WO2019048896A1

WO2019048896A1 - Aircraft stand baggage delivery system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2019048896A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/001090
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juma BIN HUMAIDAN
Original assignee: Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects
Priority date: 2017-09-08
Filing date: 2017-09-08
Publication date: 2019-03-14

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aircraft stand baggage delivery system (1) for delivery baggage to an aircraft stand (10) comprising a medium duty underground transportation network (100) for the transportation of unit load devices (ULDs) (14) for medium duty baggage, wherein the medium underground transportation network 100 is located at a first underground level (20) below ground level (24) of an aircraft stand (10), and at least one ULD hoist for (120) for lifting ULDs (14) from the first underground level (20) to the ground level (24) of an aircraft stand (10) and for lowering ULDs (14) from the ground level (24) to the first underground level (20). Further the invention relates to a corresponding method for delivery baggage to an aircraft stand (10).

Description

Aircraft stand baggage delivery system and method

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an aircraft stand baggage delivery system for delivery baggage to an aircraft stand. By means of the system baggage to be loaded to an aircraft and baggage unloaded from an aircraft can be delivered between the airport buildings and an airplane.

2. Prior art

Baggage handling systems are one of the key elements for an airport success in terms of passenger emotional journey experience. It has to be ensured that the correct baggage is delivered in time to and from the correct airplane. The delivery reliability and delivery time are one of the key criteria for the airlines. Aircrafts are parked at an airport at aircraft stands where passengers can embark and disembark and where the baggage is loaded and unloaded to the aircraft. Baggage delivery to the aircraft stand is commonly done by baggage trucks with dollies (tug & dolly) that carry either special aircraft containers, so called "ULDs", or boxes with individual baggage of the passengers.

For a typical baggage handling system, the outbound baggage (originating & transfer) are sorted per flight and built in ULD containers at a centralized baggage facility and then transported by tug & dolly on airport roads (GSE roads) to the specific aircraft. Similarly, typical inbound bags (terminating & transfer) are received in ULD containers or in bulk at the apron stand and driven by tug & dolly to a centralized baggage facility where bags are unloaded on dedicated piers.

Transportation of ULDs is usually not as time critical compared to last moment baggage of passengers. The baggage trucks for the ULD and individual baggage are running on ground level airport roads that connect the centralized baggage facility with the airplane stands. Thus, in busy airports the airport roads are crowded by baggage trucks. Congestions by baggage trucks are likely. However, the road transportation time is on criteria for the baggage handling and is very critical for the minimum connect times between flights.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to decrease baggage handling time and to provide a reliable and fast baggage handling system for baggage transportation from an airport building to the aircraft stand.

3. Summary of the invention

The above mentioned objective is achieved by an aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to claim 1 and a method for delivery baggage to an aircraft stand according to claim 14.

Particularly, the above mentioned objective is achieved by an aircraft stand baggage delivery system for delivery baggage to an aircraft stand comprising a medium duty underground transportation network (MDN) for the transportation of ULDs for medium duty baggage, wherein the medium underground transportation network is located at a first underground level below ground level of an aircraft stand; and at least one ULD hoist for lifting ULDs from the first underground level to the ground level of an aircraft stand and for lowering ULDs from the ground level to the first underground level.

As the medium duty transportation network (MDN) for the transportation of ULDs is an underground transportation network that is located at a first underground level below ground level of an aircraft stand the ground level roads are not used by ULD transportation traffic and will not be congested. Further, the medium duty

underground transportation network is more reliable and less prone to weather influences like, wind, sand storm, sun, rain, snow, ice and the like, compared to ground roads. Further, the medium duty underground transportation network can be easily used by automated vehicles as the access to the network can be better controlled. Further,_the_medium duty underground transportation network can be planned totally independent from airplane taxi traffic and can thus be optimized in its design for baggage transportation needs. The ULD hoist is able to hoists even large size ULDs from the first underground level to the ground level of an aircraft stand and vice-versa. Thereby, the ULD hoists occupy only little space on the aircraft stand, such that the handling of the ULDs on ground level is facilitated. The medium duty underground transportation network and the ULD hoist can co-operate in a fully automated manner, such that ULD delivery to and from the ground level of the aircraft stand is fast and reliable.

Preferably, the aircraft stand baggage delivery system comprises at least two ULD hoists. The use of two ULD hoists on the one doubles the delivery capacity of the ULD hoists and decreases the delivery time for loading and unloading of an aircraft. On the other hand, it provides redundancy in case one ULD hoist has a technical problem or has to be maintained.

