# US 2013/0158700 A1 · Integrated cargo loading system architecture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158700 A1 - Document ID: US20130158700A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/760,218 - Filed: 2013-02-06 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-06 - Assignees: Airbus Operations GmbH - Inventors: Sven SCHERENBERGER; Bernd SCHNOERWANGEN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158700A1 ## CPC - B64D 9/00: Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like - B64F 1/32: for handling freight - B64D 2009/006: {Rollers or drives for pallets of freight containers, e.g. PDU} - Y02T 50/40: Weight reduction - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A cargo loading system for a cargo compartment of a means of transport, for example a cargo aircraft or a passenger aircraft, is provided. The system includes at least one power drive unit for transporting cargo of the means of transport. The power drive unit and a control module are coupled to a BUS system. The control module generates control signals for the power drive unit and maintenance data of the power drive unit for the control and maintenance of the power drive unit. The BUS system transmits the control signals and maintenance data of the power drive unit between the control module and the power drive unit. In this manner an existing hardware platform of the means of transport can be used, and weight and cabling as well as the number of control boxes of the means of transport can be reduced. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cargo loading system for a cargo compartment of a means of transport, with the cargo loading system comprising: at least one power drive unit for transporting cargo of the means of transport; a control module that generates control signals for the at least one power drive unit and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit for control and maintenance of the at least one power drive unit; and a BUS system including a BUS, with the at least one power drive unit and the control module coupled to the BUS by means of data lines, wherein the BUS system transmits the control signals and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit between the control module and the at least one power drive unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cargo loading system of claim 1, wherein the control module controls the BUS system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The cargo loading system of claim 1, further comprising: a control system, the control module coupled to the control system, wherein the control system transmits and receives the control signals and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit by means of the control module and of the BUS system, and processes the control signals and maintenance data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cargo loading system of claim 3, wherein the control system is designed for a connection of further modules that are selected from the group comprising a control system module for doors, a module for supplying electrical power, and an undercarriage module, and the cargo loading system is designed to be switched on and off by means of at least one of the further modules depending on transport phases of the means of transport. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cargo loading system of claim 4, with the control system further comprising: a module interface that connects the control module and the further modules, wherein the module interface is designed for data exchange between the control module connected to the module interface and to the further modules connected to the module interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The cargo loading system of claim 4, with the control system further comprising: a configuration unit that configures the control module that is connected to the control system, and configures further modules connected to the control system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The cargo loading system of claim 1, further comprising: a power supply unit, wherein the BUS system is designed for cross-linking the power supply unit with the at least one power drive unit and with the control module for supplying power to the at least one power drive unit and to the control module. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cargo loading system of claim 7, wherein the power supply is designed for a requirement-oriented supply to the at least one power drive unit depending on a control signal of the control unit, which control signal is transmitted by means of the BUS system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The cargo loading system of claim 7, further comprising: a safeguard unit that at least one of controls and regulates the power supply of the cargo loading system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The cargo loading system of claim 1, further comprising: a power-supply BUS system, the at least one power drive unit coupled to the power-supply BUS system, wherein the power-supply BUS system is designed for a requirement-oriented supply of power to the at least one power drive unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The cargo loading system of claim 1, further comprising: a maintenance system that receives maintenance data from and transmits maintenance data to the at least one power drive unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The cargo loading system of claim 1, further comprising: a control device coupled to the BUS system, wherein the control device controls the at least one power drive unit by means of the control module. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The cargo loading system of claim 1, further comprising: at least one proximity switch that switches on and off the at least one power drive unit depending on a position of cargo, which cargo is movable by the at least one power drive unit. ### Claim 14 An aircraft comprising: at least one fastening unit for holding cargo during cargo transport through the aircraft; a cargo loading system for a cargo compartment of the aircraft, with the cargo loading system including: at least one power drive unit for transporting cargo of the means of transport; a control module that generates control signals for the at least one power drive unit and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit for control and maintenance of the at least one power drive unit; and a BUS system comprising a BUS, with the at least one power drive unit and the control module coupled to the BUS by means of data lines, wherein the BUS system transmits the control signals and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit between the control module and the at least one power drive unit. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The aircraft of claim 14, further comprising: a maintenance system that receives maintenance data from and transmits maintenance data to the at least one power drive unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The aircraft of claim 14, further comprising: a safeguard unit that at least one of controls and regulates the power supply of the cargo loading system. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The aircraft of claim 14, further comprising: a control system, the control module coupled to the control system, wherein the control system transmits and receives the control signals and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit by means of the control module and of the BUS system, and processes the control signals and maintenance data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The aircraft of claim 17, wherein the control system is designed for a connection of further modules that are selected from the group comprising a control system module for doors, a module for supplying electrical power, and an undercarriage module, and the cargo loading system is designed to be switched on and off by means of at least one of the further modules depending on transport phases of the aircraft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The aircraft of claim 14, further comprising: at least one proximity switch that switches on and off the at least one power drive unit depending on a position of cargo, which cargo is movable by the at least one power drive unit. ### Claim 20 A method for loading cargo to and unloading cargo from a means of transport by means of a cargo loading system, with the cargo loading system comprising: at least one power drive unit for transporting cargo of the means of transport; a control module that generates control signals for the at least one power drive unit and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit for control and maintenance of the at least one power drive unit; a BUS system including a BUS, with the at least one power drive unit and the control module are coupled to the BUS by means of data lines, and the BUS system transmits the control signals and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit between the control module and the at least one power drive unit, with the method comprising: generating a control signal for at least one power drive unit by means of a control module; transmitting the control signal from the control module to the at least one power drive unit by means of a BUS system; and moving cargo by means of the at least one power drive unit depending on the control signal transmitted by means of the BUS system.