Method and system for loading and unloading cargo assembly onto and from an aircraft
First Claim
1. A system for loading and unloading a cargo assembly onto an aircraft, the system comprising:
- an aircraft comprisinga forward portion;
an aft portion;
a spine disposed between the forward portion and the aft portion, the spine defining an upper external surface of the aircraft and a lower coupling surface;
a plurality of mounts attached to the lower coupling surface of the spine to structurally engage the cargo assembly onto the spine;
wherein the aircraft is configured such that an unobstructed passageway is provided between a ground surface and the spine during loading or unloading of the cargo assembly onto or from the spine, respectively; and
a deployable fairing attached to the front portion or the aft portion, the deployable fairing movable between a fixed position for flight and an open position, wherein access to the unobstructed passageway and the spine is provided when the deployable fairing is in the open position;
anda moveable platform for maneuvering the cargo assembly to and from a loading area underneath the spine.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for loading and unloading a cargo assembly onto and from an aircraft. The system comprises an aircraft and a moveable platform. The aircraft comprises a forward fairing, an aft fairing, a spine disposed between the forward fairing and the aft fairing and a plurality of mounts coupled to the spine and configured to structurally engage the cargo container onto the spine. The aft fairing is movable between a fixed position for flight and an open position for at least loading and unloading of the cargo assembly. The aircraft is configured such that an unobstructed passageway is provided in an area underneath the spine during loading or unloading of the cargo assembly. An aft access is provided when the aft fairing is moved to the open position. The moveable platform is used to maneuver the cargo assembly for loading and unloading onto and from the spine, respectively.
62 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for loading and unloading a cargo assembly onto an aircraft, the system comprising:
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an aircraft comprising a forward portion; an aft portion; a spine disposed between the forward portion and the aft portion, the spine defining an upper external surface of the aircraft and a lower coupling surface; a plurality of mounts attached to the lower coupling surface of the spine to structurally engage the cargo assembly onto the spine; wherein the aircraft is configured such that an unobstructed passageway is provided between a ground surface and the spine during loading or unloading of the cargo assembly onto or from the spine, respectively; and a deployable fairing attached to the front portion or the aft portion, the deployable fairing movable between a fixed position for flight and an open position, wherein access to the unobstructed passageway and the spine is provided when the deployable fairing is in the open position; and a moveable platform for maneuvering the cargo assembly to and from a loading area underneath the spine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for loading and unloading a cargo assembly onto
an aircraft, the system comprising: -
an aircraft comprising a forward portion; an aft portion; and a cargo-loading portion disposed between the forward portion and the aft portion, the cargo-loading portion defining an upper external surface of the aircraft and a lower coupling surface; and a plurality of mounts attached to the lower coupling surface of the cargo-loading portion to structurally engage and suspend the cargo assembly from the cargo-loading portion;
whereinthe front portion or the aft portion comprises a deployable fairing, the deployable fairing movable between a fixed position for flight and an open position in which access to the cargo-loading portion is provided for loading the cargo assembly onto the cargo-loading portion; and a moveable platform for maneuvering the cargo assembly to and from the cargo-loading portion. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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10. An aircraft for transporting a cargo assembly comprising:
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a forward portion; an aft portion; a cargo-loading portion disposed between the forward portion and the aft portion, the cargo-loading portion defining an upper external surface of the aircraft and a lower coupling surface; and a plurality of mounts attached to the lower coupling surface of the cargo-loading portion to structurally engage and suspend the cargo assembly from the cargo-loading portion; wherein the front portion or the aft portion comprises a deployable fairing, the deployable fairing movable between a fixed position for flight and an open position in which access to the cargo-loading portion is provided for loading the cargo assembly onto the cargo-loading portion when the deployable fairing is in the open position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification