초록 ▼

A vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment separated by a floor structure, and a cargo unit including a storage rack arrangement and a transport arrangement operable for selectively transporting objects between the storage rack arrangement and a predetermined transfer positio

A vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment separated by a floor structure, and a cargo unit including a storage rack arrangement and a transport arrangement operable for selectively transporting objects between the storage rack arrangement and a predetermined transfer position in a cavity of the cargo unit. The transport arrangement includes a conveying apparatus including a table unit movable along a vertical transport path, and the vehicle includes a mounting means adapted for securing the cargo unit in a predetermined operating position inside the cargo compartment, in which an access aperture in an upper cover of the cargo unit is disposed in alignment with a through hole in the floor structure. A lift apparatus including a gripping device is operable to convey objects from the transfer position through the access aperture and the through hole between the cargo compartment and the passenger compartment.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle comprising a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment disposed below the passenger compartment and separated from the passenger compartment by a floor structure having a through hole communicating the passenger compartment with the cargo compartment, the vehicle further comprising:

1. A vehicle comprising a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment disposed below the passenger compartment and separated from the passenger compartment by a floor structure having a through hole communicating the passenger compartment with the cargo compartment, the vehicle further comprising: a cargo unit comprising:a housing including a base plate, a sidewall arrangement extending from the base plate and an upper cover and defining an interior cavity, wherein the base plate defines a horizontal plane of the cargo unit and extends perpendicularly to a vertical direction of the cargo unit, and the upper cover includes an access aperture;at least one storage rack arrangement disposed in the cavity and adapted for storing a plurality of objects;a transport arrangement disposed in the cavity and operable for selectively transporting objects between the storage rack arrangement and a predetermined transfer position in the cavity, wherein the transport arrangement comprises a conveying apparatus and a control unit adapted for automatically controlling and operating the conveying apparatus;a mounting means disposed in the cargo compartment and adapted for fixedly or releasably securing the cargo unit in a predetermined operating position inside the cargo compartment, in which the access aperture in the upper cover of the cargo unit is disposed adjacent to and in alignment with the through hole in the floor structure; anda lift apparatus comprising a gripping device suspended from a gripping device mounting means, wherein the lift apparatus is disposed at least partially in the passenger compartment and arranged and adapted such that the lift apparatus is operable to move the gripping device in a direction perpendicular to the floor structure and, when the cargo unit is secured by the mounting means in the operating position, to thereby convey objects in the direction perpendicular to the floor structure from the transfer position in the cargo unit through the access aperture in the upper cover and the through hole in the floor structure between the cargo compartment and the passenger compartment and vice versa,wherein the transport arrangement comprises a horizontal guide means defining a linear horizontal transport path extending perpendicularly to the vertical direction of the cargo unit and supporting the conveying apparatus such that the conveying apparatus is movable in a guided manner along the horizontal transport path, and a horizontal drive means operable for selectively moving the conveying apparatus along the horizontal transport path,wherein the conveying apparatus comprises at least one table unit adapted for supporting an object, a vertical guide means defining a linear vertical transport path extending parallel to the vertical direction of the cargo unit and supporting the at least one table unit such that the at least one table unit is movable in a guided manner along the vertical transport path, and a vertical drive means operable for selectively moving the at least one table unit along the vertical transport path,wherein each of the at least one storage rack arrangement comprises a plurality of rack compartments each adapted for storing an object and having an access opening through which objects are insertable into and removable from the respective rack compartment, wherein the access openings are provided in an access side of the storage rack arrangement extending parallel to the horizontal transport path,wherein the transport arrangement is disposed facing the access side of each of the at least one storage rack arrangement in such a manner that by operating the horizontal and vertical drive means the at least one table unit is selectively movable in front of each of the rack compartments and operable to move an object from the respective rack compartment onto the at least one table unit and support the object on the at least one table unit and to release the object supported on the at least one table unit and move the object from the at least one table unit into the respective rack compartment, andwherein the gripping device can be selectively switched between a gripping state, in which, with respect to the gripping device mounting means, the gripping device is movable along and rotatable about two perpendicular axes each perpendicular to the direction perpendicular to the floor structure, and a lift state, in which the gripping device is locked in a predetermined lift position against movement with respect to the gripping device mounting means. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one table unit and the gripping device are adapted to support objects and grip objects, respectively, in the form of receptacles having a predetermined shape and predetermined dimensions, andin each of the at least one storage rack arrangement the rack compartments are of identical shape and dimensions and adapted to receive exactly one of the receptacles and support the respective receptacle in a predetermined position and orientation inside the respective rack compartment. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal guide means comprises a guide rail arrangement and/or the vertical guide means comprises a rotatable spindle. 4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the conveying apparatus comprises at least first and second identical table units disposed next to each other at the same vertical position, and the vertical drive means is adapted to synchronously move the at least first and second table units in the vertical direction. 5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the conveying apparatus comprises first and second identical table units,the vertical guide means comprises an endless chain or belt guided around and meshing with first and second rotatable gears fixed to the conveying apparatus and spaced from each other in the vertical direction of the cargo unit in such a manner, that the endless chain or belt is arranged in a loop comprising first and second straight sections in which the endless chain or belt extends parallel to the vertical direction of the cargo unit, wherein each of the first and second table units is secured to the endless chain or belt in another one of the first and second straight sections and the straight sections define the vertical transport path for the respective table unit, andwherein at least one of the first and second rotatable gears is drivable by the vertical drive means to thereby selectively drive the endless chain or belt to move along the loop in first and second opposite circulation directions, wherein in each circulation direction the first and second table units move in opposite directions along respective vertical transport paths thereof. 6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one table unit comprises: first and second elongate retaining elements extending parallel to each other and in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal transport path and the vertical transport path and adapted for supporting an object; anda retaining element drive means, wherein under control by the control unit the retaining element drive means is operable to move at least one of the first and second retaining elements perpendicularly to a direction of extension thereof towards and away from the other of the first and second elongate elements to selectively clamp or release an object between the first and second retaining elements. 7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one table unit comprises a retraction and insertion device and a retraction and insertion device drive means adapted and arranged such that, after positioning the respective table unit in front of one of the rack compartments, upon operation of the retraction and insertion device drive means under control by the control unit the retraction and insertion device is operable to selectively retract an object from the respective rack compartment onto the respective table unit and support the object thereon and insert an object supported on the respective table unit into the respective rack compartment. 8. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein each of the at least one table unit comprises a retraction and insertion device and a retraction and insertion device drive means adapted and arranged such that, after positioning the respective table unit in front of one of the rack compartments, upon operation of the retraction and insertion device drive means under control by the control unit the retraction and insertion device is operable to selectively retract an object from the respective rack compartment onto the respective table unit and support the object thereon and insert an object supported on the respective table unit into the respective rack compartment, and wherein in each of the at least one table unit the retraction and insertion device is disposed between the first and second retaining elements, and the first and second retaining elements each comprise a support surface facing in the vertical direction towards the upper cover and adapted for supporting an object retracted from a rack compartment in front of which the respective table unit is disposed or to be inserted into the rack compartment using the retraction and insertion device. 9. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the retraction and insertion device of each of the at least one table unit comprises a table conveyor device operable to move an object supported at least partially on the table unit in a guided manner selectively in first and second opposite directions perpendicular to the horizontal transport path and the vertical transport path,each rack compartment of each of the at least one storage rack arrangement comprises a rack compartment conveyor device operable to move an object disposed at least partially in the rack compartment in first and second opposite directions perpendicular to the horizontal transport path and the vertical transport path, wherein the rack compartment conveyor device comprises at least one first coupling element,the retraction and insertion device drive means of each of the at least one table unit comprises:at least one table conveyor device motor operably connected to the table conveyor device such that the table conveyor device is operated by operating the at least one table conveyor device motor under the control of the control unit; andat least one rack compartment conveyor device motor comprising a second coupling element adapted to be selectively and releasably coupled to the first coupling elements of the rack compartment conveyor devices such that in the coupled state the respective rack compartment conveyor device motor is operable to operate the rack compartment conveyor device to the first coupling element of which the rack compartment conveyor device motor is coupled by means of its second coupling element,wherein the table units can be positioned in front of the rack compartments in such a manner that the second coupling element of at least one of the rack compartment conveyor device motors of the respective retraction and insertion device drive means is or can be releasably coupled to one of the first coupling elements of the rack compartment conveyor device of the respective rack compartment, and subsequently by operation of the retraction and insertion device drive means under control by the control unit the rack compartment conveyor device and the table conveyor device are operable to cooperate to move an object from the respective rack compartment through the access opening of the rack compartment onto the table unit and support the object on the respective table unit and to release an object supported on the table unit and move the object from the table unit through the access opening into the respective rack compartment. 10. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein, after positioning an empty one of the table units in front of a rack compartment in which an object is stored, by operation of the retraction and insertion device drive means under control by the control unit the retraction and insertion device is operable to move, with respect to the retaining elements), towards the rack compartment into an engagement position,then engage an object stored in the rack compartment and having a predetermined engagement structure, andsubsequently move away from the rack compartment together with the engaged object into a support position in which the object is supported at least partially on the support surface of at least one of the respective retaining elements, andwherein, after positioning one of the table units on which an object having a predetermined engagement structure is supported in front of an empty one of the rack compartments, by operation of the retraction and insertion device drive means under control by the control unit the retraction and insertion device is operable tomove, with respect to the retaining elements, together with the object from the support position towards the rack compartment into a disengagement position, wherein the object is engaged by the retraction and insertion device,then disengage from the object after the object is stored in the rack compartment by the operation of the retraction and insertion device, andsubsequently move away from the rack compartment without the object into the support position. 11. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein in each of the table units the retraction and insertion device comprises: an endless chain;a chain support element on which the endless chain is movably supported in a loop by at least first and second rotatable gears fixed to the chain support element and meshing with the endless chain, wherein the loop comprises a straight section in which the endless chain extends parallel to the respective first and second retaining elements, and wherein the retraction and insertion device drive means is operable to selectively drive the endless chain to move along the loop in the two circulation directions; anda chain support element guide means having a fixed position with respect to the respective first and second retaining elements and adapted for supporting the chain support element and guiding movement of the chain support element towards and away from a rack compartment,wherein the retraction and insertion device, the endless chain and the retraction and insertion device drive means are arranged and adapted such that after positioning the respective table unit in front of a rack compartment, under control by the control unit the retraction and insertion device drive means is operable to move the endless chain along the loop in a first circulation direction such that, in the engagement position of the retraction and insertion device, an object having the predetermined engagement structure and stored in the respective rack compartment is engaged by the endless chain and transported by the endless chain along the straight section towards the retaining elements while the retraction and insertion device is in the engagement position and/or moves from the engagement position to the support position, andunder control by the control unit the retraction and insertion device drive means is operable to move the endless chain along the loop in a second circulation direction opposite to the first circulation direction such that, while the retraction and insertion device is in the disengagement position and/or moves from the support position to the disengagement position, an object supported on the respective table unit and having the predetermined engagement structure is engaged by the endless chain and transported by the endless chain along the straight section towards the respective rack compartment and, in the disengagement position of the retraction and insertion device, eventually disengages from the endless chain. 12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the at least first and second gears movably supporting the endless chain on the chain support element comprises first and second idler gears around each of which the endless chain is partially looped, the vehicle further comprising: a driven gear driven by the retraction and insertion device drive means, the endless chain partially looped around the driven gear,wherein the straight section of the loop extends between the first and second idler gears,wherein the retraction and insertion device drive means and the driven gear are fixed with respect to the retaining elements, andwherein the control unit is adapted to operate the retraction and insertion device drive means such that after positioning the respective table unit in front of a rack compartmentfor retracting an object stored in the respective rack compartment onto the respective table unitthe movement of the retraction and insertion device to the engagement position is effected with the retraction and insertion device drive means locking the driven gear in a fixed position,in the engagement position of the insertion and retraction device the driven gear is driven to move the endless chain along the loop in the first circulation direction, andafter the object has been transported at least partially along the straight section the movement of the retraction and insertion device to the support position is effected with the retraction and insertion device drive means locking the driven gear in a fixed position, andfor inserting an object supported on the respective table unit into the respective rack compartmentthe movement of the retraction and insertion device to the engagement position is effected with the retraction and insertion device drive means locking the driven gear in a fixed position,in the disengagement position of the insertion and retraction device the driven gear is driven to move the endless chain along the loop in the second circulation direction, andafter the object has been transported at least partially along the straight section and disengaged from the endless chain the movement of the retraction and insertion device to the support position is effected with the retraction and insertion device drive means locking the driven gear in a fixed position. 