FR3016008A1 - HOOK FOR FREIGHT NET FOR AIR TRANSPORT. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cargo net hook for air transport, comprising a gripping zone (27), at least one closed ring (25) and / or at least one open hooking zone (24). The hook comprises a metal core (21) covered with a plastic overmolding (22).

Description

Hook for cargo net for air transport. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The field of the invention is that of stowage, for cargo nets, in air transport. More specifically, the invention relates to the stowage hooks of such cargo nets. Loads carried in the context of air freight can be of various forms and varied. They are usually placed on a pallet, and they should be stowed effectively on this pallet, to avoid any movement. This is done using a net for aerial pallet, which comes to press the loads on it, and to maintain them effectively. During the manipulations on the ground (loading, unloading) and in flight (air hole, even incident), the load can indeed be brought to undergo important accelerations. Thus, some regulatory configurations impose a resistance of the net, and associated hooks, up to 3 G upwards, and even 9 G forward. During static certification tests, the net and the hooks are thus subjected to a force greater than 17 tons, in the classic case of pallets of size 96x125 "(called pallets P6) .The purpose of the hooks is to shorten and adjust the shape of nets to freight transported.

To do this, the operator grasps the hook between his fingers, on the widest part of the hook, while he pulls the mesh of the net to stretch it. These meshes are crocheted using the hook, to adjust the net to the fairest on the load, on the entire periphery of it. The number of hooks is variable, depending on the size of the net. In the typical case of a pallet type P6, the number of hooks is generally of the order of 24.

These hooks are therefore very particular, and must therefore be: - ergonomically shaped, to facilitate gripping and setting up; very strong, to withstand heavy loads (a typical maximum load per hook is about 2225 kilos); non-aggressive, so as not to degrade or cut the webbing of the net; light weight, to meet the constraints to weight reductions and lower fuel consumption of air transport. 2. Prior Art Such hooks have been used for many, many years by all airlines, and are therefore well known to those skilled in the art. They are made of molded or forged metal. Although this known technique makes it possible to guarantee a good resistance to the load, it still does not meet all the objectives listed above, and poses two major problems.

First, these hooks are heavy, which goes against the requirements of weight reduction, and this is all the more crucial as the number of hooks per pallet is important, and that several pallets are generally present. This weight is particularly due to the fact that, to ensure good ergonomics for the user, the metal hooks must include a gripping area having a large area, which adds a lot of weight. This "ergonomic overweight" has no mechanical need, as far as the strength of the hook is concerned. This ergonomic requirement therefore adds unnecessary weight, and therefore additional fuel consumption. In addition, the metal hooks molded or forged may have, at least in some cases, sharp edges, which are aggressive with the webbing nets, and can therefore weaken these nets, cutting the straps under heavy load. It is currently not possible to guarantee a lack of sharp edge, in the context of mass production. Indeed, despite all the efforts made during manufacture, there is a risk that at least some of the hooks produced have a cutting edge in a production batch. In addition, the phenomenon of sharp edge increases with the wear of the mold, during mass production. It would be advisable to implement a unitary control of each piece, which is today prohibitive, economically. OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is in particular to overcome these various disadvantages. More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide an air cargo net hook, limiting or even eliminating the presence of cutting edges.

The invention also aims to provide such a hook, whose weight is reduced, compared to the hook of the prior art, for the same load resistance. The invention further aims, in at least some embodiments, to provide hooks more ergonomic and easy to handle. 4. Objective of the invention These objectives, as well as others which will appear later, are achieved according to the invention with the aid of a cargo net hook for air transport, comprising a gripping zone, at least one closed ring and / or at least one open hooking zone. According to the invention, this hook comprises a metal core, covered with a plastic overmoulding. It is thus possible to limit the weight of the hook, while maintaining its effectiveness.

According to a particular embodiment, at least one open hooking zone comprises a retaining portion of a mesh of said net and an insertion portion of said mesh, said introduction portion carrying at least one overmolded plastic outgrowth, punctually reducing the width of said introductory portion.

The presence of plastic overmoulding makes it possible to define, in a simple and efficient manner, particular and precise shapes, improving the use of the hook. According to a particular embodiment, the hook comprises at least one wing made solely of plastic.

Such a wing allows including easier handling of the hook. Because it does not participate in maintaining the straps, it is not necessary that it is provided with a metal core, which reduces the overall weight. According to a particular embodiment, the hook comprises at least one positioning light before overmolding. In this case, said light can be closed by a plug. According to a particular embodiment, the hook comprises two symmetrical open hooking zones. Other forms can of course be considered, overmoulding introducing greater freedom. According to a particular embodiment, said metal core may be made of steel or aluminum. Other metals or alloys are of course usable. According to a particular embodiment, the hook is able to withstand a load greater than 2000 kg. According to a particular embodiment, the hook comprises a fastening element to a rail of a cargo pallet.

