Aircraft and truck transportable pallet

Abstract

A pallet designed to be loadable onto both an aircraft and a truck (in particular a PLS truck or other truck utilizing a hook system such as those used to load traditional CROPs or flatracks) and interface with restraint systems on both the aircraft and the truck without the pallet having to be unpacked and repacked in the transition. This will generally be a pallet for use with both United States C-130 and C-17 aircraft and United States HEMTT-LHS or PLS trucks, but can be adapted for use with aircraft and/or transportation vehicles of different types and/or used by different militaries or civilian organizations throughout the world.

1 . A pallet for use with a truck and an aircraft comprising: 
 a deck having two spaced apart ends and two sides;    a bail attached to said deck at a first of said spaced apart ends;    an interface structure arranged along each of said two sides; and    an inner set of longitudinal channels;    wherein said interface structure allows said pallet to interface with a restraint system on said aircraft; and    wherein said inner set of longitudinal channels and said bail allow said pallet to interface with a restrain system on said truck.    
     
     
         2 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said restraint system on said aircraft is 463L compatible.  
     
     
         3 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said restraint system on said truck is a Pallet Load/unload System (PLS).  
     
     
         4 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said truck comprises a HEMTT-LHS truck.  
     
     
         5 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said pallet fits insides a standard 20 foot ISO container.  
     
     
         6 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said interface structure comprises an outer set of longitudinal channels, one of said longitudinal channels of said set attached to each of said sides.  
     
     
         7 . The pallet of  claim 6  wherein said interface structure further includes an adjustable pad attached to each of said longitudinal channels.  
     
     
         8 . The pallet of  claim 7  wherein said adjustable pad may be moved between at least two different positions relative to said deck.  
     
     
         9 . The pallet of  claim 8  wherein a first of said at least two positions allows said pallet to interface with said restraint system on an aircraft when said restraint system on an aircraft is arranged in a 88 inch configuration and a second of said at least two positions allows said pallet to interface with said restraint system on an aircraft when said restraint system on an aircraft is arranged in a 108 inch configuration.  
     
     
         10 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said bail is foldable relative to said deck.  
     
     
         11 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said bail is removable from said pallet.  
     
     
         12 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said bail is rigidly attached to said pallet.  
     
     
         13 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said deck comprises at least two 463L pallets.  
     
     
         14 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said pallet can be separated into at least two portions.  
     
     
         15 . The pallet of  claim 14  wherein said pallet can be separated into exactly two portions.  
     
     
         16 . The pallet of  claim 15  wherein the deck of each of said portions comprises a 463L pallet.  
     
     
         17 . The pallet of  claim 15  wherein said two portions are supported by support beams.  
     
     
         18 . The pallet of  claim 17  wherein said support beams can be moved relative to said deck.  
     
     
         19 . The pallet of  claim 18  wherein said movement is accomplished through the use of a screw.  
     
     
         20 . The pallet of  claim 15  wherein said two portions can be separated, each independently rotated 90 degrees, and then interface with said restraint system on an aircraft.  
     
     
         21 . The pallet of  claim 1  further including an articulating pad.  
     
     
         22 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said deck is removable from said inner set of channels.  
     
     
         23 . The pallet of  claim 1  wherein said aircraft is selected from the group consisting of: a C-17 and a C-130  
     
     
         24 . A pallet for use with a truck and an aircraft comprising: 
 a deck having two spaced apart ends and two sides;    means for interfacing said pallet with a restraint system on an aircraft; and    means for interfacing said pallet with a restrain system on a truck.