US 11,945,603 B2
Freight carrier for accommodation in the cargo hold of an aircraft
Ralf Schliwa, Hamburg (DE); Gunda Hülsen, Hamburg (DE); Uwe Panzram, Hamburg (DE); Hermann Benthien, Hamburg (DE); Lars Uwe Hansen, Hamburg (DE); Paul Adrian Wichtmann, Hamburg (DE); Dirk Meiranke, Hamburg (DE); and Thomas Grabow, Hamburg (DE)
Assigned to Airbus Operations GmbH, Hamburg (DE)
Filed by Airbus Operations GmbH, Hamburg (DE)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/733,660.
Application 17/733,660 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2020/079842, filed on Oct. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 102019129389.8 (DE), filed on Oct. 30, 2019; and application No. 102020110598.3 (DE), filed on Apr. 17, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0332418 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. B64F 1/32 (2006.01); B64C 1/20 (2006.01); B64D 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC B64D 9/00 (2013.01) [B64C 1/20 (2013.01); B64F 1/322 (2020.01); B64D 2009/006 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A freight carrier for a cargo hold of an aircraft, the freight carrier comprising:
a base element that has a bearing face configured to bear on a floor area of a cargo hold of an aircraft;
a connector;
a connection assembly;
two parallel-running ducts; and
a first closing element;
wherein the base element has a base area, which is disposed on a side of the base element that faces away from the bearing face;
wherein the bearing face comprises outlet openings, through which air can exit the bearing face to form an air cushion between the bearing face and the floor area;
wherein the connection assembly connects the connector to the outlet openings;
wherein the connector is configured to be releasably connected to an outlet of a blower so that an air flow from the blower can be generated through the connector, through the connection assembly, and through and out of the outlet openings of the bearing face to form the air cushion;
wherein the base element has a lateral face which extends from the bearing face to the base area and encircles the base element;
wherein each of the ducts has at least one inlet opening in the lateral face and, from the inlet opening, extends parallel to the bearing face;
wherein the ducts are in the base element such that a fork of a forklift truck can be received in the ducts;
wherein the outlet openings are connected to a first one of the ducts such that an air flow from the first one of the ducts can be generated through the outlet openings, so the first one of the ducts is at least part of the connection assembly;
wherein the connector is connected to the first one of the ducts; and
wherein the first closing element is configured for closing at least one inlet opening of the first one of the ducts.