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A system for loading cargo containers into a storage hold, and offloading cargo containers from the storage hold, especially of a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The system includes at least one guide rail and a motorized platform, onto which cargo containers are loaded, cooperating mechanically with

A system for loading cargo containers into a storage hold, and offloading cargo containers from the storage hold, especially of a vehicle, such as an aircraft. The system includes at least one guide rail and a motorized platform, onto which cargo containers are loaded, cooperating mechanically with the guide rail. The guide rail guides the cargo laden motorized platform into the storage hold, and the motorized platform deposits the cargo upon remote command. The motorized platform has a chassis; a power source; a control module controlling drive motors of the wheels of the platform; and a device for reciprocating at least a portion of an upper surface of the platform sufficient to elevate a load placed thereon above the guide rail height.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system for cargo handling comprising: a first guide rail; a motorized platform having wheels cooperating with the first guide rail, the motorized platform comprising: a chassis comprising a ladder-like structure wherein a plurality of braces extend laterally between side su

What is claimed is: 1. A system for cargo handling comprising: a first guide rail; a motorized platform having wheels cooperating with the first guide rail, the motorized platform comprising: a chassis comprising a ladder-like structure wherein a plurality of braces extend laterally between side support rails, an upper surface of said braces and an upper surface of said chassis comprising an upper surface of said motorized platform, said upper surface of said chassis moveable with respect to said upper surface of said braces; an onboard power source; a control module controlling drive motors of the wheels of the platform cooperating with the first guide rail; and means for reciprocating at least a portion of an upper surface of the platform sufficient to elevate a load placed thereon, said upper surface of said platform further comprising a plurality of retractable rollers, said rollers retractable with respect to said upper surface, said rollers extendable above said upper surface. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of rollers are arrayed on said upper surface of the motorized platform, the rollers distributed spatially to facilitate sliding of cargo onto and off of the motorized platform upper surface. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the means for reciprocating at least a portion of the upper surface of the platform comprise pneumatic lifters. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the chassis of the motorized platform comprises a first longitudinally extending support side rail and a second longitudinally extending support side rail, and the motorized platform comprises a plurality of pairs of wheels, a first wheel of each pair of wheels extending outboard from the first support side rail and a second of the each pair of wheels extending outboard from the second support side rail. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein wheels extending outboard from the first support side rail of the chassis cooperate with the first guide rail and wheels extending outboard from the second support side rail of the chassis cooperate with a second guide rail. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein said plurality of rollers are arrayed on said upper surface of the motorized platform, the rollers distributed spatially to facilitate sliding of cargo onto and off of the motorized platform upper surface. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein a retracted height of the portion of the upper surface of the motorized platform comprising said chassis is less than or equal to a height of the first rail. 8. A system for cargo handling in an aircraft comprising: a first guide rail and a second guide rail, the guide rails mounted to a floor of an aircraft cargo hold, the guide rails parallel to each other and extending to a height above the floor; a motorized platform coupled to the first guide rail and controllably moving along the first guide rail, the motorized platform comprising: a longitudinally extending chassis, said chassis comprising a ladder-like structure wherein a plurality of braces extend laterally between side support rails, an upper surface of said braces and an upper surface of said chassis comprising an upper surface of said motorized platform, wherein a height of the chassis upper surface is less than or equal to the height of the guide rails above the floor when said chassis is in a retracted position, said upper surface of said chassis moveable with resect to said upper surface of said braces; an onboard power source; an onboard control module, the control module controlling motion of the platform along the guide rail; and means for reciprocating said upper surface of the chassis, said upper surface of said braces further comprising a plurality of retractable rollers, said rollers retractable with respect to said upper surface, said rollers extendable above said upper surface of said chassis. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of rollers are arrayed on said upper surface of the motorized platform, the rollers distributed spatially to facilitate sliding of cargo onto and off of the motorized platform upper surface. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the means for reciprocating said upper surface of the platform comprise pneumatic lifters. 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the motorized platform comprises a plurality of pairs of wheels, a first wheel of each pair of wheels extending on a first side of the longitudinally extending chassis and a second of the each pair of wheels extending from a second side of the longitudinally extending chassis. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein wheels extending on the first side of the chassis cooperate with the first guide rail and wheels extending on the second side of the chassis cooperate with the second guide rail so that the motorized platform travel is guided by the guide rails. 13. A method of handling cargo comprising: loading a cargo container onto a motorized platform, said motorized platform comprising a chassis, said chassis comprising a ladder-like structure wherein a plurality of braces extend laterally between side support rails, an upper surface of said braces and an upper surface of said chassis comprising an upper surface of said motorized platform, said upper surface of said chassis moveable with respect to said upper surface of said braces; sliding the cargo container onto said upper surface of the platform, said upper surface comprising a plurality of rollers, said rollers retractable with respect to said upper surface of said platform, said rollers extended above said upper surface during said loading; guiding the platform loaded with the cargo container remotely along at least one guide rail into a storage location for the cargo container; and, unloading the cargo container by removing the motorized platform from beneath the cargo container; and guiding the platform to a position for loading a second cargo container. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the unloading comprises sliding the cargo container off from said platform upper surface on said rollers. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the guiding remotely comprises guiding the motorized platform between a pair of parallel guide rails. 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the guiding remotely to a storage location comprises guiding into an aircraft cargo hold for transportation of the cargo container. 17. The method of claim 13, wherein the loading comprises extending the chassis upper surface upward to a height higher than a height of the at least one guide rail and the unloading comprises retracting the chassis upper surface to a lower height than a height of the at least one guide rail, said cargo container su sorted on said rollers.