Lifting device and method for storing and transferring airship pod

Abstract

The invention discloses a lifting device and method for storage and transfer of an airship pod, and relates to the technical field of storage and transfer of airship pods.The lifting device comprises an upper bracket, two lifting driving assemblies, a middle support, a damping spring, a base, four wheels and a traction rod; through the modular truss structure design, the bearing capacity and the lightweight requirement are both considered; a multi-dimensional vibration reduction system is formed by the vibration reduction springs which are arranged horizontally, longitudinally and transversely and the soft rubber buffer cushion, and the structure and function integrity of the pod in the storage and transfer process can be effectively protected by matching with the flexible moving and locking functions of the universal wheels with brakes; the lifting driving assembly adopts worm and gear transmission to achieve stable lifting and + / -15-degree pitch angle adjustment, an operating hand wheel designed in an ergonomic mode is combined, electric drive is matched, and the requirement for precise adjustment and control of pods is met. And the operation efficiency is greatly improved through the quick disassembly and assembly design of the positioning and fixing assembly and the traction rod.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of airship pod storage and transfer technology, and in particular to a lifting device and method for airship pod storage and transfer. Background Technology

[0002] An airship is an aerostat that generates lift by filling its gasbag with helium or hydrogen. It boasts advantages such as long loiter time, low takeoff and landing requirements, and energy efficiency. It can carry optoelectronic, communication, and SAR equipment to perform long-duration missions such as area monitoring, information relay, and earthquake search and rescue. The pod, used to carry power supply and distribution, telemetry and communication, and fuel-powered equipment, is a crucial component of the airship. Specialized support equipment is required for movement within the park, storage in warehouses, and relocation.

[0003] The existing auxiliary support devices have the following problems:

[0004] 1. Without buffering and vibration reduction measures, the components of the equipment in the pod are prone to loosening, falling off, or being damaged during transportation, transfer, or movement within the park, and may even cause structural breakage.

[0005] 2. It lacks lifting height and angle adjustment functions. When docking with the hull, the pod needs to be lifted manually or with the assistance of lifting equipment. The assembly time is long, there are safety hazards, and the antenna at the bottom of the pod is easily damaged by bumps.

[0006] 3. When docking the pod with the hull, the vertical center plane of the pod must be aligned with the vertical center plane of the hull. Multiple adjustments are required to complete the docking.

[0007] 4. The pod spends a long time being fixed on the auxiliary support device, resulting in low efficiency;

[0008] 5. No traction rod or the traction rod cannot rotate at any angle, i.e., traction in any direction.

[0009] Therefore, in response to the above phenomenon, a lifting device and method for storing and transporting airship pods are proposed to meet the needs of practical use. Summary of the Invention

[0010] This invention provides a lifting device and method for storing and transporting airship pods, which solves the technical problems of existing auxiliary support devices used for storing and transporting airship pods, such as the lack of vibration reduction measures and the inconvenience of adjusting the angle and height.

[0011] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods, comprising an upper bracket, two lifting drive components, a middle support, a damping spring, a base, four wheels, and a traction rod; the four wheels are respectively disposed at the bottom of the four corners of the base, the base is connected to the middle support through the damping spring, the two lifting drive components are respectively disposed above the middle support, and the upper bracket is disposed above the two lifting drive components; the front end of the upper bracket is hinged to one of the lifting drive components, and the rear end of the upper bracket is slidably connected to the other lifting drive component.

[0012] Preferably, the upper bracket includes an upper frame, a protective pad, a buffer pad, a double-ear connector, a guide rail, and four positioning and fixing components; the protective pad is disposed above the upper frame, the buffer pad is disposed above the protective pad, the double-ear connector and the guide rail are both disposed in pairs and disposed below the upper frame, and the four positioning and fixing components are respectively disposed at the four corners above the upper frame for limiting and fixing the pod.

[0013] Preferably, each of the positioning and fixing components includes a limiting block, an H-shaped connector, and a first quick-locking pin; the limiting block is disposed above the buffer pad, and the protective pad and the buffer pad are sandwiched between the limiting block and the upper frame; the H-shaped connector is hinged to the limiting block; and the first quick-locking pin passes through the H-shaped connector to fix the pod to the upper bracket.

[0014] Preferably, each of the lifting drive components includes two lifting mechanisms, two handwheels, two lead screws, and a control rod; the lifting mechanism adopts worm gear transmission, the control rod is coaxially connected to the worm of the lifting mechanism, the lead screw is threadedly connected to the worm gear of the lifting mechanism, the two handwheels are respectively disposed at both ends of the control rod, and the two lifting mechanisms are disposed on the central support.

[0015] Preferably, the two lead screws of one of the lifting drive assemblies are hinged to the double-ear joint, and the two lead screws of the other lifting drive assembly are slidably connected to the guide rail to achieve angle adjustment of the upper bracket.

[0016] Preferably, the central support includes a central truss, a lifting platform mounting plate, and a first vibration damper mounting plate; the lifting platform mounting plate is disposed above the central truss, the first vibration damper mounting plate is disposed on the lower surface of the central truss, and the lifting mechanism is fixedly mounted on the lifting platform mounting plate.

[0017] Preferably, the base includes a lower frame, four roller mounting plates, two traction joints, and a second shock absorber mounting plate; the four roller mounting plates are disposed at the four corners of the bottom of the lower frame, the two traction joints are respectively disposed on the front and rear end faces of the lower frame, and the second shock absorber mounting plate is disposed on the upper surface of the lower frame.

[0018] Preferably, the four wheels are respectively positioned below the four roller mounting plates, and the wheels are omnidirectional wheels with brakes; the damping springs are connected to the first damper mounting plate and the second damper mounting plate.

[0019] Preferably, the towing rod includes a T-shaped rod, a universal joint, a second quick-locking pin, and a flexible grip; the universal joint is detachably connected to the towing joint via the second quick-locking pin, the T-shaped rod includes a pull rod and a handle, one end of the pull rod of the T-shaped rod is fixedly connected to the universal joint, and the flexible grip is sleeved on the handle of the T-shaped rod.

[0020] The present invention provides a lifting method for storing and transporting airship pods, specifically comprising the following steps:

[0021] S1: Lock the four wheels, operate the handwheel to lower the two lifting drive components to the lowest position, and fix the airship pod to the upper bracket by the first quick-locking pin;

[0022] S2: Release the wheel lock, pull the device to the designated location using the towing bar, lock the wheels and store it in the pod, or load the device and pod together onto a vehicle for transport.

[0023] S3: During the airship inflation process, select an appropriate time to pull the device to the airship assembly location, so that the vertical center plane of the pod is aligned with the vertical center plane of the airship. Adjust the height and tilt angle of the pod by operating the handwheel to meet the assembly requirements of the pod and the airship.

[0024] Compared with related technologies, the lifting device and method for storing and transporting airship pods provided by the present invention have the following beneficial effects:

[0025] This invention provides a lifting device and method for storing and transporting airship pods. Through a modular truss structure design, it balances load-bearing capacity with lightweight requirements. A multi-dimensional vibration damping system is formed by horizontally arranged longitudinal and transverse damping springs and soft rubber buffer pads. Combined with flexible movement and locking functions of braked omnidirectional wheels, it effectively protects the structural and functional integrity of the pod during storage and transport. The lifting drive component uses worm gear transmission to achieve stable lifting and ±15° pitch angle adjustment. Combined with an ergonomically designed operating handwheel and electric drive, it meets the requirements for precise pod attitude control. The quick-assembly and disassembly design of the positioning and fixing components and traction rod significantly improves operational efficiency. The corresponding lifting method covers the entire application scenario of the pod, from warehouse storage to short-distance transport within the park and cross-site transfer, and then to high-precision assembly with the airship hull. The steps are clear and the operation is convenient. It can effectively adapt to airship pods weighing between 200kg and 2000kg, providing reliable equipment and methodological support for the full life-cycle management of airship pods. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a side view of the synchronous lifting and lowering process of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a side view of the present invention in pitch position;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a side view of the invention under negative pitch conditions;

