Cargo container transfer system and method
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsBlaine Knight Rawdon, Matthew Jonathan Segal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure is generally directed to a cargo transfer system, a method of transferring cargo containers, and a method of handling cargo containers including a cargo transfer pallet capable of supporting a plurality of cargo containers thereon, a cargo loader vehicle capable of receiving the cargo transfer pallet thereon, and a cargo staging structure capable of receiving the cargo transfer pallet thereon and capable of receiving the cargo loader vehicle therein such that the cargo transfer pallet is supported by the cargo staging structure over at least a portion of the cargo loader vehicle.
Claims19
A method of transferring cargo containers, the method comprises:
- providing a cargo transfer pallet capable of supporting a plurality of cargo containers thereon;
- providing a cargo staging structure capable of receiving the cargo transfer pallet thereon;
- positioning the cargo transfer pallet on a plurality of opposing support members of the cargo staging structure;
- loading at least one cargo container on the cargo transfer pallet;
- positioning a cargo loader vehicle within the cargo staging structure and under at least a portion of the cargo transfer pallet;
- raising, by an elevating mechanism, a powered translation support bed sized according to an approximate length of the cargo loader vehicle and a corresponding length of the cargo transfer pallet and configured to translate the cargo transfer pallet linearly in a forward and an aft direction while restricting lateral movement, the powered translation support bed disposed on an upper portion of the cargo loader vehicle to contact an underside of the cargo transfer pallet and raise the cargo transfer pallet and the at least one cargo container thereon above the cargo staging structure;
- and
- removing the cargo loader vehicle carrying the cargo transfer pallet and the at least one cargo container thereon from the cargo staging structure.
A method of handling cargo containers within a multiple-container storage structure, the method comprises:
- positioning a cargo transfer vehicle carrying a cargo transfer pallet with at least one first cargo container thereon in front of a first cargo container storage opening in the multiple-container storage structure;
- operating a powered translation support bed disposed on an upper portion of the cargo transfer vehicle to linearly move the cargo transfer pallet and the at least one first cargo container thereon into the first cargo container storage opening of the multiple-container storage structure;
- receiving the at least one first cargo container within the multiple-container storage structure on the cargo transfer pallet;
- engaging a plurality of corner fittings of the at least one first cargo container with a multiple-container storage structure retention system;
- releasing the cargo transfer pallet from an underside of the at least one first cargo container within the multiple-container storage structure;
- and
- translating the cargo transfer pallet out of the multiple-container storage structure and onto the powered translation support bed of the cargo transfer vehicle under powered control of a powered translation multiple-container storage structure mechanism.
A method of transferring cargo containers, the method comprises:
- providing a cargo transfer pallet capable of supporting a plurality of cargo containers thereon;
- providing a cargo staging structure capable of receiving the cargo transfer pallet thereon;
- positioning the cargo transfer pallet on a plurality of opposing support members of the cargo staging structure;
- loading at least one cargo container on the cargo transfer pallet;
- positioning a cargo loader vehicle within the cargo staging structure and under at least a portion of the cargo transfer pallet;
- raising, by an elevating mechanism, a powered translation support bed disposed on an upper portion of the cargo loader vehicle to contact an underside of the cargo transfer pallet and raise the cargo transfer pallet and the at least one cargo container thereon above the cargo staging structure;
- removing the cargo loader vehicle carrying the cargo transfer pallet and the at least one cargo container thereon from the cargo staging structure;
- positioning the cargo loader vehicle carrying the cargo transfer pallet and the at least one cargo container thereon in front of an opening of a storage structure operative to receive the at least one cargo container;
- and
- operating a powered translation support bed disposed on an upper portion of the cargo loader vehicle to linearly move the cargo transfer pallet and the at least one cargo container thereon into the opening of the storage structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.