Patent Description:
It is sometimes necessary to lift a parked aircraft off the ground for various inspection and maintenance tasks. For example, maintenance tasks that involve removing the aircraft wheels typically requires lifting the aircraft.

The process of lifting the aircraft with at least one lifting device or jack is known as jacking the aircraft. During the jacking process, it is desirable to measure the weight supported by each jack for various reasons. For example, it may be desirable to know the weight distribution between the port and starboard wings of the aircraft to know whether the aircraft is tilted. Accordingly, a scale or load cell is typically placed between the ground and the aircraft to measure the weight supported by each jack.

One solution for connecting the load cell to the jack assembly is to use a threaded adapter between the jack and the load cell. Such a threaded adapter, however, may unscrew and become loose due to vibrations through the jack assembly during the lifting operation. When the threaded adapter is loosely connected there may be considerable side loading on the jack, resulting in damage to the jack assembly or costly damage to the aircraft.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a jack assembly that reduces the risk of damage to the aircraft and/or jacking assembly. In addition, it is desirable to provide a jacking assembly that includes an adapter that reduces the risks of side loading. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent summary and detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

Document <CIT> discloses an aircraft lifting assembly, comprising: a jack including an extendable arm, the extendable arm having a distal end portion for exerting a force to lift an object; a load cell capable of measuring a weight supported by the jack during an aircraft lifting operation; and, a jack adapter for coupling the extendable arm to the load cell, the jack adapter comprising: a base portion defining a jack arm support surface and a load cell support surface, wherein the jack arm support surface opposes the distal end portion of the extendable arm and the load cell support surface opposes the load cell; and a cradle portion extending from the base portion.

Document <CIT> further discloses an adapter for connecting an extendable arm of a jack to a load cell for aircraft lifting operations, the jack including an extendable arm having a distal end portion, the load cell capable of measuring a weight supported by the jack during an aircraft lifting operation, the adapter comprising: a base portion defining a jack arm support surface and a load cell support surface, the jack arm support surface configured to oppose the distal end portion of the extendable arm and the load cell support surface configured to oppose the load cell; and a cradle portion extending from the base portion.

Document <CIT> further discloses a method of jacking an aircraft with a jack and a load cell, the jack including an extendable arm, the extendable arm having a distal end portion for exerting a force to lift an object, the load cell capable of measuring a weight supported by the jack during an aircraft lifting operation, the method comprising: inserting a projection of a jack adapter into the cavity of the extendable arm to couple the extendable arm to the load cell, positioning a base portion of the jack adapter such that a jack arm support surface of the base portion opposes the distal end portion of the extendable arm.

An aircraft lifting assembly, an adapter for an aircraft lifting assembly, and a method of lifting an aircraft are disclosed herein.

In a first non-limiting embodiment, an aircraft lifting assembly includes a jack, a load cell, and a jack adapter. The jack includes an extendable arm having a distal end portion for exerting a force to lift an object. The distal end portion defines a cavity. The load cell is capable of measuring a weight supported by the jack during an aircraft lifting operation. The jack adapter couples the extendable arm to the load cell and includes a base portion, a cradle portion, and a projection. The base portion defines a jack arm support surface and a load cell support surface. The jack arm support surface opposes the distal end portion of the extendable arm and the load cell support surface opposes the load cell. The cradle portion extends from the base portion to circumscribe a portion of the load cell to secure the jack adapter to the load cell. The projection extends from the base portion into the cavity of the distal end portion of the extendable arm of the jack to secure the jack adapter to the extendable arm of the jack.

In another non-limiting embodiment, an adapter is for connecting an extendable arm of a jack to a load cell for aircraft lifting operations. The jack includes an extendable arm having a distal end portion defining a cavity. The load cell is capable of measuring a weight supported by the jack during an aircraft lifting operation. The adapter includes a base portion, a cradle portion, and a projection. The base portion defines a jack arm support surface and a load cell support surface. The jack arm support surface is configured to oppose the distal end portion of the extendable arm and the load cell support surface configured to oppose the load cell. The cradle portion extends from the base portion and is configured to circumscribe a portion of the load cell to secure the adapter to the load cell. The projection extends from the base portion to insert into the cavity of the distal portion of the extendable arm of the jack and secure the adapter to the extendable arm of the jack. The projection of the adapter defines a projection pin aperture that is a bore hole that extends through the projection perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the projection. The adapter further comprises a locking pin configured to extend through the projection pin aperture and through the extendable arm to restrict rotation of the adapter within the extendable arm of the jack.

In another non-limiting embodiment, a method is for jacking an aircraft with a jack and a load cell, the jack including an extendable arm, the extendable arm having a distal end portion for exerting a force to lift an object, the distal end portion defining a cavity, the load cell capable of measuring a weight supported by the jack during an aircraft lifting operation. The method includes inserting a projection of a jack adapter into the cavity of the extendable arm to couple the extendable arm to the load cell. The method further includes positioning a base portion of the jack adapter such that a jack arm support surface of the base portion opposes the distal end portion of the extendable arm. The method further yet includes positioning the load cell into a cradle portion of the jack adapter that extends from the base portion, the positioning of the load cell such that the cradle portion circumscribes a portion of the load cell to secure the jack adapter to the load cell.

The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and.

Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or the following detailed description.

An improved aircraft lifting assembly is disclosed herein. In a non-limiting embodiment, the aircraft lifting assembly includes a load cell adapter that nests into main wing aircraft jacks and nose aircraft jacks. When a male section of the load cell adapter is installed into a cavity on the jack, a locking pin may be installed through the jack and the male section of the load cell adapter to further protect against adapter displacement from the jack. The load cell adapter holds and cradles load cells for weight and balance procedures. A cutout notch may be included to accommodate load cell communication and/or power plugs. In some embodiments, the load cell adapter is circular, cup shaped, and wraps around the entire load cell using a wide base to protect against tipping of the load cell.

A greater understanding of the aircraft lifting assembly, the load cell adapter, and a method of lifting an aircraft may be obtained through a review of the illustrations accompanying this application together with a review of the detailed description that follows.

<FIG> are side views illustrating an aircraft lifting assembly <NUM> in use on an aircraft <NUM>. Aircraft <NUM> may comprise any type of aircraft including, without limitation, a subsonic aircraft, a supersonic aircraft, a propeller driven aircraft, a jet powered aircraft, a commercial airliner, a private business jet, a cargo aircraft, a military aircraft, and any other type of aircraft in which it is desirable to lift a stationary aircraft off the ground for maintenance or inspection purposes. Additionally, although the lifting assembly of the present disclosure is being described and explained in the context of its application for lifting an aircraft, it should be understood that the lifting assembly of the present disclosure is not limited to lifting aircraft. Rather, the lifting assembly of the present disclosure may be used on any type of vehicle including, but not limited to, automotive vehicles, surface and subsurface watercraft, and spacecraft. Furthermore, the lifting assembly is not limited to use in vehicles and may be employed in other applications unrelated to vehicles such as, and without limitation, in the construction and manufacturing industries. In still other applications, the lifting assembly of the present disclosure may be employed in any industry and/or application where it is desirable to lift heavy objects while measuring the force applied to the object.

The aircraft <NUM> has a plurality of jacking positions designated by the manufacturer of the aircraft <NUM>. <FIG> illustrate the lifting assembly <NUM> in use on a main wing lifting position for inspection and maintenance operations. It should be appreciated that the lifting assembly <NUM> may be used in any suitable lifting position or other suitable lifting location without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The aircraft lifting assembly <NUM> is used between a ground or other support surface and the aircraft <NUM> for jacking the stationary aircraft <NUM> during maintenance and inspection procedures. The aircraft lifting assembly <NUM> includes a jack <NUM>, a load cell <NUM>, a load support plate <NUM>, and a load cell jack adapter <NUM>. Additional or fewer components may be included in any particular implementation without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

The jack <NUM> is a mechanical lifting device used to apply great forces or lift heavy loads. In the example provided, the jack <NUM> is a screw jack. Other jack types may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The jack <NUM> includes an extendable arm <NUM> that protrudes from a jack base <NUM>.

