US3737057A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-level automatic storage and recovery system for aircraft
Assignee: Cubic Corp
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Filing: 1972-06-26
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1992-06-26
Abstract
Abstract A storage facility having a plurality of multi-level, nonrotatable, support frames, and rotatable spider frames with circumferentially spaced aircraft storage stalls peripherally supported on the support frames for communication with an elevator that has a turntable for aligning an aircraft with a selected stall, and individual, aircraft-carrying, wheeled pallets being moved by a power tractor on rails by an automatic control system to and from an external loading dock to and from the selected stalls in a series of sequential steps that are initiated by coded signals identifying each aircraft with each stall.
Inventors
- 👤 M Neumann
- 👤 A Hunsberger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:35
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H6/00; E04H6/44; E04H6/08; E04H6/12; E04H6/18; E04H6/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
In a storage system for vehicles such as aircraft and the like, a multi-level storage facility having a vertical, stationary center shaft and vertically extending, radially displaced supports with a plurality of vertically spaced fixed frames, secured between said center shaft and said supports, a plurality of spider frames positioned to rotate around said shaft and having aircraft carrying stalls radially displaced from said center shaft, each of said spider frames having a unitary structure that extends from said center shaft to at least the outer edge of said stalls, support means For movably supporting each of said spider frames on each of said fixed frame at said stalls, said stalls comprise a rigid circular frame structure with a circumferential inner edge and a radially displayed circumferential outer edge with circumferentially displaced pairs of radially aligned rails defining separate stalls for supporting individual aircraft, means for rotating said spider frame, elevator means adjacent the outer edge of the vertically displaced stalls for lifting aircraft to said stalls, said elevator means having a turntable with aligned rails for mating with the aligned rails of said stalls, and latching means for latching and aligning said turntable rails with said stall rails.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a storage system for vehicles such as aircraft and the like, a multi-level storage facility having a vertical, stationary center shaft and vertically extending, radially displaced supports with a plurality of vertically spaced fixed frames, secured between said center shaft and said supports, a plurality of spider frames positioned to rotate around said shaft and having aircraft carrying stalls radially displaced from said center shaft, each of said spider frames having a unitary structure that extends from said center shaft to at least the outer edge of said stalls, support means For movably supporting each of said spider frames on each of said fixed frame at said stalls, said stalls comprise a rigid circular frame structure with a circumferential inner edge and a radially displayed circumferential outer edge with circumferentially displaced pairs of radially aligned rails defining separate stalls for supporting individual aircraft, means for rotating said spider frame, elevator means adjacent the outer edge of the vertically displaced stalls for lifting aircraft to said stalls, said elevator means having a turntable with aligned rails for mating with the aligned rails of said stalls, and latching means for latching and aligning said turntable rails with said stall rails.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
In a storage system as claimed in claim 1 including, a wheeled pallet for carrying an aircraft on said turntable rails and said stall rails, a wheeled tractor for moving said pallet on said turntable rails and said stall rails, and chain drive means for moving said wheeled tractor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
In a storage system as claimed in claim 2 including, ramp means positioned adjacent said elevator means having rails for supporting said pallet and tractor in movement to said turntable rails, and ramp drive means for moving said tractor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a storage system as claimed in claim 3 in which, said fixed frame structure has radially displaced inner and outer circular rails, wheel means depending from said circular stall frame structure for riding on said rails, and sequential control means for controlling the movement of said tractor and pallet between said ramp means and said stalls and the respective rotational position of said stalls with said turntable and said turntable with said ramp means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
133 words
An automatic storage and recovery system for vehicles such as aircraft and the like comprising, a storage facility having at least one silo-like building with a plurality of supported vertically spaced, coaxially rotatable spider frames, each spider frame having a plurality of peripherally spaced stalls, a driven elevator at the side of said building with means for directing the elevator to selected floors, track means on said elevator, each of said stalls having track sections corresponding to said track means, a loading and unloading dock externally of said building with exterior tracks extending from said elevator to said dock, a wheeled aircraft carrying pallet means for rolling on said tracks, track means and track sections, and drive means selectively operable for moving said pallet between said dock and selected one of said stalls.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
133 words
An automatic storage and recovery system for vehicles such as aircraft and the like comprising, a storage facility having at least one silo-like building with a plurality of supported vertically spaced, coaxially rotatable spider frames, each spider frame having a plurality of peripherally spaced stalls, a driven elevator at the side of said building with means for directing the elevator to selected floors, track means on said elevator, each of said stalls having track sections corresponding to said track means, a loading and unloading dock externally of said building with exterior tracks extending from said elevator to said dock, a wheeled aircraft carrying pallet means for rolling on said tracks, track means and track sections, and drive means selectively operable for moving said pallet between said dock and selected one of said stalls.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system as claimed in claim 5 in which, said storage facility has more than one silo-like building, a turntable mounted on said elevator, said track means being on said turntable, and control means for rotating said turntable selectively between said silo buildings and said exterior tracks.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as claimed in claim 5 in which, each of said stalls and track sections extend substantially radially and has an aircraft carrying pallet normally retained thereon, said drive means including wheeled tractor having releasable latch means engageable with any one of said pallets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system as claimed in claim 7 in which, each of said pallets has longitudinal parallel channel members spaced to hold the wheels of an aircraft in longitudinal alignment therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as claimed in claim 8 in which, said tractor has outer channel members spaced to align with but of substantially greater width than said channel member of the pallet.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
A system as claimed in claim 7 in which, a turntable mounted on said elevator control means for rotating said turntable, said drive means includes a driven endless chain extending longitudinally between said track means on said turntable, and said tractor having a traction arm for engagement with said chain.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
A system as claimed in claim 10 in which, said drIve means includes a driven endless chain extending between said exterior tracks, said tractor having a second traction arm position so that at least one traction arm is engaged by a driven chain as the tractor transfers between the turntable track means and the exterior tracks.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
67 words
A system as claimed in claim 11 including, sequential control means coupled to said drive means for said elevator, turntable, spider frame and tractor, for operation of said drive means in a predetermined sequence of sub-sequences in controlled movement of pallet between said dock and said stall, and said control means has interlock means actuated by completion of each sub-sequence to enable continuation of the next sub-sequence.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
A system as claimed in claim 12 including, initiating means connected to said sequential control means to start the sequence of operation, and said initiating means being operable only by a coded signal specifically coded to a specific stall.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as claimed in claim 5 including, a fixed frame for each of said spider frames having inner and outer concentric rails thereon, said rails being spaced substantially below the inner and outer ends of the stalls, and each stall having supporting means for riding on said rails.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system as claimed in claim 14 in which, each of said stalls has selectively releasable latch means for holding a pallet therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system as claimed in claim 14, in which, said turntable has a releasable tractor retaining latch thereon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system as claimed in claim 14 in which, said turntable has a movable stow pin, and each of said stalls having a stow pin receiving element to hold each stall in positive alignment with said turntable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as claimed in claim 17 in which, said stow pin receiving elements are selectively releasable independent of the stow pin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as claimed in claim 18 including, a stow pin receiving element mounted at said exterior tracks for alignment of the turntable therewith.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as claimed in claim 14 in which, each of said spider frames has drive means with indexing means selectively controllable for positioning any stall in alignment with said turntable.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as claimed in claim 20 in which, said indexing means includes a set of drive shut-off switches for each spider frame with one switch for each stall, and switch actuating means mounted on the spider frame in a distinctive position for each stall, to actuate one of said switches in passing.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as claimed in claim 21 including, a set of brake operating switches circumferentially spaced from the shut-off switches at each spider frame including, a switch for each stall operable by said actuating means after the corresponding shut-off switch, and brake means actuated by the switches for stopping movement of said spider frame.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system as claimed in claim 20 in which, said drive means includes a drive ring fixed on the spider frame, said drive ring having circumferentially spaced notched teeth, a driven drive belt mounted in peripheral engagement with a portion of said drive ring, and said drive belt having spaced pins therein engaging at least two of said teeth simultaneously.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
115 words
A multi-level storage facility for vehicles such as aircraft and the like comprising, a plurality of non-rotatable support frames, stationary means for supporting said support frames in vertical spaced concentric positions, a plurality of circular spider frames having circumferentially spaced aircraft supporting stalls, support means for rotatably supporting one of said spider frames on each of said support frames, carrier means for carrying aircraft in movement between ground level and said stalls, elevator means adjacent the outer periphery of said spider frames for raising and lowering said carrier means between ground level and said stalls, and control means for controlling the movement of said carrier means in carrying aircraft between ground level and said stalls.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
115 words
A multi-level storage facility for vehicles such as aircraft and the like comprising, a plurality of non-rotatable support frames, stationary means for supporting said support frames in vertical spaced concentric positions, a plurality of circular spider frames having circumferentially spaced aircraft supporting stalls, support means for rotatably supporting one of said spider frames on each of said support frames, carrier means for carrying aircraft in movement between ground level and said stalls, elevator means adjacent the outer periphery of said spider frames for raising and lowering said carrier means between ground level and said stalls, and control means for controlling the movement of said carrier means in carrying aircraft between ground level and said stalls.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
33 words
A multi-level storage facility as claimed in claim 24 in which, said carrier means includes movable pallet means for supporting said aircraft and tractor means for engaging and moving said movable pallet means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
132 words
A multi-level storage facility for vehicles such as aircraft and the like comprising, a plurality of vertically spaced spider frames for supporting vehicles such as aircraft, carrier means for carrying vehicles such as aircraft in movement between ground level and said frames, elevator means with a turntable positioned adjacent the outer periphery of said frames for raising rotating and lowering said carrier means between ground level and said frames, control means for controlling the movement of said carrier means in carrying vehicles between ground level and said spider frames, and said carrier means includes movable pallet means for supporting said vehicles such as aircraft and tractor means for engaging and moving said movable pallet means from said elevator to said spider frame for storing and retrieving said aircraft on said spider frames.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
132 words
A multi-level storage facility for vehicles such as aircraft and the like comprising, a plurality of vertically spaced spider frames for supporting vehicles such as aircraft, carrier means for carrying vehicles such as aircraft in movement between ground level and said frames, elevator means with a turntable positioned adjacent the outer periphery of said frames for raising rotating and lowering said carrier means between ground level and said frames, control means for controlling the movement of said carrier means in carrying vehicles between ground level and said spider frames, and said carrier means includes movable pallet means for supporting said vehicles such as aircraft and tractor means for engaging and moving said movable pallet means from said elevator to said spider frame for storing and retrieving said aircraft on said spider frames.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
29 words
A multi-level storage facility as claimed in claim 26 in which, said carrier means includes drive means separate from said tractor means for engaging and moving said tractor means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
45 words
A multi-level storage facility as claimed in claim 27 in which, said pallet means and said tractor means have roller means, and track means for supporting said roller means and said pallet means and tractor means in movement between the ground level and said frames.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
A multi-level storage facility as claimed in claim 27 in which, said pallet means comprises individual aircraft carrying, wheeled pallets.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
56 words
A multi-level storage facility as claimed in claim 29 in which, said frames have individually designated stalls for supporting pre-coded vehicles such as aircraft, and said control means has decoder means responsive to pre-coded signals corresponding to the pre-coded vehicles for programming said drive means to move said tractor means and pallet means to pre-coded stalls.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
A multi-level storage facility as claimed in claim 30 including, means for individually rotating said frames, and sequencer means responsive to programming by said decoder means for controlling said frame rotating means to position the designated stall for the pre-coded vehicle adjacent said elevator means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |