Patent Publication Number: US-2005133308-A1

Title: Galley cart storage system and method of use

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates in general to mobile platform service item storage and handling and more specifically to an aircraft galley cart storage and retrieval system and method of use.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Mobile passenger carrying platforms, such as aircraft, ships, trains, buses, etc. often provide food or beverages for passengers. Food and beverages are commonly heated or otherwise prepared for distribution by personnel within galley areas. Food and beverages prepared in the galley are frequently transported to individual passenger seating areas using galley carts. Galley carts in many industries including the aircraft industry have been standardized in size. For example, an exemplary aircraft galley cart is approximately 34 inches high, approximately 12 inches wide and approximately 40.5 inches deep and can weigh approximately 250 pounds. Galley carts are therefore provided with wheels to provide mobility for the carts. For extended flights requiring two or more meals, several dozen carts may be required.  
      Service products including food, beverages and condiments are frequently loaded into multiple carts before the mobile platform departs. Separate meals of multiple meal flights are often accommodated in assigned groups of carts. Based on their quantity, size and weight, a system for storage and retrieval of carts is often necessary. In the aircraft industry, for example, galley carts are frequently stored at passenger deck level, under countertops within one or more galley areas. It is undesirable to significantly expand galley “footprint” size to accommodate more floor-area carts because this conflicts with the need to maximize the number of passenger seats. For the same reasons, it is undesirable to increase the number of galleys. Additional galley cart storage has been alternatively provided in lower levels of the aircraft, but this reduces available stowage space for cargo in the lower level.  
      Because galley cart weight can often reach 250 pounds, it is impractical for personnel to manually manipulate or lift carts to any significant height. This has prevented vertical stacking of carts in confined spaces such as a galley.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a mobile platform service product storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of joined walls defining a galley area. A plurality of mobile carts is operably storable in the galley area. A first side-by-side subgroup of the mobile carts is provided. A second side-by-side subgroup of the mobile carts is positioned within the galley area above the first subgroup.  
      According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a mobile platform service product storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of joined walls defining a galley area. A plurality of mobile carts are operably storable in the galley area, including a first cart subgroup and a second cart subgroup positioned above the first subgroup. A substantially circular rack defines a plurality of predetermined mobile cart parking locations. Each of the locations is operable to store one of the mobile carts of the second cart subgroup.  
      According to yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a service product storage and retrieval system for a mobile platform includes a plurality of joined walls defining a galley area. A plurality of mobile carts are operably storable in the galley area in one of a first cart subgroup and a second cart subgroup. Each of the subgroups have the mobile carts arranged in a side-by-side configuration. A rack is operable to support each of the mobile carts of both the first and second subgroups. The rack is elevated above a galley area passageway.  
      According to still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a galley cart storage and retrieval system for a mobile platform includes a first row of galley carts. A second row of galley carts is positioned above the first row. A third row of galley carts is positioned both approximately level with and in front of the first row. Each of the galley carts of the first, second and third rows are arranged in a side-by-side configuration of adjacent carts within each of the rows. An automated rotation mechanism is operable to simultaneously rotate both the first row and the second row of galley carts. Rotation of the first row and the second row of galley carts operably positions a desired one of the first row and the second row of galley carts for removal through an end cart removal cavity of the third row.  
      According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for storing and retrieving carts of a mobile platform galley comprises: grouping a plurality of mobile carts into a side-by-side orientation to each other; dividing the mobile carts into at least a first cart group and a second cart group; positioning the second cart group above the first cart group within the mobile platform galley; automatically accessing an individual mobile cart of the second cart group; and automatically transferring the individual mobile cart to an access area in the first cart group.  
