Cargo aircraft for transporting intermodal containers in transverse orientation
First Claim
1. A method of loading intermodal containers into an aircraft, the method comprising:
- arranging the intermodal containers on a flat surface in a row such that lengths of the intermodal containers extend perpendicular to the row;
positioning a fuselage of the aircraft above the row of the intermodal containers,the fuselage comprising a cargo space and an opening into the cargo space,the fuselage extending in a longitude direction along the row of the intermodal containers; and
lowering the aircraft,wherein the intermodal containers are inserted into the cargo space of the fuselage during lowering of the aircraft, andwherein each of the intermodal containers is engaged with a supporting mechanism in the cargo space after lowering.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Provided are aircraft for transporting intermodal containers and methods of operating such aircraft including methods of loading and unloading the containers. An aircraft includes a fuselage having a cargo space for receiving and supporting intermodal containers. The containers are oriented in the transverse direction in the cargo space or, more specifically, in a direction normal to the longitude direction that extends from the nose to the tail of the aircraft. The aircraft may transport standard 20-foot or 40-foot containers or lighter version of such containers that otherwise have the same form and features as the standard intermodal containers. The intermodal containers may be loaded through an opening in the bottom of the fuselage. Specifically, intermodal containers may be arranged into a row. The aircraft may be then rolled over this row of the containers and lowered onto the containers followed by engaging container corners.
16 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of loading intermodal containers into an aircraft, the method comprising:
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arranging the intermodal containers on a flat surface in a row such that lengths of the intermodal containers extend perpendicular to the row; positioning a fuselage of the aircraft above the row of the intermodal containers, the fuselage comprising a cargo space and an opening into the cargo space, the fuselage extending in a longitude direction along the row of the intermodal containers; and lowering the aircraft, wherein the intermodal containers are inserted into the cargo space of the fuselage during lowering of the aircraft, and wherein each of the intermodal containers is engaged with a supporting mechanism in the cargo space after lowering. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification