Patent ID: 8011617

Claim:
An apparatus for transferring cargo between an upper deck and a lower deck of an aircraft, said apparatus comprising: a lift platform that is receivable in a through opening formed in said upper deck of said aircraft, said lift platform having an upper surface for supporting a load of cargo thereon; means for lowering and raising said lift platform between said upper deck and said lower deck so as to transfers loads of cargo to and from said upper deck via said through opening, said means for lowering and raising said lift platform comprising: a lift mechanism comprising: at least one lift cable; and a drive assembly that selectively extends and retracts said lift cable so as to lower and raise said lift platform; substantially the entirety of said drive assembly being housed within said lift platform; and means for selectively attaching edges of said lift platform to said upper deck in load-bearing engagement therewith when said lift platform is raised and stowed in said through opening, so that said lift platform shares structural loading of said upper deck during flight operation of said aircraft.