Patent ID: 12202623

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is understood that the term “vehicle” or “vehicular” or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general and includes vehicles with internal combustion engines as well as electric vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g., fuels derived from resources other than petroleum).

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms “unit”, “-er”, “-or”, and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

Further, the control logic of embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied as non-transitory computer readable media on a computer readable medium containing executable program instructions executed by a processor, controller, or the like. Examples of computer readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, flash drives, smart cards, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed in network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable media is stored and executed in a distributed fashion, e.g., by a telematics server or a Controller Area Network (CAN).

Hereinafter, embodiments in the present disclosure will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosure may, however, be exemplified in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the specific embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or like elements, and the shapes and dimensions of elements may be exaggerated for clarity.

In the present specification, for convenience of description, embodiments of the present disclosure is described by taking a case in which it is applied to air mobility having a cargo hold as an example, but an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, it can be applied not only to air mobility, but also to water or underwater mobility, land mobility, and the like.

The terms such as “first,” “second,” and so on may be used to describe a variety of elements, but the elements should not be limited by these terms. The terms are used simply to distinguish one element from other elements. The use of such ordinal numbers should not be construed as limiting the meaning of the term. For example, the components associated with such an ordinal number should not be limited in the order of use, placement order, or the like. If necessary, each ordinal number may be used interchangeably.

FIG.1is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of air mobility to which an apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is applied, andFIG.2is a perspective view illustrating the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

The apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may be applied to air mobility1such as, for example, urban air mobility. Such air mobility may be utilized to move an individual or a plurality of passengers in or between a city center and a city center. Air mobility may also be utilized for delivery of cargo C (seeFIG.6), for example, a courier service, or the like.

In the air mobility1, loading of the cargo2in the city center should be fast and convenient, and it should be possible to ensure safety.

To this end, the air mobility1may include a body3having a cargo hold2provided therein; wings4provided on the body; or a rotor (not shown) mounted on the body or the wings.

At least one person may ride in the body3, but the body3is not limited thereto, and the body3may operate unmanned. The body may be provided with a cargo hold2for loading of the cargo C.

The wings4may be provided to extend to both sides of the body for flight of the body3. When the air mobility1mainly uses a rotor, the wings may be omitted.

When a plurality of rotors are employed, each rotor may be driven by a motor (not shown), and a battery (not shown) may be mounted on the body3to supply power to the motor.

In addition, a plurality of wheels5capable of independently driving may be provided in a lower portion of the body to support the body3at a landing site or to move on the ground.

In order to transport the cargo C using the air mobility1, the cargo is properly distributed and loaded in the cargo hold2of the body3in consideration of weight thereof, and appropriate means for unloading the cargo inside the cargo hold regardless of a loading order are required.

The apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure may include a base portion10, a rail20, a plurality of movable plates30, and a raising-lowering portion40.

The base portion10may constitute a bottom surface in the cargo hold2of the air mobility1. To this end, an opening9may be formed in a lower portion of the cargo hold, and the base portion may have a shape conforming to a shape of the opening or have an area, at least greater than an area of the opening to close the opening.

An upper surface of the base portion10may be formed to be flat, and the base portion may have an approximately circular or elliptical shape. However, a shape of the base portion is not limited thereto and may have a polygonal shape or an arbitrary shape.

In addition, the base portion10is not limited to constituting the bottom surface of the cargo hold2, a separate door structure may be provided on the bottom surface of the cargo hold, and the base portion may be exposed externally when a door is opened.

The rail20may be installed on the upper surface of the base portion10. Such a rail may be formed in a ring shape having a circular or elliptical closed cross-section corresponding to the shape of the upper surface of the base portion. However, a shape of the rail is not limited thereto.

The plurality of movable plates30may be disposed on the rail20to move along the rail. For example, when the base portion10has a substantially circular shape, the movable plate may be formed in a sectoral shape with a width narrowing toward a center of the base portion.

