Roller-and-rail cargo handling system with pallet-moving trolley

A roller-and-rail cargo handling system, comprising:

• a set of tracked rollers and side rails configured to receive a cargo pallet;
• and
• a trolley system for moving the cargo pallet along the tracked rollers, the trolley system including a trolley movable along a trolley track by one or more cables, the trolley including:
• (1) a body sized and configured for sliding beneath the cargo pallet on the set of tracked rollers,
• (2) a pawl disposed in a cavity of the body, the pawl being mounted for rotation between a closed position and an open position, the pawl in the open position extending above an upper surface of the body to engage a cutout of the cargo pallet and exert a moving force thereto, the pawl in the closed position being sufficiently within the cavity to permit the trolley to slide beneath the pallet without engagement thereof, and
• (3) a torsion spring configured to bias the pawl into the open position, such that the pawl is retained in the closed position by a separate mechanism opposing the torsion spring;
• wherein the separate mechanism is contact between the pawl and an underside of the pallet, such that movement of the trolley beneath the pallet causes the pawl to be rotated downward.

A method of moving a pallet of cargo in a roller-and-rail cargo handling system, comprising:

• bringing a trolley of the roller-and-rail cargo handling system to a position forward of the pallet, the trolley including a pawl mounted for rotation between a closed position and an open position, the pawl in the closed position enabling the trolley to be moved beneath the pallet to the forward position, the pawl transitioning to the open position when the trolley is in the forward position to extend upwardly and engage a cutout of a pallet to exert a moving force thereto;
• and
• subsequently moving the trolley to first bring the pawl into contact with the cutout of the pallet and then to push the pallet in the aft direction by force exerted by the pawl of the trolley,
• wherein the trolley further includes a torsion spring configured to bias the pawl into the open position, such that the pawl is retained in the closed position by a separate mechanism opposing the torsion spring, and
• wherein the separate mechanism is contact between the pawl and an underside of the pallet, such that movement of the trolley beneath the pallet causes the pawl to be rotated downward.