Cargo deck bearing

#1. Technical Field

#The present invention relates to the transfer of cargo containers, and more particularly relates to bearing assemblies utilized in mountings in aircraft to facilitate the rolling of cargo containers into and out of aircraft.

#2. Background Art

#Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the cargo deck bearing assembly (8) of the invention,

#FIG. 2 is a side view, partly in cross-section, of the cargo deck bearing assembly (8) shown in FIG. 1, and

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cargo deck bearing assembly (8) comprises a housing (10) formed of a base plate (12) and means integral therewith in the form of legs (14) having apertures (16) therein for affixing the housing to an airplane cargo deck. A plurality of cavities (18) arranged in a circle are provided in the base plate (12) opening into the upper surface (20) of the base plate (12). The cavities (18) are preferably generally hemispherical in shape, although other forms may be utilized. Cups (22) having a generally hemispherical shape are disposed one in each one of the cavities (18). A plurality of small bearing balls (24) are positioned in a single layer on the inner surface of each one of the cups (22). The small bearing balls (24) are arranged to cover a major portion of the inner surface of each one of the cups (22). A suitable lubricant (26) is contained within each of the cups (22).

#Mounted in each cavity (18) and supported by the small bearing balls (24) is a large bearing ball (28). A skid plate (30) is mounted on the upper surface (20) of the base plate (12) and affixed thereto by screws (32) or other suitable means. The skid plate (30) is provided with a plurality of circular apertures (34), one aperture (34) superposed over each one of the large bearing balls (28). The diameter of each aperture (34) must be sufficiently large to permit a portion of the large bearing ball (28) to extend beyond the surface of the skid plate (30) sufficiently to engage and support the bottoms of cargo containers. However, the diameter of each aperture (34) must still be smaller than the diameter of each large bearing ball (28) in order to retain the large and small bearing balls within the space defined by the cup (22) and the skid plate (30).

#A small area of the inner surface of each of the cups (22) at the lips thereof is left free of the small bearing balls (24) to permit lateral movement of the small bearing balls (24) when the are forced upwardly by rotation of the large bearing balls (28). The geometry is such that when the small bearing balls (24) are forced upwardly by the movement of the large bearing balls (28), they do not move straight upwardly where they would become trapped against the top cover plate (30), but, instead, when they reach the skid plate (30), they move laterally in the free space provided and recirculate in. A central aperture (36) is provided in the base plate (12) of the housing (10) in order to accomplish a weight reduction in the housing (10).