Preferably, the aircraft stand baggage delivery further comprises a low duty

underground transportation network (LDN) for the transportation of low duty baggage carriers (ICS) for low duty baggage, wherein the low duty underground transportation network is located at a second underground level below ground level of the aircraft stand; and at least one LDN hoist for lifting low duty baggage from the second underground level to the ground level of an aircraft stand and for lowering low duty baggage from the ground level to the second underground level.

Similar as the medium duty underground transportation network for the ULDs the low duty baggage, e.g. last-minute passenger baggage, is delivered directly to the aircraft stand underground and via a separate low duty underground transportation network (LDN). This significantly reduces transportation time, as baggage handling steps and GSE road transfer is eliminated. Thus, the ground roads are released from the respective traffic, the delivery of low duty baggage is independent from any weather conditions and can be fully automated. In fact, a loading and un-loading to dollies can be avoided at all. The low duty underground transportation network (LDN) can be based on low duty baggage carriers (ICS) for individual pieces of baggage. The LDN hoist then hoists the LDN luggage pieces from the underground level to the ground level of the aircraft stand. The transfer of LDN luggage pieces from the low duty baggage carriers can be made fully automatic. Preferably the first underground level is located at a lower level than the and the second underground level. Thus, the level of the medium duty underground transportation network MDM is arranged lower than the level of the low duty underground transportation network LDN. Therefore, the two networks do not interfere each other and can be used simultaneously. For example, the MDM can be based on vehicle transportation on underground roads in a tunnel and the LDN can be track based, where the tracks are arranged near the ceiling of the tunnel.

Preferably, the ULD hoist is a vertical hoist. Thus, only little space on the aircraft stand is occupied by the ULD hoist.

Preferably, the ULD hoist comprises an electrically driven roller bed platform which is capable of receiving and linearly moving at least one ULD. The electrically driven roller bed platform provides an automatic means for easy loading and unloading of ULD onto the ULD hoist. External loading and unloading means for the ULD hoist are not required.

Preferably, the aircraft stand baggage delivery system further comprise at least one interface conveyor for unloading and uploading at least one ULD from and to a transport device. The at least one interface conveyor enables a fast and fully automatic loading and unloading of ULDs to and from a transport device, e.g. a ULD vehicle.

Preferably, the at least one interface conveyor comprises an electrically driven roller bed for unloading and uploading the at least on ULD in a horizontal loading direction and wherein the at least one interface conveyor is capable of moving the carried ULD in a horizontal shifting direction, perpendicular to the loading direction. Thereby, the interface conveyor can fully automatically distribute ULDs coming from a transport device to different horizontally distributed elements, like transport means that transport the ULDs to the ULD hoists and ULD staging positions.

Preferably, the at least on interface conveyor is capable of lifting and lowering the carried ULD in a vertical direction. Thus, the interface conveyor can distribute the ULDs not only to horizontally distributed elements but also to vertically distributed elements, like vertically distributed ULD staging positions. Preferably, the aircraft stand baggage delivery system further comprises a plurality of underground ULD staging positions. By means of underground ULD staging positions ULDs can be stored underground the aircraft stand without occupying space on ground level. This allows to better handle baggage on ground level.

Preferably, at least one of the plurality of ULD staging positions is arranged on a higher vertical level directly over another ULD staging position. Thus, ULDs can for example be stored on different levels of a ULD rack, for increasing the staging space.

Preferably, the medium duty underground transportation network (MDN) comprises MDM transportation vehicles that run on underground streets. Additionally or alternatively, the low duty baggage carriers (ICS) of the low duty underground transportation network (LDN) run on underground tracks. Thus, the two underground baggage transportation networks are independent from each other and optimized according their transported goods.

Preferably, the aircraft stand baggage delivery system further comprises an ICS unloading station for unloading low duty baggage from the low duty baggage carriers (ICS) for transfer the low duty baggage to the LDN hoist and / or an ICS loading station for loading low duty baggage, coming from the LDN hoist, to the low duty baggage carriers (ICS). By means of the ICS unloading station and the ICS loading station a fully automatic transfer of low duty baggage to and from low duty baggage carriers (ICS) is provided. This shortens handling time and effort.

The above mentioned objective is also realized by a method for delivery baggage to an aircraft stand comprising the following steps: a. Transporting ULDs for medium duty baggage via a medium duty underground transportation network (MDN), wherein the medium underground

transportation network is located at a first underground level below ground level of an aircraft stand; lifting ULDs via at least one ULD hoist from the first underground level to the ground level of an aircraft stand; and lowering ULDs via the at least one ULD hoist from the ground level to the first underground level.

