Omni-directional aircraft galley servicing vehicle

• US 7,905,302 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hammonds Technical Services, Inc. (FabCorp, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hammonds Technical Services, Inc. (FabCorp, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hammonds, Carl L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbermann; Joanne
• Assistant Examiner(s): KNUTSON, JACOB D
• Application Number:
  US12/070,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20090205909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.2, 180/326, 180/327, 180/89.13, 180/7.2, 187/240
• US Class Current: 180/6.2
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/326 Supply vehicles specially adapted for transporting catering to and loading into the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 11/042 actuated by lazy-tongs mechanisms or articulated levers

Abstract

A powered omni-directional aircraft galley servicing vehicle that includes a circular frame and two drive wheels capable of independent powered forward and rearward rotation about a horizontal axis. The drive wheels are adapted to allow the vehicle to spin in place about a vertical axis which intersects the horizontal axis midway between the drive wheels and which is generally centered in the circular frame. A carrousel cabin is mounted to the frame on a lift such that it is capable of elevation to an aircraft galley. A partitioned lazy susan storage compartment rotates on the carrousel cabin to facilitate transfer of aircraft food and drink carts between an aircraft galley and the servicing vehicle.

Claims

1. A ground support vehicle (10) comprising:

an omni-directional vehicle (11) defining a vertical axis (16);

a lift (62) coupled to said omni-directional vehicle;

a platform (37) revolvably coupled to said lift so as to rotate about said vertical axis;

whereby said lift raises and lowers the elevation of said platform with respect to said omni-directional vehicle; and

a plurality of outrigger arms (23) having proximal ends coupled to said frame (14), said outrigger arms disposed along a plurality of radials of said vertical axis and circumpositioned symmetrically about the perimeter of said vehicle (10), said plurality of outrigger arms arranged and designed to extend and retract along said plurality of radials; and

a plurality of swivel casters (20) coupled to distal ends of said outrigger arms;

whereby said plurality of outrigger arms and said plurality of swivel casters cooperate to support said vehicle (10).

2. The ground support vehicle (10) of claim 1 wherein said omni-directional vehicle comprises:

a frame (14); and

first and second drive wheels (12R, 12L) rotatively coupled to said frame, each of said drive wheels capable of independent powered forward and rearward rotation about a horizontal axis (18) that intersects said vertical axis (16), said first and second drive wheels designed and arranged to revolve about said vertical axis.

3. The ground support vehicle (10) of claim 1 further comprising:

an operators station (38) disposed on said lift generally at the elevation of said platform, whereby said lift raises and lowers the elevation of said operators station;

a first control lever (31R) positioned on a first side of said operators station being operatively coupled to a first motor (26R) for controlling the speed and direction of said first drive wheel (12R); and

a second control lever (31L) positioned on a second side of said operators station being operatively coupled to a second motor (26L) for controlling the speed and direction of said second drive wheel (12L).

4. The ground support vehicle of claim 3 wherein:

said vertical axis (16) passes through said operators station (38); and

said platform (37) is characterized generally by the shape of a ring formed about said vertical axis, said operators station bounded by said platform.

5. The ground support vehicle of claim 1 wherein:

said platform (37) comprises a plurality of compartments (76) defined by a plurality of partitions (74) and dimensioned for receiving an aircraft galley service cart (350).

6. The ground support vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing (40) connected to said lift and substantially disposed about said platform.

7. The ground support vehicle of claim 1 further comprising:

a gangplank (88) extendibly and retractably coupled to said lift so as to be raised and lowered with respect to said omni-directional vehicle by said lift.

8. The service vehicle of claim 1 wherein said vehicle (10) further comprises:

a frame (14),

first and second drive wheels (12R, 12L) rotatively coupled to said frame, each of said drive wheels capable of independent powered forward and rearward rotation about a horizontal axis (18) that intersects said vertical axis (16), said first and second drive wheels designed and arranged to revolve about said vertical axis;

a first control level (31R) positioned on a first side of said operators station being operatively coupled to a first motor (26R) for controlling the speed and rotation of said first drive wheel (12R); and

a second control lever (31L) positioned on a second side of said operators station being operatively coupled to a second motor (26L) for controlling the speed and rotation of said second drive wheel (12L).

9. The service vehicle of claim 1 wherein:

said lift is a scissor lift.

10. A service vehicle (10) comprising:

an omni-directional vehicle (11) defining a vertical axis (16);

a lift (62) coupled to said omni-directional vehicle;

an operators station (38) arranged and designed for maneuvering said omni-directional vehicle coupled to said lift so as to be raised and lowered with respect to said omni-directional vehicle by said lift; and

a plurality of outrigger arms (23) having proximal ends coupled to said frame (14), said outrigger arms disposed along a plurality of radials of said vertical axis and circumpositioned symmetrically about the perimeter of said vehicle (10), said plurality of outrigger arms arranged and designed to extend and retract along said plurality of radials; and

a plurality of swivel casters (20) coupled to distal ends of said outrigger arms;

whereby said plurality of outrigger arms and said plurality of swivel casters cooperate to support said vehicle (10).

11. The service vehicle of claim 10, further comprising:

said vertical axis (16) passes through said operators station (38); and

a platform (37) revolvably coupled to said lift so as to rotate about said vertical axis, said platform (37) characterized generally by the shape of a ring formed about said vertical axis, said operators station bounded by said platform.

12. The service vehicle of claim 11 wherein:

said platform (37) comprises a plurality of compartments (76) defined by a plurality of partitions (74) and dimensioned for receiving an aircraft galley service cart (350).

13. The service vehicle of claim 11 further comprising:

a housing (40) connected to said lift and substantially disposed about said platform.

14. The service vehicle of claim 10 further comprising:

a gangplank (88) extendibly and retractably coupled to said lift so as to be raised and lowered with respect to said omni-directional vehicle by said lift.

15. The service vehicle of claim 10 wherein said omni-directional vehicle comprises:

a frame (14); and

first and second drive wheels (12R, 12L) rotatively coupled to said frame, each of said drive wheels capable of independent powered forward and rearward rotation about a horizontal axis (18) that intersects said vertical axis (16), said first and second drive wheels designed and arranged to revolve about said vertical axis.

16. In an omni-directional vehicle characterized by a generally circular shaped defining a vertical axis (16) and having a frame (14) and first and second drive wheels (12R, 12L) rotatively coupled to said frame, each of said drive wheels capable of independent powered forward and rearward rotation about a horizontal axis (18) that intersects said vertical axis, said first and second drive wheels being designed and arranged to revolve about said vertical axis, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of outrigger arms (23) having proximal ends coupled to said frame, said outrigger arms disposed along a plurality of radials of said vertical axis and circumpositioned symmetrically about the perimeter of said vehicle (10), said plurality of outrigger arms arranged and designed to extend and retract along said plurality of radials; and

a plurality of swivel casters (20) coupled to distal ends of said outrigger arms;

whereby said plurality of outrigger arms and said plurality of swivel casters cooperate to support said vehicle (10).

17. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 16, further comprising:

a lift (62) coupled to said omni-directional vehicle;

a platform (37) revolvably coupled to said lift so as to rotate about said vertical axis;

whereby said lift raises and lowers the elevation of said platform with respect to said omni-directional;

an operators station (38) disposed on said lift generally at the elevation of said platform, whereby said lift raises and lowers the elevation of said operators station;

a first control lever (31R) positioned on a first side of said operators station being operatively coupled to a first motor (26R) for controlling the speed and direction of said first drive wheel (12R); and

a second control lever (31L) positioned on a second side of said operators station being operatively coupled to a second motor (26L) for controlling the speed and direction of said second drive wheel (12L).

18. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 17 wherein:

said vertical axis (16) passes through said operators station (38); and

said platform (37) is characterized generally by the shape of a ring formed about said vertical axis, said operators station bounded by said platform.

19. The omni-directional vehicle of claim 17 wherein:

said platform (37) comprises a plurality of compartments (76) defined by a plurality of partitions (74) and dimensioned for receiving an aircraft galley service cart (350).

20. The ground support vehicle of claim 17 further comprising:

a housing (40) connected to said lift and substantially disposed about said platform.