Means and method for storing aircraft

Claim 2

A pallet for handling and storing aircraft, comprising a pair of elongate, rigid, spaced apart side frame members, a pair of elongate, rigid, spaced apart end frame members connected at their opposite ends to opposite ends of said side frame members, one of said end frame members having wheel engaging and supporting means for supporting the wheels of an aircraft thereon, a transverse frame member connected at its opposite ends to said side frame members adjacent the other end frame member and vertically and horizontally spaced relative to said other end frame member so that the forks of a forklift can extend between said transverse frame member and said other end frame member substantially perpendicular thereto and between the side frame members to lift said pallet and an aircraft supported thereon, and an elongate, inverted channel shaped wheel ramp and support intermediate the side frame members and connected thereto and extending from one end thereof beyond said one end frame member toward and adjacent the other end frame member for engaging and supporting a wheel of an aircraft thereon.

Claim 3

A pallet for handling and storing aircraft, comprising a pair of spaced apart side frame members converging toward one another at one end thereof, a first transverse frame member connected at its opposite ends with said one end of said side frame members, a second transverse frame member connected at its opposite ends with said side frame members spaced axially inwardly from said one end thereof and in vertically spaced relationship to said first transverse frame member such as to accommodate and receive the forks of a forklift therebetween substantially perpendicularly to the axes thereof to lift said pallet and an aircraft supported thereon, a third transverse frame member connected adjacent its opposite ends with the other end of said side frame members, and an upwardly open, channel shaped wheel ramp and support means extending longitudinally between said side frame members to receive the wheel of an aircraft and connected at one end thereof between the ends of said second transverse frame member and connected adjacent the other end thereof with said third transverse frame member between the ends thereof.

Claim 4

A pallet for handling and storing aircraft, comprising a pair of spaced apart side frame members converging toward one another at one end thereof, a first transverse frame member connected at its opposite ends with said one end of said side frame members, a second transverse frame member connected at its opposite ends with said side frame members spaced axially inwardly from said one end thereof and in vertically spaced relationship to said first transverse frame member such as to accommodate and receive the forks of a forklift therebetween substantially perpendicularly to the axes thereof to lift said pallet and an aircraft supported thereon, a third transverse frame member connected adjacent its opposite ends with the other end of said side frame members, and an upwardly open, channel shaped wheel ramp and support means extending longitudinally between said side frame members to receive the wheel of an aircraft and connected at one end thereof between the ends of said second transverse frame member and connected adjacent the other end thereof with said third transverse frame member between the ends thereof.

Claim 5

A pallet for handling and storing aircraft, comprising a pair of spaced apart side frame members converging toward one another at one end thereof, a first transverse frame member connected at its opposite ends with said one end of said side frame members, a second transverse frame member connected at its opposite ends with said side frame members spaced axially inwardly from said one end thereof and in vertically spaced relationship to said first transverse frame member, a third, upwardly open, channel shaped transverse frame member connected adjacent its opposite ends with the other end of said side frame members, wheel ramps connected with said third transverse frame member on the side thereof opposite said side frame members and in substantial alignment with said side frame members for guiding the wheels of an aircraft onto said third transverse frame member, and an upwardly open, channel shaped wheel ramp and support means extending longitudinally between said side frame members to receive the wheels of an aircraft and connected at one end thereof between the ends of said second transverse frame member and connected adjacent the other end thereof with said third transverse frame member between the ends thereof.

Claim 6

A pallet for handling and storing aircraft, comprising a pair of spaced apart side frame members converging toward one another at one end thereof, a first transverse frame member connected at its opposite ends with said one end of said side frame members, a second transverse frame member connected at its opposite ends with said side frame members spaced axially inwardly from said one end thereof and in vertically spaced relationship to said first transverse frame member, a third, upwardly open, channel shaped transverse frame member connected adjacent its opposite ends with the other end of said side frame members, wheel ramps connected with said third transverse frame member on the side thereof opposite said side frame members and in substantial alignment with said side frame members for guiding the wheels of an aircraft onto said third transverse frame member, and an upwardly open, channel shaped wheel ramp and support means extending longitudinally between said side frame members to receive the wheels of an aircraft and connected at one end thereof between the ends of said second transverse frame member and connected adjacent the other end thereof with said third transverse frame member between the ends thereof.

Claim 7

A pallet as in claim 1, wherein the side frame members converge toward one another from said one end toward the other end of the pallet, and said transverse frame member is spaced axially inwardly and upwardly from said other end frame member to accommodate the forks of a forklift horizontally therebetween.

Claim 8

A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said one end frame member and said transverse frame member each have an inverted, channel shaped configuration, said transverse frame member adapted to reCeive a front wheel of an aircraft having a tricycle type landing gear and said one end frame member adapted to receive the rear wheels of said aircraft.

Claim 9

A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said transverse frame member is adapted to receive and support a wheel of an aircraft supported on the pallet and to be engaged by the forks of a forklift to lift the pallet.

Claim 10

A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said one end frame member has an inverted channel shape, inclined wheel ramps connected to said one end frame member adjacent the opposite ends thereof, and wheel pads movably mounted in the channel of said one end frame member in alignment with said wheel ramps and said side frame members for supporting the wheels of an aircraft positioned on said pallet in a lowered position in said channel to prevent accidental movement of the aircraft, said wheel pads including means for raising the wheel pads to elevate the wheels of an aircraft out of said channel so that the aircraft may be readily moved from said pallet.

Claim 11

A pallet as in claim 7, wherein said wheel pads are flat rectangular members, pin means connected at one end with said wheel pads and slidably received through aligned holes in said one end frame member, and means for engaging said pin means and raising said pin means and wheel pads to an elevated position to lift the wheel of an aircraft out of the channel of said one end frame member.

Claim 12

A pallet as in claim 8, wherein said means for engaging said pin means comprises at least one separate member positionable upon a supporting surface in alignment with said pin means for engaging said pin means when the pallet is lowered onto said supporting surface.

Claim 13

A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said channel shaped wheel ramp and support extends from its said one end upwardly over said one end frame member and then downwardly to its other end beneath said transverse frame member and connected at its other end to said transverse frame member.

Claim 14

A pallet as in claim 1, wherein said side frame members comprise I-beams and converge toward one another at said other ends thereof, said I-beam side frame members including upper and lower horizontally extending flanges and a vertically extending web, said transverse frame member comprising an inverted channel fixed at its opposite ends to said side frame members at the upper horizontally extending flanges of the side frame members, said channel shaped wheel ramp and support fixed at its other end to said transverse frame member, and said one end frame member having an inverted channel shape to receive the wheels of an aircraft therein.