METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING CARGO ASSEMBLY ONTO AND FROM AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20140231588A1
• Filed: 04/23/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biosphere Aerospace, LLC
• Original Assignee: Biosphere Aerospace, LLC
• Inventors: Helou, Elie Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,108,720 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/137.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/00 Fuselages; Constructional features common to fuselages, wings, stabilising surfaces or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/22 Other structures integral with fuselages to facilitate loading , e.g. cargo bays, cranes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2211/00 Modular constructions of airplanes or helicopters
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/02 characterised by special use

Abstract

A system for loading and unloading a cargo assembly onto and from an aircraft. The system comprises an aircraft and a moveable platform. The aircraft comprises a forward fairing, an aft fairing, a spine disposed between the forward fairing and the aft fairing and a plurality of mounts coupled to the spine and configured to structurally engage the cargo container onto the spine. The aft fairing is movable between a fixed position for flight and an open position for at least loading and unloading of the cargo assembly. The aircraft is configured such that an unobstructed passageway is provided in an area underneath the spine during loading or unloading of the cargo assembly. An aft access is provided when the aft fairing is moved to the open position. The moveable platform is used to maneuver the cargo assembly for loading and unloading onto and from the spine, respectively.

Claims

1. An aircraft for transporting a cargo assembly comprising:

a forward fairing;

an aft fairing movable between a fixed position for flight and an open position for at least loading and unloading of the cargo assembly;

a spine disposed between the forward fairing and the aft fairing;

wherein the aircraft is configured such that an unobstructed passageway is provided between the ground surface and the spine during loading or unloading of the cargo assembly onto or from the spine, respectively; and

wherein an aft access to the unobstructed passageway and the spine is provided when the aft fairing is moved to the open position.

2. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein in the open position, the aft fairing is removed from the aircraft to provide the aft access to the unobstructed passageway and the spine.

3. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein in the open position, the aft fairing is pivotally moved to provide the aft access to the unobstructed passageway and the spine.

4. The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising lower fairing doors pivotally coupled to lateral sub-structures coupled to the forward fairing and the aft fairing.

5. The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising side fairing panels disposed between the forward fairing and the aft fairing.

6. The aircraft of claim 5, wherein the side fairing panels further comprise one or more subpanels, the one or more subpanels being retractable to expose a portion of the cargo assembly.

7. The aircraft of claim 6, wherein the subpanels are retracted to expose the portion of the cargo assembly while the aircraft is in flight.

8. The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of mounts coupled to the spine, the plurality of mounts configured to structurally engage the cargo assembly onto the spine.

9. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein the plurality of mounts are actuated between an engage and a release position, wherein in the engage position, the mounts structurally engage the cargo assembly to the spine and wherein in the release position, the mounts disengage and release the cargo assembly from the spine.

10. The aircraft of claim 9, wherein the plurality of mounts are actuated in a release position to disengage and release the cargo assembly from the spine while the aircraft is in flight.

11. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the aft fairing comprises two halves pivotally coupled to corresponding sides of the aircraft.

12. The aircraft of claim 11, wherein the two halves of the aft fairing are pivotally actuated in the open position to increase drag during landing of the aircraft.

13. The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising wings coupled to the spine.

14. The aircraft of claim 13, further comprising landing gear and supports coupling the landing gear to either one or both of the spine or the wings.

15. A system for loading and unloading a cargo assembly onto an aircraft, the system comprising:

an aircraft comprising

a forward fairing;

an aft fairing;

a spine disposed between the forward fairing and the aft fairing;

a plurality of mounts configured to structurally engage the cargo container onto the spine;

wherein the aircraft is configured such that an unobstructed passageway underneath the spine is provided during loading or unloading of the cargo assembly onto or from the spine, respectively; and

a moveable platform for maneuvering the cargo assembly to and from the spine.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the aft fairing is movable between a fixed position for flight and an open position and wherein an aft access to the unobstructed passageway and the spine is provided when the aft fairing is in the open position.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the moveable platform maneuvers the cargo assembly to and from the spine via the aft access and the unobstructed passageway.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the movable platform further comprises sensors for determining a location of the movable platform relative to the spine.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the moveable platform is configured to lift the cargo assembly onto the spine.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the aircraft spine and the movable platform each comprise means for determining a loading position of the movable platform relative to the spine prior to lifting the cargo assembly onto the spine for mounting thereon.