Compliance mechanism
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRobin William Stebbins, Brad Alan Kauffman, Kurt Randall Kraft, Craig Alan Vyeson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for a mobile tail support vehicle moving a swing tail cargo door of a swing tail aircraft. A mobile tail support apparatus is engaged to the swing tail cargo door on the swing tail aircraft. The swing tail cargo door is moved from a first position to a second position using the mobile tail support apparatus. Vertical reaction occurs to vertical loads on the swing tail cargo door during movement of the swing tail aircraft by the mobile tail support apparatus. Loads on a hinge and/or swing tail cargo door are reduced during the movement of the swing tail cargo door using the mobile tail support apparatus.
Claims24
A mobile tail support vehicle for moving a swing tail cargo door of a swing tail aircraft, the mobile tail support vehicle comprising:
- a vertical support system capable of controlling a vertical load of the swing tail cargo door of the swing tail aircraft, wherein vertical support system includes an accumulator unit capable of providing substantially constant vertical loading support during opening, cargo loading operations, cargo unloading operations, or closing of the swing tail cargo door and a lift structure capable of moving a coupling mechanism vertically to couple to the swing tail cargo door;
- and
- a horizontal support system capable of isolating horizontal and rotational motions of the swing tail cargo door to prevent an unacceptable load from occurring on the swing tail cargo door during movement of the swing tail cargo door around an axis through a hinge of the swing tail cargo door, wherein horizontal support system includes a cross track slide system capable of isolating the motions of the swing tail cargo door to prevent the unacceptable load transfer from occurring on the swing tail or the hinge of the swing tail cargo door during the movement of the swing tail cargo door around the axis through the hinge of the swing tail cargo door and the coupling mechanism capable of engaging the swing tail cargo door, wherein radial movement of the swing tail cargo door occurs along a radial axis through the coupling mechanism;
- a lock plate capable of locking the coupling mechanism in a coupled state with the swing tail cargo door;
- and
- a vehicle, wherein the vertical support system and the horizontal support system are mounted on the vehicle and wherein vehicle moves with the coupling mechanism coupled to the swing tail cargo door to move the swing tail cargo door from one position to another position.
A method for moving a swing tail cargo door on a swing tail aircraft, the method comprising:
- engaging a mobile tail support apparatus to the swing tail cargo door on the swing tail aircraft by coupling a ball fitting in the mobile tail support apparatus to the swing tail cargo door and locking the ball fitting to the swing tail cargo door in a coupled position;
- moving the swing tail cargo door from a first position to a second position using the mobile tail support apparatus;
- reacting vertically to vertical loads on the swing tail cargo door during movement of the swing tail aircraft using a support system capable of controlling a vertical load of the swing tail cargo door of the swing tail aircraft during the movement of the swing tail cargo door;
- and
- reducing loads on a hinge of the swing tail cargo door during the movement of the swing tail cargo door using a second support system capable of isolating motions of the swing tail cargo door to prevent the unacceptable load from occurring on the swing tail or hinge of the swing tail cargo door during the movement of the swing tail cargo door around the axis through the hinge of the swing tail cargo door.
A mobile tail support vehicle comprising:
- a mobile support base;
- a vertical support system having an accumulator unit capable of controlling a vertical load of a swing tail cargo door of a swing tail aircraft;
- a horizontal support system capable of isolating horizontal and rotational motions of the swing tail cargo door to prevent an unacceptable load from occurring on the swing tail cargo door during movement of the swing tail cargo door around an axis through a hinge of the swing tail cargo door;
- and
- a coupling mechanism mounted on the horizontal support system and capable of coupling to the swing tail cargo door.
A mobile tail support apparatus comprising:
- first support system capable of controlling a vertical load of a swing tail cargo door of a swing tail aircraft;
- and
- a second support system capable of isolating motions of the swing tail cargo door to prevent an unacceptable load from occurring on the swing tail aircraft during movement of the swing tail cargo door around an axis through a hinge of the swing tail cargo door.
A method for moving a swing tail cargo door on a swing tail aircraft, the method comprising:
- engaging a mobile tail support apparatus to the swing tail cargo door on the swing tail aircraft;
- moving the swing tail cargo door from a first position to a second position using the mobile tail support apparatus;
- reacting vertically to vertical loads on the swing tail cargo door during movement of the swing tail aircraft;
- and
- reducing loads on a hinge of the swing tail cargo door during the movement of the swing tail cargo door.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.