[0030] Figure 5 For the present invention Figure 3 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point B;

[0031] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the airship pod of the present invention when it is placed on the lifting device;

[0032] Figure 7 For the present invention Figure 6 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point A in the middle;

[0033] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the lifting drive component structure of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the support structure in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the base structure according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the traction rod structure of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 12 For the present invention Figure 6 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure at point C;

[0038] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0039] The following components are labeled in the diagram: 1. Upper bracket; 2. Lifting drive assembly; 3. Middle bracket; 4. Vibration damping spring; 5. Base; 6. Wheel; 7. Traction rod; 8. Airship pod; 11. Upper frame; 12. Protective pad; 13. Buffer pad; 14. Double-ear connector; 15. Guide rail; 16. Limiting block; 17. H-type connector; 18. First quick-locking pin; 21. Lifting mechanism; 22. Handwheel; 23. Lead screw; 24. Control rod; 31. Middle truss; 32. Lifting platform mounting plate; 33. First vibration damper mounting plate; 51. Lower frame; 52. Roller mounting plate; 53. Traction connector; 54. Second vibration damper mounting plate; 71. T-shaped rod; 72. Universal joint; 73. Second quick-locking pin; 74. Flexible grip; 81. Single-ear connector. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The following detailed description of the specific implementation of the lifting device and method for storing and transporting airship pods, based on the structural design and functional requirements of the device in the document, is provided. The described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Other embodiments based on this embodiment are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0041] Example 1

[0042] like Figure 1-12 As shown, this embodiment provides a lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods, including an upper bracket 1, two lifting drive components 2, a middle support 3, six damping springs 4, a base 5, four wheels 6, and a towing rod 7. It is suitable for airship pods 8 weighing between 200kg and 1000kg and can meet the needs of moving within the park, storing in the warehouse, and transporting to other locations.

[0043] The assembly relationships of the components are as follows:

[0044] The base 5 is a planar truss structure. Each of the four corner roller mounting plates 52 on its lower surface is fixed with a wheel 6 by bolts. All four wheels 6 are universal wheels with brakes, which can realize the device's forward and backward movement, left and right movement, and 360° rotation in place. Six second vibration damper mounting plates 54 are arranged on the upper surface of the base 5, which correspond one-to-one with the six first vibration damper mounting plates 33 on the lower surface of the middle support 3. The two ends of the six vibration damping springs 4 are connected to the corresponding vibration damper mounting plates by bolts. Four of the vibration damping springs 4 are placed horizontally in the longitudinal direction, mainly bearing the impact and vibration loads in the vertical and horizontal lateral directions. Two of the vibration damping springs 4 are placed horizontally in the lateral direction to weaken the swaying and displacement in the horizontal longitudinal direction, thus realizing the multi-dimensional buffering and vibration damping connection between the middle support 3 and the base 5.

[0045] The middle support 3 is a spatial truss structure, with the same length as the base 5 and a slightly narrower width than the base 5. Two lifting platform mounting plates 32 are arranged at the front and rear ends of the upper surface of the middle support 3 to fix the two lifting drive components 2.

[0046] The upper bracket 1 is a planar truss structure, with its length and width dimensions both smaller than the base 5. Its front end is hinged to the front lifting drive assembly 2 via a double-ear joint 14, and its rear end is connected to the rear lifting drive assembly 2 via a guide rail 15 to form a sliding pair. The whole structure is mounted above the two lifting drive assemblies 2 to support and fix the airship pod 8.

[0047] The traction rod 7 is detachably connected to the traction joint 53 at the front and rear ends of the base 5 via the second quick-locking pin 73. The connection end can be flexibly selected according to the traction direction to realize multi-directional traction of the device.

[0048] The upper bracket 1 is the component that directly contacts the pod, and its specific structure is implemented as follows:

[0049] The upper frame 11 is made of metal profiles welded into a planar truss structure, which ensures load-bearing capacity while reducing weight. The upper surface of the upper frame 11 is bonded with a protective pad 12 and a buffer pad 13 from bottom to top. The protective pad 12 is made of hard plastic, and the buffer pad 13 is made of soft rubber. The protective pad 12 is 5-8mm thick and serves as a basic support and scratch protection. The buffer pad 13 is 3-5mm thick and can buffer the impact force when the pod is placed, avoiding damage to the bottom structure and surface paint layer of the pod.

[0050] The upper frame 11 has a pair of double-eared connectors 14 and guide rails 15 welded to the front and rear ends of the lower surface respectively. The double-eared connectors 14 have bolt holes and are hinged to the lead screw 23 of the front lifting drive assembly 2 by bolts. The guide rails 15 have a transverse groove structure, and the top slider of the rear lifting drive assembly 2 is embedded in the transverse groove to form a sliding relationship along the transverse groove, providing sliding space for the angle adjustment of the upper bracket 1.

[0051] Each of the four corners of the upper frame 11 is connected to a positioning and fixing component by bolts. Each component includes a limiting block 16, an H-shaped connector 17, and a first quick-locking pin 18. The limiting block 16 is a right-angled trapezoidal structure, with its inner side fitting against the four corners of the pod to initially limit the pod's position. One end of the H-shaped connector 17 is rotatably connected to the limiting block 16. After the pod is placed in position, the H-shaped connector 17 is rotated so that its open end engages with the single-ear connector 81 at the bottom of the pod. Then, the first quick-locking pin 18 is inserted through the H-shaped connector 17 and the single-ear connector 81 to quickly fix the pod to the upper bracket 1. The entire fixing process requires no tools and takes no more than 2 minutes, greatly improving the fixing efficiency.

[0052] The lifting drive assembly 2 is responsible for adjusting the cabin's height above the ground and its pitch angle. It uses a worm gear transmission to achieve stable lifting, and the specific implementation is as follows:

[0053] Each lifting drive assembly 2 includes two lifting mechanisms 21, two handwheels 22, two lead screws 23, and one control lever 24: the worm wheel and worm shaft of the lifting mechanism 21 are offset at an angle of 90°, the inner hole of the worm wheel is machined with an internal thread, which is engaged with the external thread of the lead screw 23. One end of the worm is coaxially fixed to the handwheel 22, and the other end is connected to the worm of the other lifting mechanism 21 on the same side through the control lever 24, so as to ensure that the rotation centers of the two handwheels 22 are collinear.

[0054] The handwheel 22 has an anti-slip textured surface and is 0.8m off the ground, which is ergonomically designed for easy operation while standing. Different functions can be achieved through either "dual-person synchronous operation" or "single-person individual operation."

[0055] Synchronous lifting: Simultaneously rotating the handwheels 22 on both sides clockwise causes the control lever 24 to drive the worm gears of the two lifting mechanisms 21 to rotate synchronously. The worm gear drives the lead screw 23 to move vertically upward, realizing the horizontal lifting of the upper bracket 1 and the pod. Simultaneously rotating the handwheels 22 on both sides counterclockwise realizes the horizontal lowering of the pod. The lifting speed can be controlled by the rotation speed of the handwheels 22 to meet the pod height requirements in different scenarios.

[0056] Angle adjustment: By rotating the two handwheels 22 of the front lifting drive assembly 2 clockwise, the front lead screw 23 rises, the rear end slides along the guide rail 15, the upper bracket 1 tilts counterclockwise, and the pod reaches a positive pitch angle of 15°. By rotating the two handwheels 22 of the rear lifting drive assembly 2 clockwise, the rear lead screw 23 rises, the front end rotates around the hinge point, the upper bracket 1 tilts clockwise, and the pod reaches a negative pitch angle of 15°. By differentially rotating the front and rear handwheels 22, the pitch angle can be finely adjusted to ensure that the attitude of the pod matches the hull during assembly.

[0057] A protective cover is fitted on the outside of the lead screw 23. The protective cover is a telescopic metal sleeve that extends and retracts synchronously with the lifting and lowering of the lead screw 23 to prevent dust and impurities from entering the worm gear transmission pair and avoid transmission jamming or wear.

