GB2058371A

GB2058371A - Arrangement for Loading and Unloading an Aircraft

Info

Publication number: GB2058371A
Application number: GB8021743A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm AG
Current assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
Priority date: 1979-07-03
Filing date: 1980-07-02
Publication date: 1981-04-08
Also published as: DE2926870A1; JPS5686898A; GB2058371B; FR2460841A1; FR2460841B1; DE2926870C2

Abstract

Arrangements for loading and unloading an aircraft using means for moving and securing cargo items in a cargo hold of the aircraft with monitoring of the loading of the storage locations, with an associated weighing device having weight sensors which supply an electrical output signal corresponding to weights of cargo items, to a digital computer which calculates the optimum centre of gravity position required for efficient flight, the arrangement operating in conjunction with means external to the aircraft for electronic processing of data obtained and subsequent transmission of the processed data to the aircraft. The means external to the aircraft may be a ground-based computer installation supplied with relevant information concerning the aircraft and the flight conditions with a keyboard to enter the weights of individual items to be loaded into the aircraft. The computer may be programmed to determine a sequence for loading the items for best balance.

Description

SPECIFICATION Arrangement for Loading and Unloading an Aircraft This invention relates to an arrangement for loading and unloading an aircraft using means for loading and securing cargo on board as well as means for monitoring and loading of the storage spaces, use being made of at least one weighing device associated with a digital calculator which uses as weight sensors and force measuring devices to supply an electrical output signal. The calculator mainly provides the optimum centre of gravity position required for minimum trim adjustment. See patent application 2013907A.

This device advantageously makes possible the precise evaluation of loading (freight, passengers and luggage) and the centre of gravity as well as the total weight of the aircraft.

For the input of the data to a calculator to obtain the optimum load conditions as well as for obtaining weights which are not to be loaded, such as the weight of the empty aircraft, fuel weight, it is necessary to revert to a weight and balance schedule which has to be calculated on the ground. For making such a plan for every new loading additional personnel and manual input of data into the onboard calculator and control unit is required.

This invention seeks to provide a method for automatically displaying data calculated on the ground which also enables the data thus produced to be fed directly to an onboard calculator and control unit.

According to this invention there is provided an arrangement for loading and unloading an aircraft using known types of devices for transporting and securing freight items on board as well as for monitoring the loading of the storage spaces, whereby furthermore use is made of at least one weighing device corresponding with a digital calculator which uses as weight sensors all the known types of force measuring devices which supply an electrical output signal, and the calculator mainly supplies the optimum centre of gravity position desirable for reducing the trim resistance, characterised in that the arrangement works in conjunction with a device on the ground for electronic data processing and transmission.

The data can advantageously be carried on magnetic discs. An advantage of the invention is the substantial reduction in personnel requirements as well as a speeding up of the loading and unloading of aircraft. Errors due, for example, to wrongly completed weight and balance plans, are largely avoided by this system.

Further, in addition to a data carrier medium it is possible to use a radio link between the onboard calculator and the calculator on the ground so that data concerning loading can be transmitted during flight directly between the onboard and the ground installation.

The invention is further described and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments by way of examples. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a general view of an onboard arrangement for the loading and unloading of a cargo hold in an aircraft; Figure 2a is a schematic view of a control system for the arrangement of Figure 1; Figure 2b shows the arrangement of the ground based electronic loading and balance data unit as a block diagram; Figure 3 shows an operating and display unit for the electronic loading and balance data unit; Figure 4 shows the arrangement of a calculator unit; Figure 5a and 5b show a magnetic card; Figure Sc shows a card reader unit; Figure 6 shows an electronic loading and balance data unit with data transmission by radio; and Figure 7 shows a control system for loading and unloading using data transmission by radio.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 shows a general view of an onboard arrangement for loading and unloading an aircraft. The drawing shows a schematic perspective view of a cargo hold with guide rails 1 in the region of the loading gate 9, a ball mat 2 having longitudinal drives 3, transverse drives 4 and weight sensors 5. The freight compartment further has storage areas 7 to 7k with rollers 10 and longitudinal drives 3 are provided in the region of these storage spaces. All the storage spaces 7 have securing devices 6. An arrangement of this kind may be provided in a lower or upper deck space of an aircraft. For loading a freight container, for example, the container is moved over the guide rails 1 towards the ball mat 2 until it reaches the rollers of the transverse drives 4 from where it is moved on further.When the container has reached the storage space 7k, the transverse drives 4 are stopped. In this position the container is weighed by the weight sensors 5 and is then conveyed by the appropriate transverse drives 4 to the storage space 7e, the roller trains 10 reducing friction.

When the container has reached the storage space 7, the drive means are switched off and the container is secured by means of a relevant securing device 6. The other containers are weighed and stored in the same way. The final container remains in the storage space 7k and is secured in this position. For unloading the same operation occurs but in the reverse order and omitting the weighing.

The drives are operated through control panels 8 by which the electrical circuits of the relevant motors are closed only as long as the operator exerts pressure on a switch. The position of the switch approximately at chest height makes it impossible for a container to be moved if a person is lying on the decking.

Figure 2a shows a schematic view of the electronic control system with the control panel operating switches 8, a high and low pass filter 18, a main control panel 14, a control logic circuit 13 for the motor control circuit 16 which operates the drives 3 and 4. An indicator display unit 1 5 shows the weights and means 20 reports back on the positions of the individual palettes or containers in the hold. In addition, there is also provided an automatic palette securing device 1 7 and as a power supply 12 which powers the entire control circuitry.The main control panel 14, weight sensors 5, display unit 1 5 and the motor control 1 6 are connected with the control logic 1 3 via coaxial cables which pass the signals, for example in the form of modulated carrier frequencies, and at the same time feed power to the associated operative units. For example, if a freight container is to be loaded into the freight compartment of an aircraft, the transverse drives are first activated by an operating switch 8 until the container has reached the desired position on the ball mat. In this position the container is weighed.As a result of an appropriate operating step and through the main operating device 14, the weights detected by the individual weight sensors are scanned, added to form the total container weight and fed to the display unit 1 5 where the container weight can be read off on the screen. The container is then moved to a storage space (7fl by means of drives 3. Each drive motor is actuated by an operating switch 8 which is provided with a push button for forward and reverse travel, respectively. Each switch 8 furthermore has an address encoder so that when the button is pressed the address of the motor to be operated as well as the information e.g.

"forward" is fed through the filter 18 to the control logic circuit 13. The circuit 13 switches the signal to the motor control 1 6 which switches on the motor being addressed. When the container has reached the specified storage space, the motor is switched off by the control logic 13 which at the same time activates the respective securing devices 17 which hold the container securely in position during flight. Each storage space has sensors 20 for reporting back to the control logic a signal with information about the particular storage space. This enables the control logic by means of motor control to ensure that a moving container does not collide with an already stored container.In the indicator display unit 1 5 for each storage position there is provided an indicator area on which is shown the weight of the container occupying the particular storage position. This results from the linking of the control logic 13, with the previously supplied container weight, with the storage position finally occupied by the container. Linked with this display is an overload warning which indicates acoustically and/or visually when the floor deck structure is overloaded, for example by a number of heavy containers stored in a small area.

The onboard arrangement operates in conjunction with an onboard means for electronic data processing and transmission. Accordingly, the onboard arrangement according to Figure 2a is further provided with a magnetic card reader 72 and a printer 73. The magnetic card reader 72 reads the bits of information stored on the magnetic card and feeds it to the onboard calculator and control unit.

The calculator and control unit produces from this data the final optimum centre of gravity loading sequence and loading arrangement.

