Patent EA-003548-B1 (EA)
Title: Apparatus for loading and unloading aircrafts
Inventor: THOGERSEN LARS
IPC: B64F1/32
Filed: 2001-01-10
Abstract: 1. A ground apparatus for loading and unloading an air-craft (53) with a cargo compartment (52), said apparatus comprising: a height adjustable and tiltable first conveyor (7) which is adapted to convey cargo between an area outside said cargo compartment (52) and a second conveyor (8), said second conveyor (8) having a first end and a second end and being at least partially extendable from said apparatus into said cargo compartment (52), said second conveyor (8) including a succession of conveyor units (30,31,70,90) of which a first end conveyor unit (31, 90) is arranged at said first end, wherein each conveyor unit (30,31,70,90) has a set of wheels (44,76,101,102) and wherein the conveyor units (30,31,70,90) are mutually interconnected by means of coupling members (38,81,82) that allow for a sideways mutual pivotal movement of said conveyor units (30,31, 70,90), characterised in that each of said conveyor units (30,31,70,90) define a respective activatable conveyor path and in that said first end conveyor unit (31,90) includes means for varying the inclination of said conveyor path of said first and conveyor unit (31,90), whereby a mutual sideways pivotal movement of at least two successive conveyor units (30,31,70,90) allow for a sideways movement of said first end conveyor unit. 2. An apparatus according to the preceding claim, said coupling members (38,81,82) also allowing for a mutual pivotal movement of said conveyor units (30,31,70,90) about an essentially horizontal axis (83,84). 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the first conveyor (7) comprises a single endless conveyor belt (9) with an upper path (11) that defines a cargo-engaging surface. 4. An apparatus according to the preceding claim, wherein the length of the upper path (11) of said conveyor belt (9) is adjustable in response to the extension or retraction of said second conveyor (8). 5. An apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the endless conveyor belt (9) extends between a front turning member (20) placeable adjacent the aircraft (53) and a rearmost turning member (12), where said first conveyor (7) further comprises an intermediate redirecting member (16) reciprocating in the conveying direction and directing the conveyor belt (9) from a rectilinear upper path (11) between the rearmost turning member (12) and the redirecting member (16) to an intermediate path (19), parallel to the upper path (11), but on a level below said upper path between the redirecting member (16) and the front turning member (20), whereby the conveyor belt (9) between the front turning member (20) and the rearmost turning member (12) extends below said upper (11) and said intermediate path (19), and whereby the upper path (11) forms at least part of the conveyor path of the first conveyor (7), and that the second end of said succession of conveyor units (30, 31, 70, 90) is connected to the redirecting member (16) of the first conveyor (7) and accordingly adapted to follow the reciprocating movement thereof, said conveyor units (30, 31, 70, 90) being moved above the intermediate path (19) of the first conveyor (7) while positioned outside the aircraft (53). 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterised in supporting means (26) for supporting the endless conveyor belt (9) of the first conveyor (7) during its movement within the upper path (11). 7. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the apparatus comprises a bridge member (50, 105) adapted to be supported by said aircraft and to support said conveyor units (30, 33, 70, 90) of the second conveyor (8) during the extension thereof from said apparatus into the cargo compartment (52). 8. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the first conveyor (7) comprises a plurality of interconnected conveyor units (30, 31, 70, 90) each having a set of wheels (44, 76, 101, 102) and being pivotally interconnected by means of respective coupling means. 9. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the apparatus comprises a compartment (65, 111) for receiving said second conveyor. 10. An apparatus according to the preceding claim, characterised in that said first conveyor (7) is arranged above said compartment (52). 11. An apparatus according to any of claims 2-9, said apparatus having storage means (65, 111) for storing said second conveyor (8) in a state wherein at least two successive conveyor units are mutually pivoted about said essentially horizontal axis (83, 84). 12. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in a conveyor front member (45) which is hingedly mounted to said first end conveyor unit and which can be set with a desired inclination relative to the conveyor path of the first end conveyor unit (31, 90). 13. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that each conveyor unit (30, 31, 70, 90) comprises an endless conveyor belt (40, 46, 71, 93). 14. Apparatus according to the preceding claim wherein each endless conveyor belt is driven by a driving roller (72) and one or more further rollers (33, 34, 35, 73), which are supported by a frame (36, 41, 75), which in turn is supported by a wheel-carrying support member (37, 42, 77, 78, 97). 15. An apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the width of the conveyor belt (40, 46, 71, 93) is greater than the distance between said rollers. 16. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in control means (47, 48) whereby an operator present inside the aircraft (53) can control said second conveyor (8). 17. An apparatus according to any of claims 7-16 wherein the bridge member (50, 105) comprises guiding means (55, 56, 57, 106, 107) for guiding the second conveyor (8). 18. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the first end conveyor unit (31, 90) comprises an endless conveyor belt (46). 19. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in driving means cooperating with said second conveyor for extending said second conveyor (8) from said apparatus, such as by way of friction. 20. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is placed on a vehicle (1).