[0058] The specific implementation of the traction rod 7 is as follows:

[0059] The T-shaped rod 71 is made of seamless steel pipe welding, with a rod length of 800-1000mm and a handle length of 300-350mm. The outer side of the handle is glued with a flexible grip part 74, which is made of sponge material with a thickness of 10-15mm and covered with a wear-resistant cloth cover to improve the operator's grip comfort and avoid hand fatigue caused by long-term traction.

[0060] One end of the pull rod of the T-shaped rod 71 is connected to the universal joint 72 by bolts. The universal joint 72 can achieve traction at any angle in the forward direction. When the device is traction along a curve, it can adaptively adjust the traction angle to avoid deformation of the traction rod 7 under force. The universal joint 72 is connected to the traction joint 53 of the base 5 by the second quick locking pin 73. The plug-in design can achieve quick disassembly and assembly within 10 seconds, adapting to different traction scenarios such as forward and backward movement.

[0061] This embodiment also provides a lifting method for storing and transporting airship pods, specifically including methods for fixing and storing the pods, transporting the pods, and assembling the pods with the airship hull. The specific steps are as follows:

[0062] Step 1: Pod Securing and Storage

[0063] 1. Operate the brake pedals on all four wheels 6 to lock the device on a level surface and prevent it from moving during the fixing process;

[0064] 2. Two operators stand at the front and rear ends of the device respectively, and simultaneously turn the four handwheels 22 counterclockwise to lower the lead screws 23 of the two lifting drive components 2 to the lowest position, keeping the upper bracket 1 horizontal.

[0065] 3. Using small hoisting equipment, slowly place the airship pod 8 onto the buffer pad 13 of the upper bracket 1, and adjust the position of the pod so that the four corners of the pod are in contact with the limiting blocks 16 of the upper bracket 1.

[0066] 4. Rotate the H-shaped connectors 17 at the four corners of the upper bracket 1 to engage with the single-ear connector 81 at the bottom of the pod, insert the first quick-locking pin 18 and lock it in place to complete the pod fixing;

[0067] 5. Release the brakes on wheel 6, and use the towing rod 7 to pull the device to the designated storage area in the warehouse. Lock wheel 6 again to complete the storage of the pod.

[0068] Step Two: Pod Transfer

[0069] 1. For short-distance transport within the park: release the brakes on wheel 6, and the operator holds the flexible grip part 74 of the traction rod 7. Push or pull the device according to the transport path. Wheel 6 can flexibly adjust its direction. When encountering bumpy roads, the six damping springs 4 and the buffer pad 13 work together to buffer the vibration and prevent damage to the equipment in the pod. After transporting to the target location, lock wheel 6.

[0070] 2. For cross-site relocation transportation: hoist the device with the fixed pod onto the transport vehicle as a whole, and keep the wheels 6 braked and locked during transportation; rubber pads can be placed between the device and the vehicle compartment to further enhance the cushioning effect and prevent the device from sliding during transportation; after arriving at the destination, hoist it off the vehicle and then move it to the designated area by the tow bar 7.

[0071] Step 3: Assembling the pod with the hull

[0072] 1. After the airship's airbag is inflated to a preset internal and external pressure difference of 20-50 Pa, release the brakes on the device's wheel 6 and pull the device to the assembly area under the hull, initially aligning the vertical center plane of the pod with the vertical center plane of the hull.

[0073] 2. Measure the installation position of the pod mounting joint and the hull using a steel ruler or laser positioning instrument, fine-tune the position of the device to make the docking interface of the two completely aligned, with the deviation controlled within ±1mm, and lock the wheels 6.

[0074] 3. Adjust the pod attitude according to the height and angle requirements of the hull assembly interface:

[0075] ① If it is necessary to raise the pod height: Four operators simultaneously turn the four handwheels 22 at the front and rear ends clockwise, and the screw 23 rises in sync, driving the upper bracket 1 to rise horizontally until the pod height matches the height of the hull interface;

[0076] ② If the pod pitch angle needs to be adjusted: If a positive pitch angle is required with the front end of the pod higher and the rear end lower, simply turn the two front handwheels 22 clockwise; if a negative pitch angle is required with the rear end of the pod higher and the front end lower, simply turn the two rear handwheels 22 clockwise. Measure the angle in real time using an angle meter until the pod tilt angle meets the assembly requirements.