Such a hook is also called a pawn. The invention also relates to a cargo maintenance system for air transport, comprising a net and at least one hook as described above. 5. DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description of particular embodiments of the invention, given as simple illustrative and non-limiting examples, and the appended drawings. among which: FIG. 1 illustrates an example of cargo net held by hooks according to the invention; FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of a hook according to the invention; - Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a hook according to the invention; FIG. 4 illustrates a third embodiment of a hook according to the invention. 6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in FIG. 1, a load 11, which may be any object or set of objects to be transported by air, is placed on an overhead pallet 12. Aerial pallets are generally of standard size (for example, 96x125 ") but the invention does not introduce any limitation on this aspect of course.To prevent the load 11 moves, during handling and transport, so we place a net 13 on the load , and a set of hooks 14 is set up by an operator, to hang each time one or more meshes of the net 13, so that it is perfectly tensioned and the load 11 is therefore perfectly immobilized. invention, the hooks 14 are hooks having a metal core 21 and a plastic overmoulding 22, as shown in Figure 2. The presence of a metal core 21 ensures high strength, equivalent to the existing brackets. Indeed, this metal part, for example steel, corresponds to the useful part, in terms of resistance to the load, known hooks. However, the part intended for manipulation (previously called "ergonomic overweight") can be removed, which offers a significant weight gain, and replaced by plastic. Overmolding 22 has many advantages. Not only does it reduce weight, it also ensures no aggressive edges, without the need for unit control during manufacturing. This avoids the risk of degradation and cutting of a strap, during transport, and therefore the risk of accident that could result. In addition plastic overmolding allows the realization of specific shapes, more easily than the metal. For example, adapted gripping areas can be easily defined, as needed. This improves the ergonomics and comfort of the operator, without significant increase in overall weight. Plastic overmolding also makes it possible to define complementary functions or improvements in a simple and effective way. For example, an outgrowth 23 may be provided to punctually reduce the opening of the attachment zone, so as to oppose the untimely exit of a hooked strap. This hook here comprises, in addition to the hooking area 24 mentioned above, which may, for example, receive one or more straps, a closed ring 25, and two through-holes 26. The ring 25 may be intended to receive a strap to which the hook is secured permanently. The or lights 26 can place and maintain the metal hook in the mold before molding. These lights can be kept, especially to verify that the metal part is well integrated. They can also be closed, after overmolding, by plugs masking them.

Finally, a gripping zone, or wing, 27 is provided. The metal core 22 does not extend in this area 27, which effectively reduces the overall weight. As also illustrated in FIG. 3, which presents another embodiment of a hook according to the invention, such a wing 31 of large surface area, and of reduced thickness relative to the remainder of the hook, solely made of plastic, facilitates grasping and manipulation. FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of a hook according to the invention, comprising two attachment zones 41 and 42, symmetrically distributed around a central axis 43 (and schematically defining an anchor). The upper part of the hook comprises two gripping wings 44 and 45.

The hooks according to the invention may also be pawns, allowing the fastening of the cargo net to a pallet, equipped with a rail holding these pins. Conventionally, such pins are removable and movable along the rail, and can be locked in the desired position.

For the same reasons as explained above, such a pin, or at least its portion allowing attachment, may have a metal core covered with a plastic overmoulding. According to the embodiments, the portion of the pin for securing with the rail may not be covered by overmolding. The use of plastic overmolding still offers many complementary advantages. In particular, it makes it possible to affix a marking, directly during the molding, for example to number the hooks, indicate the origin and the date of manufacture, specify conditions and limits of use, mention a number of patent, ... It is also possible to adapt the color of the hooks, to make them more visible, to differentiate them according to categories, or to associate them with the colors of the manufacturer or the airline.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Hook for cargo net for air transport, comprising a gripping zone (27, 31, 44, 45), at least one closed ring (25) and / or at least one open hooking zone (24), characterized in that it comprises a metal core (21), covered with a plastic overmoulding (22). 2. hook for cargo net according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one open hooking zone (24) comprises a retaining portion of a mesh of said net and an insertion portion of said mesh, said introducer portion carrying at least one protrusion (23) overmolded plastic, punctually reducing the width of said introduction portion. 3. Hook for cargo net according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that it comprises at least one wing (27, 31, 44,45) made solely of plastic. 4. hook for cargo net according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises at least one positioning slot (26) before overmolding. 5. cargo net hook according to claim 4, characterized in that said slot (26) is closed by a plug. 6. Hook for cargo net according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises two symmetrical open hooking zones (41, 42). 7. hook for cargo net according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said metal core (21) is made of steel or aluminum. 8. Hook for cargo net according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it is able to withstand a load greater than 2000 kg. 9. hook for cargo net according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it comprises a fastening element to a rail of a pallet cargo. 10. Freight holding system for air transport, characterized in that it comprises a net and at least one hook comprising a gripping zone (27, 31, 44, 45), at least one closed ring (25) and / or at least one open hooking zone (24), said hook comprising a metal core (21), covered with a plastic overmoulding (22).