초록 ▼

A cargo transfer system (10) for loading a unit-load (26) into and unloading the unit-load from the lower hold (12) of an aircraft fuselage (14) and for transferring the unit-load into and out of storage position along the fuselage, includes a tiltable platform (22) constructed with a lateral belt d

A cargo transfer system (10) for loading a unit-load (26) into and unloading the unit-load from the lower hold (12) of an aircraft fuselage (14) and for transferring the unit-load into and out of storage position along the fuselage, includes a tiltable platform (22) constructed with a lateral belt drive in the form of conveyors (32) to receive the unit-load from ground equipment. After receipt of the unit-load (26) the platform (22) is returned to a horizontal position thereby causing the unit-load to be removed from the lateral belt conveyors (32) and instead supported by a longitudinal belt drive in the form of belt conveyors (34) and (35) mounted on the lower deck (24) of the aircraft. Transfer platform (22) also includes a longitudinally disposed idler roller subassembly (36) adapted to raise and lower with a tilting of the platform so that when the platform is tilted downwardly to receive or discharge the unit-load, the roller subassembly is disposed below lateral belt conveyors (32) and when the platform is returned to horizontal position, the roller subassembly rises upwardly relative to platform (22) to assist longitudinal belt conveyors (34) and (35) in supporting and transferring the unit-load.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A powered cargo transfer system for an aircraft having a cargo hold and an access opening in the side of the fuselage of the aircraft for moving loads into and out of the cargo hold, said cargo transfer system comprising: a. a tiltable conveying plane mounted on the aircraft and positioned adj