The extendable arm <NUM> translates into and out of the base <NUM> during operation. The extendable arm <NUM> has a distal end portion <NUM> for exerting a force to lift an object. For example, as the extendable arm <NUM> translates out of the base <NUM>, the weight of the object presses on the distal end portion <NUM>. The lifting assembly <NUM> resists and lifts the weight by transferring lifting forces from the ground surface to the base <NUM>, from the base <NUM> to the extendable arm <NUM>, from the distal end portion <NUM> to the jack adapter <NUM>, from the jack adapter <NUM> to the load cell <NUM>, from the load cell <NUM> to the load support plate <NUM>, and from the load support plate <NUM> to the aircraft <NUM>.

The distal end portion <NUM> defines a top surface <NUM>, a cavity <NUM>, and a jack arm pin aperture <NUM>. The top surface <NUM> opposes a jack arm support surface of the jack, as will be described below. In the example provided, the top surface <NUM> is flat and level when the base <NUM> is level. The cavity <NUM> has cavity walls that are cylindrical and coaxial with an outer surface of the extendable arm. It should be appreciated that the cavity <NUM> may have other shapes without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The jack arm pin aperture <NUM> is a bore hole through which a locking pin may be inserted, as will be described below.

The load cell <NUM> is a weight measuring device that is capable of measuring a weight supported by the jack <NUM> during an aircraft lifting operation. In the example provided, the load cell <NUM> has a cylindrical shape with a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the extendable arm <NUM>. The load cell <NUM> defines a bottom surface <NUM> opposing a load cell support surface of the jack adapter that will be described below.

The load support plate <NUM> couples with the load cell and contacts the aircraft <NUM>. The load support plate <NUM> distributes the force of lifting the aircraft <NUM> according to the design of the jacking position. For example, the load support plate <NUM> may have a contoured support surface that matches a shape of the aircraft <NUM> and distributes weight across an area that is selected based on a safe loading pressure at the jacking position.

Referring now to <FIG>, and with continued reference to <FIG>, the load cell jack adapter <NUM> is illustrated in perspective views in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. The load cell jack adapter <NUM> secures the load cell <NUM> to the extendable arm <NUM> to reduce a risk of tipping or side loading of the lifting assembly <NUM>.

The jack adapter <NUM> includes a base portion <NUM>, a cradle portion <NUM>, a projection <NUM>, and a locking pin <NUM>. In some embodiments, the base portion <NUM>, the cradle portion <NUM>, and the projection <NUM> are monolithic pieces of metal. For example, the base portion <NUM>, the cradle portion <NUM>, and the projection <NUM> may be machined from a single piece of steel or aluminum stock on a mill or lathe.

The base portion <NUM> is disposed between the cradle portion <NUM> and the projection <NUM> and defines a jack arm support surface <NUM> and a load cell support surface <NUM>. The jack arm support surface <NUM> opposes the distal end portion <NUM> of the extendable arm <NUM>. The jack arm support surface <NUM> is larger than the top surface of the distal end <NUM> of the extendable arm <NUM> of the jack. Accordingly, the load from the aircraft <NUM> is distributed across substantially the entire top surface of the distal end <NUM> and pressures are minimized. Additionally, the large jack arm support surface <NUM> provides a wide base to restrict tipping of the jack adapter <NUM> off of the extendable arm <NUM>.

The load cell support surface <NUM> opposes the load cell <NUM>. The load cell support surface <NUM> is larger than the bottom surface of the load cell <NUM>. Accordingly, the load from the aircraft <NUM> is distributed across substantially the entire bottom surface of the load cell <NUM> to the base portion <NUM> of the jack adapter <NUM>. Additionally, the wide base of the load cell support surface <NUM> restricts tipping of the load cell <NUM> off of the jack adapter <NUM>.

The cradle portion <NUM> extends away from the base portion <NUM> to circumscribe a portion of the load cell <NUM> and secure the jack adapter <NUM> to the load cell <NUM>. In the example provided, the cradle portion <NUM> is a wall portion that defines an electrical connector pass-through portion <NUM> configured to permit an electrical connection to the load cell <NUM>.

The cradle portion <NUM> has a cradle shape that is based on the load cell shape of the load cell <NUM>. For example, the walls of the cradle portion <NUM> may have a cylindrical inner surface that is shaped substantially the same as an outer surface of the load cell <NUM> is shaped. As used herein, the term "substantially the same as" means that the walls are larger by an amount that permits easy insertion of the load cell <NUM> after accounting for manufacturing tolerances.

