FREIGHT AIRCRAFT LOADING AND UNLOADING PLANT

• US 3,730,359 A
• Filed: 05/20/1971
• Issued: 05/01/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leif Andersson
• Original Assignee: Leif Andersson
• Inventors: Andersson, Leif
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheridan, Robert G.
• Application Number:
  US05/145,339
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 214/38B,38BA,38BB,38D 244/114R,137R
• US Class Current: 414/392
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/00 Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations specially adapted for captive aircraft B64F3/00

Abstract

A freight aircraft loading and unloading plant has a pentagonal ground contour confining four spaces for the aircrafts and one space for a freight transport system. The ground contour of the individual spaces has been generated by dividing the regular pentagon into five similar sections by partition lines running from the middle of each side of the pentagon towards the center thereof. A cargo distributor including a turntable is mounted in the center and comprises also freight transfer stations. Aircraft are received in four of the spaces standing on a middle line therein with their noses towards the center and each in position for one of the freight transfer stations. The fifth section includes a transport arrangement for the cargo which passes on conveyor means to the transfer stations and is distributed therefrom to the correct aircraft by the turntable as the aircraft is loaded. Unloading takes place in the opposite direction. The plant is adapted to serve aircraft built for nose loading as well as for loading through the side of the hull.

Claims

1. A freight aircraft loading and unloading plant comprising a substantially pentagonal floor, separating walls extending from the middle of a plurality of sides of the pentagon and perpendicular to those sides, toward the center of the pentagon and terminating short of the center of the pentagon, to divide the pentagonal floor into four sections for four aircraft, and a fifth section of the floor having a transport device for the cargo, a cargo distributor in the center of the pentagon, and freight conveyor means in each of said four sections for conveying freight between the aircraft in said sections and said cargo distributor, said cargo distributor comprising means for transferring cargo between said conveyor means and said transport device.

2. A plant as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the transport device is extended outside the pentagonal floor to form a widened cargo storing space.

3. A plant as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the cargo distributor is arranged for hoisting and lowering, the portion on one side of said distributor being provided for the discharging of the cargo and the portion on the other side of the distributor being provided for the admission of the cargo.

4. A plant as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the parts on both sides of the cargo distributor are provided for alternating discharging and admission of cargo.

5. A plant as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the central cargo distributor consists of superposed primary and secondary distributor means, i.e., a main distributor adapted to the level of the transport device and a secondary distributor situated above the main distributor.

6. A plant as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that thE main distributor consists of a turntable which is vertically displaceable to the level of the conveyor means in said fifth section and to the loading level of a freight aircraft and is provided with means for the displacement of cargo units and cargo containers resting thereon.

7. A plant as claimed in claim 5, characterized by a cargo transfer station that has platforms capable of being hoisted and lowered for adjustment to the level of the main distributor and to the loading level of an aircraft independently of the main distributor.

8. A plant as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the platforms are inclined.

9. A plant as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a secondary distributor is connected to the conveyor means in said fifth section and is connected in each of said four sections with a conveyor bridge which is suspended in a supporting structure which is movable to the side of an aircraft placed in the section and which within the range of a side hatch of the freight airplane is provided with cargo transfer means.

10. A plant as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the conveyor bridge has a cargo transfer means consisting of a cargo elevator which at its lower end has a platform which can be swung downwards and over from one horizontal position to the other about a horizontal axis.

11. A plant as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the connection between the secondary distributor and the fifth section conveyor means consists of inclined conveyors mounted on both sides of the last-named conveyor means.

12. A plant as claimed in claim 9 in which the secondary distributor has a passenger entrance from the storage of the plant situated above the transport device.

13. A plant as claimed in claim 1, in which at least one of the sections adjacent the fifth section conveyor means is formed as a closed hall.

14. A plant according to claim 1, characterized in that a space for the passage of aircraft tractors and service vehicles is provided between the cargo distributor and said floor.

15. A plant as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the space beneath the fifth section conveyor means comprises tractor garages, workshops and spare part stores and also a passage to the space beneath the cargo distributor.

16. A plant as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a distributor provided with a turntable and a cage forming passage ways for at least one row of cargo units, and stands supporting said cage above the turntable at a level permitting rows of containers to pass on the turntable below said cargo units in the cage.