13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the retraction and insertion device drive means comprises: first and second separate motors for driving the driven gear and moving the retraction and insertion device, respectively, ora single motor for driving both the driven gear and moving the retraction and insertion device and a clutch arrangement adapted for selectively disengaging the driven gear and the retraction and insertion device from the single motor. 14. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the gripping device mounting means comprises:at least first and second spaced centering pins projecting from the gripping device mounting means towards the gripping device, wherein each centering pin comprises a tapered tip portion facing the gripping device and is mounted to be movable in the direction perpendicular to the floor structure and to be fixed against movement perpendicular to that direction, anda centering pin drive means adapted for simultaneously moving the centering pins towards the gripping device into a locking position and away from the gripping device into an unlocking position, andwherein the gripping device comprises a carrier plate adjacent to the gripping device mounting means, whereinfor each of the centering pins a tapered recess is provided in a surface of the carrier plate facing the gripping device mounting means,the recesses are positioned such that upon movement of the centering pins into the locking position each of the centering pins enters an associated one of the recesses or enters further into the associated recess, andfor each of the centering pins the tapered shape of tip portion thereof and the tapered shape of the associated recess match such that by operation of the centering pin drive means the centering pins are selectively moveable to be seated in the recesses in abutment against walls of the recesses, thereby moving the gripping device into the lift position and locking the gripping device therein, and to be out of contact with the walls of the recesses, thereby implementing the gripping state. 15. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a gripping device support shaft extending between and secured to each of the gripping device mounting means and the gripping device, wherein the gripping device support shaft is secured to the gripping device or the gripping device mounting device by a rotational bearing enabling relative rotation between the gripping device support shaft and the gripping device and the gripping device mounting device, respectively, andthe gripping device support shaft is secured to the gripping device or the gripping device mounting device by a translational bearing enabling relative translational movement between the gripping device support shaft and the gripping device and the gripping device mounting device, respectively. 16. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of the rack compartments comprises a releasable latch means for locking an object in the respective rack compartment and preventing retraction thereof, wherein the latch means is adapted to be automatically released by the operation of one of the table units when it is positioned in front of it and operated to move an object from the respective rack compartment onto the respective table unit, andto automatically lock an object in the respective rack compartment when one of the table units positioned in front of it has been operated to move the object from the respective table unit into the respective rack compartment. 17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein, after positioning an empty one of the table units in front of a rack compartment in which an object is stored, by operation of the retraction and insertion device drive means under control by the control unit the retraction and insertion device is operable to move, with respect to the retaining elements), towards the rack compartment into an engagement position,then engage an object stored in the rack compartment and having a predetermined engagement structure, andsubsequently move away from the rack compartment together with the engaged object into a support position in which the object is supported at least partially on the support surface of at least one of the respective retaining elements, andwherein, after positioning one of the table units on which an object having a predetermined engagement structure is supported in front of an empty one of the rack compartments, by operation of the retraction and insertion device drive means under control by the control unit the retraction and insertion device is operable tomove, with respect to the retaining elements, together with the object from the support position towards the rack compartment into a disengagement position, wherein the object is engaged by the retraction and insertion device,then disengage from the object after the object is stored in the rack compartment by the operation of the retraction and insertion device, andsubsequently move away from the rack compartment without the object into the support position,wherein each of the latch means comprises:a latch lever supported on the respective storage rack arrangement to be pivotable between a latch position, in which a portion of the latch lever extends into the respective rack compartment, and a release position, in which the portion of the latch lever is moved out of the respective rack compartment,a latch lever biasing means biasing the latch lever into the latch position thereof,a latch lever actuation element supported on the respective storage rack arrangement to be movable between an actuation position, in which the latch lever actuation element engages the latch lever in such a manner that the latch lever is moved to the release position against the action of the latch lever biasing means, and a deactivating position, in which the latch lever actuation element enables to latch lever to be in the latch position, anda latch lever actuation element biasing means biasing the latch lever actuation element into the deactivating position, andwherein the latch lever actuation element is arranged to be engaged by the retraction and insertion device upon movement of the retraction and insertion device into the engagement position and the disengagement position thereof in such a manner that the latch lever actuation element is positioned in the actuation position when the retraction and insertion device is positioned in the engagement position or the disengagement position thereof. 18. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in the passenger compartment the lift apparatus is disposed at least partially inside a galley arranged in the passenger compartment.