Patent ID: 8055388
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: B64F

Abstract:
1. Airplane ground support equipment for servicing an airplane comprising: a ground support equipment cart; a module mounted upon said cart, containing ground support equipment for servicing an airplane, and having a network connection; at least one additional module mounted upon said cart, containing additional ground support equipment for servicing an airplane, and having a network connection; a control module mounted upon said cart and having a user display and user controls connected to a control processor having a network connection, the user display and user controls serving as a shared control panel for the ground support equipment contained in modules mounted upon said cart; a network interconnecting the network connections of modules mounted upon said cart; the control processor causing the user display to present a menu listing various types or classes of airplanes for selection by a user; in response to user selection of a type or class of airplane, the control processor sending over the network to one or more other modules information defining what particular services the selected type or class of airplane requires of the modules; and an air conditioning module mounted upon said cart and containing at least a first air conditioner having refrigerant and a first evaporator, a blower, an air conduit containing the first evaporator and the blower and receiving outside air and delivering air conditioned air to a duct or hose adapted for connection to an airplane, an air conditioning processor having a network connection and controlling the air conditioner and blower in accordance with one or more air and refrigerant temperature and pressure measurements and setpoint values that are fed into the air conditioning processor with air conditioning pressure required by the type or class of airplane selected wherein measurements of power provided to the blower and of pressure across the blower at startup, with the blower operating at low pressure, are checked against historical records of power and pressure for that same type or class of airplane, and an alarm is signaled when the wrong type or class of airplane may have been selected.