US3913757A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system for load carrier and associated transfer apparatus
Assignee: Otis Elevator Co
•
Filing: 1974-11-14
•
Granted: 1975-10-21
•
Expires: 1994-11-14
Abstract
Abstract A control system for material handling apparatus including a load carrier and associated transfer apparatus for transferring cargo between the nose opening of an aircraft and the load carrier. The system is capable of causing the transfer apparatus to align itself in its pitch and roll axes with the corresponding axes of the aircraft for transferring cargo from the aircraft to the transfer apparatus and is likewise capable of causing the transfer apparatus to change its alignment status until it is disposed in a horizontal plane. In such disposition the control system causes the load carrier and transfer apparatus to be vertically aligned.
Inventors
- 👤 George Leslie Lovey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:34
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66F; B66F7/00; B66F7/02; B64; B64F; B64F1/00; B64F1/32; B64F1/322; B65; B65G; B65G69/00; B65G69/22; B65G69/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
346 words
A control system for a load carrier and associated transfer apparatus each supporting cargo conveying equipment, said transfer apparatus being disposable in a first condition in which its conveying equipment is capable of transferring cargo to and from conveying equipment aboard an aircraft through an opening in its nose when it is appropriately positioned adjacent one end of said transfer apparatus, said transfer apparatus also being disposable in a second condition in which its conveying equipment is capable of transferring cargo to and from the conveying equipment of said load carrier when it is appropriately located adjacent the end of said transfer apparatus opposite its aircraft end, said control system comprising first switch means; first control means operating in response to the operation of said first switch means to cause said transfer apparatus to be disposed and maintained in said first condition in which the pitch and roll attitudes of its conveying equipment are in conformity with the corresponding attitudes of the conveying equipment aboard said aircraft and the vertical height of the aircraft end of the conveying equipment on said transfer apparatus is level with the conveying equipment on said aircraft aT the nose opening, second switch means operable to disable said first control means; second control means operating in response to the operation of said second switch means to cause said transfer apparatus to be disposed and maintained in said second condition in which its conveying equipment is disposed in a horizontal plane; a transfer selection switch operable to select either an aircraft loading or unloading operation for said transfer apparatus; cargo sensing means operating in response to the presence of cargo on the conveying equipment of said transfer apparatus; and third control means operating in response to the operation of said transfer selection means to select an aircraft unloading operation and the operated condition of said cargo sensing means to cause said load carrier and said transfer apparatus to assume a relationship in which there is vertical alignment between their respective conveying equipment when its transfer apparatus is disposed in its second condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
346 words
A control system for a load carrier and associated transfer apparatus each supporting cargo conveying equipment, said transfer apparatus being disposable in a first condition in which its conveying equipment is capable of transferring cargo to and from conveying equipment aboard an aircraft through an opening in its nose when it is appropriately positioned adjacent one end of said transfer apparatus, said transfer apparatus also being disposable in a second condition in which its conveying equipment is capable of transferring cargo to and from the conveying equipment of said load carrier when it is appropriately located adjacent the end of said transfer apparatus opposite its aircraft end, said control system comprising first switch means; first control means operating in response to the operation of said first switch means to cause said transfer apparatus to be disposed and maintained in said first condition in which the pitch and roll attitudes of its conveying equipment are in conformity with the corresponding attitudes of the conveying equipment aboard said aircraft and the vertical height of the aircraft end of the conveying equipment on said transfer apparatus is level with the conveying equipment on said aircraft aT the nose opening, second switch means operable to disable said first control means; second control means operating in response to the operation of said second switch means to cause said transfer apparatus to be disposed and maintained in said second condition in which its conveying equipment is disposed in a horizontal plane; a transfer selection switch operable to select either an aircraft loading or unloading operation for said transfer apparatus; cargo sensing means operating in response to the presence of cargo on the conveying equipment of said transfer apparatus; and third control means operating in response to the operation of said transfer selection means to select an aircraft unloading operation and the operated condition of said cargo sensing means to cause said load carrier and said transfer apparatus to assume a relationship in which there is vertical alignment between their respective conveying equipment when its transfer apparatus is disposed in its second condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A control system according to claim 1, wherein said third control means also operates in response to the operation of said transfer selection means to select an aircraft loading operation and the unoperated condition of said cargo sensing means to cause said load carrier and said transfer apparatus to assume vertical alignment between their respective conveying equipment when said transfer apparatus is disposed in said second condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
200 words
A control system according to claim 2, wherein said transfer apparatus includes pitch, roll and hoisting machinery and said first control means includes pitch and roll attitude transducers supported on said aircraft and said transfer apparatus and cooperative transfer apparatus hoist controlling equipment also supported on both, each said pitch and roll attitude transducer providing an output signal signifying the pitch and roll attitude of the conveying equipment on its respective supporting member, the difference between the respective pitch signals and the respective roll signals controlling said pitch and roll machinery to operate to dispose the conveying equipment of said transfer apparatus with its pitch and roll attitudes in conformity with the corresponding attitudes of the conveying equipment aboard said aircraft, said cooperative transfer apparatus hoist controlling equipment providing a difference signal signifying the difference between the vertical height of the aircraft end of the conveying equipment on said transfer apparatus and the vertical height of the conveying equipment on said aircraft at its nose opening, said difference signal controlling said hoisting machinery to operate to dispose the aircraft end of the conveying equipment on said transfer apparatus level with the conveying equipment on said aircraft at its nose opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
A control system according to claim 3, wherein said second control means includes attitude sensing switches mounted on said transfer apparatus which operate in response to the conveying equipment on said transfer apparatus being disposed in other than a horizontal plane, said switches controlling the pitch, roll and hoisting machinery to cause it to dispose the conveying equipment on said transfer apparatus in said horizontal plane in response to the operation of said second switch means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control system according to claim 4, wherein said attitude sensing switches include right and left roll attitude switches, said roll attitude switches operating in response to right or left side, respectively of the conveying equipment on said transfer apparatus being pivoted below a horizontal plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
A control system according to claim 5, wherein said attitude sensing switches include first and second pitch attitude switches, said first pitch attitude switch operating in response to the load carrier end of the conveying equipment on said transfer apparatus being pivoted upward from the level of a horizontal plane, said second pitch attitude switch operating in response to the load carrier end of the conveying Equipment on said transfer apparatus being pivoted upward or downward from the level of a horizontal plane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
135 words
A control system according to claim 6, wherein said load carrier includes hoisting machinery, and said third control means includes cooperative load carrier hoist controlling equipment supported on said load carrier and said transfer apparatus, said last mentioned equipment providing a non-alignment signal signifying that said load carrier is located in a predetermined horizontal position at the load carrier end of said transfer apparatus with its conveying equipment located above the vertical position of the conveying equipment on said transfer apparatus, said load carrier hoisting machinery operating in response to said non-alignment signal to lower the conveying equipment on said load carrier until it is in a vertical position in which it will be in vertical alignment with the conveying equipment on said transfer apparatus when said transfer apparatus is disposed in said second condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3628117A
Cited
US3599262A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-20 | 1979-04-21 | 1979-10-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-20 | 1983-04-21 | 1983-10-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-20 | 1987-04-21 | 1987-10-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |