Aircraft cargo loading logistics system

• US 20050246132A1
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Larson, Corey M., Reed, Blake A., Olin, Craig J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,100,827 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/174
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/20 specially adapted for freight
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/00 Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like emergency equipment B64D17/00, B64D19/00, B64D25/00; structures integral with fuselage to facilitate loading, fuselage floors specially adapted for freight, steps mounted on and retractable within aircraft B64C; ground installations B64F
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 9/003 Devices for retaining pallets or freight containers securing freight containers on vehicles B60P7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction

Abstract

A cargo loading logistics system for verifying cargo loaded on an aircraft receives a desired restraint configuration from a database and determines an actual restraint configuration on the aircraft by receiving data from a plurality of machine readable identifiers corresponding to a plurality of install points and data from a plurality of machine readable identifiers corresponding to a plurality of restraints. The cargo loading logistics system then compares the desired restraint configuration with the actual restraint configuration and determines if the aircraft is properly configured to be loaded for an upcoming flight.

Claims

1. A database comprising information concerning cargo restraints installed in one or more cargo compartments of an aircraft;

said database including;

first identifying information associated with a location of each of a first plurality of install points in said one or more cargo compartments; and

second information corresponding to a restraint type installed at a second plurality of said install points.

2. The database according to claim 1, wherein said first identifying information is also associated with a particular compartment in said aircraft.

3. The database according to claim 1, wherein said second information comprises second identifying information that is associated with the first identifying information.

4. A method of preparing an aircraft prior to loading cargo thereon, the method comprising:

obtaining first electronic information reflective of the location and type of cargo restraints needed on the aircraft for an upcoming flight;

obtaining second electronic information reflective of the location and type of cargo restraints believed to be installed on the aircraft; and

electronically comparing the first and second information.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising installing at least one restraint in response to results of said comparing step.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising updating a database with information concerning said at least one restraint that was installed.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first information is determined from data associated with unit load devices to be loaded onto the aircraft.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second information is obtained from a computer onboard the aircraft.

9. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second information is obtained from a computer located in a different state or country than the aircraft to be loaded.

10. The method according to claim 4, wherein the two obtaining steps and the comparing step are performed before the aircraft lands at the airport where it is to be loaded.

11. A device configured to graphically display information about a plurality of cargo restraints on an aircraft, said device configured to:

display a proposed arrangement for at least one unit load device;

indicate a first set of locations at which restraints are required for securing said at least one unit load device;

indicate a second set of locations at which restraints are present; and

indicate a third locations at which restraints are missing.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the device is configured to indicate on said display which of said locations have been examined.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the device is configured to indicate the type of the ULD whose arrangement is depicted.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein the device is configured to display restraint information, upon moving a cursor to a location at which a restraint is required.