising mechanism including roller supported track mounted lowprofile finger assemblies capable of insertion beneath a unit load device anchored to its aircraft or surface vehicular supporting surface and by applied force capable of raising said load device from its anchored position for purposes of moving, repositioning, or otherwise relocating said unit load device in, on or between said aircraft or surface vehicles and other said cargo terminal facilities, storage areas, access ways, etc;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
capability for receiving an endless cable, movable in either direction from a remote source which, when operated in gang or unison with other said transverse mechanism assemblies, moves a unitized load device into or out of a constricted area or compartment with positive control of said load movement to provide adequate protection from scraping or impact damage to unit load device and said compartment such as an aircraft cargo hold, truck or rail car body, container cargo terminal storage cubicle or tunnel, etc.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
capability for receiving an endless cable, movable in either direction from a remote source which, when operated in gang or unison with other said transverse mechanism assemblies, moves a unitized load device into or out of a constricted area or compartment with positive control of said load movement to provide adequate protection from scraping or impact damage to unit load device and said compartment such as an aircraft cargo hold, truck or rail car body, container cargo terminal storage cubicle or tunnel, etc.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
342 words
In an intermodal cargo control system as claimed in claim 2, including the said projections and recesses, comprising: a. symmetrical interengagable teeth disposed at an angle to the perpendiCular and arranged along the sides of said projections of first anchoring means meshing with complementary symmetrical teeth arranged along the sides of said recesses of second anchoring means disposed at an angle to the perpendicular, the two anchoring means pressed together by the tendency of induced or intransit inertial forces to move the first anchoring means lengthwise of said second anchoring means, and limiting the translational movement lengthwise of aircraft or vehicle line of travel; b. symmetrical interengagable teeth arranged along the sides of said recesses of second anchoring means including teeth of rectangular section, requiring, for anchoring first anchoring means to second anchoring means, an intermediate adapter device including a pallet-like structure with its upper surface complementary to and interengagable with said first anchoring means; and with its under surface complementary to and engagable with said teeth of rectangular section along the sides of said second anchoring means on the vehicle supporting surface, limiting translational movement of the supported load relatively and lengthwise to the line of travel of surface transport vehicles such as trucks and rail cars; c. symmetrical interengagable teeth arranged along the sides of and essentially aligned with the vertical direction of upwardly projecting knobs of alternate second anchoring means including teeth of rectangular section requiring, for anchoring first anchoring means to second anchoring means, an intermediate adapter device including a pallet-like structure attachable at its upper surface by complementary interengagement with the angular configuration of the first anchoring means; and with its under surface complementary to and engagable with said teeth of rectangular section essentially aligned with the direction of said knobs on alternate second anchoring means on the transport vehicle''s supporting surface limiting translational movement of the supported load transversely of and lengthwise to the supporting vehicle line of travel; the pallet-like attachment structure interengagable with second anchoring means in any of four positions at 90* increments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
a powered mechanism including a compact electromechanical track mounted carriage for providing power to raise or lower said finger assemblies and for moving a loaded or unloaded unitizing load or other cargo carrying device along said low-profile trackways and said displacement devices by means of direct, remote or programmed electrical or electronic control of said carriage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
a powered mechanism including a compact electromechanical track mounted carriage for providing power to raise or lower said finger assemblies and for moving a loaded or unloaded unitizing load or other cargo carrying device along said low-profile trackways and said displacement devices by means of direct, remote or programmed electrical or electronic control of said carriage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a compact retractable low-profile transverse mechanism assembly as claimed in claim 1, including the said means for moving or shifting unit load devices, comprising:
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a powered carriage-device operating system limited to prescribed track or travel ways, as claimed in claim 1, including the means for controlled handling of said unit load devices, comprising:
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-20 | 1978-07-22 | 1979-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-20 | 1982-07-22 | 1983-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-20 | 1986-07-22 | 1987-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |