Integrated cargo loading system architecture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9014840-B2
Application number	US-201313760218-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2013
Priority date	Aug 6, 2010
Publication date	Apr 21, 2015
Grant date	Apr 21, 2015

Abstract

A cargo loading system for a cargo compartment of a means of transport, for example a cargo aircraft or a passenger aircraft, is provided. The system includes at least one power drive unit for transporting cargo of the means of transport. The power drive unit and a control module are coupled to a BUS system. The control module generates control signals for the power drive unit and maintenance data of the power drive unit for the control and maintenance of the power drive unit. The BUS system transmits the control signals and maintenance data of the power drive unit between the control module and the power drive unit. In this manner an existing hardware platform of the means of transport can be used, and weight and cabling as well as the number of control boxes of the means of transport can be reduced.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cargo loading system for a cargo compartment of a means of transport, with the cargo loading system comprising:
at least one power drive unit for transporting cargo of the means of transport;
a control module that generates control signals for the at least one power drive unit and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit for control and maintenance of the at least one power drive unit;
a BUS system including a BUS, with the at least one power drive unit and the control module coupled to the BUS by means of data lines; and
a control system coupled to the control module, the control system transmits and receives the control signals and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit by means of the control module and of the BUS system, and processes the control signals and maintenance data, and the control system is connected to further modules that include a control system module for doors, and an undercarriage module, and the cargo loading system is switched on and off by the control system based on a transport phase of the means of transport indicated by the control system module for doors and the undercarriage module,
wherein the BUS system transmits the control signals and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit between the control module and the at least one power drive unit.

2. The cargo loading system of claim 1 , wherein the control module controls the BUS system.

3. The cargo loading system of claim 1 , with the control system further comprising:
a module interface that connects the control module and the further modules,
wherein the module interface is designed for data exchange between the control module connected to the module interface and to the further modules connected to the module interface.

4. The cargo loading system of claim 1 , with the control system further comprising:
a configuration unit that configures the control module that is connected to the control system, and configures further modules connected to the control system.

5. The cargo loading system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power-supply BUS system, the at least one power drive unit coupled to the power-supply BUS system,
wherein the power-supply BUS system is designed for a requirement-oriented supply of power to the at least one power drive unit.

6. The cargo loading system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a maintenance system that receives maintenance data from and transmits maintenance data to the at least one power drive unit.

7. The cargo loading system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a control device coupled to the BUS system,
wherein the control device controls the at least one power drive unit by means of the control module.

8. The cargo loading system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one proximity switch that switches on and off the at least one power drive unit depending on a position of cargo, which cargo is movable by the at least one power drive unit.

9. The cargo loading system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power supply unit,
wherein the BUS system is designed for cross-linking the power supply unit with the at least one power drive unit and with the control module for supplying power to the at least one power drive unit and to the control module.

10. The cargo loading system of claim 9 , wherein the power supply is designed for a requirement-oriented supply to the at least one power drive unit depending on a control signal of the control unit, which control signal is transmitted by means of the BUS system.

11. The cargo loading system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a safeguard unit that at least one of controls and regulates the power supply of the cargo loading system.

12. An aircraft comprising:
at least one fastening unit for holding cargo during cargo transport through the aircraft;
a cargo loading system for a cargo compartment of the aircraft, with the cargo loading system including:
at least one power drive unit for transporting cargo of the means of transport;
a control module that generates control signals for the at least one power drive unit and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit for control and maintenance of the at least one power drive unit;
a BUS system comprising a BUS, with the at least one power drive unit and the control module coupled to the BUS by means of data lines,
a control system coupled to the control module, the control system transmits and receives the control signals and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit by means of the control module and of the BUS system, and processes the control signals and maintenance data, and the control system is connected to further modules that include a control system module for doors, and an undercarriage module, the control system module for doors and the undercarriage module generate information relating to a transport state of the aircraft that is transmitted to the control system, and the cargo loading system is switched on and off by the control system based on the transport phase of the aircraft, with the cargo loading system switched off during a flight phase of the aircraft, and

wherein the BUS system transmits the control signals and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit between the control module and the at least one power drive unit.

13. The aircraft of claim 12 , further comprising:
a maintenance system that receives maintenance data from and transmits maintenance data to the at least one power drive unit.

14. The aircraft of claim 12 , further comprising:
a safeguard unit that at least one of controls and regulates the power supply of the cargo loading system.

15. The aircraft of claim 12 , further comprising:
at least one proximity switch that switches on and off the at least one power drive unit depending on a position of cargo, which cargo is movable by the at least one power drive unit.

16. A method for loading cargo to and unloading cargo from a means of transport by means of a cargo loading system, with the cargo loading system comprising:
at least one power drive unit for transporting cargo of the means of transport;
a control module that generates control signals for the at least one power drive unit and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit for control and maintenance of the at least one power drive unit;
a BUS system including a BUS, with the at least one power drive unit and the control module are coupled to the BUS by means of data lines, and the BUS system transmits the control signals and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit between the control module and the at least one power drive unit,
a control system coupled to the control module, the control system transmits and receives the control signals and maintenance data of the at least one power drive unit by means of the control module and of the BUS system, and processes the control signals and maintenance data, and the control system is connected to further modules for receiving data, the further modules including a control system module for doors, and an undercarriage module, the control system module for doors and the undercarriage module generating information indicating that the means of transport is in a driving state, with the method comprising:
generating a control signal for at least one power drive unit by means of the control module based on data received from the further modules;
transmitting the control signal from the control module to the at least one power drive unit by means of the BUS system;
moving cargo by means of the at least

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Scherenberger Sven
• Schnoerwangen Bernd

Classifications

• B64D2009/006

  Rollers or drives for pallets of freight containers, e.g. PDU · CPC title

• Y02T50/46

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• B64F1/32 Primary

  for handling freight · CPC title

• B64D9/00 Primary

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

• Y02T50/40

  Weight reduction · CPC title