Aircraft having a dual floor servicing system associated with an operational ground support system

• US 7,549,607 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: McCoskey, William R., Johnson, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins; Timothy D
• Application Number:
  US11/164,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20070040066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,308 Days
• Field of Search: 244/137.1, 244/137.2, 244/114.R
• US Class Current: 244/137.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 1/22 Other structures integral with fuselages to facilitate loading , e.g. cargo bays, cranes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/405 Powered wheels, e.g. for taxing
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/305 Bridges extending between terminal building and aircraft, e.g. telescopic, vertically adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/31 Passenger vehicles specially adapted to co-operate, e.g. dock, with aircraft or terminal buildings
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/35 for supplying electrical power to stationary aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/36 Other airport installations ground installations for de-icing aircraft B64F5/20
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/80 Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management

Abstract

An aircraft (12) includes a servicing opening (26) and multiple service levels (82, 102). The service levels (82, 102) include a noncargo-based service level (82). The service levels (82, 102) are accessible through the service opening (26). An aircraft onboard primary servicing system (66) includes a primary service sub-system (151). An aircraft primary service coupler (154) is configured to attach to a corresponding terminal primary service coupler (152). The aircraft primary service coupler (154) and the terminal primary service coupler (152) providing at least one primary service therethrough.

Claims

1. An aircraft comprising:

a servicing opening;

a plurality of service levels comprising a passenger level and a primary servicing level, wherein at least one of said service levels is a noncargo-based service level; and

a health and maintenance monitoring system, wherein primary services provided on said primary service level through said service opening are adjusted in response to signals generated from said health and maintenance monitoring system;

said plurality of service levels accessible through said service opening.

2. An aircraft as in claim 1 wherein said service opening comprising a nose opening.

3. An aircraft as in claim 1 wherein said servicing opening is configured for reception of at least one passenger transport module therethrough.

4. An aircraft as in claim 1 comprising a passenger transport module opening.

5. An aircraft as in claim 1 further comprising a flight deck area that is isolated from said service opening.

6. An aircraft as in claim 1 further comprising a security system monitoring services provided through said service opening.

7. An aircraft as in claim 1 further comprising a carry-on system for receiving a carry-on transport module through said service opening.

8. An aircraft as in claim 1 further comprising an onboard service system that is configured to couple to and receive at least one resource from an offboard service system on said primary servicing level through said service opening.

9. An aircraft as in claim 8 wherein said onboard service system receives a primary service selected from at least one of a fuel system, a power system, an electrical power system, a water system, an air system, and a brake cooling system.

10. An aircraft as in claim 8 wherein said onboard service system comprises at least one primary servicing coupler for attachment to a terminal primary service coupler.

11. An aircraft as in claim 1 configured to receive secondary services through said servicing opening.

12. An aircraft as in claim 11 wherein said secondary services are selected from at least one of cabin cleaning services, galley services, lavatories, and trash services to said at least one aircraft.

13. An aircraft as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of service levels comprise at least one secondary service level.

14. An aircraft as in claim 13 wherein said at least one secondary service level is configured to receive secondary services selected from at least one of cabin cleaning services, galley services, lavatory services, and trash services.

15. An aircraft as in claim 1 further comprising a terminal mating system, wherein services through said service opening are controlled in response to signals received from said terminal mating system.

16. An aircraft as in claim 15 wherein said terminal mating system comprises at least one machine vision specific device.

17. An aircraft as in claim 15 wherein said terminal mating system comprises a precision guidance specific device that follows a guideline to mate said service opening to a terminal docking port.