Apparatus for supporting an object adjacent to an aircraft

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11136144-B2
Application number	US-201816033726-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2018
Priority date	Jul 12, 2018
Publication date	Oct 5, 2021
Grant date	Oct 5, 2021

Abstract

Apparatuses for supporting an object adjacent to an aircraft are provided. In one example, an apparatus for supporting an object adjacent to an aircraft includes a rotational tray assembly that includes a support subassembly. A platform subassembly is pivotally coupled to the support subassembly and is configured to support the object. A drive screw subassembly is operatively coupled to the platform subassembly and the support subassembly to move the platform subassembly relative to the support subassembly. The rotational tray assembly is configured to couple to a lift to position the rotational tray assembly adjacent to the aircraft.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for positioning an object adjacent to an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
a rotational tray assembly including:
a support subassembly that includes a support block and first and second support plates that are coupled to opposing sides of the support block and that extend away from the support block to first and second end portions of the first and second support plates, respectively;
a platform subassembly pivotally coupled to the support subassembly and configured to support the object; and
a drive screw subassembly operatively coupled to the platform subassembly and the support subassembly to move the platform subassembly relative to the support subassembly, the drive screw subassembly including a threaded rod disposed between the first and second support plates, wherein the support block has a clearance relief formed therein that provides clearance between the threaded rod and the support block as the threaded rod moves the platform subassembly relative to the support subassembly, and wherein the rotational tray assembly is configured to couple to a lift to position the rotational tray assembly adjacent to the aircraft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the platform subassembly includes:
a plate having an upper surface for supporting the object and a lower surface that is disposed on a side opposite the upper surface; and
at least one support beam disposed adjacent to the lower surface and coupled to the plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plate has a plurality of openings formed therethrough for securing the object to the plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising at least one clamp that is configured to engage the object and that has at least one positive feature for disposing through at least one of the openings for securing the object to the plate, wherein the at least one positive feature is one of a threaded post and a fastener.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising at least one index plate that has at least one positive feature for disposing through at least one of the openings and that is configured to interface with the object to limit movement of the object relative to the plate when the platform subassembly moves relative to the support subassembly, wherein the positive feature is one of a threaded post and a fastener.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of openings includes a plurality of slots for receiving at least one strap for securing the object to the plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the at least one support beam has an intermediate section disposed between a first end section and a second end section, and wherein the intermediate section of the at least one support beam is pivotably coupled to the support subassembly.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the intermediate section of the at least one support beam is pivotally coupled to at least one of the first end portion of the first support plate and the second end portion of the second support plate.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the drive screw subassembly is coupled to at least one of the first support plate and the second support plate, and wherein the drive screw subassembly is coupled to the first end section of the at least one support beam.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the threaded rod has an intermediate rod section that is disposed between a first rod end section and a second rod end section, and wherein the drive screw subassembly further includes:
a first block disposed about the first rod end section and coupled to the first end section of the at least one support beam; and
a second block spaced apart from the first block and disposed about the intermediate rod section, wherein the second block is coupled to at least one of the first support plate and the second support plate of the support subassembly.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first block has a first block opening formed therethrough with the first rod end section disposed therein, and wherein the threaded rod is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis and the second block has a threaded wall defining a second threaded block opening and the threaded rod engages the threaded wall when rotated about the longitudinal axis to advance the threaded rod through the second threaded block opening in a direction opposite the first block to move the platform subassembly relative to the support subassembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the intermediate section of the at least one support beam is pivotally coupled to at least one of the first end portion of the first support plate and the second end portion of the second support plate about a pivot point axis, and wherein rotating the threaded rod about the longitudinal axis rotates the platform subassembly about the pivot point axis.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the drive screw subassembly further includes a manual drive element coupled to the second rod end section and configured to be manually moved to rotate the threaded rod about the longitudinal axis.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the rotational tray assembly further includes a support structure having a first section coupled to the support block of the support subassembly and a second section configured to couple to the lift.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the support structure is removably coupled to the support block.

16. An apparatus for positioning an object adjacent to an aircraft, the apparatus comprising:
a rotational tray assembly including:
a support subassembly that includes a support block and first and second support plates that are coupled to opposing sides of the support block and that extend away from the support block to first and second end portions of the first and second support plates, respectively;
a platform subassembly pivotally coupled to the support subassembly and configured to support the object; and
a drive screw subassembly operatively coupled to the platform subassembly and the support subassembly to move the platform subassembly relative to the support subassembly, the drive screw subassembly including a threaded rod disposed between the first and second support plates, wherein the support block has a clearance relief formed therein that provides clearance between the threaded rod and the support block as the threaded rod moves the platform subassembly relative to the support subassembly; and
a support structure coupled to the support subassembly and extending therefrom from in a direction away from the platform subassembly; and
a lift coupled to the support structure and configured to vertically move the rotational tray assembly.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the support structure is removably coupled to the lift.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the lift includes a pivot arm configured to move vertically and having a distal end section that includes a holding member with an opening formed therethrough, and wherein the support structure is configured as an elongated element that is disposed through the opening of the holding member.

Assignees

• Gulfstream Aerospace Corp

Inventors

• Bell Bret
• Darney Coleda

Classifications

• B64F5/50 Primary

  Handling or transporting aircraft components · CPC title

• B66C23/48

  Manually-movable jib cranes for use in workshops · CPC title

• B64F5/40

  Maintaining or repairing aircraft · CPC title

• B64F5/10 Primary

  Manufacturing or assembling aircraft, e.g. jigs therefor · CPC title

• B66F5/04

  with fluid-pressure-operated lifting gear · CPC title