Automated elevator loading and unloading system
AssigneeGeneral Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Paul Wagner, Lloyd L. Ellison, Jr., James Michael Haley, Robert Merrill Alsop
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods in accordance with exemplary embodiments for assisting cargo onto and from elevators. The system may include deck subsystems comprising rollers, a motor, and a gearbox. The motor may drive the gearbox which may drive the rollers to assist in loading cargo onto an elevator and/or assist in unloading cargo from an elevator. Deck subsystems may be located on multiple deck levels. The system may include an elevator subsystem having rollers. The deck subsystem may include a telescopic driveshaft which may extend and drive the rollers on the elevator subsystem to assist in loading and/or unloading cargo onto and from the elevator subsystem.
Claims18
A system comprising:
- an elevator subsystem positioned on an elevator with the elevator subsystem comprising a plurality of rollers, the elevator capable of moving between multiple deck levels;
- and
- a deck subsystem positioned on a deck and comprising:
- a plurality of rollers;
- a motor;
- and
- a gearbox operatively coupled to the motor and to the plurality of rollers on the deck subsystem, whereby the motor drives the gearbox which causes the plurality of rollers on the deck subsystem to rotate, whereby the rotation of the rollers assists in loading or unloading cargo to and from the elevator subsystem.
A method comprising:
- rotating a plurality of rollers on a deck subsystem to move cargo from a first end of the deck subsystem to a second end of the deck subsystem, with the deck subsystem positioned outside of an elevator;
- lowering a gap bridge to span a gap between the deck subsystem and an elevator subsystem, with the elevator subsystem positioned within an elevator and comprising a plurality of rollers, the elevator capable of moving between multiple deck levels;
- and
- rotating the rollers on the deck subsystem and the rollers on the elevator subsystem thereby moving the cargo from the deck subsystem over the gap bridge and onto the elevator subsystem, wherein rotating the rollers on the deck subsystem and the rollers on the elevator subsystem further comprises a motor driving a gearbox operatively coupled to the rollers on the deck platform and operatively coupled to a telescoping driveshaft and the telescoping driveshaft extending and operatively coupling with an elevator driveshaft operatively coupled to the rollers on the elevator platform.
A method comprising:
- lowering a gap bridge to span a gap between a deck subsystem and an elevator subsystem, with the deck subsystem positioned outside of an elevator and comprising a plurality of rollers and the elevator subsystem positioned within an elevator and comprising a plurality of rollers, the elevator capable of moving between multiple deck levels;
- and
- rotating rollers on the deck subsystem and the rollers on the elevator subsystem to move cargo from the elevator subsystem to the deck subsystem, wherein rotating the rollers on the deck subsystem and the rollers on the elevator subsystem further comprises a motor driving a gearbox operatively coupled to the rollers on the deck platform and operatively coupled to a telescoping driveshaft and the telescoping driveshaft extending and operatively coupling with an elevator driveshaft operatively coupled to the rollers on the elevator platform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.