By this baggage deliver method also the advantages of the aircraft stand baggage delivery system is provided in terms of low space consumption on ground level, reliability and short transportation distances, due to the individual routing of the medium duty underground transportation network (MDN).

4. Short description of the drawings

In the following preferred embodiments of the invention are described by means drawings in which shows:

Fig. 1: a schematic top view of two aircraft stands at an airport according an

embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2: a sectional side view of an embodiment of an aircraft stand delivery system according to the invention;

Fig. 3: a schematic top view of a first underground level of the embodiment of Fig. 2 showing the MDN; Fig. 4: a three-dimensional sectional view of the apron of an airplane stand at ground level of the embodiment of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5: a schematic top view of a second underground level of the embodiment of Fig.

2 showing the MDN and the LDN;

Fig. 6: a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of the first underground level of the MDN;

Fig. 7: a front view of an embodiment of an ULD hoist for the MDN of the invention; Fig. 8: a side view of the embodiment of the ULD hoist of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9: a top view of the embodiment of the ULD hoist of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10: a three dimensional view of parts of the embodiment of the LDN.

5. Detailed description of preferred embodiments

In the following preferred embodiments of the invention are described in detail with respect to the figures. Elements of one embodiment may be combined with elements of other embodiments although not explicitly described.

Fig. 1 shows a top view of two aircraft stands 10 at ground level 24 where two aircrafts 12 are presently parked. The right aircraft 12 can be loaded and unloaded with baggage through an apron building 60 as indicated by arrows 102 and 104. The passengers can embark and disembark the aircraft 12 via a passenger rotunda 62. The passenger rotunda 62 may be preferably arranged on top to the apron building 60 in order to safe space at the aircraft stand 10, but both buildings may also be separate from each other. Within the apron building 60 at least one, preferably two, ULD hoists 110, 120 are arranged, which lift ULDs 14 containing baggage from the first underground level 20 to the ground level 24, such that the ULDs 14 can be loaded into the aircraft 12. Likewise, the ULDs 14 which are unloaded from the aircraft 12 can be lowered by the two ULD hoist to the underground level, preferably to the first underground level 20, to be transported by the medium duty underground transportation network 100 to the baggage handling center of the airport. The ground level 24 of the apron building 60 is shown in more detail in Fig. 4.

Further, at least one LDN lift 210 is arranged within the apron building 60, which lifts and lowers low duty baggage from the ground level 24 to and from the underground level, preferably to the second underground level 22.

As it can be seen in Fig. 4 the apron building 60 comprises doors through which transport tracks 64 for ULDSs 14 from the ULD hoists 110, 120 and a transport track 66 for low duty baggage from the LDN hoist 210 extend to the apron of the aircraft stand 10. The transport tracks 64 for ULDs 14 may comprise motorized roller beds for moving the ULDs 14 along the tracks 64. The transport track 66 for the low duty or raw baggage may comprise a motorized conveyor belt, roller beds or similar transportation means. The apron of the aircraft stand 10 may further comprise one or more ground container staging positions 68 connected to the ULD tracks 64 for temporarily storing one or more ULDs 14. The transportation at apron between the aircraft 12 and the ULD transport tracks 64 or the container staging positions 68 is done via usual transporters.

The capacity of the ULD hoists 110, 120 and associated medium duty underground network MDN 100 are dimensioned such that they do allow a fast loading / unloading of the aircraft and do not form any bottleneck. The overall MDN 100 is capable of transporting ULDs 14 of all sizes and weights, e.g. ULD types LD2, LD3, LD3-Reefer and LD3-45.

Fig. 2 shows particularly the underground levels 20, 24 of the MDN 100 and low duty underground network LDN 200 of the aircraft stand baggage delivery system 1 below the aircraft stand 10. The MDN 100 is arranged at a first underground level 20 that is lower than the second underground level 22 of the LDN 200. Thus the given space is optimally used by the two independent networks 100 and 200.

The MDN 100 used for the transportation of ULDs 14 further comprises at least one interface conveyor 130 for unloading and uploading at least one ULD that arrives from a centralized baggage facility (not shown) via a transportation device 50. Preferably, two interface conveyors 130 are provided per aircraft stand as it can be seen in Fig. 3 in order to provide redundancy and to improve throughput of the ULD hoists 110, 120. The ULDs are received by the interfaced conveyor 130 and distributed either to ULD staging positions 140, 140 for temporarily storing the ULDs or to ULD transportation tracks 144 for transfer to one of the ULD hoists 110, 120. The interface conveyors 130 comprise an electrically driven roller bed for unloading and uploading the at least on ULD 14 in a horizontal loading direction 26. The interface conveyors 130 are further capable of moving the carried ULD 14 in a horizontal shifting direction 28, as seen in Fig. 3, perpendicular to the loading direction 26. Thereby, the interface conveyors 130 can fully automatically distribute ULDs 14 coming from a transport device 50 to the ULD transportation tracks 144, that automatically transport the ULDs 14 to the respective ULD hoists 110, 120 and to the ULD staging positions 140, 142.