[0077] 4. After the pod is adjusted to the correct position, keep the wheels 6 locked. The operator can then perform assembly operations such as bolting the pod to the hull and connecting pipelines. After assembly, pull out the first quick-locking pin 18, rotate the H-type connector 17 to disengage from the pod, and then turn the handwheel 22 counterclockwise to lower the upper bracket 1. After disengaging from the pod, the traction device leaves the assembly area, completing the entire assembly auxiliary process.

[0078] In summary, the lifting device in this embodiment utilizes a modular truss structure design, balancing load-bearing capacity with lightweight requirements. Four horizontal longitudinal and two horizontal transverse damping springs, along with soft rubber buffer pads, form a multi-dimensional vibration damping system. Combined with the flexible movement and locking function of the braked omnidirectional wheels, this effectively protects the structural and functional integrity of the pod during storage and transportation. The lifting drive component employs worm gear transmission to achieve stable lifting and ±15° pitch angle adjustment. Combined with an ergonomically designed operating handwheel, it meets the requirements for precise pod attitude control. The quick-assembly and disassembly design of the positioning and fixing components and the traction rod significantly improves operational efficiency. The corresponding lifting method covers the entire application scenario of the pod, from warehouse storage to short-distance transport within the park and cross-site transfer, and then to high-precision assembly with the airship hull. The steps are clear and the operation is convenient, effectively adaptable to airship pods weighing between 200kg and 1000kg, providing reliable equipment and methodological support for the full lifecycle management of airship pods.

[0079] Example 2

[0080] like Figure 13 As shown, this embodiment provides a lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods. This embodiment shares the same core structure as Embodiment 1, and is designed for heavy airship pods weighing 1000kg to 2000kg. It adapts to the stable assembly requirements under heavy loads, and has been specifically optimized in terms of structural strength and drive method. It does not depart from the technical principles and protection scope of the original invention, as detailed below:

[0081] The base 5 is a high-strength alloy planar truss made of Q355B, replacing the ordinary carbon steel of Embodiment 1. Eight second vibration damper mounting plates 54 are evenly arranged on the upper surface (4 along the length of the base and 4 along the width), corresponding one-to-one with the eight first vibration damper mounting plates 33 on the lower surface of the middle support 3, improving the force balance under heavy loads. Four vibration damping springs 4 are placed horizontally in the longitudinal direction, mainly bearing the impact and vibration loads in the vertical and horizontal lateral directions. The other four vibration damping springs 4 are placed horizontally in the lateral direction to weaken the swaying and displacement in the horizontal longitudinal direction, thus achieving a multi-dimensional buffer and vibration damping connection between the middle support 3 and the base 5.

[0082] The middle truss 31 and the upper frame 11 adopt a "main rod + diagonal brace" reinforcement design, using multiple diagonal braces to improve the load-bearing capacity and meet the support requirements of heavy pods.

[0083] Using rigid nylon instead of rigid plastic improves wear resistance and compression resistance, while using high-elasticity nitrile rubber instead of soft rubber increases the damping coefficient, which can absorb the impact energy when placing heavy pods and prevent damage to the bottom structure of the pods.

[0084] Each lifting drive assembly 2 includes two lifting mechanisms 21, two handwheels 22, two lead screws 23, a control lever 24, and a servo motor with a reducer. The servo motor is connected to the control lever via a coupling and a reversing device, and the handwheel 22 is connected to the worm gear via a clutch. In electric mode, the clutch is disengaged, and the motor drives the worm gear to rotate; in manual mode, the clutch is engaged, and the handwheel 22 drives the worm gear. The servo motors of the two lifting drive assemblies 2 are linked by a PLC controller. The operator can set the lifting height via a handheld control panel, and the controller automatically controls the front and rear motors to operate synchronously, avoiding height deviations caused by manual operation. The display screen shows the current pod height, pitch angle, and motor operating status in real time, improving operational intuitiveness.