      The features, functions, and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present inventions or may be combined in yet other embodiments. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a partially sectioned, perspective view of an aircraft having an exemplary galley cart storage system of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a partial sectional view taken at section  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a partial elevational view taken at view  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a partially sectioned, perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a galley cart storage system of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a partial sectional view taken at section  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a partially sectioned, perspective view of another preferred embodiment for a galley cart storage system of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a partial sectional view taken at section  7 - 7  of  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 8  is a partially sectioned, perspective view of still another preferred embodiment for a galley cart storage system of the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a partial sectional view taken at section  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 ;  
       FIG. 10  is a partially sectioned, perspective view of still another preferred embodiment for a galley cart storage system of the present invention;  
       FIG. 11  is a partial sectional view taken at section  11 - 11  of  FIG. 10 ;  
       FIG. 12  is a partial plan view of still another preferred embodiment for a galley cart storage system of the present invention;  
       FIG. 13  is a side elevational view taken at view  13 - 13  of  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 14  is a partial plan view including an arrangement of the galley cart storage system of  FIG. 12 , combined with a mirror image configuration of the galley cart storage system of  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 15  is a side elevational view taken at view  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 ;  
       FIG. 16  is a partial end elevational view taken at view  16 - 16  of  FIG. 12 ;  
       FIG. 17  is a partial plan view taken at view  17 - 17  of  FIG. 16 ;  
       FIG. 18  is a partial sectional view of still yet another preferred embodiment for a galley cart storage system of the present invention;  
       FIG. 19  is a side elevational view taken at view  19 - 19  of  FIG. 18 ;  
       FIG. 20  is a perspective view showing an exemplary control panel and a plurality of access panels according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 21  is a flow diagram of exemplary operations to use a galley cart storage of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
      Galley cart storage systems as provided herein are described in reference to exemplary aircraft applications. Galley cart storage systems of the present invention are not intended to be limited to aircraft applications, but can be used in any mobile platform also including, but not limited to ships, trains, buses, etc.  
      According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and referring to  FIG. 1 , an aircraft  10  includes wings  11  and a galley cart storage system  12  of the present invention, positioned within a passenger seating area of aircraft  10 . Galley cart storage system  12  is shown positioned forward of wings  11 , but is also preferably positioned aft of wings  11  when used in economy class seating areas of aircraft  10 , normally positioned aft of wings  11 . Galley cart storage system  12  is provided in a galley area  14 . Galley area  14  includes a standard galley portion  15 , including: at least one galley wall  16 ; a countertop area  18 ; a set of cabinets  20 ; and a galley passageway  22 . Forward of standard galley portion  15  is a lower cart group  24 , an upper forward cart group  26 , and an upper aft cart group  28 . Both upper forward cart group  26  and upper aft cart group  28  are positioned above a passenger cabin ceiling. Upper aft cart group  28  is also positioned above the galley passageway  22 . Galley area  14  is positioned and supported on a passenger deck  30 .  FIG. 1  also shows a longitudinal axis  32  for aircraft  10 . Galley passageway  22  is oriented approximately perpendicular to longitudinal axis  32 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , galley area  14  further includes a galley ceiling  34  in addition to the one or more galley walls  16 . Galley walls  16  and galley ceiling  34 , in addition to passenger deck  30  (shown in  FIG. 1 ), provide sealed wall sections to enclose portions of galley area  14  to be subsequently refrigerated. Refrigeration equipment and tubing (not shown) is known in the art and is provided to refrigerate food and/or beverages in galley area  14  to temperatures of approximately 35° F. A rack  36  supports a plurality of galley carts  38  of both upper forward cart group  26  (shown) and upper aft cart group  28  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). Both upper forward cart group  26  and upper aft cart group  28 , together with rack  36 , are positioned approximately perpendicular to longitudinal axis  32 . An additional plurality of galley carts  38  are locally stowed and available for manual access under countertop area  18 . Galley walls  16  are not required to enclose each galley cart for cooling, and alternatives for cooling include using dry ice local to any cart or using refrigerated air piping ducted to individual or groups of galley carts  38 . Increased strength floor beams  37  are used in passenger deck  30  as necessary, in this and all embodiments of the present invention, to support the additional weight from increased quantities of galley carts  38 .  
      Galley carts  38  are stored and retrieved in both upper forward cart group  26  and upper aft cart group  28 , respectively, by positioning each individual galley cart  38  into a cart access area  40  and vertically lifting each galley cart  38  via a cart lift  42  in a cart vertical lift direction “A”. When each galley cart  38  reaches the elevation of rack  36 , a mechanism (not shown) horizontally translates each galley cart  38  in a cart storage direction “B” (shown for the exemplary upper forward cart group  26 ) to a predetermined parking position  43  on rack  36 . Rack  36  is elevated to provide a passageway headroom height “C”. Galley carts  38  are moved out of cart transfer space  48  and into upper forward cart group  26  in a cart forward loading direction “D”. Similarly, galley carts  38  are moved into upper aft cart group  28  in a cart aft loading direction “E”. In this embodiment, any galley cart  38  positioned on rack  36  is positioned in a randomly accessible configuration.  
      Based on the ability to vertically lift each galley cart  38  using cart lift  42 , galley area  14  is expanded vertically into overhead area  44  of aircraft  10 . This advantageously uses available space within overhead area  44 , while still retaining the elevated galley carts  38  within a refrigerated envelope of galley area  14 . In the configuration shown in  FIG. 2 , galley area  14  is approximately centrally divided about an aircraft centerline  46 . This maximizes an available envelope for galley area  14 . It is also possible, however, to shift galley area  14  to either a left or a right position about aircraft centerline  46  as viewed in  FIG. 2 , thereby providing an off-center arrangement for galley area  14 . An off-center arrangement for galley area  14  is advantageous in aircraft  10  having non-balanced seating arrangements, for example, an arrangement having three seats on one side of aircraft centerline  46  and two seats on the opposite side of aircraft centerline  46  (not shown for clarity).  
      Referring to both  FIGS. 2 and 3 , galley cart storage system  12  provides a cart transfer space  48  approximately centrally dividing upper forward cart group  26  from upper aft cart group  28 . Cart transfer space  48  provides for an athwartship translation of individual galley carts  38  on rack  36  to access one of predetermined parking positions  43  on rack  36 . The passageway headroom height “C” permits personnel in galley area  14  freedom of motion within the galley and under the stowed galley carts  38  of upper aft cart group  28 . Each galley cart  38  is locked in position on rack  36  by locks known in the art (not shown).  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , each galley cart  38  includes a pair of opposed cart “sides”  39 . To maximum storage volume within galley area  14 , each adjacent pair of galley carts  38  is arranged such that adjacent cart sides  39  approximately abut one another. This configuration is herein referred to as a “side-by-side” configuration. A minimum clearance between adjacent galley carts  38  is provided to allow ease in loading and/or unloading carts from rack  36 . The side-by-side configuration is shown in greater detail in reference to  FIG. 2 .  
      Referring next to  FIG. 4 , a galley cart storage system  50  includes a lower cart group  52  and an upper cart group  54 . The standard galley portion  15  is similarly provided as shown and described in reference to  FIG. 1 . Only the differences between  FIG. 1  will therefore be described in reference to  FIG. 4 . Individual galley carts  38  are raised from the level of passenger deck  30  to upper cart group  54  via a central cart lift  56 , centrally disposed within upper cart group  54 . Each galley cart  38  is provided with a predetermined parking location  58  in upper cart group  54 .  
      As best seen in  FIG. 5 , central cart lift  56  vertically raises each galley cart  38  from a cart access area  60  on a rotatable turntable  62 . When central cart lift  56  raises the individual galley cart  38  to an elevation of a circular platform  64 , rotatable turntable  62  is rotated to align galley cart  38  with a selected one of predetermined parking locations  58 . A mechanism (not shown) translates galley cart  38  from the central cart lift  56  to its predetermined parking location  58  and locks the galley cart  38  in position. Similar to the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , circular platform  64  provides sufficient headroom for personnel within galley passageway  22  (shown in  FIG. 4 ). Similar to galley cart storage system  12 , galley cart storage system  50  positions galley carts  38  within a portion of overhead area  44 , advantageously using overhead area  44  for storage of galley carts  38  within and adjacent to galley area  14 . Galley walls and a galley ceiling (not shown for clarity) can similarly enclose galley carts  38  stored on circular platform  64  to permit refrigeration of galley carts  38  of galley cart storage system  50 . Alternative forms of refrigeration, as noted herein, can also be provided. As an alternative to galley cart storage system  50 , (not shown), the rotatable turntable  62  can be replaced by a fixed platform, and circular platform  64  can be made rotatable to receive galley carts  38 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , a galley cart storage system  66  includes a lower cart group  68  and an upper cart group  70 . Galley carts  38  are vertically lifted within end lift bay  72  from lower cart group  68  to upper cart group  70 . Galley cart storage system  66  provides a plurality of galley carts  38  in upper cart group  70  each stacked approximately in vertical alignment with a corresponding galley cart  38  of lower cart group  68 . Similar to previous embodiments, the standard galley portion  15  is positionable on an opposed side of a galley passageway as shown and described in reference to  FIG. 1 .  
       FIG. 7  identifies a flow path for lifting individual galley carts  38  of galley cart storage system  66 . Initially, an individual galley cart  38  is positioned within a cart access area  74  and vertically lifted in the cart vertical lift direction “A” by a cart lift  76 . When cart lift  76  reaches the approximate elevation of a rack  78 , the galley cart  38  is transversely, horizontally translated in the cart storage direction “B”. Galley cart storage system  66  also retains a countertop space  77  between lower cart group  68  and an upper cart group  70 . Because upper cart group  70  provides only a single row of galley carts  38 , and does not have an external access area for pre-selecting locations on rack  78  for each galley cart  38 , galley carts  38  positioned on rack  78  are stowed in a first-in/last-out configuration. For example, an end cart  79  in upper cart group  70  is the first galley cart  38  positioned on rack  78 . End cart  79  is therefore the last cart removed from rack  78 .  
      Galley cart storage system  66  also provides individual galley carts  38  and an envelope of the associated galley area within overhead area  44 , thus advantageously utilizing space in overhead area  44 . Due to the alignment of galley carts  38  on rack  78  being substantially vertically above galley carts  38  in lower cart group  68 , the overhead space within the passageway of the galley is not impacted for this embodiment. Therefore, galley cart storage system  66 , compared to galley cart storage systems  50  and  12 , provides a cart storage envelope with no galley passageway impact.  
      Referring next to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a galley cart storage system  80  includes a lower cart group  82 , a middle cart group  84 , and an upper cart group  86 . An end lift bay  88  is provided to shift individual carts from the elevation of passenger deck  30  to either middle cart group  84  or upper cart group  86 , respectively. End lift bay  88  provides a cart access area  90 . Individual galley carts  38  which are to be lifted to either middle cart group  84  or upper cart group  86  are first positioned within cart access area  90 . A cart lift  92  then vertically lifts each individual galley cart  38  in the cart lift direction “A” to an elevation of either a central rack  94  or an upper rack  96 . Central rack  94  supports the individual galley carts  38  of middle cart group  84 . Upper rack  96  supports the individual galley carts  38  of upper cart group  86 . When the individual galley cart  38  reaches the appropriate elevation, it is transferred in the cart storage direction “B” to the appropriate one of middle cart group  84  or upper cart group  86 .  
      Because carts of both middle cart group  84  and upper cart group  86  are in general vertical alignment with the carts of lower cart group  82 , any cart positioned in either middle cart group  84  or upper cart group  86  are positioned in a first in/last out configuration as described in reference to  FIG. 7 . For example, a middle group end cart  98  and an upper group end cart  100  are the first carts of the middle cart group  84  or the upper cart group  86  to be loaded, and would therefore be the last cart unloaded from these positions. Similar to previous embodiments noted herein, galley cart storage system  80  provides storage for individual galley carts  38  within overhead area  44 .  
      Referring next to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a galley cart storage system  102  includes a lower cart group  104  and an upper cart group  106 . An end lift bay  108  vertically transfers individual galley carts  38  from an elevation of passenger deck  30  to upper cart group  106 . Similar to previous embodiments, galley cart storage system  102  can also include a standard galley portion  15  within the galley configuration.  
      A cart access area  110  of end lift bay  108  is first loaded with an individual galley cart  38 . A cart lift  112  lifts the galley cart  38  in the cart vertical direction “A” until the galley cart  38  reaches an elevation of a rack  114 . A galley cart  38  is thereafter translated in the cart storage direction “B” to a stored position on rack  114 . Translation in the cart storage direction “B” can be either automatic or manual. Galley carts  38  of upper cart group  106  are directly accessible by personnel in the galley area, such that if power to operate cart lift  112  is not available, contents of these carts can be removed by opening the galley cart door. Similar to previous embodiments, upper cart group  106  is substantially vertically aligned above lower cart group  104 . Galley carts  38  stored in upper cart group  106  are therefore provided in a first in/last out configuration. For example, end cart  116  of upper cart group  106  is the first galley cart  38  loaded onto rack  114  and therefore is the last galley cart unloaded from rack  114 .  
      Galley cart storage system  102  provides a two level configuration of galley carts which fits within a standard height galley. A galley ceiling  118  for cart storage system  102  therefore does not impact overhead area  44 . Space normally devoted to a second standard galley portion  15  is completely converted for use in galley cart storage system  102  for storage of galley carts  38 , doubling the number of galley carts  38  stored. No counter space or cabinets are provided in the immediate area of galley cart storage system  102  adjacent to the lower cart group  104  or the upper cart group  106 .  
      Referring next to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a galley cart storage system  122  increases a galley width “F” from known galley dimensions by a galley cart depth “G”. Galley cart storage system  122  provides a front cart section  124 , and a rear cart section  126 . Rear cart section  126  is positioned adjacent a galley wall  128 . Because rear cart section  126  is provided behind front cart section  124 , two cart lifts are provided at opposite ends of rear cart section  126  to rotate individual galley carts  38  stored within rear cart section  126 . These include a first cart lift  130  and a second cart lift  132 . Access for loading or unloading individual galley carts  38  from rear cart section  126  is at horizontally opposed ends of front cart section  124 , including a first end cart access position  134  and a second end cart access position  136 , respectively. A countertop  137 , and food service devices  139  (including coffee makers, ovens and cabinets known in the art) are provided above front cart section  124  for access and food preparation by personnel located in a galley passageway  120 . As best seen in  FIG. 13 , rear cart section  126  is divided into a lower rear cart subgroup  138  and an upper rear cart subgroup  140 . Galley carts  38  are stored on a rack  141  of upper rear cart subgroup  140 .  
      Referring next to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , a galley cart storage system  142  provides an arrangement having a galley cart storage system  122  and a cart storage system  144 . Cart storage system  144  is a mirror image of galley cart storage system  122 . Both galley cart storage system  122  and cart storage system  144  are positioned about a galley passageway  146  which is centrally divided by a galley centerline  148 .  
      Referring next to  FIGS. 16 and 17 , the arrangement and an exemplary cart transfer path to either load or unload individual galley carts  38  from either galley cart storage system  122  or cart storage system  144  is shown.  FIG. 16  identifies that rear cart section  126  provides a plurality of galley carts  38  stored on rack  141 . Galley carts of upper rear cart subgroup  140  are generally aligned vertically with galley carts of lower rear cart subgroup  138 . In an exemplary flow path, first cart lift  130  is used to raise individual galley carts  38  from lower rear cart subgroup  138  to upper rear cart subgroup  140 . Second cart lift  132  is used to lower galley carts  38  from upper rear cart subgroup  140  to lower rear cart subgroup  138 . In one preferred embodiment, a first transport device  150  is used to horizontally translate individual galley carts  38  of both lower rear cart subgroup  138  and upper rear cart subgroup  140  in a rotational manner. A first end bay  152  and a second end bay  154  are provided for lowering or raising individual galley carts  38 , respectively.  
      In an exemplary path shown in  FIG. 16 , an individual galley cart  38  labeled “X” is accessed for removal by translating each of the individual galley carts  38  of upper rear cart subgroup  140  in a first direction “H” as shown. As each successive galley cart  38  enters first end bay  152 , it is lowered by second lift  132  to lower rear cart subgroup  138 . As each successive galley cart  38  of lower rear cart subgroup  138  enters second end bay  154 , it is raised by first cart lift  130  to upper rear cart subgroup  140  and supported by rack  141 . The direction of galley cart motion in lower rear cart sub group  138  is in a second direction “K” as shown. In the exemplary case shown, when galley cart  38  labeled “X” reaches the first end bay  152 , designated “Y”, the galley cart is positioned for removal from rear cart section  126 . In an alternative embodiment, first transport device  150  translates individual galley carts  38  to any one of a plurality of individual storage locations  151  of lower rear cart subgroup  138 , and a second transport device  153  translates individual galley carts  38  to any one of a plurality of individual storage locations  155  of upper rear cart subgroup  140 . In this manner, any desired galley cart  38  can be accessed by moving the desired galley cart until it reaches an end bay, such as end bay  152 , for removal. In still another preferred embodiment (not shown for clarity), rack  141  is either modified or eliminated and a plurality of individual cart lifts, such as first cart lift  130 , are each positioned in vertical alignment between any two vertically aligned individual storage locations  151  and individual storage locations  155 . In this embodiment, galley carts  38  are positioned in a vacated individual storage location  151  when a galley cart  38  is positioned in the corresponding vertically aligned individual storage location  155 .  
       FIG. 16  further identifies at least one structural device  157  used to contain and/or restrain galley carts  38  under crash load conditions. Structural device  157  includes, but is not limited to: structural walls, hold-down clamps, brackets and other devices known in the art to restrain galley carts.  
      As best seen in  FIG. 17 , from the “Y” position shown in  FIG. 16 , galley cart “X” is translated in a longitudinal direction “M” from rear cart section  126  to front cart section  124  and is accessible via first end cart access position  134 . Galley carts  38  are translated in longitudinal direction “M” via either an automatic portion of transport device  150 , or optionally, can be manually pulled from rear cart section  126  to front cart section  124  (acting as a vacated space) using a manual translation device  159 . Manual translation device  159  includes, but is not limited to, a pullrod having a hook or clasp to grasp individual galley carts  38 , or a winch having a cable/latch to grasp and remove a galley cart  38  from under countertop  137  (shown in  FIGS. 13 and 15 ). Galley carts  38  are also accessible for loading or unloading at second end cart access position  136  of front cart section  124 . The remaining cart positions in front cart section  124  are manually accessible at any time without the use of transport device  150 . When transport device  150  is not in operation, individual galley carts  38  can be stored in either first end cart access position  134  or second end cart access position  136 .  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , a galley cart storage system  158  includes a lower cart group  160  and an upper cart group  162 . Upper cart group  162  occupies a volume of overhead area  44 , similar to previous embodiments. The difference between galley cart storage system  158  and previous embodiments is that galley carts  38  are stored in galley cart storage system  158  in a generally fore/aft direction and are therefore not confined within the envelope of a galley area. A centerline of each galley cart  38  of upper cart group  162  is aligned with aircraft centerline  46 , shown and described in reference to  FIG. 2 . Galley carts  38  are raised or lowered to or from upper cart group  162  using a cart lift  164 .  FIG. 19  shows that galley carts of upper cart group  162  are divided into two subgroups, including an upper aft cart group  166  supported by a first track section  168  and an upper forward cart subgroup  170  supported by a second track section  172 . Galley carts  38  stored in galley cart storage system  158  are configured in a side-by-side arrangement to maximize the number of galley carts which can be stored in each cart subgroup.  
      When a galley cart  38  is lifted by cart lift  164 , it first reaches a transfer area  174 . From transfer area  174 , galley carts  138  are translated in either an aft transfer direction “N” and onto first track section  168 , or in a forward direction “O” and supported by second track section  172 . Because of the configuration of both upper aft cart subgroup  166  and upper forward cart subgroup  170 , galley carts  38  stored in either of these subgroups are positioned in a first in/last out configuration. For example, an aft end cart  176  and a forward end cart  178  are the first carts loaded in either subgroup  166  or  170 , respectively. Aft end cart  176  and forward end cart  178  are therefore the last carts removed from either of these subgroups. As shown in  FIG. 18 , galley cart storage system  158  also includes a standard galley portion  15  positioned on an opposed side of a passageway from lower cart group  160 . First track section  168  extends above standard galley portion  15  and second track section  172  extends above a passenger seating area (not shown).  
      Referring to  FIG. 20 , cart storage system  144  is shown installed on passenger deck  30 . In order to access individual storage carts positioned in elevated locations when a transport system is out of service, a plurality of access panels  180  are provided. At least one of the galley carts  38  stored in any elevated position can be removed through one of the access panels  180  by manually removing the access panel and manually removing the cart.  FIG. 20  further shows an exemplary control panel  182 . Control panel  182  is used to control the transport system to raise or lower a galley cart from a predetermined storage position or from a first in/last out storage position of any of the embodiments of the present invention. In the exemplary location shown in  FIG. 20 , control panel  182  is positioned on an end face of cart storage system  144 , providing personnel access to the controls for the transport device. Control panel  182  shown in  FIG. 20  is exemplary of a plurality of positions possible for control panel  182 . Access panels  180 , shown in  FIG. 20 , are exemplary of locations for access panels for personnel standing on passenger deck  30 .  
      Referring finally to  FIG. 21 , the operations to load a galley cart for an exemplary embodiment of the present invention are described. In a first operation  200 , a plurality of mobile carts are grouped into a side-by-side orientation. In operation  202 , the mobile carts are divided into at least a first cart group and a second cart group. Next, in an operation  204 , the second cart group is positioned above the first cart group one of within and adjacent to the mobile platform galley. In operation  206 , individual mobile carts of the second cart group are automatically accessed. Finally, in an operation  208 , the individual mobile cart is transferred to an access area in the first cart group.  
      Galley cart storage systems of the present invention generally provide increased galley cart numbers in an improved galley arrangement that require less passenger cabin floor space, thus allowing more passenger seating and increased revenue earning potential. Mobile platforms such as aircraft have galleys which are fastenably attached to passenger or other deck support structure. It is desirable to provide galley designs which can be un-fastened and relocated in their entirety, to modify seating configurations of the aircraft. Galley cart storage systems of the present invention are also provided with removable mounts (not shown), allowing relocation of the entire galley area(s). Galley cart storage systems of the present invention are generally described herein in reference to lifting and loading individual galley carts  38 . Galley carts  38  can be removed from storage by generally reversing the lifting and storing operations.  
      A galley cart storage system of the present invention offers several advantages. By locating galley carts in elevated positions within individual galley areas, the number of galley carts that can be stored in or adjacent to a galley for a mobile platform is increased. By providing automatic lift capability, access to galley carts stored in elevated positions is improved and can be controlled by a single person. Space previously used in galleys for additional countertop and/or cabinet storage is converted by the embodiments of the present invention to galley cart storage, thereby increasing the efficiency of galley cart storage. By providing certain embodiments of the present invention with galley cart storage in areas above galley area passageways, overhead area volume is advantageously employed which also allows the galley area to be enlarged without reducing passenger area seating capacity. By keeping galley cart storage in or immediately adjacent to the galley area, transfer noise, spillage and maintenance problems associated with previous system designs are mitigated. By keeping additional galley carts within the envelope of the galley area, mobile platforms such as aircraft have the added capability of relocating the entire galley area, including additional galley carts located either forward or aft, to modify passenger seating arrangements.  
      While various preferred embodiments have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications or variations which might be made without departing from the inventive concept. The examples illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit it. Therefore, the description and claims should be interpreted liberally with only such limitation as is necessary in view of the pertinent prior art.