Cargo latch

Details Cargo latch Cargo latch

1999-04-15

2001-08-07

Dayoan, D. Glenn (Department: 3612)

Freight accommodation on freight carrier

Load bearer accommodation

Load bearer tripped retainer*

C410S080000, C244S118100

Reexamination Certificate

active

06270300

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cargo latch for use in restraining objects such as containers, pallets and the like, against movement with respect to a floor of a cargo hold, in particular the cargo hold of an aircraft.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
To secure containers, pallets and the like in particular to the floor of a cargo hold in an aircraft, latches are known that comprise a frame and at least one latch hook or restraining hook.
The latch described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,991 comprises a frame to attach the latch to the floor of the cargo hold and a base pivotably mounted on the frame. The base comprises at its end away from the frame two hooked lugs pointing away from one another, which are integrally joined to the base and can be pivoted therewith. The arrangement of frame, base and hooked lug formed together with the base is so constructed that the hooked lug overlaps and rests on a holding strip of a freight container when the latter is in its final storage position, securing the container against vertical and lateral slippage. The base further forms a lateral guide mechanism when the container is being moved into its final storage position. The base together with the hooked lug can be pivoted to the left, out of its vertical operating position into a resting position, and to the right into a retracted position below the floor of the cargo space. A spring urges the base, together with its integrally formed hooked lug, out of the retracted position or out of the resting position into a vertical operating position. When the base is in the resting position, a manually actuated catch keeps it releasably in that position.
In practice it is common for a container being moved into its final storage position to strike the hooked lug-bearing base of the latch from the side, or the projections or holding strips of the container provided for its immobilization scrape against the base. In this case the base is pivoted in the direction of container movement, and the hooked lugs that pivot along with the base can become caught against the projections or a holding strip of the container. Then it is necessary to move the container back and forth several times so that the container can ultimately be brought into its correct storage position and secured there in the lateral and vertical directions by the the latches so designed. This sort of jamming delays loading and unloading of the cargo space and, because the operating personnel are under time pressure during these processes, often makes them take rather harsh measures in order to store the containers as quickly as possible. The use of force not uncommonly damages the latch in ways so subtle that they are not noticed at first but later, as a result of the severe vibration during flight, can make the latch nonfunctional. If several latches are so damaged, there is a risk that during the flight the freight container will no longer be held securely in its final storage position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a cargo latch which has an increased reliability but with little added cost.
According to the present invention there is provided a cargo latch for restraining an object against movement with respect to a floor of a cargo hold, comprising a frame, a first shaft fixedly mounted within the frame, a base comprising an upper end and a lower end which is rotatably mounted on the shaft in order that the base can be pivoted with respect to the frame, and a restraining hook which is pivotally mounted to the upper end of the base.
A first important aspect of the invention is that the restraining hook is not integrally formed with the base, which can be pivoted with respect to the frame of the latch; instead, the base is provided with at least one restraining hook that can be pivoted with respect to the base of the latch. Hence, when a container or the like strikes the latch from the side, the base folds down in the direction of movement and as it does so, the pivotable restraining hook also moves out of the way. This effectively prevents the container from becoming jammed against the latch and the container can then be brought into its final storage position without difficulty. A base that has been so pivoted can then raises itself back into a vertical operating or restraining position, and a restraining hook that pivots with respect to the base can likewise rotate into its operating or restraining position above a holding strip of the container or the like and hence secure the container against lateral or vertical slippage. Because a cargo latch in accordance with the invention does not become jammed against the container, the operating staff can rapidly and unproblematically bring the container into its final storage position, and there is no need to force the container against the latch.
Another important aspect of the invention is that the side surface of the base that faces the container is provided with a passage or an aperture to accommodate a roller means such as a deflecting or guide roller, which projects somewhat beyond the side surface of the base. This measure facilitates the transport of the container or the like into its final storage position. In addition, the deflecting roller absorbs impacts during the transport of the container into its final storage position and also reduces the risk of damage to the latch. Furthermore, because of the deflecting roller it is possible to reduce the maintenance frequency of the cargo latch without making it less reliable. Instead of replacing the whole cargo latch, it often suffices merely to replace the deflecting roller.
Advantageously, the deflecting roller is mounted on a shaft or axle which passes through the base and about which the restraining hook also rotates, so that only a few manual operations are needed, e.g. in the course of maintenance work, to replace both the deflecting roller and the restraining hook. The multifunctional application of this axle or shaft for pivoting the restraining hook also means that no additional elements are needed and that a cargo latch in accordance with the invention is lightweight and of small dimensions. The use of few components to construct the latch enables uncomplicated maintenance and manufacture of the latch, which improves the security and reliability of the latch.
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.


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patent: 0 497 045 A1 (1992-08-01), None
patent: WO 96/28719 (1996-09-01), None

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