However, it is also possible for the ground based loading and trim data unit according to Figure 2b to suggest an optimum loading sequence and arrangement based on the information of the individual loading data such as for example passenger weight, weight of hand luggage, weight of the freight items, containers and palettes and fuel weight as well as the weight of onboard services. This can be contained in bit format as additional information on the magnetic card, or parallel with this can be printed out by the printer 70 of the data unit on the ground. The provisional loading sequence and loading system can then be checked and if necessary changed if so-called standby freight varies, or as a result of wind conditions.Alternatively, the ground based unit can calculate, using the stored specific onboard functions, and in dependence on the centre of gravity position and balance, the trim from the suggested load and from this the resulting increase in fuel consumption.

Figure 2b shows a block diagram of an arrangement of the ground based electronic loading and trim unit. This comprises a computer unit 63, for example a microprocessor with an associated semi conductor memory, an input keyboard 64 and a display unit 65 connected therewith. The computer 63 controls a drive motor 66 for the magnetically encodeable data card and is connected with a magnetic encoding head 67 and an erasure head 68. The magnetic encoding head 67 in this case serves to pick up the data processed by the calculator and to apply it to the encodeable data card, while the erasure head 68 serves to erase the old or faulty data on the data card.

A power supply 69 supplies the necessary electrical energy to the computer and the associated peripheral apparatus. In parailel with the display 65 a printer 70 connected with the computer 63 enables all data supplied by the computer to be hard copied in text. An electronic interface unit 71 enables the individual freight loads directly supplied possibly by an electronic weighing machine on the ground to be picked up and fed to the computer. The computer is now in a position to transfer to the data carrier the individual freight load items which are fed in either by the operating device directly or automatically fed from the weighing machine on the ground. The data carrier may for example be a plastic card coated with a magnetic layer. The individual data may be applied to the discs in the form of horizontal rows containing a series of bits.

Figure 3 shows an operating key board 74 where the main operating unit is combined in one housing with the display unit 65. The input is fed to the operating unit via the key board 75. All the necessary weight data such as weight of containers or palettes in a digital form is fed into the calculator unit (Figure 4). The key board 64 has a corresponding encoder of the known type which converts the input data to a standard code ASC1. This renders the data suitable for further processing by the associated digital apparatus.

The operation of the device, in an example, is as follows: After the device has been checked for correct functioning, the loading program is fed in.

This is done by pressing key ENT (enter). This shows on the display the request to feed in the number of the first container (NR?). When the appropriate number has been given, the request for feeding in the weight (WGT?) appears. After the weight has been fed in, this is also displayed for verification purposes. Each input is made by pressing the input key ENT. A wrong input can be erased by pressing the key CLR (clear) and after pressing the ENT key can be keyed in again. When all the freight data has been introduced, the distribution of the individual freight items in the freight compartment can be calculated with a view to obtaining an optimum centre of gravity position. On the indicator field there appears the number of the freight item to be loaded first together with an indication of the storage space designated for it. (e.g. NR 5 POS 7).

Figure 4 shows a control arrangement for the computer 63 which is part of the ground based control logic. The computer comprises a master clock 76, an instruction and address register 77, an external memory 78, an interface 79 feeding the memory 78, a working register 80 and a data bus 81. The master clock 76 serves as the time basis for all working processes. The register 77 contains all the internal computer command words and corresponds with the address units according to the Figure. The computer is connected through the point of interface 79 with the external memory 78 which functions as a RAM. The central working register 80 serves to carry out the mathematical and logical operating sequences.Through the data bus 81 which serves as the digital interface 79 for converting the code into the respective computer word structure, the data is fed to the working register 80 and from there is provided with the memory command and the specific memory address and fed into the interface 79 and the external semiconductor memory. If this data is to be displayed on the display unit 65 of the computer, the data sentence is read from the memory 78 on receipt of a read command and through the data bus 81 fed to the display unit 65. If the data is printed on paper tape or applied in encoded form on a magnetic medium this also takes place through the data bus 81 through which the appropriate apparatus such as the printer 70 and a magnetic card reader 75 are connected.

Figure 5a shows a view of a magnetic card strip 82 having a carrier 83 of paper of plastics and strip-like magnetisable layer 84 superimposed upon it. Figure Sb shows a cross section on h-b of Figure 5a through the magnetic card 82.

Figure Sc shows the essential elements of the magnetic card reader 75, namely a guide 76, a combined write read head 67, an erasure head 68, a motor 86 and two rollers 87. When a magnetic card 82 is introduced into the guide 76 by a certain distance, the motor 86 is activated which by means of two rollers 87 feeds the card towards the left into the reader until it comes to rest against a stop. The stop activates a reverse whereby the magnetic card 82 is again expelled.

During movement of the magnetic card 82 the relevant data is put in or is printed out via print/reading head 67. Faulty or out of date data can be erased by the erasure head 68.

In a further embodiment of the invention the ground based load and balance computer unit according to Figure 2a can be connected with the onboard computer and control unit of Figure 2b by a radio link forming a data carrier in order for the data normally stored on the magnetic discs to be fed by radio directly into the onboard calculator and control unit, and the other way round. This has the advantage that further time saving is achieved as a result of dispensing with the ground work. Furthermore, this type of data transmission offers the opportunity that even in flight the actual loading data stored on board can be sent to the ground.

If the aircraft flies to several en route destinations one after the other (intermediate stops) and picks up passengers and/or freight for different destinations, the possibility also exists to send by radio to the ground load and balance computer unit the onboard data from the computer and control unit relating on the actual load.

Accordingly Figure 6 shows the ground based electronic load and balance data unit according to Figure 2b with the operating units 63 to 71 alread referred to and described, and enlarged by an encoding/decoding unit 90 and a transmitter/receiver 91.

The computer 63 feeds the load data containing the special aircraft address in digital form to the encoding part 90 which converts the data into a standard format for data transmission and modulates this in a suitable manner upon a carrier of the data transmitter 91. Any of the known data modulation methods such as frequency modulation, pulse modulation etc, may be used here.

At the other end the signals received by the receiver/transmitter 91 are fed through the encoding/decoding unit 90 of the onboard installation into the computer 63. The received signal is thus again changed back into the digital format through the unit 90.

Figure 7 shows the onboard control according to Figure 2, correspondingly enlarged by an encoding-decoding unit 92 and a transmitter/receiver 93. This equipment works together with the units as already described for the ground based installation.

The key board 64 is for example of the type RAF 1 3.81103.001.

The computer 63 is for example a known type of microprocessor such as a P 8085.

In the reverse way data relating to the load onboard (e.g. freight, number of passengers, etc) can likewise be recorded by means of the onboard encoding unit and transmitted by the onboard data transmitter to the loading and balance data unit on the ground.

Claims

1. Arrangement for loading and unloading an aircraft using means for moving and securing cargo items in a cargo hold of the aircraft with monitoring of the loading of the storage locations with an associated weighing device having weight sensors which supply an electrical output signal corresponding to weights of cargo items, to a digital computer which calculates the optimum centre of gravity position required for efficient flight, the arrangement operating in conjunction with means external to the aircraft for electronic processing of data obtained and subsequent transmission of the processed data to the aircraft.

2. Arrangement according to Claim 1, wherein the means external to the aircraft has a digital computer which operates in conjunction with a visual display unit and input keyboard.

3. Arrangement according to Claim 2, wherein the digital computer is part of a ground based weighing machine.

4. Arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the means in the aircraft and the means external to the aircraft are connected with a data read/write data storage means.

5. Arrangement according to Claim 4, wherein the data storage means is a magnetic card.

6. Arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the means in the aircraft has a control unit which is connected through an encoding/decoding device with a transmitter/receiver for communication with the means external to the aircraft.

7. Arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the digital computer external to the aircraft is connected through an encoding/decoding device with a transmitter/receiver for communication with the means in the aircraft.

8. Arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the digital computer has a means for input of information comprising a keyboard and a visual display unit for showing data supplied.

9. Arrangement according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the digital computer comprises a master clock an instructions and address register, an external memory accessible through an interface, a work register and a data bus.

10. Arrangement for the loading and unloading of cargo in an aircraft substantially as herein described and exemplified by reference to the accompanying drawings.