An upper surface of each movable plate30may be formed to be flat for loading of cargo. In addition, a fastening portion may be formed on the upper surface of the movable plate for fixing the cargo C. For example, at least one T-slot31(seeFIG.3) having a cross-sectional shape formed in a T-shape is formed as the fastening portion, so that the cargo C loaded may be firmly fixed by an anchor or a hook coupled to the T-slot.

For the fixing of the cargo C, the cargo may be accommodated in a standardized box, and an anchor or a hook capable of being coupled to the T-slot31of the movable plate30may be provided on a bottom of a box. These T-slots and anchors or hooks that may be coupled to the T-slots constitute a fastening portion.

Alternatively, the asymmetrical and irregularly shaped cargo C may be fixedly tied to a pallet of a certain size, and an anchor or a hook capable of being coupled to the T-slot31of the movable plate30may be provided on a bottom of the pallet.

The disposition of the T-slot31and the anchor or hook constituting the fastening portion may be reversed. In other words, anchors or hooks may be provided on the movable plate30, and T-slots may be formed in standardized boxes and pallets.

The box in which the cargo is accommodated or the pallet to which the cargo is fixedly tied may be fixed on the movable plate by the fastening portion. Accordingly, the movable plate30may move along the rail20with the cargo C placed on an upper surface thereof and spacing between cargo items and the position of the cargo in the cargo hold2may vary according to the movement of the movable plate.

As described above, since the movable plate30moves and a position of the cargo C may be changed, the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo may load and distribute the cargo appropriately in the cargo hold2, and accordingly, the center of gravity of the air mobility1may be easily adjusted.

In addition, since the movable plate30on which the cargo C is placed may be moved to change the position of the cargo, the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo has an advantage in that cargo inside the cargo hold2may be unloaded regardless of a loading order.

FIG.3is a view illustrating an apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, with a movable plate omitted, andFIG.4is a view from the bottom of the traveling cart illustrated inFIG.3.

Substantially, in order to drive the movable plate between each movable plate30and the rail20, a traveling cart50moving along the rail, at least one linear movement portion60installed on the traveling cart, and a seating portion70interposed between the linear movement portion and the movable plate may be further included.

The traveling cart50may include a cart body51, a plurality of rollers52provided below the cart body and rolling along the rail20, and a driving motor (not shown) providing a driving force necessary for driving the rollers.

The cart body51may movably support the linear movement portion60, the seating portion70, and the movable plate30on the rail20. A plurality of rollers52may be provided in a lower portion of the cart body, and the plurality of rollers may roll while in contact with the rail.

Although the drawings show examples of rollers disposed on the rail20so that a rotation shaft of the roller52extends upwardly and downwardly, an orientation of the roller with respect to the rail is not limited thereto and may be changed according to a shape or design condition of the rail. For example, rollers may be disposed on the rail so that the rotation axis of the roller extends horizontally or obliquely.

The driving motor may be mounted on the cart body51to provide driving force to the at least one roller52and connected to a rotation shaft of the corresponding roller or may be embedded in the at least one roller. In order to supply power to the driving motor, a battery (not shown) may be mounted on the cart body or may be electrically connected to a battery of the body3.

When power is applied to the driving motor, the corresponding roller52rotates and drives along the contacting rail20, and a position of the cart body51may be changed within a trajectory of the rail by rolling the rollers.

The linear movement portion60is a member for moving the movable plate30in a straight line. As the linear movement portion, a linear motor, a linear motion slide, a linear motion guide, a linear chain actuator, and the like, may be employed. A detailed description of their configuration will be omitted.

At least one linear movement portion60may be disposed to extend in a direction intersecting the rail20on the cart body51of the traveling cart50. Accordingly, a moving block of the linear movement portion may move radially on the base portion10.

In order to supply power to the driving unit of the linear movement portion60, the driving unit may be electrically connected to a battery in the cart body51of the traveling cart50or a battery in the body3.

