Dual mode cargo transport apparatus and method of using same
AssigneeJervis B. Webb Company
InventorDonald L. LeCroy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for handling cargo are disclosed which include a plurality of cargo carriers capable of being operated manually by human operators or remotely by a central controller. The carriers are operated in their manual mode to traverse paths near aircraft or other movable objects whose stopping positions cannot be accurately known until arrival. Once the carriers have been loaded and manually guided away from the movable object, they are driven onto a track from which point an automated controller takes over to guide the carriers to their destinations.
Claims18
A cargo handling system for transporting cargo from a storage compartment in a carrier to one of plurality of cargo delivery areas comprising:
- at least one vehicle for carrying the cargo;
- controls for controlling said at least one vehicle;
- a defined pathway comprising a roadway and a railway, the roadway positioned between the storage compartment and an entrance to the railway, the railway extending from the entrance to the delivery areas, the entrance of the railway inclined to permit the vehicle to be manually driven onto the railway;
- an unloading station at each delivery area for unloading cargo carried by the vehicle;
- an electronic controller for actuating said controls to control said at least one vehicle along said railway, said controller including means for identifying the cargo when said vehicle arrives at the entrance and directing said vehicle along the railway and to one of the cargo delivery areas based on the identification of the cargo;
- a manual actuator for manually actuating said controls to control said at least one vehicle on the roadway;
- and,
- a switch for shifting control of said at least one vehicle between said electronic actuator and said manual actuator.
A method of transporting objects from a variable position storage unit to one of a number of fixed locations comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one vehicle having manual controls and an automatic guidance system capable of responding to commands from a controller;
- providing a pathway comprising a roadway and a railway, the roadway positioned between the variable position storage unit and an entrance to the railway, the railway extending from the entrance to the an unloading position proximate to each of said fixed locations;
- manually positioning said at least one vehicle near said variable position storage unit using vehicle wheels;
- loading said at least one vehicle;
- manually guiding said at least one vehicle to said entrance and manually driving said vehicle onto said railway from the roadway;
- shifting control of said at least one vehicle to said controller when said vehicle is on the railway and inputting information related to the objects being transported to the controller;
- selecting one of said unloading positions base on the inputted information and automatically guiding said at least one vehicle to said one unloading position along the railway based on the inputted information;
- and,
- unloading said at least one vehicle at one of the fixed locations.
A baggage handling system for transporting baggage from a location near an aircraft to a baggage delivery area inside a terminal comprising:
- a defined pathway comprising a pair of spaced apart guiding rails supported on the ground and by the floor inside said terminal, said pathway having an end section spaced apart from said aircraft and extending into said delivery area;
- a power rail supported by said floor between said spaced apart guiding rails;
- at least one motorized vehicle for carrying the baggage, said vehicle being supported by a plurality of wheel means comprising wheel portions for supporting said at least one vehicle on said guiding rails and tire portions for supporting said vehicle on the ground, said vehicle further comprising a battery for providing power to said vehicle and a contactor for drawing current from said power rail;
- controls for controlling said at least one vehicle;
- an electronic actuator for actuating said controls to control said at least one vehicle along said defined pathway;
- a manual actuator for manually actuating said controls to control said at least one vehicle off of said defined pathway and along said end section;
- and,
- a switch for shifting control of said at least one vehicle between said electronic actuator and said manual actuator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.