Handling system for handling objects in a vehicle, storage device and method for handling objects in a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9783301-B2
Application number	US-201213623186-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2012
Priority date	Mar 29, 2010
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A handling system for handling objects in a vehicle comprises a storage apparatus that is positionable outside a vehicle cabin, an access device that is positionable in a vehicle cabin, and a transport device for transporting objects between the storage apparatus and the access device. The storage apparatus comprises a storage space and a connection station that is connectable to the transport device, wherein the storage apparatus comprises at least one drive device for moving carriers on which objects to be stored are held. The handling system comprises at least one guiding device that with the drive device guides the carriers on at least one circular path within the storage space. The storage space thus comprises a vertical flat shape that results in a significantly smaller reduction in the available cargo volume in a vehicle, while at the same time maximizing the design space available for passenger seats.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A handling system for handling objects in a vehicle, comprising:
a storage apparatus, positioned outside a vehicle cabin and in the vehicle, that includes a storage space for storing objects, the storage space having at least one drive device for moving carriers on which objects to be stored are held;
an access device, positioned in the vehicle cabin, for removing or inserting objects; and
a transport device for transporting objects between the storage apparatus and the access device,
wherein the storage space includes at least one connection station that is connectable to the transport device, the handling system comprises at least one guiding device that together with the drive device guides the carriers on a plurality of paths within the storage space, and the carriers are movable about the plurality of paths within the storage space;
wherein the storage space is vertically flat, arranged underneath a cabin floor and no excessive limitation of the container storage areas in the cargo hold takes place; and
wherein between the access device and the transport device, a closing means is arranged; that is closable after an object has been handled.

2. The handling system of claim 1 , wherein the storage space further comprises at least one guide wall that defines at least one path.

3. The handling system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of paths overlap.

4. The handling system of claim 1 , wherein the transport device further comprises at least one vertical transport unit.

5. An aircraft, comprising: passenger cabin;
at least one handling system for handling objects installed in the aircraft, the at least one handling system including:
a storage apparatus, positioned outside of the passenger cabin and in the aircraft,
including a storage space for storing objects and at least one drive device for moving carriers on which objects to be stored are held;
an access device, positioned in the passenger cabin, for removing or inserting objects; and
a transport device for transporting objects between the storage apparatus and the access device,
wherein the storage space includes at least one connection station that is connectable to the transport device, the handling system includes at least one guiding device that guides the carriers on a plurality of paths within the storage space and the carriers are movable about the plurality of paths within the storage space;
wherein the storage space is vertically flat, arranged underneath a cabin floor and no excessive limitation of the container storage areas in the cargo hold takes place; and
wherein between the access device and the transport device, a closing means is arranged; that is closable after an object has been handled.

6. The aircraft of claim 5 , wherein the storage space is arranged underneath a floor of the passenger cabin.

7. The aircraft of claim 6 , wherein underneath the storage space, a cargo hold for baggage, oversize baggage or loose cargo is arranged.

8. The aircraft of claim 5 , wherein the storage space is arranged above a crown area of the passenger cabin.

9. The aircraft of claim 5 , wherein at least one access flap for independent access to the storage space is arranged in the passenger cabin.

10. The aircraft of claim 5 , wherein the storage space further comprises at least one guide wall that defines at least one path.

11. The aircraft of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of paths overlap.

12. The aircraft of claim 5 , wherein the transport device further comprises at least one vertical transport unit.

13. The handling system of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of paths comprises at least one loop defined within the storage space.

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Gmbh

Inventors

• Schliwa Ralf
• Dilmaghani Homayoun
• Pohl Ulrich
• Steinbeck Herbert
• Strasdas Maria

Classifications

• B64D11/0007 Primary

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