METHOD OF OPTIMIZING THE LOADING OF LOADS IN A VEHICLE

• US 20120221235A1
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Helicopters
• Original Assignee: Eurocopter
• Inventors: PrudHomme-Lacroix, Pierre, Maille, Laurence
• Granted Patent: US 8,626,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/124
• 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: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method of determining the locations of loads in a vehicle in such a manner as to ensure mission safety in terms of loads being retained in the aircraft. On the basis of vehicle parameters, the anchor points available in this type of vehicle for retaining the loads are identified. As a function of the available loading volume(s), a possible loading configuration is calculated using at least some of the available anchor points, at least some of the retaining means, and the characteristics of the loads. The forces that might be exerted on the selected anchor points are verified as being less than maximum limits. The calculated loading configuration is confirmed, otherwise a new loading configuration is calculated.

Claims

1. A method of determining the locations of loads in a vehicle, so as to ensure mission safety in terms of loads being retained in the vehicle, the method implementing at least one database that is common to a fleet of vehicles, and a computer for implementing an algorithm on the basis of parameters specific to a vehicle type, referred to as vehicle parameters, being identified and selected (e1) in the database, and on the basis of the characteristics of the loads, including the number, the weights, and the volumes of the loads, the method comprising the following operations:

on the basis of the vehicle parameters, identifying (e3) available anchor points in this type of vehicle for retaining the loads, thereby determining a possible loading configuration;

verifying (e5) that the total weight of the loads does not exceed a predefined limit; and

as a function of at least one available loading volume, calculating a possible loading configuration from among predefined possible loading configurations of the vehicle, depending at least on said available anchor points and depending on the characteristics of the loads;

wherein the method comprises the following operations;

on the basis of the vehicle parameters, determining (e2) maximum accelerations and decelerations of the vehicle depending on various authorized mission configurations and depending on rules specific to said vehicle and included in the database;

on the basis of vehicle parameters, determining (e4) available retention means for connecting the loads to anchor points;

as a function of at least one available loading volume, calculating (e6) a possible loading configuration from among predefined possible loading configurations of the vehicle, depending at least on said available anchor points, depending on at least some retention means, and depending on the characteristics of the loads;

on the basis of the vehicle parameters, determining (e7) the forces that might be exerted on each available anchor point and also the possible movements of the loads;

verifying (e8) that said possible movements of the loads and said forces that might be exerted on the selected anchor points remain below predefined maximum limits;

an operator confirming (e9) the calculated loading configuration or else the operator requesting another loading configuration to be defined by returning to the step of calculating a possible loading configuration (e6); and

then

verifying the tension applied on each anchor point by comparison with pretension values on the retention means while retaining the loads.

2. A method according to claim 1, including a display step of displaying the confirmed loading configuration on a screen.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said display step comprises displaying the loading schedule, the locations for loading the various loads, the selected anchor points, and the selected retention means.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method is implemented by an algorithm loaded into a computer of a management system of the vehicle.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method is implemented by an algorithm loaded into a computer that is independent of a management system of the vehicle.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of displaying at least one of said loading configurations is performed by means of a multifunction screen of the vehicle instrument panel.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the anchor points and the retention means constitute connections between the loads and said anchor points, which connections present angles relative to the vertical and/or relative to the horizontal that lie within predefined angle ranges.

8. A method according to claim 1, including a step of defining a special-use zone that is unavailable for loading, for use in transporting an unexpected load.

9. A method according to claim 1, including a step of making unavailable anchor points that are not usable for retaining loads.

10. A method according to claim 1, including a step during the design of the vehicle of a computer producing a document giving information about an optimum loading configuration.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein it implements a computer program comprising a set of instructions and data, said instructions being loaded onto a medium suitable for being put into communication with the computer and for being executed by the computer with the help of at least one database.

12. A method according to claim 1, including a step of an operator updating at least one of the databases either regularly or else on the basis of new information becoming available.

13. The use of a method according to claim 1, in a rotorcraft.