A DESIGN STUDY OF AN AIRCRAFT CARGO-HANDLING SYSTEM FOR HIGH-FLOOR AIRCRAFT

摘要

The purpose of this study is to investigate and design a cargo handling system for the following high-floor aircraft (C-54, C-97, C-118, C-121, KC-135, and the 1920 which is representative of the swing-tail jet transports). This cargo handling system would reduce the loading and off-loading time, thus effectively increasing the utilization of the aircraft. The wide variety of cargo compartment configuration represented by the high floor aircraft were thoroughly analyzed in order to derive a single pallet size which would provide the best utilization of the compartment space. The cargo handling system recommended as a result of the study utilizes rigid, flat pallets, 5 feet by 7 feet in size equipped with web cages for the consolidation and unitization of loads. Ball conveyors at aircraft door entrance provides omni-directional movement of the pallets for proper alignment between the guide rails in the aircraft. Roller conveyors on the floor permit moving the pallet to the proper location in the cargo compartment where quick action locking pins provide the restraint for flight. A self-contained loading capability, jettisoning problems, and application of the system to the Civil Reserve Air Fleet were also studied.