The seating portion70may be fixedly installed on the moving block of the linear movement portion60to movably support the movable plate30according to an operation of the linear movement portion. For example, when a plurality of linear movement portions are employed, the seating portion may be fixed to the moving blocks so as to span the moving blocks of these linear movement portions.

The movable plate30is seated on an upper surface of the seating portion70and may be coupled, for example, by bolting. However, a coupling method between the movable plate and the seating portion is not limited thereto.

FIG.5is an operation state diagram illustrating an example in which a movable plate moves radially.

When power is applied to the driving unit of the linear movement portion60, the corresponding moving block moves radially on the base portion10, and accordingly, the movable plate30placed on the seating portion70also moves radially on the base portion, so that it is possible to gather close to each other toward a center of the base portion or to be separated from each other.

Referring back toFIGS.1and2, as the raising-lowering portion40, for example, a hydraulic cylinder having an operating rod41expanding and contracting may be adopted, but an exemplary embodiment thereof is not limited thereto, and an electric actuator equipped with an operating rod may also be used.

When the raising-lowering portion40is a hydraulic cylinder, a fluid pressure line for driving may be installed in the body3and connected to the fluid pressure cylinder, and the fluid may be provided from a pump or a compressor.

The raising-lowering portion40may be fixedly installed in the cargo hold2, and an end portion of the operating rod41may be fixedly connected to the base portion10. To this end, for example, the raising-lowering portion may be fixed to a ceiling of the cargo hold and the operating rod may be disposed in a state extending downwardly.

An end portion of the operating rod41is preferably fixed in line with a center of the base portion10. In addition, a position of the raising-lowering portion40, the base portion10, and an opening9of the cargo hold2may be set so that a connection point of the end portion of the operating rod and the base portion is located adjacent to center of gravity of the air mobility1itself.

By such an operation of the raising-lowering portion40, in a space between the body3of the air mobility1and the ground, the base portion10, the rail20, the plurality of movable plates30, and the like may be raised or lowered together and simultaneously.

Accordingly, when the raising-lowering portion40is lowered, the movable plate30may be accessed from the outside of the air mobility1, and when the raising-lowering portion is raised after cargo C is placed, the cargo may be easily loaded into the cargo hold2. In addition, the cargo placed on the movable plate may be easily unloaded out of the cargo hold by the lowering of the raising-lowering portion.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a barrier80installed along an edge of the opening9in the cargo hold2.

The barrier may be approximately formed in a form of a fence, but is not limited thereto, and may be formed, for example, in a form of a partition. Such a barrier may prevent the cargo C placed on the movable plate30from being separated from the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to embodiments of the present disclosure and the cargo hold.

In addition, as illustrated inFIG.2, the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a sensor unit90and a control unit100.

The sensor unit90may include a load sensing unit91sensing a weight of the cargo C placed on each movable plate30, and a position sensing unit92sensing a position of a plurality of movable plates30or a traveling cart50moving on the rail20. For example, a load cell may be used as the load sensing unit. For example, at least one position sensor, an image sensor, and the like, may be used as the position sensing unit.

The load sensing unit91may be disposed on at least one of the movable plates30, the seating portion70, and the cart body51of the traveling cart50. When a plurality of position sensors are employed as the position sensing unit92, these position sensors may be disposed on the rail20, an upper surface of the base10around the rail, a barrier80or a ceiling of the cargo hold2, or the like. When the image sensor is employed as the position sensing unit, the image sensor may be disposed on an inner wall or a ceiling of the cargo hold.

The control unit100may control a spacing and positions of the movable plates on the rail20according to a sensing signal related to a load of the cargo C received from the sensor unit90and a sensing signal related to the position of the corresponding movable plate30. To this end, the control unit may be electrically connected to a driving motor of the traveling cart50, a driving unit of the linear movement portion60, a driving source of the raising-lowering portion40, and the like through wired or wireless communication.

