US 7,093,797 B2Granted

Adaptable payload apparatus and methods

AssigneeThe Boeing Company

InventorsMartin R. Grether, Raymond R. Reed, W. Forrest Frantz

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods for beaming some or all payload component loads out to surrounding support structure and adaptably coupling payload assemblies to a support structure are disclosed. In one embodiment, a payload assembly includes a payload member and at least one payload support. The payload member is adapted to be positioned proximate the support structure, and the at least one payload support is coupled to the payload member and is adapted to operatively engage at least one of the elongated supports of the support structure. The at least one payload support is further adapted to beam loads from the payload member to the at least one elongated support, and to be moveable with the payload member relative to the support structure. In one particular embodiment, the payload support includes an end portion adapted to engage with a top surface of the elongated support.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A payload assembly adapted to be secured to a support structure having a plurality of elongated, spaced apart supports, comprising:

a payload member having a substantially flat portion adapted to be positioned proximate the support structure, the substantially flat portion having a lateral edge that includes a recess;
at least one payload support coupled to the substantially flat portion and adapted to span between an adjacent pair of elongated supports of the support structure, the at least one payload support having first and second end portions that are adapted to engage with a top surface of each of the adjacent pair of elongated supports, the first end portion of the payload support including an offset flat portion, the lateral edge of the substantially flat portion being substantially parallel with and adjacent to a corresponding one of the elongated supports such that the offset flat portion is fittingly engaged within the recess and is substantially co-planar with the substantially flat portion, the at least one payload support being adapted to beam loads from the payload member to the adjacent pair of elongated supports, the at least one payload support further being adapted to be disengagable from the adjacent pair of elongated supports and moveable with the payload member relative to the support structure.

An assembly, comprising:

a floor assembly including a plurality of elongated engagement members, the engagement members being spaced apart and approximately parallel, each engagement member including a top surface;
and
a payload assembly including:
a payload member having a substantially flat portion positioned proximate the floor assembly, the substantially flat portion having a lateral edge that includes a recess;
at least one payload support coupled to the substantially flat portion and spanning between an adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the at least one payload support having first and second end portions coupled to the top surface of each of the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the first end portion of the payload support including an offset flat portion, the lateral edge of the substantially flat portion being substantially parallel with and adjacent to a corresponding one of the elongated supports such that the offset flat portion is fittingly engaged within the recess and is substantially co-planar with the substantially flat portion, the payload support being adapted to beam loads from the payload member to the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the at least one payload support being further adapted to be decoupled from the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members and moveable with the payload member relative to the floor assembly.

2 more elements

An aircraft, comprising:

a fuselage operatively coupled to an airframe;
a propulsion system operatively coupled to the airframe;
a floor assembly disposed within the fuselage and coupled to the airframe, the floor assembly including a plurality of elongated engagement members coupled to the airframe, the engagement members being spaced apart and approximately parallel, each engagement member including a top surface;
and
a payload assembly including
a payload member having a substantially flat portion positioned proximate the floor assembly, the substantially flat portion having a lateral edge that includes a recess;
at least one payload support coupled to the substantially flat portion and spanning between an adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the at least one payload support having first and second end portions coupled to the top surface of each of the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the first end portion of the payload support including an offset flat portion, the lateral edge of the substantially flat portion being substantially parallel with and adjacent to a corresponding one of the elongated supports such that the offset flat portion is fittingly engaged within the recess and is substantially co-planar with the substantially flat portion, the payload support being adapted to beam loads from the payload member to the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members, the at least one payload support being further adapted to be decoupled from the adjacent pair of elongated engagement members and moveable with the payload member relative to the floor assembly.

4 more elements

A method of securing a payload to a support structure, comprising:

coupling a plurality of elongated engagement members of a floor assembly to the support structure, the engagement members being spaced apart and approximately parallel, each engagement member including an engagement surface;
and
providing a payload assembly including a payload member that includes a substantially flat portion having a lateral edge that includes a recess, and a payload support coupled to the substantially flat portion, the payload support having first and second end portions and being adapted to span between an adjacent pair of engagement members;
removably coupling the first and second end portions of the payload support with an upper surface of each of the adjacent pair of engagement members, wherein the first end portion of the payload support includes an offset flat portion, the lateral edge of the substantially flat portion being substantially parallel with and adjacent to a corresponding one of the elongated supports such that the removably coupling includes fittingly engaging the offset flat portion within the recess, the offset flat portion being substantially co-planar with the substantially flat portion;
and
at least partially transmitting loads from the payload member through the payload support to the adjacent pair of engagement members.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.