GB2311506A

GB2311506A - A method for loading and unloading aircraft loading/unloading apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2311506A
Application number: GB9605934A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Earnest Ratcliffe
Original assignee: RICARDO HITEC Ltd
Current assignee: RICARDO HITEC Ltd
Priority date: 1996-03-21
Filing date: 1996-03-21
Publication date: 1997-10-01
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-21
Also published as: GB2311506B; GB9605934D0

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING A VEHICLE The present invention relates to a method of unloading a jack for loading or unloading cargo from a vehicle, and to apparatus for unloading a vehicle.

The present invention broadly relates to the technical problem of how to load and unload cargo from a vehicle, such as an aircraft, having a doorway which is located above ground.

This can be a significant problem, for example, when using conventional aircraft for emergency relief in rough terrain.

There are various known ways of loading and unloading aircraft. A common approach is to use a land vehicle with a chassis on which a raiseable platform is mounted. The platform can be raised and lowered by the action of a scissors jack positioned between the chassis and the platform.

Such vehicles are of complex construction and not suited for rough terrain. If landing in areas other than well-equipped airports, such vehicles are, of course not available on the ground.

Other known approaches to the problem of how to unload cargo in remote or rough terrain involve the use of specially adapted aircraft. There are aircraft which have tail gates which can be folded down to provide ramps via which the aircraft can be unloaded. Other aircraft use jib and pulley arrangements which can be unsuitable for heavy loads.

The present invention provides a method of unloading a jack from a vehicle through a door aperture above ground comprising the steps of setting up a support tower on the ground beside the aperture, moving a jack from the aperture onto the upper portion of the tower, attaching an upper portion of the jack to the upper portion of the tower, extending the jack so as to lower a base portion of the scissors jack towards the ground, releasing the upper portion of the jack, and contracting the jack so as to move the jack towards the grounds.

The present invention also provides a method of unloading cargo from a vehicle through a door aperture above ground comprising this method of unloading a jack from a vehicle through a door aperture above ground, and the further step of using the jack to lower cargo from the door aperture to the ground. The present invention also relates to a corresponding method of unloading a jack for loading cargo.

Preferably, after attaching the upper part of the jack, the base portion of the jack is released. Preferably, the jack is partially extended upwards before attachment of its upper portion to the upper portion of the tower and release of its base portion.

The tower is preferably substantially hollow so as to allow the jack to be moved within it.

The tower preferably includes a support, which is preferably at least two support beams, and preferably the support is located at least substantially at the same height as the bottom of the door aperture. Preferably the jack can be slid directly from the door aperture onto the support. Preferably once located on the support, the jack is attached at the top of the tower, and thereafter the support is removed.

The jack can preferably be extended sufficiently in a single step so as to contact the ground or otherwise take its position relative to the ground, for example on a base of the tower, for use in loading and unloading cargo. Alternatively the jack can be extended so that its base portion takes on intermediate position on the tower, the base portion of the jack being supported there, the upper portion of the jack being then released and the jack contracted.

Steps of upper portion attachment, jack extension, base portion supporting, upper portion release, and jack contraction can be made so as to lower the jack to its lowered position in two or more stages.

Base portion supporting at the or each intermediate position can be provided by the support repositioned at a lower height, so that the jack can be extended so that its base portion moves towards the ground until the jack is again supported by the lowered support or reaches its lowered position.

Base portion supporting at the or each intermediate position can be provided by slings releasably attaching the base portion of the scissors jack to the tower.

The present invention also relates to a method of loading a jack inside a vehicle through a door aperture above ground comprising the steps of extending the jack, attaching the upper portion of the jack to the upper portion of a support tower, contracting the jack so as to raise a lower portion of the jack, supporting the jack by the lower portion of the jack at a position on the tower, releasing the attachment of the upper portion of the jack from the upper portion of the tower, and moving the jack into the vehicle through the cargo door aperture. Supporting at intermediate position(s) can be used to raise the jack in two or more stages, using steps of jack extension, upper portion attachment, jack contraction, lower portion support, and upper portion release.

The present invention also relates to apparatus for loading and/or unloading a vehicle through a door aperture above ground comprising a jack in combination with a support tower including attachment means to attach the upper portion of the jack to the tower so as to enable the jack to be extended so as to be lowered towards the ground or to be contracted so as to be raised away from the ground.

The support tower is preferably unloaded from the vehicle before unloading the jack. The support tower is preferably unloaded as a kit of parts for assembly. The support tower can be loaded into the vehicle after loading the jack, preferably in disassembled parts.

