Lifting device for a luggage compartment in an aircraft, as well as aircraft with a lifting device for a luggage compartment

• US 7,246,771 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Wisch, Bodo, Rowold, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): SWIATEK, ROBERT P
• Application Number:
  US11/022,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20050211834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 244/118.1, 244/118.5, 244/129.1, 312/245, 312/248, 312/325, 312/319.6, 307/125
• US Class Current: 244/118.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 5/003 Luggage racks, e.g. for busses primarily intended for passengers' property smaller than suitcases B60R7/04; B60R7/08; luggage racks for rail vehicles B61D37/003
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/003 Stowage devices for passengers' personal luggage

Abstract

The application concerns a lifting device for a luggage compartment in an aircraft, wherein the luggage compartment can be moved between an open and closed position, and the lifting device includes a power generation element that exerts a lifting force on the luggage compartment. The application also concerns an aircraft with a lifting device for a luggage compartment. The power generation element is an electrical power generation element, and the lifting device has a rechargeable energy accumulator to store energy for operation of the electrical power generation element.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising:

at least one luggage compartment, which is movable between an open and a closed position;

a lifting device for the at least one a luggage compartment;

wherein the lifting device has a power generation element that exerts a lifting force on the luggage compartment;

the power generation element is an electrical power generation element; and

the lifting device has a dedicated rechargeable energy accumulator operable to store energy reserved for operation of the electrical power generation element.

2. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the energy accumulator includes electrical storage devices.

3. The aircraft of claim 2, wherein the electrical storage devices include at least one capacitor.

4. The aircraft of claim 2, wherein the electrical storage devices include a number of series-connected capacitors.

5. The aircraft of claim 3, wherein the electrical storage devices include a number of series-connected capacitors.

6. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the energy accumulator is sufficient for at least one of the operating cycles of the luggage compartment.

7. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the power generation element is adapted to move the luggage compartment without outside force into the closed position.

8. The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising a charging device to charge the energy accumulator with power from an electrical system is provided.

9. The aircraft of claim 8, wherein the charging device has a charge power that is much lower than a power demand of the power generation element.

10. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the power generation element is an electric motor.

11. The aircraft of claim 10, wherein the electric motor is operable in both directions of rotation.

12. The aircraft of claim 10, wherein the electric motor is operable to lower the luggage compartment as a motor brake.

13. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the luggage compartment has at least one of a switch and a pushbutton operable for opening or closing the luggage compartment.

14. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the lifting device has a connection to a central control unit of the aircraft.

15. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the luggage compartment has an electrically operable lock.

16. The aircraft of claim 15, wherein the lock is operable from a central control unit of the aircraft.

17. The aircraft of claim 1, comprising a plurality of the luggage compartments;

wherein each of the luggage compartments has a respective energy accumulator.

18. The aircraft of claim 1, comprising:

a plurality of the luggage compartments; and

one of the energy accumulators for the plurality of luggage compartments.

19. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the energy accumulator is sufficient for at least two operating cycles of the luggage compartment.

20. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the energy accumulator is sufficient for at least four operating cycles of the luggage compartment.