Further, the interface conveyors 130 can lift and lower the carried ULDs 140 in a vertical direction 30, as seen in Fig. 2. Thus, the interface conveyors 130 can transport the ULDs also to elevated ULD staging positions 142. This maximizes ULD staging capacity at underground level of the MDN.

Fig. 3 shows the layout of the MDN 100 in more detail. The two interface conveyors 130 can work in parallel to unload and upload two transport devices 50 (not shown) that can be parked in front of two vehicle interface positions 52 on a vehicle interface and parking lane 152 besides the underground ULD vehicle traffic lanes or underground streets 150.

Preferably, as shown in an example in Fig. 6, the ULD staging positions 140, 142 are provided in two staging lanes 145, one after the other and on two heights in order to maximize ULD storing capacity. A further staging lane 147 of ULD staging positions 140, 142 may be provided between and at the ends of the vehicle interface positions 52. The ULD transportation tracks 144 preferably also comprise motorized roller beds for automatically move the ULDs 14 arranged thereon to and from the ULD hoists 110, 120.

The ULD hoists 110, 120 likewise comprise an electrically driven roller bed platform 112 for automatically receiving one of the ULDs 14 from the respective ULD transportation tracks 144. As seen in Fig. 7 to 9 in more detail, the ULD hoists 110, 120 are vertical hoists that are preferably electrically driven. Hydraulically driven ULDs hoists are also possible. The preferred ULD hoists 110, 120 can lift ULD containers of the size LD3 which may be 1900 - 2440 mm long, 1300 - 1570 mm wide, 1120 - 1650 mm high and may have a weight of 1000 - 1600 kg. The vertical speed of the ULD hoist may preferably be 2 m/s which allows a throughput of 120 pcs/h of ULDs 14.

Fig. 2, Fig. 5 and Fig. 10 show the low duty underground transportation network LDN 200 for low duty baggage in more detail. Low duty baggage 18 may comprise all individual bags 18 of passengers that that do not have sufficient time to be loaded into ULD's either at the batching plant or at the last minute make-up area (not shown). Low duty baggage 18 is considered by the system 1 as time critical and is automatically rerouted on the LDN 200 to the corresponding aircraft 12. This direct delivery of low duty baggage 18 to the aircraft stand 10 minimizes connecting time (MCT). In fact, baggage 18 which require minimum connect transfer time will transit via the LDN 200 for rapid dispatch directly to the aircraft stand 10.

The low duty bags 18 are individually placed in low duty baggage carriers 16 for transportation as shown in Fig. 10. The LDN 200 for the low duty baggage carriers 16 can be provided as individual carrier system ICS 200 as shown in Fig 10. The ICS 200 may comprise longitudinal electrically driven tracks 250, intersections 252 and track switches 254 onto which the low duty baggage carriers 16 are moving and automatically routed to the corresponding aircraft stand 10.

At the aircraft stand 10 the low duty baggage carriers 16 are unloaded at an ICS unloading station 230. Thereby, the low duty baggage carriers 16 are tipped and the individuals bags 18 are then transported on a conveyor belt 240 to the LDN hoist 210 which lifts the bags 18 to the ground level 24. On the ground level 24 the individual bags 18 are loaded either into a waiting ULD or into the bulk hold of the aircraft 12 just before departure.

For loading low duty baggage 18 into low duty baggage carriers 16 an ICS loading station 232 is provided. Here, the individual bags 18 coming from the LDN lift 210 are placed into a low duty baggage carrier 16 respectively for transport via the LDN 200 to directly another aircraft stand 10 or to a baggage processing center.

As shown in Fig. 5 the LDN 200 may comprise two main tracks 200 one for each direction and one exit track 256 to the ICS unloading station 230. The exit track 256 avoids any congestions on the main tracks 200. The MDM transportation vehicles 50 are preferably electric battery vehicles that will run on a dedicated underground road network, thus avoiding the congestion at the GSE roads at apron. Terminating and critical arrival ULDs 14 are directly delivered to the vehicle interface positions 52 by the MDM transportation vehicles 50 where these will be transported to the respective processing areas. The non-critical arrival ULDS14 (cold transfer) will be stored below aircraft stand 10 prior to being transported to the respective processing areas.

Similarly, departing ULDs 14 are delivered from the processing areas to the respective aircraft stand 10 at underground level 22 where these are kept in a transitory storage facility 140, 142 waiting to be lifted up.

List of reference signs:

1 aircraft stand baggage delivery system

10 aircraft stand

12 aircraft

14 ULD

16 low duty baggage carrier

18 low duty baggage

20 first underground level

22 second underground level

24 ground level

26 horizontal loading direction

28 horizontal shifting direction

30 vertical direction

50 MDN transportation vehicles

52 vehicle interface positions

60 apron building

62 passenger rotunda

64 transport tracks for ULDs

66 transport track for low duty baggage

68 ground container staging positions

100 medium duty underground transportation network, MDN

102 arrow

104 arrow

110 ULD hoist roller bed platform

ULD hoist

interface conveyor

driven roller bed

lower staging position

upper staging position

ULD transportation tracks

staging lane

underground streets

vehicle interface and parking lane

low duty underground transportation network, LDN

LDN hoist

ICS unloading station

ICS loading station

underground tracks

intersection

track switch

exit track

Claims

Aircraft stand baggage delivery system (1) for delivery baggage to an aircraft stand (10) comprising: a. a medium duty underground transportation network (100) for the

transportation of ULDs (14) for medium duty baggage, wherein the medium underground transportation network (100) is located at a first underground level (20) below ground level (24) of an aircraft stand (10); and b. at least one ULD hoist (110, 120) for lifting ULDs (14) from the first

underground level (20) to the ground level (24) of an aircraft stand (10) and for lowering ULDs (14) from the ground level (24) to the first underground level (20).

Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to claim 1 comprising at least two ULD hoists (110, 120).

Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to one of the claims 1 to 2, further comprising: a. a low duty underground transportation network (200) for the

transportation of low duty baggage carriers (16) for low duty baggage, wherein the low duty underground transportation network (200) is located at a second underground level (22) below ground level (24) of the aircraft stand (10); and b. at least one LDN hoist (210) for lifting low duty baggage from the second underground level (22) to the ground level (24) of an aircraft stand (10) and for lowering low duty baggage from the ground level (24) to the second underground level (22).

Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to claim 3, wherein the first underground level (20) is located below the second underground level (22).

Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to one of the claims 1 wherein the at least one ULD hoist (no, 120) is a vertical hoist.

Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to one of the claims 1 - 5, wherein the ULD hoist (no, 120) comprises an electrically driven roller bed platform (112) which is capable of receiving and linearly moving at least one ULD (14).

7. Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to one of the claims 1 - 6, further comprising at least one interface conveyor (130) for unloading and uploading at least one ULD (14) from and to a transport device (50).

8. Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to claim 7, wherein the at least one interface conveyor (130) comprises an electrically driven roller bed (132) for unloading and uploading the at least one ULD (14) in a horizontal loading direction (26) and wherein the at least one interface conveyor (130) is capable of moving the carried ULD (14) in a horizontal shifting direction (28),

perpendicular to the loading direction (26).

9. Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to one of the claims 8, wherein the at least on interface conveyor (130) is capable of lifting and lowering the carried ULD (14) in a vertical direction (30).

Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to one of the claims 1 - 9, further comprising a plurality of ULD staging positions (140, 142) for storing at least one of the ULDs (14).

Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of ULD staging positions (142) is arranged on a higher vertical level directly over another ULD staging position (140).

Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to one of the claims 1 wherein the medium duty underground transportation network (100) comprises MDN transportation vehicles (50) that run on underground streets (150); and / or the low duty baggage carriers (16) of the low duty underground transportation network (200) run on underground tracks (250).

Aircraft stand baggage delivery system according to one of the claims 3 further comprising: an ICS unloading station (230) for unloading low duty baggage from the low duty baggage carriers (16) for transfer the low duty baggage to the LDN hoist (210); and / or an ICS loading station (232) for loading low duty baggage, coming from the LDN hoist (210), to the low duty baggage carriers (14).

14. Method for delivery baggage to an aircraft stand (10) comprising the following steps:

Transporting ULDs (14) for medium duty baggage via a medium duty underground transportation network (100), wherein the medium underground transportation network (100) is located at a first underground level (20) below ground level (24) of an aircraft stand (10);

Lifting ULDs (14) via at least one ULD hoist (110, 120) from the first underground level (20) to the ground level (24) of an aircraft stand (10); and

Lowering ULDs (14) via the at least one ULD hoist (110, 120) from the ground level (20) to the first underground level (24).