The present invention is preferably for loading and unloading an aircraft, in particular, an aircraft having a door aperture at least several meters above ground. The door aperture is preferably a cargo door aperture.

The jack is preferably a scissors jack, and can be driven hydraulically.

The jack and disassembled support tower can be loaded in the aircraft, in particular on a pallet for easy loading and storage.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the tower and scissors jack showing the aircraft in which the scissors jack is loaded in simplified section, Figure 1 (a) is a perspective of an alternative tower, Figure 2 is a corresponding end view to that of Figure 1 showing the tower in front of the cargo door aperture of the aircraft through which the scissors jack is to be moved, Figure 3 corresponds to the side view shown in Figure 1 at a later time, the scissors jack having been moved onto the tower, Figure 4 corresponds to the side view shown in Figure 2 at a later time, shows the scissors jack partially raised for attachment to the top of the tower, Figure 5 corresponds to the side view shown in Figure 3 at a later time, shows the scissors jack extended towards the ground, Figure 5(a) shows a perspective view of the scissors jack with an arm with fasteners replaced by an arm with rollers, Figure 6 is a end view corresponding to Figure 5, Figure 7 is a partial end view corresponding to Figure 6 with bracing members removed to allow cargo to be moved off the scissors jack, Figure 8 is a side view of the alternative tower and scissors jack showing the aircraft in simplified section, Figure 9 corresponds to the side view shown in Figure 8 at a later time, the jack being supported at an intermediate lowered position by its bottom platform, and Figure 10 corresponds to the side view shown in Figure 9 at a later time, the jack being supported at an intermediate lower position by its top platform.

Tower Construction As shown in Figure 1, once an aircraft 2 has landed, for example in remote terrain, a tower 4 is constructed by the side of the aircraft. The tower 4 is constructed of aluminium components carried in the aircraft and removed from the aircraft via the cargo door aperture 6 for assembly. The tower consists of four vertical masts 8 positioned on the ground 10 at four corners of a square base area. The tower has a upper portion 12 including load support trusses 14 between the masts 8 at the top. Two removable parallel intermediate roller beams 18 are provided on the tower 4. In particular, the roller beams 18 can be located at the same height as that of the threshold of the cargo door aperture 6 of the cargo hold 20 of the aircraft 2. The masts 8 can each be carried on rollers 22. The masts can each be provided with brace elements 24 extending towards the ground for increased stability.

An alternative tower 4' is shown in Figure l(a). This consists of four aluminium masts 8' fixed on a steel base 26 which is a bolt-together assembly of steel beams 28, 28'. The masts 8' are fitted to the corners of the base 26 by spigots 27 and fastened with interlocking clips. Fasteners and clamps, such as interlocking clips, are used for ease of quick construction of the tower. The base 26 is provided with adjustable legs 30 between the masts 8' for adjusting the height of the base 26. Optionally, wheels (not shown) can be attached to the base allowing ease of movement of the tower if desired. Load support trusses 32 are provided at the top 34 of the tower 4/. Intermediate horizontal support beams 36 are also provided. There are two removable supports, namely roller beams 38 fixed to intermediate support beams 36 so as to be at the height of the threshold of the cargo door aperture. The roller beams 36 are to receive a scissors jack (not shown in Figure 1(a)) which has been slid from the aircraft cargo hold. As can be seen in Figure l(a), each mast 8' is made in three sections 9, 15, 23 with joints 42 therebetween; each section is approximately 2 metres long. A walkway 40 is suspended from the top of the platform. The two masts 8' nearest the aircraft include respective buffer pads 45 so as to protect the aircraft 2 from damage due to contact with other parts of the tower. The buffer pads are adjustable in position so as to contact the aircraft 2.

As described with reference to Figure l(a), the tower 41 is constructed in a modular way; firstly the base 26 is constructed, then the mast sections 9, 15, 23 are added with appropriate horizontal braces. The components colour coded for ease of construction in situ.

The base is built by connecting each of two series of three legs with corresponding bolttogether steel beams 28', each beam 28' having two sections. The legs 30 are adjusted so as to be at the correct height to provide a flat horizontal base. Three cross beams 28 are then added, being bolted to the other beams 28' using nylok nuts. The legs are again ., adjusted to ensure the base 26 is flat and horizontal as determined using spirit levels.

Base corner pieces 27 are fixed at the corners of the base and each include four spigots 27'.

