초록 ▼

Aircraft mission equipment (e.g., an electrical equipment cabinet) comprising a base plate equipped on a bottom with a plurality of air casters that provide flotation mobility. When the equipment is being loaded in or unloaded from an aircraft, the actuated air casters provide a plurality of air cus

Aircraft mission equipment (e.g., an electrical equipment cabinet) comprising a base plate equipped on a bottom with a plurality of air casters that provide flotation mobility. When the equipment is being loaded in or unloaded from an aircraft, the actuated air casters provide a plurality of air cushions. The total lift force produced by the air cushions is sufficient to float the equipment above and out of contact with the floor, thereby improving ease of handling and reducing point loads on the floor structure. Portions of the air distribution system that provides pressurized air to the air casters on the bottom of the base plate are structurally integrated into the base plate of the mission equipment.

대표청구항 ▼

1. Aircraft mission equipment comprising: a base comprising a plurality of pressure chambers, each pressure chamber having first and second ports;an air manifold having a first port and a plurality of second ports;a plurality of flow restrictors in fluid communication with said first ports of respec

1. Aircraft mission equipment comprising: a base comprising a plurality of pressure chambers, each pressure chamber having first and second ports;an air manifold having a first port and a plurality of second ports;a plurality of flow restrictors in fluid communication with said first ports of respective pressure chambers of said plurality of pressure chambers;a plurality of air hoses, each air hose connecting a respective second port of said air manifold to a respective flow restrictor;a rack for supporting components, said rack being mounted to said base; anda plurality of air casters attached to said base, each air caster having a port that is in fluid communication and aligned with said second port of a respective one of said plurality of pressure chambers,wherein said plurality of flow restrictors, said plurality of pressure chambers and said plurality of air casters are arranged so that compressed air supplied by said air manifold and said plurality of air hoses will flow first through said plurality of flow restrictors, then into said plurality of pressure chambers and then into said air casters. 2. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 1, wherein said base comprises: a base plate comprising a bottom portion surrounded by a wall that forms an open chamber; anda cover plate attached to said wall for closing said open chamber,wherein said closed chamber forms one of said pressure chambers. 3. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 2, wherein said first port of said one pressure chamber is an opening in said wall, and said second port of said first pressure chamber is an opening in said bottom portion of said base plate. 4. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 1, wherein each air caster comprises: first and second frame members attached to said base;a backing plate supported by said first and second frame members; anda bladder attached to said backing plate and in fluid communication with said port of said air caster,wherein said first and second frame members act as landing pads when said bladder is deflated. 5. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of ring-shaped seals, each ring-shaped seal encircling a space disposed between said second port of a respective pressure chamber and said port of a respective air caster. 6. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 1, wherein said components are electrical subsystems. 7. Aircraft mission equipment comprising: a base plate comprising a bottom portion having a plurality of openings and a plurality of chamber walls projecting upward from said bottom portion, each chamber wall having a respective opening while surrounding a respective opening in said bottom portion;a plurality of cover plates, each of said cover plates being attached to a respective chamber wall to form a respective pressure chamber;an air manifold having a first port and a plurality of second ports;a plurality of flow restrictors in fluid communication with said openings in said respective chamber walls; anda plurality of air hoses, each air hose connecting a respective second port of said air manifold to a respective flow restrictor;a rack for supporting components, said rack being mounted to said base plate; anda plurality of air casters attached to said bottom portion of said base plate, each air caster having a port that is in fluid communication and aligned with a respective one of said plurality of openings in said bottom portion,wherein said plurality of flow restrictors, a plurality of said pressure chambers and said plurality of air casters are arranged so that compressed air supplied by said air manifold and said plurality of air hoses will flow first through said plurality of flow restrictors, then into said plurality of pressure chambers and then into said air casters. 8. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 7, wherein each air caster comprises: first and second frame members attached to said bottom portion of said base plate;a backing plate supported by said first and second frame members; anda bladder attached to said backing plate and in fluid communication with said port of said air caster,wherein said first and second frame members act as landing pads when said bladder is deflated. 9. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 7, further comprising a plurality of ring-shaped seals, each ring-shaped seal encircling a space disposed between a respective one of said openings in said bottom portion of said base plate and said port of a respective one of said air casters. 10. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 7, wherein said components are electrical subsystems. 11. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one pressure chamber of said plurality of pressure chambers comprises top and bottom plates and a closed chamber wall having a constant height, an uppermost portion of said chamber wall being connected or attached to said top plate and a lowermost portion of said chamber wall being connected or attached to said bottom plate, said first port of said at least one pressure chamber being formed in said chamber wall, and said second port of said at least one pressure chamber being formed in said bottom plate. 12. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 11, wherein said bottom plate is made of metallic alloy and said closed chamber wall is integrally formed with said lowermost portion. 13. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 11, wherein said constant height of said closed chamber wall is greater than a diameter of said first port of said at least one pressure chamber and a length of said closed chamber wall is greater than said constant height of said closed chamber wall. 14. The aircraft mission equipment as recited in claim 7, wherein said base plate is made of metallic alloy and said chamber walls are integrally formed with said bottom portion.