US 12,486,033 B2
Cargo loading system and cargo loading method for loading ULDs into an aircraft
Willi Kranz, Bremen (DE)
Assigned to Airbus DS Airborne Solutions GmbH, Bremen (DE)
Appl. No. 18/042,529
Filed by Airbus DS Airborne Solutions GmbH, Bremen (DE)
PCT Filed Jul. 6, 2022, PCT No. PCT/EP2022/068700
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 22, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/285229, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 19, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2021 118 250.6 (DE), filed on Jul. 14, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0382530 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B64D 9/00 (2006.01); B65G 65/00 (2006.01); G05B 19/418 (2006.01); G06Q 10/083 (2023.01)
CPC B64D 9/00 (2013.01) [B64D 2009/006 (2013.01); B65G 65/00 (2013.01); B65G 2203/042 (2013.01); G05B 19/4189 (2013.01); G06Q 10/083 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cargo loading system for loading a cargo hold of an aircraft with Unit Load Devices (ULDs) which have a first predetermined width or a second predetermined width and a predetermined length, the first predetermined width being larger than the second predetermined width, and wherein the cargo loading system comprises:
a first row of cargo handling power drive units and a second row of cargo handling power drive units, wherein the cargo handling power drive units each have a drive element for acting on an ULD for driving a movement of the ULD and a sensor configured to detect that the cargo handling power drive unit is covered by a ULD and configured to output a coverage signal indicating the cargo handling power drive unit is covered by a ULD,
wherein the first row and the second row are spaced apart from each other in a width direction B such that ULDs with the first predetermined width cover cargo handling power drive units of the first and the second row in order to be driven by the cargo handling power drive units and ULDs with the second width cover cargo handling power drive units of just one of the first row or the second row in order to be driven by the cargo handling power drive units, and
wherein the cargo handling power drive units are spaced apart in the respective rows by a spacing (d) in a longitudinal direction L such that, when the ULDs are being conveyed, a number n of cargo handling power drive units adjacent in a longitudinal direction L are always covered by a ULD, wherein n is a natural number greater than 1;
a ULD detection system for detecting whether the ULD has the first predetermined width or the second predetermined width; and
a control system which is configured to control the cargo handling power drive units depending on coverage statuses, specified by the coverage signals of the sensors of the cargo handling power drive units, of the cargo handling power drive units, the control system further configured to generate a coverage status of a first cargo handling power drive unit by the control system in the case of no existing coverage signal of a sensor of a first cargo handling power drive unit when:
in case a) the ULD detection system has detected a ULD of the first predetermined width and a sensor of a second first cargo handling power drive unit of the adjacent row, adjacent in the width direction (B) to the first cargo handling power drive unit outputs the coverage signal, or
in case b) the ULD detection system has detected a ULD of the first predetermined width or the second predetermined width and the sensor of at least one of the cargo handling power drive units, of the same row as the first cargo handling power drive unit, adjacent to the first cargo handling power drive which outputs the coverage signal,
and wherein the control system is further configured to carry out the controlling of the cargo handling power drive units with the coverage status generated by the control system in the same way as when the coverage status, generated by the coverage signal, of the first cargo handling power drive units is present.