The bolts on the base 26 are tightened, and the four lower sections 9 of the mast 8' are mounted and fixed using interlocking clips. The lower sections 9 are then cross-braced together using diagonal bracings 11.

Horizontal platforms on which a worker can stand are added at an intermediate height on the two sides of the tower part made of the lower mast sections 9. A ladder section 13 is attached on a mast 8' at the back of the tower.

The next stage is to mount the middle mast sections 15 fixing these using interlocking clips. Horizontal braces 17 are added between the sections 15 and two horizontal platforms are added also. There are four horizontal braces, on each side, and two platforms front and back. A second ladder section 21 is attached.

The lower platforms are moved to the top of the first mast sections 9 of the tower, (these platforms are denoted by reference numeral 19 in Figure 1(a)) and diagonal bracings 11 are secured below each of the raised walkways 19. The four upper mast sections 23 are then added and fixed using interlocking clips. Further diagonal bracings 25 are provided on all four sides.

The two platforms 19' and horizontal braces 17' from the middle section 15 are then raised to the height of the upper mast sections 23. (The platforms are denoted 19' as shown in Figure l(a), and the horizontal braces are denoted as 17'). Further cross braces (not shown) are added below each platform 19. The intermediate support beams 36 are then fixed in place at the correct height relative to the cargo door aperture 6 threshold, and the two roller beams 38 are added.

The legs 30 on the base 26 are adjusted so as to bring the roller beams 38 to a correct and level height.

The upper support trusses 32 are then added at the top 34 of the tower. The walkway 40 is then added, the walkway 40 including three horizontal rails 41. The two winches 43 are then added appropriately supported on respective frames (not shown).

The buffer pads 45, 45 are then added. Pulleys (not shown) of a twin pulley and winch system which includes the two winches 43 are then added.

Scissors Jack The scissors jack 3 consists of a substantially flat top platform 42 having a ball top platform, ie. a pattern of ball bearings in sockets in the platform so as to enable loads to be slid readily thereon, a flat bottom platform 44 and scissoring arms portion 46, in which the arms 48 are driven by hydraulic cylinders 50. The bottom platform 44 includes a flat plate 52' welded to its bottom surface. The cylinders 50 are double acting so as to hydraulically extend and contract the jack and are driven by a hydraulic drive 51.

As shown in Figure 5(a), the top platform 42 can include an arm 55 including rollers 57.

This arm can be flipped out in use so as to lie with the rollers 57 between the tower 4 and aircraft 2 at the threshold of the cargo door aperture 6. The rollers 57 then aid sliding movement of cargo on and off. The scissors jack 3 includes a safety cutout switch to prevent it accidentally being driven against and damaging top support trusses 14, 32.

Unloading the Scissors Jack As can be seen by comparison of Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, the intermediate roller beams 18 are first positioned on the tower 4, 4' at the same height as the threshold of the cargo door aperture 6 of the aircraft 2. The scissors jack 3 is slid out on its bottom surface 52', which can be considered as an integral pallet, from the door aperture 6 onto the support beams 18. The winches 43 are used to effect this sliding with winch cables (not shown) running to and attached to front shackles on the scissors jack 3. The portable diesel generator 5 is connected to the scissors jack 3 which is electrically powered and hydraulically driven, and the jack is extended a few tens of centimetres so as to raise the top platform 42 of the jack 3 to a level where the top platform 42 can be attached to the horizontal support trusses 14, 32 of the tower 4, 4'.

The top platform 42 is fixed to those trusses by slings, in particular in the form of webbing straps. Instead of slings, anchor brackets could be used. The support beams 18 are then removed so that the jack is suspended from its top platform 42. Once removed from the tower, the support beams 18 are temporarily stored in the aircraft or taken directly down to ground level. The jack 3 is then driven so as to extend such that the bottom platform 44 shifts downwards towards the ground. This can be seen most conveniently in Figure 5. When the bottom platform 44 contacts the ground or base of the tower 4, the slings are detached from the top platform and the scissors jack 3 is contracted so that the top platform can move towards the ground. The scissors jack is now in position being securely located on the base 26 (or ground 10) and ready for use in loading and unloading the aircraft.

The scissors jack 3 is shown in its extended configuration in Figure 6 and in its contracted configuration on the ground in Figure 7. When an item of cargo 56 (as shown in Figure 7) has been brought down, diagonal stabilising arms 58 (as shown in Figure 6) on the tower are removed so that the cargo 56 can be taken off the top platform 42 of the scissors jack 3. These stabilising arms 58 are, of course, replaced for increased stability when raising or lowering the jack 3 within the tower.

In this example, the scissors jack has been lowered to the ground in a single step; of course, this could be done in several stages, by lowering the scissors jack attached to the tower by its top platform 42 onto the support bearns 18, then releasing the attachment, reattaching the top platform 42 at a lower position, then lowering the support beams 18 once more.

In a similar fashion, the scissors jack could be lowered to the ground in several stages using slings, such as webbing straps, of various lengths. For example, referring to Figures 8 to 10, with the support beams 38 positioned on the tower 4 at the same height as the threshold of the cargo door aperture 6 of the aircraft 2, the scissors jack 3 is slid out from the door aperture 6 onto the support beams 38. The portable generator 5 is connected to the scissors jack 3 which is electrically powered and hydraulically driven, and the jack is extended a few tens of centimetres so as to raise the top platform 42 of the jack 3 to a level where the top platform 42 can be attached to the horizontal support trusses, 14, 32 and the tower 4, 4'. After top platform 42 of the scissors jack 3 has been raised up a few centimetres and fixed to the support trusses 14, 32 by short slings, the two parallel support beams 38 are then removed or moved apart away from under the jack and resecured so that the jack 3 is suspended from its top platform 42.

Long length slings 63 are attached to the bottom platform 44 at anchor points 65. The jack 3 is then driven so as to extend such that the bottom platform 44 shifts towards the ground to a level where the long slings 63 are tensioned and support the jack 3; The short slings 61 becoming slack. The short slings 61 are then detached from the top platform and intermediate length slings 67 attached instead and the scissors jack 3 is contracted so that the top platform 42 can moves downwards. Once contracted to a position where the intermediate length slings 67 are tensioned and support the jack 3, the long slings 63 are detached from the bottom platform 44 and the scissors jack is extended to the ground. The scissors jack is then in position being securely located on the base 26 and ready for use in loading and unloading the aircraft.

Using the Jack The winches 43 on the tower 4, 4' are used together with further pulleys (not shown) to push and/or pull palletised cargo to or from the aircraft 2 via cargo door aperture 6 from or to the top platform 42 of the jack 3. The jack is raised and lowered for unloading and loading cargo.

Loading the Scissors Jack back on the Aircraft Reloading the scissors jack 3 in the aircraft can be undertaken using a reverse sequence of steps; in particular, attaching the top platform 42 of the scissors jack 3 to the tower 4, 4 then contracting the scissors jack 3 so as to pull its bottom platform 44 upwards. As in the case of unloading the scissors jack, loading can be undertaken using a repeated sequence of steps. Namely, attachment of the upper portion, raising by contracting the jack, supporting the raised bottom platform 44 of the jack, extending the jack then reattaching the upper portion at a new position ready for further raising the jack. The movable support plate 18 or slings 61, 63, 67 are used to support the lower portion at various heights on the tower with corresponding attachment of the upper portion at various positions on the tower also.

Once at the correct height, the contracted jack 3 is pushed back into the aircraft 2 using the winches 43 together with the pulleys (not shown) which are attached to the masts 8' nearest the aircraft. The winch cables are attached to push-bars (not shown) fixed to the jack 3 and the cables run from the winches 43 around these pulleys which are secured to the tower. Push-bars are removable and are fixed on the side of the jack 3 away from the aircraft 2. After the jack 3 has been loaded the push-bars are removed.

Carrving the Scissors Jack and Tower in the Aircraft The contracted scissors jack 3 and disassembled tower are carried in the cargo hold of the aircraft. They can be compactly configured on respective pallets for easy loading and storage. The disassembled tower could alternatively be carried unpalletised in a lower hold 60.

Claims

1. A method of unloading a jack from a vehicle through a door aperture above ground comprising the steps of setting up a support tower on the ground beside the aperture, moving a jack from the aperture onto the upper portion of the tower, attaching an upper portion of the jack to the upper portion of the tower, extending the jack so as to lower a base portion of the jack towards the ground, releasing the upper portion of the jack, and contracting the jack so as to move the jack towards the ground.

2. A method of unloading a jack according to claim 1, in which after attaching the upper part of the jack, the base portion of the jack is released.

3. A method of unloading a jack according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the jack is partially extended upwards before attachment of its upper portion to the upper portion of the tower and release of its base portion.

4. A method of unloading a jack according to any of claims 1 to 3, in which the tower is substantially hollow so as to allow the jack to be moved within it.

5. A method of unloading a jack according to any of claims 1 to 4, in which the tower includes a support and the support is located at least substantially at the same height as the bottom of the door aperture.

6. A method of unloading a jack according to claim 5, in which the jack can be slid directly from the door aperture onto the support.

7. A method of unloading a jack according to claim 5 or claim 6, in which once located on the support, the jack is attached at the top of the tower, and thereafter the support is removed.

8. A method of unloading a jack according to any preceding claim, in which the jack is extensible sufficiently in a single step so as to contact the ground or otherwise take its position relative to the ground, for use in loading and unloading cargo.

9. A method of unloading a jack according to claim 8, in which the jack is extensible to take a position on a base of the tower.

10. A method of unloading a jack according to any of claims 1 to 7, in which the jack is extensible so that its base portion takes on intermediate position on the tower, the base portion of the jack being supported there, the upper portion on the tower, the base portion of the jack being supported there, the upper portion of the jack being then released and the jack contracted.

11. A method of unloading a jack according to claim 10, in which steps of upper portion attachment, jack extension, base portion supporting, upper portion release, and jack contraction are made so as to lower the jack to its lowered position in two or more stages.

12. A method of unloading a jack according to claim 10 or claim 11, in which supporting of the base portion at the or each intermediate position is provided by the support repositioned at a lower height, so that the jack is extensible so that its base portion moves towards the ground until the jack is again supported by the lowered support or reaches its lowered position.

13. A method of unloading a jack according to claim 12, in which supporting of the base portion at the or each intermediate position is provided by slings releasably attaching the base portion of the jack to the tower.

14. A method of unloading a jack according to any preceding claim, in which the support tower is unloaded from the vehicle before unloading the jack.

15. A method of unloading a jack according to claim 14, in which the support tower is unloaded as a kit of parts for assembly.

16. A method of unloading a jack according to any preceding claim, in which the vehicle is an aircraft.

17. A method of unloading a jack according to any preceding claim, in which the door aperture is at least several meters above ground.

18. A method of unloading a jack according to any preceding claim, in which the jack is a scissors jack.

19. A method of unloading a jack according to any preceding claim, in which the jack is driven hydraulically.

20. A method of unloading cargo from a vehicle through a door aperture above ground comprising a method of unloading a jack according to any preceding claim from a vehicle through a door aperture above ground, and the further step of using the jack to lower cargo from the door aperture to the ground.

21. A method of loading cargo from a vehicle through a door aperture above ground comprising the method of unloading a jack according to any of claims 1 to 19 from a vehicle through a door aperture above ground, and the further step of using the jack to raise cargo from the door aperture to the ground.

22. A method of loading a jack inside a vehicle through a door aperture above ground comprising the steps of extending the jack, attaching the upper portion of the jack to the upper portion of a support tower, contracting the jack so as to raise a lower portion of the jack, supporting the jack by the lower portion of the jack at a position on the tower, releasing the attachment of the upper portion of the jack from the upper portion of the tower, and moving the jack into the vehicle through the cargo door aperture.

23. A method of loading a jack according to claim 22, in which supporting at intermediate position(s) is used to raise the jack in two or more stages, using steps of jack extension, upper portion attachment, jack contraction, lower portion support, and upper portion release.

24. A method of loading a jack according to claim 22 or claim 23, in which the support tower is disassembled loaded into the vehicle after loading the jack.

25. A method of loading a jack according to any of claims 22 to 24 in which the vehicle is an aircraft and the jack and disassembled support tower are loaded in the aircraft on a pallet for easy loading and storage.

26. Apparatus for loading and/or unloading a vehicle through a door aperture above ground comprising ajack in combination with a support tower including attachment means to attach the upper portion of the jack to the tower so as to enable the jack to be extended so as to be lowered towards the ground or to be contracted so as to be raised away from the ground.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, in which the tower is substantially hollow so as to allow the jack to be moved within it.

28. Apparatus according to claim 26 or claim 27, in which the tower includes a support, and the support is located at least substantially at the same height as the bottom of the door aperture.

29. Apparatus according to claim 26, claim 27, or claim 28, for loading and unloading an aircraft having a door aperture at least several meters above ground.

30. Apparatus according to any of claims 26 to 29, in which the jack is a scissors jack.

31. Apparatus according to any of claims 26 to 30, in which the jack and dissembled support tower are loadable in the aircraft.

32. Apparatus according to claim 31, in which the jack and disassembled support tower are loadable on a pallet for easy loading and storage.