Pneumatically actuated freight loading system for an aircraft
First Claim
1. In an aircraft freight loading system for loading or unloading freight load units, including roller drive units adapted to transport the freight load units, latching units adapted to latch the freight load units at selected stowage locations, and at least one control unit connected to at least one of said roller drive units and said latching units for control signal transmission thereto,an improvement wherein at least one of said roller drive units is a respective pneumatically operable unit comprising a pneumatic actuator adapted and arranged to rotationally drive a drive roller of said roller drive unit, and wherein said improvement in said system further comprises a pressurized air supply and a pressurized air line system connecting said pressurized air supply to said pneumatically operable unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A freight loading system for an aircraft includes roller drive units for transporting freight load units such as containers or pallets or the like, latching units for latching the freight load units, and control units for operating the drive units and/or the latching units. At least one of the roller drive units and the latching units is embodied as a pneumatically operated component including a pneumatic actuator. Pressurized air is supplied to the pneumatic components through a pressurized air line system. A pneumatic controller provides pneumatic control signals through pneumatic lines to the pneumatic components to achieve a purely pneumatic system, or an electric controller provides electric control signals over electric conductors to control valves for the pneumatic components to achieve a hybrid electro-pneumatic system. The sparking, overloading, and fire hazard problems of fully electric systems are avoided, and the weight, cost, and maintenance are reduced.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. In an aircraft freight loading system for loading or unloading freight load units, including roller drive units adapted to transport the freight load units, latching units adapted to latch the freight load units at selected stowage locations, and at least one control unit connected to at least one of said roller drive units and said latching units for control signal transmission thereto,
an improvement wherein at least one of said roller drive units is a respective pneumatically operable unit comprising a pneumatic actuator adapted and arranged to rotationally drive a drive roller of said roller drive unit, and wherein said improvement in said system further comprises a pressurized air supply and a pressurized air line system connecting said pressurized air supply to said pneumatically operable unit.
- 7. The improvement in the aircraft freight loading system according to clam 1, wherein said improvement comprises a plurality of said pneumatically operable units, and wherein said control unit comprises a central control unit, and further comprising control lines connecting said central control unit respectively to said pneumatically operable units for control signal transmission thereto.
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16. An aircraft freight loading system for loading or unloading a freight load unit into or out of an aircraft, comprising:
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a latching unit adapted to latch the freight load unit at a selected stowage location;
a roller drive unit including a drive roller adapted to rotate so as to transport the freight load unit in contact therewith, and including a pneumatic actuator coupled to said drive roller so as to rotationally drive said drive roller;
a pressurized air supply adapted to provide pressurized air; and
a pressurized air line system connecting said pressurized air supply to said pneumatic actuator so as to power said pneumatic actuator with said pressurized air.
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Specification