Integrated transport system and method for overhead stowage and retrieval

• US 6,971,608 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Wojciechowski, Paul M., Harrington, Anthony A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holzen, Stephen A.
• Application Number:
  US10/708,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20050218265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.1, 244/118.2, 244/118.5, 244/118.6
• US Class Current: 244/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0007 Devices specially adapted for food or beverage distribution services
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/04 Galleys

Abstract

One advantageous embodiment of the present invention is an integrated transport system (14) for moving an object (20) in an aircraft (10) between a main cabin (16) and an overhead cabin (18) via a shaft (24) in connection therebetween. This integrated transport system (14) includes a single-unit gantry-lift device (42) with an object carrier (32) for receiving the object (20). This object carrier (32) has one or more restraint members (34, 38) for securing the object (20) in the object carrier (32) and preventing the object (20) from inadvertently tipping or falling out of the object carrier (32). In this embodiment, the single-unit gantry-lift device (42) further includes a lift device (46) for moving the object carrier (32) generally along a longitudinal axis (22) of the shaft (24) and a gantry device (44) for moving the object carrier (32) generally along a first axis (26) of the overhead cabin (18) and/or a second axis (28), which is disposed generally perpendicular to the first axis (26).

Claims

1. An integrated transport system for moving an object in an aircraft between a main cabin and an overhead cabin, the main cabin and the overhead cabin having a shaft in connection therebetween, comprising:

a single-unit gantry-lift device including an object carrier with at least one restraint member for securing the object in said object carrier and preventing the object from tipping;

said single-unit gantry-lift device further including a lift device and a gantry device;

said lift device moving said object carrier generally along a longitudinal axis of the shaft;

said gantry device moving said object carrier generally along at least one lateral axis of said overhead cabin;

the object being at least one of a galley meal cart and a galley refreshment cart.

2. The integrated transport system recited in claim 1 wherein said main cabin is a main deck galley, said overhead cabin being an overhead galley.

3. The integrated transport system recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one restraint member is selected from the group consisting of at least one belt member, at least one plate member, at least one netting member, and at least one rope member.

4. The integrated transport system recited in claim 1 wherein said lift device is selected from the group consisting of a pulley mechanism, a screw mechanism, and a belt mechanism for moving said object carrier along said longitudinal axis of said shaft.

5. The integrated transport system recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said lift device and said gantry device is a manually operated mechanism.

6. An integrated transport system for moving an object in an aircraft between a main cabin and an overhead cabin, the main cabin and the overhead cabin having a shaft in connection therebetween, comprising:

a single-unit gantry-lift device including an object carrier with at least one restraint member for securing the object in said object carrier and preventing the object from tipping;

said single-unit gantry-lift device further including a lift device and a gantry device;

said lift device moving said object carrier generally along a longitudinal axis of the shaft;

said gantry device moving said lift device and said object carrier generally along at least one lateral axis of said overhead cabin;

said gantry device including a pair of rails coupled to said overhead cabin of said airframe;

said pair of rails suspending said object carrier therefrom and preventing said object carrier from tipping;

said pair of rails moving said object carrier generally along said at least one axis of said overhead cabin;

at least one of said lift device and said gantry device being a manually operated mechanism.

7. The integrated transport system recited in claim 6 wherein said main cabin is a main deck galley, said overhead cabin being an overhead galley.

8. The integrated transport system recited in claim 6 wherein said at least one restraint member is selected from the group consisting of at least one belt member, at least one plate member, at least one netting member, and at least one rope member.

9. The integrated transport system recited in claim 6 wherein said lift device is selected from the group consisting of a pulley mechanism, a screw mechanism, and a belt mechanism for moving said object along said longitudinal axis of said shaft.

10. The integrated transport system recited in claim 6 wherein said pair of rails and said lift device have at least one of a rolling member and a sliding member coupled therebetween for moving said object carrier generally along said at least one lateral axis of said overhead cabin.

11. The integrated transport system recited in claim 6 wherein the object is at least one of a galley meal cart and a galley refreshment cart.

12. An aircraft comprising:

an airframe defining a main cabin, an overhead cabin above said main cabin, and a shaft extending therebetween;

said shaft having a longitudinal axis;

said overhead cabin storing at least one object therein and having at least one lateral axis; and

an integrated transport system moving an object between said main cabin and said overhead cabin;

said integrated transport system including an object carrier with at least one restraint member for securing said object in said object carrier;

said integrated transport system further including a single-unit gantry-lift device comprised of a lift device and a gantry device;

said lift device moving said object through said shaft generally along said longitudinal axis;

said gantry device moving said object generally along said at least one lateral axis of said overhead cabin.

13. The aircraft recited in claim 12 wherein said main cabin is a main deck galley, said overhead cabin being an overhead galley.

14. The aircraft recited in claim 12 wherein said at least one restraint member is selected from the group consisting of at least one belt member, at least one plate member, at least one netting member, and at least one rope member.

15. The aircraft recited in claim 12 wherein said lift device includes at least one of a pulley mechanism, a screw mechanism, and a belt mechanism for moving said object along said longitudinal axis of said shaft.

16. An aircraft comprising:

an airframe defining a main cabin, an overhead cabin above said main cabin, and a shaft extending therebetween;

said shaft having a longitudinal axis;

said overhead cabin storing at least one object therein and having at least one lateral axis; and

an integrated transport system moving an object between said main cabin and said overhead cabin;

said integrated transport system including an object carrier with at least one restraint member for securing said object in said object carrier;

said integrated transport system further including a single-unit gantry-lift device comprised of a lift device and a gantry device;

said lift device moving said object through said shaft generally along said longitudinal axis;

said gantry device moving said object generally along said at least one lateral axis of said overhead cabin;

said gantry device including a pair of rails coupled to said airframe in said overhead cabin;

said pair of rails suspending said object carrier therefrom, preventing said object carrier from tipping, and moving said object carrier generally along said at least one lateral axis of said overhead cabin.

17. The aircraft recited in claim 16 wherein said main cabin is a main deck galley, said overhead cabin being an overhead galley.

18. The aircraft recited in claim 16 wherein said at least one restraint member is selected from the group consisting of at least one belt member, at least one plate member, at least one netting member, and at least one rope member.

19. The aircraft recited in claim 16 wherein said lift device includes at least one of a pulley mechanism, a screw mechanism, and a belt mechanism for moving said object along said longitudinal axis of said shaft.

20. The aircraft recited in claim 16 wherein said pair of rails has at least one of a rolling member and a sliding member coupled thereto and extending from said lift device for moving said object carrier generally along said at least one lateral axis of said overhead cabin.

21. An aircraft comprising:

an airframe including a bi-level galley module with a main-deck sub-module and an overhead sub-module disposed above said main-deck sub-module;

said overhead su b-module storing at least one object therein and having at least one lateral axis;

a shaft defined by said bi-level galley module and extending between said main-deck sub-module and said overhead sub-module;

said shaft having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to said at least one lateral axis;

an integrated transport system moving said at least one object through said shaft and between said main-deck sub-module and said overhead sub-module;

said integrated transport system including a single-unit gantry-lift device comprised of a lift device and a gantry device;

said lift device moving said at least one object along said longitudinal axis;

said gantry device moving said object along said at least one lateral axis;

a ladder extending between said main-deck sub-module and said overhead sub-module for allowing ingress and egress to said overhead sub-module;

a walkway extending generally along said lateral axis of said overhead sub-module; and

at least one storage area adjacent to said walkway;

said single-unit gantry-lift device further including an object carrier with at least one restraint member for securing said at least one object in said object carrier;

said gantry device including a pair of rails coupled to said overhead sub-module;

said pair of rails suspending said object carrier therefrom, preventing said object carrier from tipping, and moving said object carrier generally along said at least one lateral axis of said overhead sub-module.

22. The aircraft recited in claim 21 wherein said at least one restraint member is selected from the group consisting of at least one belt member, at least one plate member, at least one netting member, and at least one rope member.

23. The aircraft recited in claim 21 wherein said lift device includes at least one of a pulley mechanism, a screw mechanism, and a belt mechanism for moving said object along said longitudinal axis of said shaft.

24. The aircraft recited in claim 21 wherein said pair of rails has at least one of a rolling member and a sliding member coupled thereto and extending from said lift device for moving said object carrier generally along said at least one lateral axis of said overhead galley.

25. A method for operating an integrated transport system for an aircraft with a main cabin, an overhead cabin disposed above the main cabin, and a shaft in connection between the main cabin and the overhead cabin, comprising:

securing an object to an object carrier of the integrated transport system;

actuating a lift device of a single-unit gantry-lift device for moving said object generally along a longitudinal axis of the shaft;

actuating a gantry device of said single-unit gantry-lift device for moving said object generally along at least one of a first axis of the overhead cabin; and

moving said object generally along a second axis disposed substantially perpendicular to said first axis;

wherein moving said object generally along said second axis comprises moving said object between said object carrier and a storage area in said overhead cabin.

26. The method in claim 25 wherein securing said object to said object carrier comprises:

coupling said object to said object carrier via at least one restraint member selected from the group consisting of at least one belt member, at least one plate member, at least one netting member, and at least one rope member.

27. The method in claim 25 wherein actuating said lift device comprises at least one of:

manually operating at least one of a pulley mechanism, a screw mechanism, and a belt mechanism for moving said object along said longitudinal axis of said shaft; and

actuating a motor for moving said object along said longitudinal axis of said shaft.

28. The method in claim 25 wherein actuating a gantry device comprises at least one of:

manually operating at least one of a rolling member and a sliding member for moving said object along said first axis of said overhead cabin; and

actuating a motor for moving said object along said first axis of said overhead cabin.

29. The method in claim 25 further comprising:

entering the overhead cabin via at least one of a ladder and a staircase extending between the main cabin and the overhead cabin.