# US 5,346,162 A · Cargo compartment for a lighter-than-air vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,346,162 A - Document ID: US5346162A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/148,224 - Filed: 1993-11-08 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1993-11-08 - Assignees: Lockheed Corporation - Inventors: Robert G. Belie; Leland M. Nicolai - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5346162A ## CPC - B64C 1/22: Other structures integral with fuselages to facilitate loading {, e.g. cargo bays, cranes} - B64F 1/14: Towers or masts for mooring airships or balloons - B64C: AEROPLANES; HELICOPTERS - 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 ## Abstract The invention is a cargo compartment for a lighter-than-air vehicle, the vehicle having a longitudinal, vertical and lateral axis. In detail, the cargo compartment includes a cargo carrying structure mounted to the bottom of the vehicle, the structure extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and having a plurality of passageways extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Each of the passageways is aligned with the lateral axis of the vehicle and extend completely through the structure, and is adapted to simultaneously unload cargo from one end and load cargo from the opposite end. A cargo moving system is mounted in the floor of each passageway for moving the cargo in one end and out the opposite end of the passageway and intermediate positions therebetween. A cargo securing system is mounted on the floor of the passageway for releasable securing the cargo within the passageway at the intermediate positions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cargo compartment for a lighter-than-air vehicle, the vehicle having a longitudinal, vertical and lateral axis, the cargo compartment comprising: a cargo carrying structure mounted to the bottom of the vehicle, said structure extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and having a plurality of open ended passageways, each having a floor, and extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each of said passageways aligned with the lateral axis of the vehicle and extending completely through said structure, said passageways adapted to simultaneously off load cargo from one end of said passageway and to on load cargo from the opposite end; first means mounted in each passageway for moving the cargo in one end and out the opposite end of said passageway and intermediate positions therebetween; and second means for releasable securing the cargo within said passageway. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cargo is mounted within at least one cargo container, said compartment further comprising: said first means adapted to move said at least one cargo container in one end and out the opposite end of said passageway and intermediate positions therebetween; and said second means adapted to releasable secure the cargo container within said passageway. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first means is mounted on said floor of each passageway. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second means is mounted on said floor of each passageway. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first means includes a plurality of powered rollers mounted in said floor of each of said passageways for moving the at least one cargo container in one end and out the other end of said passageway and intermediate positions therebetween. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 5 wherein said first means further comprises a plurality of non-powered rollers mounted in said floor of each of said passageways for movably supporting the at least one cargo container. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 2, or 3, or 4, or 5, or 6 further comprising said second means including a pair of guide rails mounted in a spaced relationship on said floor of said passageway, such that said at least one cargo container is moved into and out of said passageway and to said intermediate positions therein, said rails engage said at least one cargo container and restrain it from movement along longitudinal axis of the vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 7 further comprising said second means including locking means to releasable secure at least one cargo container in said intermediate positions along said floor of said passageway from movement along the vertical and lateral axis of the vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 8 further comprising doors mounted on each end of said passageways for sealing of the interior thereof. ### Claim 10 A cargo compartment for a lighter-than-air vehicle, the vehicle having a longitudinal, vertical and lateral axis, the cargo compartment comprising: a cargo carrying structure mounted to the bottom of the vehicle, said structure extending along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and having a plurality of open ended passageways, each having a floor, and extending along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, each of said passageways aligned with the lateral axis of the vehicle and extending completely through said structure, said passageways adapted to simultaneously off load cargo from one end of said passageway and to on load cargo from the opposite end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 10 comprising first means mounted in each passageway for moving the cargo in one end and out the opposite end of said passageway and intermediate positions therebetween. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 11 comprising second means for releasable securing the cargo within said passageway. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 12 wherein the cargo is mounted within at least one cargo container, said compartment further comprising: said first means adapted to move the at least one cargo container in one end and out the opposite end of said passageway and intermediate positions therebetween; and said second means adapted to releasable secure the at least one cargo container within said passageway. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The cargo system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first means is mounted on the floor of each passageway. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 14 wherein said second means is mounted on the floor of each passageway. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 15 wherein said first means includes a plurality of powered rollers mounted in said floor of each of said passageways for moving the at least one cargo container in one end and out the other end of said passageway and intermediate positions therebetween. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 16 wherein said first means further comprises a plurality of non-powered rollers mounted in said floor of each of said passageways for movably supporting the at least one cargo container. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The cargo compartment am set forth in claim 13, or 14, or 15, or 16, or 17 further comprising said second means including a pair of guide rails mounted in a spaced relationship on said floor of said passageway, such that, as the at least one cargo container is moved into and out of said passageway and to said intermediate positions therein, said rails engage the at least one cargo container and restrain it from movement along longitudinal axis of the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 18 further comprising said second means including locking means to releasable secure the at least one cargo container in said intermediate positions along said floor of said passageway from movement along the vertical and lateral axis of the vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The cargo compartment as set forth in claim 19 further comprising doors mounted on each end of said passageways for sealing of the interior thereof.