US 11,952,146 B2
Systems and methods for loading and unloading a cargo aircraft
Jason C. Bell, Frederick, CO (US); Etan D. Karni, Boulder, CO (US); Scott David Rewerts, Summerfield, NC (US); and Ravi Singh, Denver, CO (US)
Assigned to ZSM Holdings LLC, Dover, DE (US)
Filed by ZSM HOLDINGS LLC, Dover, DE (US)
Filed on Mar. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/699,770.
Application 17/699,770 is a continuation of application No. 17/410,629, filed on Aug. 24, 2021, granted, now 11,279,487.
Application 17/410,629 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/049784, filed on Sep. 8, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/938,853, filed on Nov. 21, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/896,533, filed on Sep. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/896,529, filed on Sep. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0212797 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. B64C 1/20 (2006.01); B64C 1/06 (2006.01); B64C 1/14 (2006.01); B64C 1/22 (2006.01); B64C 3/32 (2006.01); B64C 3/34 (2006.01); B64C 17/08 (2006.01); B64D 9/00 (2006.01); B64D 37/04 (2006.01); B64F 1/32 (2006.01); F03D 13/40 (2016.01)
CPC B64D 9/003 (2013.01) [B64C 1/0683 (2020.01); B64C 1/1415 (2013.01); B64C 1/20 (2013.01); B64C 1/22 (2013.01); B64C 3/32 (2013.01); B64C 3/34 (2013.01); B64C 17/08 (2013.01); B64D 9/00 (2013.01); B64D 37/04 (2013.01); B64F 1/32 (2013.01); F03D 13/40 (2016.05); B64D 2009/006 (2013.01); F05B 2260/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of loading a payload onto a cargo aircraft, comprising:
advancing a payload into a forward end of a cargo aircraft and towards an aft end of the cargo aircraft, the cargo aircraft including an interior cargo bay having a forward bay portion located in the forward end of the cargo aircraft and an aft bay portion located in the aft end of the cargo aircraft, the payload including a plurality of payload-receiving fixtures holding one or more structures of the payload in a set position with respect to at least some portion of the payload-receiving fixtures;
placing a first structure of the one or more structures on a first receiving surface of a first piece of a payload-receiving fixture of the plurality of payload receiving fixtures;
coupling a second piece of the payload-receiving fixture to the first piece to secure a location of the first structure with respect to the first receiving surface; and
securing the payload within the interior cargo bay such that a distal-most payload-receiving fixture is secured in the aft bay portion of the interior cargo bay and a proximal-most payload-receiving fixture of the plurality of payload-receiving fixtures is secured in the forward bay portion of the interior cargo bay.