1. A powered cargo transfer system for an aircraft having a cargo hold and an access opening in the side of the fuselage of the aircraft for moving loads into and out of the cargo hold, said cargo transfer system comprising: a. a tiltable conveying plane mounted on the aircraft and positioned adjacent the access opening; b. first belt drive means mounted on said conveying plane, said first belt drive means including at least one belt conveyor oriented generally laterally to the length of the fuselage and defining a first load-carrying surface and means on board the aircraft for driving said first belt drive means belt conveyor; c. means for tilting said plane laterally relative to the length of the fuselage between a first position wherein the side of the plane adjacent the fuselage opening is tilted downwardly from the horizontal, and a second, generally horizontal position; d. second belt drive means positioned adjacent the access opening and oriented generally transversely to said first belt drive means, said second belt drive means including at least one belt conveyor defining a second load-carrying surface retracted beneath adjacent portions of said first load-carrying surface when said plane is in first, tilted position and disposed above said first load-carrying surface when said plane is disposed in second, horizontal position and means on board the aircraft for driving said second belt drive means belt conveyor; and e. third belt drive means extending substantially longitudinally along the cargo hold and defining a third load-carrying surface disposed substantially coplanar with said second load-carrying surface. 2. The cargo transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said conveying plane includes first auxiliary conveyor means mounted on said plane in an orientation generally parallel to said first belt drive means, said first auxiliary conveyor means defining a first auxiliary load-carrying surface disposed in substantially coplanar relationship with the first load-carrying surface to assist said first load-carrying surface in supporting and moving loads. 3. The cargo transfer system according to claim 2, wherein said first auxiliary conveyor means is composed of a plurality of spaced-apart rollers and mounting means for antifrictionally mounting said rollers on said plane. 4. A powered cargo transfer system for an aircraft having a cargo hold and an access opening in the side of the fuselage of the aircraft for moving loads into and out of the cargo hold, said cargo transfer system comprising: a. a tiltable conveying plane positioned adjacent the access opening; b. first belt drive means mounted on said conveying plane, said first belt drive means oriented generally laterally to the length of the fuselage and defining a first load-carrying surface; c. means for tilting said plane laterally relative to the length of the fuselage between a first position wherein the side of the plane adjacent the fuselage opening is tilted downwardly from the horizontal, and a second, generally horizontal position; d. second belt drive means positioned adjacent the access opening and oriented generally transversely to said first belt drive means, said second belt drive means defining a second load-carrying surface retracted beneath adjacent portions of said first load-carrying surface when said plane is in first, tilted position and disposed above said first load-carrying surface when said plane is disposed in second, horizontal position; e. third belt drive means extending substantially longitudinally along the cargo hold and defining a third load-carrying surface disposed substantially coplanar with said second load-carrying surface; f. second auxiliary conveyor means mounted on said plane in an orientation generally parallel to said second belt drive means, said second auxiliary conveyor means defining a second auxiliary load-carrying surface; and g. means for raising and lowering said second auxiliary conveyor means to position the second auxiliary load-carrying surface below the first load-carrying surface when said plane is in first, tilted position, and above the first load-carrying surface in substantial coplanar relationship with the second load-carrying surface when said plane is in second, horizontal position. 5. The cargo transfer system according to claim 4, wherein said second auxiliary conveyor means comprising: a. a subframe; b. a plurality of rollers; and c. means for antifrictionally mounting said rollers on said subframe. 6. The cargo transfer system according to claim 4, wherein said raising and lowering means is automatically actuated by the tilting movement of said plane. 7. The cargo transfer system according to claim 4, wherein said first belt drive means is composed of at least two spaced-apart, parallel belt conveyors, and said second auxiliary conveyor means is disposed between said pair of belt conveyors. 8. The cargo transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said tilting means includes means for pivoting said conveying plane about a pivot axis extending longitudinally of the fuselage. 9. The cargo transfer system according to claim 8, wherein the pivot axis of said plane is offset from the center of the plane toward the cargo hold opening to bias said plane to tend to automatically pivot to its second, horizontal position when a load is uniformly placed on said plane. 10. The cargo transfer system according to claim 1, further comprising abutment and guide means disposed along the portion of said plane opposite the cargo hold opening to act as a stop for a load entering the cargo hold on said first load-carrying surface and guide the load for movement on said second load-carrying surface. 11. The cargo transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said second belt conveyor means is located within the perimeter of said plane. 12. The cargo transfer system according to claim 11, wherein said second belt drive means is secured to the fuselage and extends upwardly through said plane when said plane is in second position. 13. The cargo transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said second belt drive means is mounted on the fuselage to maintain the elevation of said second load-carrying surface stationary relative to the fuselage. 14. The cargo transfer system according to claim 1, wherein said third belt drive means is composed of a series of individual belt conveyor assemblies disposed in end-to-end adjacent relationship along the length of the cargo hold. 15. The cargo transfer system according to claim 14, wherein each of said belt conveyor assemblies is composed of a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart endless belt subassemblies and means for in-unison powering said endless belt subassemblies. 16. The cargo transfer system according to claim 14, further including third auxiliary conveyor means extending along the cargo hold to define a third auxiliary load-carrying surface to assist said third load-carrying surface in supporting and moving loads. 17. The cargo transfer system according to claim 1, further comprising third auxiliary conveyor means extending along the cargo hold to define a third auxiliary load-carrying surface to assist said third load-carrying surface in supporting and moving loads. 18. A powered station for loading and unloading cargo through an opening in the side of a cargo hold in a direction generally transverse to the length of the hold and moving the cargo longitudinally along the hold, comprising: a. a tiltable conveying plane disposed within the cargo hold at the hold opening, said conveying plane having first belt drive means to operate in a direction generally transverse to the length of the cargo hold, said first belt drive means defining a first load-carrying surface; b. second belt drive means disposed longitudinally along the floor of the hold at the hold opening and located at least partially within the perimeter of said conveying plane, said second belt drive means defining a second load-carrying surface; c. means for pivoting said conveying plane about a pivot axis disposed longitudinally of the cargo hold between a first position wherein the first and second load-carrying surfaces are substantially parallel with each other and the second load-carrying surface being disposed above the first load-carrying surface, and a second position wherein the side of said conveying plane adjacent the hold opening is tilted downwardly to askew the first and second load-carrying surfaces relative to each other, with the second load-carrying surface being disposed below the adjacent portions of the first load-carrying surface; d. auxiliary conveyor means associated with said conveying plane and disposed in an orientation parallel with said second belt drive means, said auxiliary conveyor means defining an auxiliary load-carrying surface; and e. means for automatically raising and lowering said auxiliary conveyor means relative to said conveying plane as said conveying frame is pivoted between first and second positions to raise the auxiliary load-carrying surface above the first load-carrying surface into substantially coplanar relation with the second load-carrying surface when said conveying plane is in first position and to lower the auxiliary load-carrying surface as said conveying plane is tilted into second position to a level below said first load-carrying surface. 19. The powered station according to claim 18, wherein said means for automatically raising and lowering said auxiliary conveyor means relative to said conveying plane includes linkage means actuated by the tilting of said conveying plane. 20. The powered station according to claim 18, wherein said auxiliary conveyor means and said means for automatically raising and lowering said auxiliary conveyor means cooperatively define four-bar linkage means actuated by the tilting of said conveying plane. 21. The powered station according to claim 18, wherein the pivot axis of said conveying plane is offset from the center of said conveying plane toward the cargo opening to cause said conveying plane to tend to automatically pivot in to its first position when a load is generally uniformly placed on said conveying plane. 22. The powered station according to claim 18, further comprising abutment and guide means disposed along the side of said conveying plane opposite the cargo opening to stop the inward movement of a load carried by said first belt drive means and guide the load for movement longitudinally along said conveying plane on said second belt drive means. 23. The powered station according to claim 18, wherein said conveying plane further comprising second auxiliary conveyor means: a. defining a second auxiliary load-carrying surface disposed in substantial coplanar relationship with said first load-carrying surface; and b. oriented to support loads for movement parallel to the direction of movement of said first load-carrying surface.