Load assembly and method for lifting a load into an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10351394-B2
Application number	US-201615188655-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 21, 2016
Priority date	Sep 22, 2015
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

A load assembly for use with an aircraft includes a support sub-assembly and a lifting sub-assembly. The support sub-assembly is configured for removable coupling to a structural member of the aircraft. The structural member has a first interior position and a second interior position. The support sub-assembly extends between the first interior position and the second interior position. The lifting sub-assembly is movably coupled to the support sub-assembly. The lifting sub-assembly is movable along the support sub-assembly between the first interior position and the second interior position and configured to lift or lower a load, and to support the load as the lifting sub-assembly moves along the support sub-assembly between the first interior position and the second interior position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A load assembly for use with an aircraft, the load assembly comprising:
a support sub-assembly configured for removable coupling to a structural member of the aircraft, the structural member having a first interior position and a second interior position, the support sub-assembly extending between the first interior position and the second interior position, wherein the support sub-assembly comprises one or more retainer clamps including a forward retainer clamp and an aft retainer clamp configured to engage the structural member of the aircraft for removable coupling the support sub-assembly to the structural member of the aircraft, and wherein the support sub-assembly comprises a beam portion and a fixed spacer portion extending transversely from the beam portion, the fixed spacer portion comprises the forward retainer clamp and the beam portion comprises the aft retainer clamp; and
a lifting sub-assembly movably coupled to the support sub-assembly, the lifting sub-assembly movable along the support sub-assembly between the first interior position and the second interior position and configured to lift or lower a load and to support the load as the lifting sub-assembly moves along the support sub-assembly between the first interior position and the second interior position.

2. The load assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more retainer clamps comprises an adjustable clamp portion and a fixed clamp portion, the adjustable and the fixed clamp portions configured to engage opposing sides of the structural member of the aircraft.

3. The load assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support sub-assembly comprises a forward extender and an aft extender, the forward extender configured to engage the forward retainer clamp for removable coupling the forward extender to the fixed spacer portion, and the aft extender configured to engage the aft retainer clamp for removable coupling the aft extender to the beam portion.

4. The load assembly of claim 3 , wherein the forward extender comprises a forward extender retainer clamp for removably coupling the forward extender to the structural member of the aircraft, and the aft extender comprises an aft extender retainer clamp for removably coupling the aft extender to the structural member of the aircraft.

5. The load assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lifting sub-assembly comprises a cart comprising a plurality of gliders with the gliders configured to engage the support sub-assembly such that the cart is movable along the support sub-assembly between the first interior position and the second interior position.

6. The load assembly of claim 5 , wherein the lifting sub-assembly further comprises:
a winch coupled to the cart;
a cable having a first cable end and a second cable end, the first cable end coupled to the winch;
a pulley coupled to the cart, the second cable end of the cable extending through the pulley; and
a cable bar coupled to the second cable end such that the cable bar is coupled to the winch.

7. The load assembly of claim 6 wherein the lifting sub-assembly further comprises a joining device removably coupled to the cable bar, the joining device configured for removable coupling to the load.

8. The load assembly of claim 1 further comprising a shelf for supporting the load, the shelf having surface extending to distal ends, the surface having a low coefficient of friction.

Assignees

• Gulfstream Aerospace Corp

Inventors

• Perdue James E
• Mikeal Quent
• Bell Bret
• Darney Coleda

Classifications

• B66C7/06

  on supports constructed for easy erection, e.g. transportable · CPC title

• B64F5/40

  Maintaining or repairing aircraft · CPC title

• B66C11/06

  running on monorails (overhead railway systems B61B) · CPC title

• B66C11/12 Primary

  having hoisting gear adapted to special load-engaging elements and not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64D9/00

  Equipment for handling freight; Equipment for facilitating passenger embarkation or the like · CPC title