The control unit100may receive a sensing signal related to the load of the cargo C and a sensing signal related to the position of the corresponding movable plate30from the sensor unit90in real time, and may immediately transmit a command signal to the driving motor of the traveling cart50, the driving unit of the linear movement portion60, and the driving source of the raising-lowering portion40according to the received information and the set control logic to automatically adjust the spacing between the cargoes and the position of each cargo.

The control unit100may be implemented with various processing devices, such as a microprocessor, in which a semiconductor chip capable of performing various operations or commands, or the like, is embedded, and may control an overall operation of the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo of embodiments of the present disclosure.

For example, the control unit100may be incorporated into a control system of the air mobility1or used in combination thereof.

Accordingly, the control unit100may change a position of the cargo C by moving the movable plate30according to the movement of the center of gravity due to the change in the posture of the air mobility1during the operation thereof. Conversely, by moving the movable plate to change the position of the cargo for efficient and safe flight, posture imbalance or thrust imbalance of air mobility may be resolved.

Since various techniques for calculating or estimating the center of gravity have been proposed and known, a detailed description thereof will be omitted herein.

FIGS.6ato6care operation state diagrams illustrating examples in which a movable plate moves in a circumferential direction.

As shown inFIG.6a, for example, when only one cargo C is transported by completing a delivery of other cargoes, in order to adjust center of gravity of the air mobility1, the control unit100may move and arrange a movable plate without cargo in a circumferential direction to an opposite direction thereof on the rail20in response to a movable plate30on which cargo is placed.

As described above, the movable plate30without cargo may serve as a weight used to adjust the center of gravity of the air mobility1.

In addition, a radial position of the movable plate30on which the cargo C is placed may be adjusted to be adjacent to a center of the base portion10, while a radial position of the movable plate without cargo may be adjusted to be relatively far away from the center of the base portion.

As shown inFIGS.6band6c, when a plurality of cargoes C are transported, in order to adjust the center of gravity of the air mobility1, the control unit100may move the movable plates30having cargo placed thereon and a movable plate without cargo in a circumferential direction on the rail20and may appropriately arrange the movable plates according to the weight thereof.

In addition, a radial position of the movable plate30on which a relatively heavy cargo C is placed may be adjusted to be adjacent to the center of the base portion10, while a radial position of the movable plate on which a relatively light cargo is placed or the movable plate without cargo is relatively far away from a center of the base portion.

As described above, when the cargo C is transported, in order to adjust the center of gravity of the air mobility1, the control unit100of the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure may move the movable plate30in a circumferential direction and/or radially.

FIGS.7ato7eare views for illustrating an operation of the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

InFIG.7a, an air mobility1has landed on a landing site, and an opening9formed in a cargo hold2of the air mobility may be closed by a base portion10.

InFIG.7b, a raising-lowering portion40operates so that the base portion10, the rail20installed thereon, the plurality of movable plates30, and the like, may descend from the air mobility1toward the ground. Accordingly, the base portion has a position in which the cargo C may be easily loaded or unloaded into and out of the cargo hold2.

InFIG.7c, the movable plate30may move in a circumferential direction along the rail20to a position for more convenient loading or unloading of the cargo C.

In addition, inFIG.7d, at least one movable plate30may be moved radially outwardly by a linear movement portion60to a position for more convenient loading or unloading of the cargo C.

Meanwhile, inFIG.7e, an example in which loading is performed on one side and unloading is performed on the other side of left and right sides of the air mobility1is illustrated.

As described above, according to the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, several cargoes may be loaded or unloaded at the same time, thereby minimizing time and a process required for loading and unloading.

FIG.8is a perspective view illustrating an apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIG.8, the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure may include a plurality of base portions11and12, a rail20, a plurality of movable plates30, and a raising-lowering portion40.

The second embodiment of the present disclosure shown inFIG.8is different only in that the plurality of base portions11and12are disposed, and the remaining components are the same as those of the first embodiment shown inFIGS.1to7. Accordingly, in describing the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to the first embodiment described above, and detailed descriptions of their configurations and functions will be omitted.

The plurality of base portions may include a first base portion11and a second base portion12, and the first and second base portions may be fixedly disposed in an operating rod41in one raising-lowering portion40to be vertically spaced apart from each other.

For example, the first base portion11may be disposed therebelow to constitute a bottom surface in a cargo hold2of the air mobility1. The first base portion may have a shape conforming to an opening9formed in the cargo hold of the air mobility or may have an area at least greater than an area of an opening to close the opening.

The second base portion12may be disposed above the first base portion11to be accommodated in the cargo hold2of the air mobility1.

Upper surfaces of the first and second base portions11and12may be formed to be flat, and the base portions may have an approximately circular or elliptical shape.

A rail20may be installed on each of the upper surfaces of the first and second base portions11and12. Such a rail may be formed in a ring shape having a circular or elliptical closed cross-section corresponding to the shape of the upper surface of each of the base portions.

The plurality of movable plates30are disposed on a rail20to move along the rail. For example, when the first and second base portions11and12have a substantially circular shape, the movable plate may be formed in a substantially sectoral shape.

An upper surface of each movable plate30is preferably formed to be flat, and the cargo C may be firmly fixed to the upper surface of the movable plate.

Accordingly, the movable plate30may move along the rail20with the cargo C placed on the upper surface thereof, and a spacing between cargoes and a position of the cargo in the cargo hold2may be changed according to the movement of the movable plate.

As described above, since the movable plate30is moved so that the position of the cargo C may be change in a circumferential direction and/or radially on each of the base portions11and12, in the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo of embodiments of the present disclosure, the cargo may be properly distributed and loaded in the cargo hold2, and accordingly, alignment of the center of gravity of the air mobility1may be easily achieved.

In addition, since the movable plate30on which the cargo C is placed may be moved to change the position of the cargo, the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo of embodiments of the present disclosure has an advantage of unloading the cargo inside the cargo hold2, regardless of the loading order.

As a raising-lowering portion40, for example, a hydraulic cylinder having an operating rod41expanding and contracting may be adopted, but an exemplary embodiment thereof is not limited thereto.

The raising-lowering portion40may be fixedly installed on the cargo hold2, for example, an end portion of the operating rod41may be fixedly connected to the first base portion11, and an intermediate portion of the operating rod41may be fixedly connected to the second base portion12. To this end, for example, the raising-lowering portion40may be fixed to a ceiling of the cargo hold and the operating rod may be disposed in a state extending downwardly.

The operating rod41is preferably fixed to a center of each of the base portions11and12. In addition, a position of the base portion, the raising-lowering portion40, and an opening9of the cargo hold2may be set so that a connection point of the operating rod and each base portion is located adjacent to the center of gravity of the air mobility1.

By an operation of the raising-lowering portion40, the plurality of base portions11and12, and the rail20and the plurality of movable plates30mounted on each of the base portions may be raised or lowered together and at the same time.

Accordingly, when the raising-lowering portion40descends, the cargo C may be placed on the movable plate30of any one of the plurality of base portions11and12, and then when the raising-lowering portion rises, the cargo may be easily loaded into the cargo load2. In addition, the cargo placed on the movable plate may be easily unloaded out of the cargo hold by the lowering of the raising-lowering portion.

As described above, the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure has an advantage of loading cargo by varying a type, a weight, and a volume of the cargo for each first and second base portion, so that, for example, air mobility used in a courier service, or the like, may be efficiently operated, in addition to an advantage of loading and transporting more cargo than the first embodiment.

As set forth above, according to the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, by automatically distributing the cargo in consideration of a weight thereof, alignment of center of gravity for an operation may be easily performed, and accordingly, efficiency and safety of a flight may be improved.

According to the apparatus for loading and unloading cargo according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to unload as desired regardless of a loading order of the cargo, and furthermore, it is possible to load or unload several cargoes at the same time, so that a time and process required for loading and unloading may be minimized.

While the example embodiments have been illustrated and described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations could be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.