Handling system for container in a vehicle and a vehicle having such a system

A handling system for a receptacle space in a vehicle for storage for containers. A linear guide is on an inner wall of the receptacle space. The linear guide guides at least one carrier element in the movement direction of the container, wherein the storage position of the container is provided having the rear wall thereof in the region of the rear wall of the receptacle space. The removal position is provided in the region of an insertion opening, arranged opposite the rear wall. The at least one carrier element is operatively connected to at least one spindle nut of a spindle drive. The container is thus moved linearly from a stowage and storage position to a removal position and vice versa.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure herein relates to a handling system for containers in a vehicle and to a vehicle having such a system.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles which are used to transport a plurality of passengers are conventionally equipped with cabins having passenger seats, one or more on-board toilets, and optionally one or more galleys. In particular when making galleys in commercial aircraft more compact, there are designs that use parking spaces for trolleys in which a plurality of trolleys are arranged one behind the other. Conventionally, this relates to the use of trolleys according to ATLAS, ARINC or KSSU standards, and to the combined use of a trolley having a full depth (full-size trolley) and a trolley having a half depth (half-size trolley) or two trolleys having a full depth (two full-size trolleys). For supply containers which have to be stored in the galley as boxes, due to the depth for the storage space, it can also be possible to stow two or more boxes one behind the other.

To remove trolleys from such a parking space, a hand grip located on a front side of the trolley is conventionally gripped by a user and pulled out of the parking space. For this purpose, the trolley is equipped with rollers which are provided for movement in the kitchen region and also to move the trolley in the longitudinal corridor of the aircraft from one row of seats to another for the serving process in the aircraft cabin. For trolleys in the rear parking spaces, a removal device is necessarily provided. In particular, when a full-size trolley is parked in a rear parking space, the flight attendants may need to apply greater force, and in terms of accessibility, it is also more difficult to transport the full-size trolley out of the rear parking space.

Such removal devices for trolleys are known from WO 2016 034 531 A1 or WO 2014 125 046 A1. In these documents, bars and devices for engaging in the body of the trolley are provided for moving the trolley forward and backward in the parking space region. However, the usability and handling of a trolley can be improved for precisely those parking spaces which are arranged one behind the other.

SUMMARY

To make galleys even more compact, it could be helpful to arrange catering containers, such as trolleys or boxes, one behind the other in a receiving space. However, this is not optimal in terms of handling, since a rear trolley or a rear box can be reached by cabin crew only with great difficulty, since it is located at a relatively great distance from an insertion opening of the parking space.

One problem addressed by the disclosure herein is therefore that of proposing a device or galley by which catering containers arranged one behind the other in a receiving space are easy for cabin crew to handle so that in particular catering containers arranged at the back of a receiving space are as easy to reach as possible.

This problem is solved by a handling system for catering containers in a vehicle as disclosed herein. Advantageous embodiments and developments are disclosed herein. The use of such a handling system is not limited to catering containers, containers for other purposes can also be moved using the handling system according to the disclosure herein.

A handling system for a receiving space in a vehicle for storing containers is proposed which provides a linear guide arranged on a side wall or a lower surface of a cover plate of the receiving space. The linear guide guides at least one driver element in the movement direction of the container, wherein the storage position of the container is provided with the rear wall thereof in the region of the rear wall of the receiving space, and the removal position is provided in the region of an insertion opening, arranged opposite the back wall. The at least one driver element is operatively connected to at least one spindle nut of a spindle drive. The container is linearly moved thereby from a stowage and storage position of the container into a removal position of the container and vice versa.

The rear wall of the receiving space arranged opposite the insertion opening or an end stop is a rear limit of a parking space in the receiving space which a rearmost container abuts or comes into abutment with or adjoins. This corresponds to the storage position of the supply container. The size and shape of the container can be selected according to requirements in the vehicle. If the vehicle is in the form of a commercial aircraft, trolleys according to relevant standards, for example the ATLAS standard, can be used. In addition, the advantages according to the disclosure herein are particularly considerable when the rollable containers have a depth which is greater than 30 to 40 cm. Especially in the case of a full-size trolley which has a length of approximately 80 to 85 cm.

In one preferred embodiment, the receiving space is provided with a front parking space and a rear parking space for receiving at least two containers arranged one behind the other, wherein the linear guide extends substantially from the insertion opening in the region of the front parking space substantially as far as the rear wall of the receiving space.

After a conventional removal of a front container which is arranged at the insertion opening, by using the handling system, the rear container which is arranged at a considerable distance from the insertion opening inside the receiving space can be removed.

For supply containers, for example trolleys, which are arranged in the rear parking spaces of a galley in a vehicle, the handling system according to the disclosure herein is preferably provided. In particular when a full-size trolley is parked in a rear parking space, it is a great relief for the flight attendants to be able to position the relatively heavy containers in an easily reachable access region and to transport these containers out of the rear parking space in a simple manner by the handling system.

The spindle drive can preferably be provided with at least one threaded spindle. An individual threaded spindle which is operatively connected to a spindle nut can also be provided to convert a rotational movement into a linear movement to move the at least one driver element. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide two threaded spindles extending in parallel, between which the at least one driver element is mounted. It is possible to choose between two possible designs of the spindle drive according to the available installation space.

If a narrower design is advantageous, it is possible to change the construction of the spindle drive. However, this is to be dimensioned on the basis of the loads to be taken into account, occurring forces and torques, and handling forces to be used. The spindle drive according to a second embodiment is equipped with two threaded spindles which are operatively connected by a gear drive.

In order to safely move a supply container having a corresponding longitudinal extent along the linear guide, more than just one driver element is provided. The at least one driver element, together with a front driver, forms a driver assembly. Preferably, front and rear drivers are interconnected by a carrier plate, this driver assembly being movable in the linear guide.

The front driver can be designed to be rotatable or slidable so that it can be removed from the movement space when the supply container is moved into the receiving space.

In one preferred embodiment, the spindle drive can be driven by a crank drive. For this purpose, the threaded spindle is preferably designed as a trapezoidal spindle having a gradient of from 25 mm to 100 mm. For the use case of a supply container of a “full-size trolley” used in the galley of an aircraft, a gradient of from 40 mm to 80 mm can be advantageous. This allows a linear movement which moves a container from the front parking space to the storage position in the rear parking space or vice versa, with correspondingly few rotations of the hand crank.

For this purpose, the handling system can advantageously be equipped with a crank drive, wherein the crank drive has a connecting rod and a hand crank, and the connecting rod is connected to at least one threaded spindle for conjoint rotation.

In one alternative embodiment, it is possible to provide the spindle drive with a spindle motor and thus bring about the rotation of the threaded spindle. Electric motor drives are conceivable for this purpose.

The disclosure herein further relates to a vehicle, in particular a vehicle comprising a cabin and a cabin monument located therein, which has a handling system according to the preceding description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1and2show a receiving space10comprising two trolley parking spaces14and15arranged one behind the other. Rollable supply containers20can be parked and secured in these trolley parking spaces.

For example, in this example embodiment, the vehicle is a commercial aircraft, and therefore the rollable supply containers20are in the form of trolleys. In this case, these are what are known as “full-size trolleys”, that is to say trolleys having a full depth of approximately 80 cm. The receiving space10is conventionally completely closed and accessible via an insertion opening13. This space can be a component of a galley. It comprises a bottom16. This bottom16can be part of an aircraft cabin floor or a floor of the galley. For storage, the supply containers20are inserted in the receiving space10via the insertion opening13(denoted by an arrow symbol).

The rear trolley parking space15is provided in the receiving space10shown in such a way that a rear supply container is arranged with the rear container wall24thereof adjacent to or adjoining the rear wall11of the receiving space10in the storage position. The front trolley parking space14and the rear trolley parking space15are aligned along the same longitudinal axis. When the receiving space10is loaded, the front supply container20is thus positioned precisely in front of the rear supply container (not shown) from the perspective of the insertion opening so that the rear supply container can be removed from the storage position only when the front supply container20is removed, and thus the front trolley parking space14is free. Access via the insertion opening13to the rear trolley parking space15is difficult or even impossible without a tool due to the limited arm reach of the flight attendants during handling. Even if this arrangement of trolley parking spaces in a commercial aircraft is not preferable in terms of usability, construction constraints can lead to this arrangement in order to contribute to an optimized use of space in the limited space of a commercial aircraft when supply containers of this type can also be arranged one behind the other.

To allow the supply container20to be removed from or parked in the rear parking space15, a handling system30according to the disclosure herein is provided for this parking space15. This first embodiment of the handling system30basically comprises a linear guide32. This guide is arranged in the region of the cover plate19of the receiving space10. The linear guide32is attached to the cover plate19by attachment points.

The guide is preferably screwed onto the lower surface of the cover plate19. The attachment takes place on the lower surface of the cover plate19, thus, in a way, on an inner wall of the receiving space10. When using the receiving space10in a galley of an aircraft, the cover plate19is simultaneously also the worktop of the galley. The linear guide32makes it possible for at least one driver36to move along the linear guide32, which preferably engages with the front container wall23of the container20from above and thus moves the container20from the front parking space14to the rear parking space15. The front driver36is preferably connected to a rear driver37by a carrier plate38. These components form the movable sliding element on or in the linear guide32as a driver assembly35.

FIG.3is a cut-out side view of the handling system30in the receiving space10in the region of the cover plate19. The driver assembly35is preferably mounted on at least two slots in the linear guide32. Together with the rear driver37, the driver assembly35simultaneously comprises a stop for the supply container20. To position the supply container in the front parking space14in the receiving space10, the rear wall24of the supply container20is inserted as far as the driver37. This supply container can be designed to be adjustable, as shown inFIG.15. The front driver36can then be brought into the abutment position with the supply container20, preferably with the front wall23, by sliding or rotating.

FIG.4is a perspective view of the handling system30according to the disclosure herein. The handling system30includes the linear guide32in which the driver assembly35comprising the front driver36and rear driver37is slidably mounted. The rear driver36is rigidly connected to a spindle nut42of a spindle drive40. The spindle nut42can move linearly on a threaded spindle43. In the embodiment shown, the spindle drive40is driven by a hand crank50and a connecting rod51. The rotational movement of the hand crank50and connecting rod51is used to convert this into a translational movement and thus move the driver assembly35inside the linear guide32. For this purpose, the threaded spindle43is preferably designed as a trapezoidal spindle having a gradient of from 25 mm to 100 mm. This allows a linear movement which moves a full-size trolley20from the front parking space14to the storage position in the rear parking space15, with correspondingly few rotations of the hand crank50. A gradient of from 40 mm to 80 mm has proven to be preferable. The connecting rod51is connected to the threaded spindle43for conjoint rotation. The connecting element53is shown more accurately inFIG.9.

FIG.5is a perspective view from the rear of the handling system30according to the disclosure herein, andFIG.6is a perspective view of the handling system30according to the disclosure herein in an operative connection of drivers36and37to the supply container20. It is apparent that the drivers36and37are interconnected by the carrier plate38in such a way that they correspond to the depth of a supply container20, and thus the front driver36can act on the front wall23of the container20, and the rear driver37can act on the rear container wall24. Safe guidance of the supply container20by the driver assembly35is thereby achieved.

FIG.7shows one embodiment of the handling system30according to the disclosure herein with the detail of the driver assembly35. Furthermore, it can be seen how the handling system30can be integrated in the receiving space10. For this purpose, a view of the handling system30from below is shown. The handling system30is attached firstly in the rear part of the receiving space10in the region of the rear wall11. The linear guide32and the spindle drive40comprising the threaded spindle43extend in the movement direction of the catering container20substantially in parallel underneath the cover plate19(not shown in this drawing). The threaded spindle43is rotatably fixed to the rear wall11by an attachment fitting/flange bearing54. The threaded spindle43is mounted on the lower surface of the cover plate19, for example on a carrier element18, by an additional flange bearing55. In addition to the fixing to the rear end, the threaded spindle43is mounted on the carrier element18in the central region of the receiving space10. The position of the additional flange55on the lower surface of the cover plate19is selected according to the length of the required movement path of the driver assembly35, which is directly dependent on the depth of the receiving space10and the depth of the container which is to be stored and to be moved using the handling system30.

FIGS.8and9are perspective views of the spindle drive40in further details. The threaded spindle43is connected to the connecting rod51for conjoint rotation. For this purpose, the threaded spindle43and the connecting rod51are connected by a threaded connection53and secured with a peg56. The mounting of the front end of the threaded spindle43is made possible by the flange bearing55. The flange bearing55is attached to a carrier element18(seeFIG.7) by attachment elements57. The carrier element18can also be replaced with a direct attachment of the flange55to the lower surface of the cover plate19. The spindle nut42is moved linearly along the threaded spindle43by the rotational movement of the connecting rod51by actuating the hand crank50, and thus slides the driver assembly35in the linear guide32.FIG.8shows one particular embodiment of the connecting rod51and the hand crank50. In order to stow the hand crank50when not in use, the connecting rod51can have a telescopic design. For this purpose, a connecting rod tube52is connected to a hand crank50having a foldable design. The connecting rod tube52is connected to the connecting rod51for example by a key-and-groove connection58. When the hand crank50is not in use, the connecting rod51can be inserted in the connecting rod tube52. Alternatively, the hand grip50can also be designed to be removable and stowed in the galley in an access region which is easy for the flight attendants to access.

FIG.10is a perspective view of the supply container20in the rear parking space15of the receiving space10in operative connection with the handling system30. The receiving space10is represented only by the rear wall11and parts of the cover plate19, represented here by carrier elements18,18′ and18″. The carrier element18is provided as an attachment point for the front flange bearing55for mounting the threaded spindle43, and the carrier element18′ is provided as an attachment point for the connecting rod tube52. The carrier element18″ represents the leading edge of the cover plate19, which also contains at least one attachment point for the connecting rod tube52and the linear guide32.

In the following drawings11et seq., a handling system300according to a second embodiment is shown. In this case, the supply container20is shown in operative connection with the handling system300arranged on a side wall130of the receiving space100. This can be advantageous if, as a result of construction restrictions, there is little or insufficient installation space available between the supply container20and the cover plate19. The handling system30according to the first embodiment can also be provided on a side wall130. Corresponding positions can also be provided according to the available installation space.

FIG.11is a side view of the handling system300according to the disclosure herein, andFIG.12is a perspective view of the handling system300according to the disclosure herein. The operating principle of the handling system300with a spindle drive400and a linear guide320is substantially the same as with the above-described system according to the first embodiment shown inFIGS.1to10. Due to the structural displacement of the system300into the side wall region of the receiving space10, a narrower design is advantageous, which is associated with a change to the spindle drive40. However, this is to be dimensioned on the basis of the loads to be taken into account, occurring forces and torques, and handling forces to be used. The spindle drive400according to the second embodiment is equipped with two threaded spindles430,431which are operatively connected by a gear drive440. An easier construction may be achieved thereby. By a connecting rod510and a hand crank500, a driver assembly350is moved along the guide rail320. For this purpose, the spindle nuts420and421are provided in a rigid connection to the rear driver360.

Further details are shown in the detail drawings according toFIGS.13to17and are described in the following.

InFIGS.13and14, the driver assembly350is shown as a component of the handling system300in detail drawings. The handling system300is attached to the side wall120of the receiving space100. The driver assembly350is moved on the linear guide320by movement carriages330. For this purpose, a carrier plate380is provided which connects the front driver360to the rear driver370and also rotatably mounts the front driver360. The carrier plate380is preferably in the form of a strip in order to hold the corresponding drivers360and370along the longitudinal extent of the supply container20. The front driver360can be rotated into an abutment position against the front wall23of the container20after the supply container20is inserted in the receiving space100. The supply container20is then moved by the driver assembly350into the storage position thereof, or from the storage position into the removal position. When the removal position of the supply container20is reached, then the driver360is rotated in such a way that it comes out of the travel path of the supply container20, and the supply container20can be removed.

InFIGS.15,16and17, the detail of the spindle drive400is shown in greater detail in different views. The spindle drive400according to this second embodiment is equipped with two threaded spindles430,431which are operatively connected by a gear drive440. The two longitudinally extending threaded spindles430and431, comprising an interposed linear guide320extending substantially in parallel with the threaded spindles, can have smaller dimensions than the threaded spindle43according to the first embodiment for the movement of the supply container20. Part of the driver assembly350, in particular a rear driver370, is positioned between the spindle nuts420,421. As a result of this arrangement of the fixed driver370between the spindle nuts420,421, high moments that could act on the driver370when the supply container20is slid can be prevented.

FIG.15further shows the rear driver370in an adjustable embodiment. By a slot, a precise positioning between the spindle nuts420and421can take place. A bumper371is also provided which provides protection during abutment against the rear wall.

FIGS.16and17further show the attachment fittings540and550for mounting the two threaded spindles430and431. In the embodiment shown, these fittings540and550are attached to the side wall of the receiving space100. However, it is also possible to arrange the handling system300according to the second embodiment in the ceiling region of the receiving space100. This is conceivable as an alternative depending on the available installation space.

FIG.16further shows the connection of the connecting rod510to one of the threaded spindles for conjoint rotation, shown here with the threaded spindle430. The rotation of the second threaded spindle431is ensured by the gear assembly443,442and441, which can be seen inFIG.17.

By the components shown, a simple but still very effective handling system can accordingly be produced which can considerably increase the compactness of a galley or other devices, since a parking space having a sufficient depth can be filled with a plurality of trolleys one behind the other, without having to take into account restrictions resulting from handling by a user having an average body size.

Lastly,FIG.18shows an aircraft60comprising a fuselage61and a cabin62formed therein, in which a cabin monument63can be arranged, which has a receiving space10for supply containers and is equipped with a handling system30according to the disclosure herein. Preferably, the receiving space10is a component of a galley of a commercial aircraft, and the cover plate19can simultaneously be used as a worktop in the galley.