Cargo transfer system

A powered cargo transfer system for an aircraft having a cargo hold and an access opening in the side of the fuselage of the aircraft for moving loads into and out of the cargo hold, said cargo transfer system comprising:

• a. a tiltable conveying plane positioned adjacent the access opening;
• b. first belt drive means mounted on said conveying plane, said first belt drive means oriented generally laterally to the length of the fuselage and defining a first load-carrying surface;
• c. means for tilting said plane laterally relative to the length of the fuselage between a first position wherein the side of the plane adjacent the fuselage opening is tilted downwardly from the horizontal, and a second, generally horizontal position;
• d. second belt drive means positioned adjacent the access opening and oriented generally transversely to said first belt drive means, said second belt drive means defining a second load-carrying surface retracted beneath adjacent portions of said first load-carrying surface when said plane is in first, tilted position and disposed above said first load-carrying surface when said plane is disposed in second, horizontal position;
• e. third belt drive means extending substantially longitudinally along the cargo hold and defining a third load-carrying surface disposed substantially coplanar with said second load-carrying surface;
• f. second auxiliary conveyor means mounted on said plane in an orientation generally parallel to said second belt drive means, said second auxiliary conveyor means defining a second auxiliary load-carrying surface;
• and
• g. means for raising and lowering said second auxiliary conveyor means to position the second auxiliary load-carrying surface below the first load-carrying surface when said plane is in first, tilted position, and above the first load-carrying surface in substantial coplanar relationship with the second load-carrying surface when said plane is in second, horizontal position.

A powered station for loading and unloading cargo through an opening in the side of a cargo hold in a direction generally transverse to the length of the hold and moving the cargo longitudinally along the hold, comprising:

• a. a tiltable conveying plane disposed within the cargo hold at the hold opening, said conveying plane having first belt drive means to operate in a direction generally transverse to the length of the cargo hold, said first belt drive means defining a first load-carrying surface;
• b. second belt drive means disposed longitudinally along the floor of the hold at the hold opening and located at least partially within the perimeter of said conveying plane, said second belt drive means defining a second load-carrying surface;
• c. means for pivoting said conveying plane about a pivot axis disposed longitudinally of the cargo hold between a first position wherein the first and second load-carrying surfaces are substantially parallel with each other and the second load-carrying surface being disposed above the first load-carrying surface, and a second position wherein the side of said conveying plane adjacent the hold opening is tilted downwardly to askew the first and second load-carrying surfaces relative to each other, with the second load-carrying surface being disposed below the adjacent portions of the first load-carrying surface;
• d. auxiliary conveyor means associated with said conveying plane and disposed in an orientation parallel with said second belt drive means, said auxiliary conveyor means defining an auxiliary load-carrying surface;
• and
• e. means for automatically raising and lowering said auxiliary conveyor means relative to said conveying plane as said conveying frame is pivoted between first and second positions to raise the auxiliary load-carrying surface above the first load-carrying surface into substantially coplanar relation with the second load-carrying surface when said conveying plane is in first position and to lower the auxiliary load-carrying surface as said conveying plane is tilted into second position to a level below said first load-carrying surface.