Aircraft cargo ramp system

Claim 2

An aircraft cargo ramp system comprising: a forward ramp section hinged to the aft end of an aircraft main cargo floor; an aft ramp section adapted to meet the after end of said forward ramp section to effectively form a continuous long ramp; actuator means operatively connected to each of said two ramp sections to independently move each of said two ramp sections between at least a first stowed position and a second cargo handling position; latch means connectable between said sections and aircraft structure to support said sections in said stowed position wherein said forward section lies substantially in the plane of the main cargo floor and serves as an extension of said main cargo floor; means to support said sections in said cargo handling position wherein both ramp sections slope downwardly from the after end of said aircraft cargo floor outwardly through an opening in the aircraft fuselage to facilitate movement of cargo into and out of the aircraft; said actuator means operatively connected to said forward section to move said forward section between said position in the plane of said main cargo floor and said sloping cargo handling position while cargo is in place on said forward section, whereby cargo can be moved into and out of the aircraft without directly passing over an angled threshold between said forward ramp section and the main cargo floor.

Claim 3

The ramp system according to claim 1 wherein in said stowed position said aft ramp section serves to close at least part of said fuselage opening.

Claim 4

The ramp system according to claim 1 including at least one treadway and means to connect said at least one treadway to the after end of said aft section to effectively extend the length of said ramp system.

Claim 5

The ramp system according to claim 3 wherein said aft section includes a storage compartment for said at least one treadway.

Claim 6

The ramp system according to claim 1 further including a treadplate hingedly connected to the aft end of said forward section and adapted to bridge a gap between the upper surfaces of said forward and aft section.

Claim 7

The ramp system according to claim 1 wherein said actuator is adapted to selectively position and hold the after end of said aft section in a plurality of positions including a position at ground level and a position at truck-bed height above the ground.

Claim 8

An aircraft cargo ramp system comprising: a first ramp section hinged at a first hinge to an edge of an aircraft main cargo floor; a second ramp section hinged at a second hinge to the structure of said aircraft adjacent to said first ramp section; first actuator means operatively connected to said second ramp section and said aircraft structure to rotate said second ramp section about said second hinge between at least a first stowed position and a second cargo handling position, sloping downwardly away from said aircraft; second actuator means operatively connected to said first ramp section and said aircraft structure to rotate said first ramp about said first hinge between at least a first stowed position in which said first ramp lies substantially in the plane of said main cargo floor and serves as an extension of the main cargo floor and a second cargo handling position in which said first ramp lies substantially in the plane of said second ramp section when said second ramp section is in the cargo handling position; and said second actuator means further Adapted to move said first ramp section between said position substantially in the plane of said main cargo floor and said second cargo handling position while cargo is in place on said first ramp section, whereby cargo may be moved into and out of the aircraft without directly passing over an angled threshold between said cargo floor and ramp system.

Claim 9

An aircraft cargo ramp system comprising: a first ramp section hinged at a first hinge to an edge of an aircraft main cargo floor; a second ramp section hinged at a second hinge to the structure of said aircraft adjacent to said first ramp section; first actuator means operatively connected to said second ramp section and said aircraft structure to rotate said second ramp section about said second hinge between at least a first stowed position and a second cargo handling position, sloping downwardly away from said aircraft; second actuator means operatively connected to said first ramp section and said aircraft structure to rotate said first ramp about said first hinge between at least a first stowed position in which said first ramp lies substantially in the plane of said main cargo floor and serves as an extension of the main cargo floor and a second cargo handling position in which said first ramp lies substantially in the plane of said second ramp section when said second ramp section is in the cargo handling position; and said second actuator means further Adapted to move said first ramp section between said position substantially in the plane of said main cargo floor and said second cargo handling position while cargo is in place on said first ramp section, whereby cargo may be moved into and out of the aircraft without directly passing over an angled threshold between said cargo floor and ramp system.