The projection <NUM> extends from the jack arm support surface <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> into the cavity <NUM> of the distal end portion <NUM> of the extendable arm <NUM> of the jack <NUM> to secure the jack adapter <NUM> to the extendable arm <NUM> of the jack <NUM>.

The projection <NUM> has a projection shape that is based on a cavity shape of the cavity <NUM>. For example, the cavity <NUM> and the projection <NUM> may have similar circular profiles, square profiles, or profiles of any other suitable shape that are substantially the same size. In the example provided, the projection shape is substantially the same as the cavity shape.

The projection <NUM> defines a projection pin aperture <NUM> through which the locking pin <NUM> may be inserted. Projection pin aperture <NUM> is a bore hole that extends through the projection <NUM> perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the projection <NUM>.

The locking pin <NUM> may be inserted to extend through the jack arm pin aperture <NUM> and through the projection pin aperture <NUM> to restrict rotation of the jack adapter <NUM> within the extendable arm <NUM> of the jack <NUM>. The locking pin <NUM> includes a locking feature <NUM> that is released by a release button <NUM> on a handle of the locking pin <NUM>. For example, the locking feature <NUM> may be a ball bearing biased outwards by a mechanism that ceases to bias the ball bearing in response to depression of the release button <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, and with continued reference to <FIG>, a method <NUM> of jacking an aircraft with a jack and a load cell is illustrated in flow diagram form. The sequence of tasks illustrated and described below may be changed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the jack adapter may be assembled with the jack and the load cell before positioning the assembly beneath a jacking position.

Task <NUM> positions a jack beneath a jacking location on an aircraft. The jack includes an extendable arm. The extendable arm has a distal end portion for exerting a force to lift an object. The distal end portion defining a cavity. The load cell is capable of measuring a weight supported by the jack during an aircraft lifting operation. For example, task <NUM> may position the jack <NUM> and the load cell <NUM> beneath the aircraft <NUM>.

Task <NUM> inserts a projection of a jack adapter into a cavity on an extendable arm of the jack. For example, task <NUM> may insert projection <NUM> into cavity <NUM> of extendable arm <NUM> of the jack <NUM>.

Task <NUM> inserts a locking pin through the extendable arm and the projection. For example, task <NUM> may insert the locking pin <NUM> through the jack arm pin aperture <NUM> and through the projection pin aperture <NUM> to restrict rotation of the jack adapter <NUM> within the extendable arm <NUM> of the jack <NUM>.

Task <NUM> inserts a load cell into a cradle of the jack adapter. For example, task <NUM> may insert load cell <NUM> into cradle portion <NUM> of jack adapter <NUM>.

Task <NUM> aligns a connector port of the load cell with a cutout in the cradle. For example, task <NUM> may align pass-through portion <NUM> of jack adapter <NUM> with an electrical connection port of the load cell <NUM>. Task <NUM> electrically couples a cable with the connector port through the cutout. For example, the cable may be inserted into the connection port of the load cell <NUM> through the pass-through portion <NUM>.

Task <NUM> raises the extendable arm of the jack to contact and lift the aircraft. For example, task <NUM> may operate the jack <NUM> to lift the aircraft <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An aircraft lifting assembly (<NUM>), comprising:
a jack (<NUM>) including an extendable arm, the extendable arm (<NUM>) having a distal end portion (<NUM>) for exerting a force to lift an object, the distal end portion defining a cavity (<NUM>);
a load cell (<NUM>) capable of measuring a weight supported by the jack during an aircraft lifting operation; and,
a jack adapter (<NUM>) for coupling the extendable arm to the load cell, the jack adapter comprising:
a base portion (<NUM>) defining a jack arm support surface (<NUM>) and a load cell support surface (<NUM>), wherein the jack arm support surface opposes the distal end portion of the extendable arm and the load cell support surface opposes the load cell;
a cradle portion (<NUM>) extending from the base portion (<NUM>) to circumscribe a portion of the load cell to secure the jack adapter to the load cell; and,
a projection (<NUM>) extending from the base portion into the cavity of the distal end portion of the extendable arm of the jack to secure the jack adapter to the extendable arm of the jack.