Noise reduction barrier for air cushion supported aircraft cargo loading robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9783298-B2
Application number	US-201615337536-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 28, 2016
Priority date	Oct 10, 2014
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

An air cushion cargo shuttle for loading and unloading cargo on an airplane is described. The air cushion cargo shuttle includes a first inner air curtain defining a first volume of pressurized air. The air cushion cargo shuttle also includes a noise barrier curtain enclosing the first inner air curtain. The noise barrier curtain is adapted to trap air leaking from the first inner air curtain.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An air cushion cargo shuttle configured and operable for loading and unloading cargo on an aircraft via mating engagement with an aircraft support rails comprising:
a top surface for receiving cargo;
a first inner air curtain defining a first volume; and a pressure compensating air cushion within the first volume
a noise barrier curtain enclosing the first inner air curtain configured to trap air leaking from the first inner air curtain.

2. The air cushion cargo shuttle of claim 1 , further comprising an air blower having an inlet configured to draw air from outside the first volume and blow the air into the first volume.

3. The air cushion cargo shuttle of claim 2 , wherein the noise barrier curtain is further configured to redirect the air leaking from the first inner air curtain towards the inlet.

4. The air cushion cargo shuttle of claim 1 , further comprising a spring in contact with the noise barrier curtain and configured to force the noise barrier curtain downwards towards a floor panel.

5. The air cushion cargo shuttle of claim 1 , further comprising a second inner air curtain defining a second volume, a third inner air curtain defining a third volume and a fourth inner air curtain defining a fourth volume, wherein the noise barrier curtain encloses the second inner air curtain, the third inner air curtain and the fourth inner air curtain.

6. The air cushion cargo shuttle of claim 1 , further comprising a lower lip positioned around the noise barrier curtain wherein the noise barrier curtain includes an upper lip that is adapted to prevent the noise barrier curtain from extending in response to the upper lip contacting the lower lip.

7. The air cushion cargo shuttle of claim 6 , wherein a gap exists between the upper lip and the lower lip that is no more than a quarter of an inch in distance.

8. The air cushion cargo shuttle of claim 1 , wherein the noise barrier curtain is resistant to friction.

9. The air cushion cargo shuttle of claim 1 , wherein the noise barrier curtain is formed from a friction resistant polymer.

10. The air cushion cargo shuttle of claim 1 , wherein the noise barrier curtain is configured to collect debris as the air cushion cargo shuttle travels along a floor panel.

11. The air cushion cargo shuttle of claim 1 , wherein the noise barrier curtain includes a stiff backing and a contact surface that is friction resistant.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Himmelmann Richard A

Classifications

• B64D2009/006

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

• B60V3/025

  co-operating with a flat surface, e.g. transporting loads on platforms · CPC title

• B65G2814/0398

  for aircraft · CPC title

• B65G51/03

  over a flat surface or in troughs · CPC title

• B64D9/00 Primary

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