Unloading and loading of aircraft
AssigneeAirbus UK Limited
InventorMartyn Hulin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An access platform (208) enables containers (222) to be loaded into a cargo hold (218) of an aircraft (202) from a ground vehicle (220). The platform (208) has two opposite and non-parallel ends (210, 214), between which there is defined a support surface, the platform when viewed in plan having a generally trapezoidal shape. In use, an item (222) of cargo is moved between the cargo hold (218) and the ground vehicle (220) via a door opening, the movement of the item (222) through the door opening being in a direction (213) which when viewed in plan is not parallel to the direction (211) in which the door opening faces. During such movement, the item (222) of cargo is supported by from beneath by the support surface of the platform (208).
Claims21
An access platform for an aircraft cargo hold door opening, wherein the access platform is adapted to enable an item of cargo to be loaded onto the aircraft so that the movement of the item through the door opening is in a direction which when viewed in plan is not parallel to the direction in which the door opening faces.
A method of moving cargo between the cargo hold of an aircraft and an aircraft-cargo-loading ground vehicle, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
- providing an aircraft having a cargo hold accessible via a door opening,
- providing an aircraft-cargo-loading ground vehicle,
- moving a large item of cargo between the cargo hold and the ground vehicle via the door opening, the movement of the item through the door opening being in a direction which when viewed in plan is not parallel to the direction in which the door opening faces, and
- supporting the item of cargo from beneath during the journey of the cargo between the cargo hold and the ground vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.