US 12,111,203 B2
Aircraft lifting devices with coupling adapters between jacks and load cells
Patrick Leonard, Savannah, GA (US); Frank McDonough, Savannah, GA (US); Matthew Hansen, Savannah, GA (US); and Paul Ashburn, Savannah, GA (US)
Assigned to GULFSTREAM AEROSPACE CORPORATION, Savannah, GA (US)
Filed by Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Savannah, GA (US)
Filed on Jan. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/248,256.
Prior Publication US 2022/0228904 A1, Jul. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. G01G 19/07 (2006.01); B64F 5/50 (2017.01); B66F 3/00 (2006.01); B66F 3/08 (2006.01); G01G 19/52 (2006.01)
CPC G01G 19/07 (2013.01) [B64F 5/50 (2017.01); G01G 19/52 (2013.01); B66F 3/00 (2013.01); B66F 3/08 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aircraft lifting assembly, comprising:
a jack including an extendable arm, the extendable arm having a distal end portion for exerting a force to lift an object, the distal end portion having a cavity formed therein;
a load cell capable of measuring a weight supported by the jack during an aircraft lifting operation; and
a jack adapter for coupling the extendable arm to the load cell, the jack adapter comprising:
a base portion defining a jack arm support surface on a first side of the base portion, and a load cell support surface on a second side of the base portion that is opposite the first side of the base portion, wherein the jack arm support surface opposes the distal end portion of the extendable arm and the load cell support surface opposes the load cell;
a cradle portion extending above the base portion to circumscribe a portion of the load cell to secure the jack adapter to the load cell; and
a projection of the base portion extending below the first side of the base portion into the cavity of the distal end portion of the extendable arm of the jack to secure the jack adapter to the extendable arm of the jack.