US 5,851,099 A · Adjustable cargo platform assembly

Abstract

This invention relates to a ramp design permitting the positioning of a cargo ramp floor at any angle or height, which is integral with the aircraft such that it can be aligned to a vehicle transferring the load. The adjustable cargo platform assembly and the automated platform leveling system permits the ramp and ramp platform to be raised or lowered, but also permits the ramp platform to be tilted about a roll axis and aligned laterally with the floor of the load carrying vehicle to allow the cargo to be transferred to the aircraft. Efficient on-loading and off-loading of a palletized loading system (PLS) flatrack, directly off a PLS truck is achieved by such alignment. Actuators in the forward end of the ramp lift the platform as it rotates about the aft hinge point until the platform is even with the bottom of flatrack. After the platform has been lifted so that it is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of truck bed, roll actuators are used to raise and rotate the upper section of the platform about the longitudinal access of the ramp to match the plane of the truck bed. The roll alignment feature uses two selectable hinge locations located at the outer ends of the platform structure. Two sets of over center hooks initially lock down both sides of the upper platform structure to the platform frame. This permits the opposite side to be released and lifted using the opposite lock down side as a hinge. The cargo ramp floor may be outfitted with the various cargo rails and roller systems currently in use and the platform is not limited to any specific cargo handling system.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A cargo ramp assembly comprising:

a. a cargo ramp capable of movement about a transverse axis at one end of said cargo ramp;
b. a platform frame, having a longitudinal axis, rotatably mounted at one end to said cargo ramp, said platform frame adapted to rotate about said transverse axis independent of the movement of said cargo ramp;
c. a roll frame movably mounted to said platform frame and adapted to move relative to the longitudinal axis of said platform frame;
and
d. at least one lateral frame member mounted to said roll frame adapted for lateral motion relative to said roll frame in a direction parallel to the transverse axis.

2 more elements

A cargo ramp assembly comprising:

a. a cargo ramp capable of movement about a transverse axis at one end of said cargo ramp;
b. a platform frame, having longitudinal and rotational axes, rotatably mounted at one end to said cargo ramp, said platform frame adapted to rotate about said transverse axis independent of the movement of said cargo ramp;
c. at least one pitch hydraulic cylinder mounted between said cargo ramp and said platform frame at a point spaced apart from said rotatably mounted point of said platform frame to said cargo ramp coupled to a hydraulic system;
d. a roll frame defining a central longitudinal axis, said roll frame releasably mounted to said platform frame and adapted to rotate about said longitudinal axis of said platform frame;
e. at least two actuators attached at one end to said platform frame and attached at the other end to said roll frame and disposed on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis of said roll frame;
f. a plurality of lateral frame members, slidably mounted to said roll frame, forming a lateral frame, each said lateral frame member having a plurality of teeth for engagement with a pinion forming a rack and pinion structure, each said lateral frame member adapted for lateral motion relative to said roll frame;
and
g. means for selectively driving said rack and pinion structure in either direction.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adjustable cargo platform assembly

Life of this patent

Adjustable cargo platform assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20