[0085] The rest of the structure is the same as in Example 1.

[0086] This embodiment also provides a lifting method for storing and transporting airship pods, specifically including methods for fixing and storing the pods, transporting the pods, and assembling the pods with the airship hull. The specific steps are as follows:

[0087] Step 1: Secure the heavy-duty pod

[0088] 1. Operate the control panel and lock the wheels 6; use the handheld controller to set the lifting drive assembly 2 to the lowest position. At this time, the upper bracket 1 remains horizontal. Use a level to confirm that the flatness deviation of the upper bracket 1 is ≤0.5mm (to avoid uneven force when placing heavy pods).

[0089] Using a forklift or crane, slowly place the heavy-duty pod weighing 1000kg to 2000kg onto the high-elasticity nitrile rubber pad on the upper bracket 1, and adjust the position of the pod so that the four corners of the pod are in contact with the limiting block 16.

[0090] Rotate the H-shaped connectors 17 at the four corners to engage with the single-ear connector 81 at the bottom of the pod, insert the stainless steel first quick-locking pin 18 and tighten the anti-loosening nut.

[0091] Preload test: Use the handheld controller to control the lifting drive assembly 2 to raise the pod by 100mm and hold it for 5 minutes. Observe whether the upper bracket 1 has obvious deformation and whether the lead screw 23 has sunk. After confirming that there are no abnormalities, lower it to the original position and complete the fixation.

[0092] Step Two: Assembly of Heavy-Duty Pods with the Hull

[0093] After the airship's airbag is inflated to a pressure difference of 30-60 Pa, the device is towed to the assembly area. The device's position is adjusted to align with the vertical center plane of the pod and the airship's hull, and the wheel 6 brakes are locked.

[0094] Adjusting the pod height: Input the target height via the handheld controller, and the PLC controller drives the front and rear servo motors to run synchronously. The lead screw 23 drives the upper bracket 1 to rise smoothly, and the display screen shows the height value in real time. It will stop automatically after reaching the target height. If fine adjustment is required, it can be precisely adjusted via the "jog" button on the controller.

[0095] Adjusting the pod's pitch angle: If a 5° positive pitch angle is required, input "pitch angle + 5°" on the controller. The system will automatically calculate the front motor speed and drive the front lead screw 23 to rise independently, while the rear slides along the guide rail 15. The pitch angle is monitored in real time by an angle meter, and it will automatically stop when it reaches 5° to avoid angle deviations caused by manual operation.

[0096] Assembly and safety protection: When the heavy pod is docked with the hull, two hydraulic jacks are placed between the upper bracket 1 and the pod to prevent the pod from sinking due to a sudden power failure; after the assembly is completed, the jacks are removed first, and then the upper bracket 1 is lowered to the lowest position through the controller, the positioning and fixing components are released, and the towing device leaves the assembly area.

[0097] Apart from the above-mentioned method adjustments, the remaining operational steps for pod transfer within the park and cross-site transportation are the same as in Example 1.

[0098] In summary, this embodiment is designed for the load characteristics of heavy airship pods weighing 1000kg to 2000kg. Based on the first embodiment, it achieves adaptation and forms a complete adaptation system for both light and heavy-duty airship pods, covering the application scenarios of airship pods with a full weight range of 200kg to 2000kg.

Claims

1. A lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods, characterized in that: It includes an upper bracket, two lifting drive components, a middle bracket, shock-absorbing springs, a base, four wheels, and a tow bar; The four wheels are respectively set at the bottom of the four corners of the base. The base is connected to the middle support through a shock-absorbing spring. The two lifting drive components are respectively set above the middle support. The upper bracket is set above the two lifting drive components. The front end of the upper bracket is hinged to one of the lifting drive components, and the rear end of the upper bracket is slidably connected to the other lifting drive component.

2. A lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper bracket includes an upper frame, a protective pad, a buffer pad, a double-ear connector, a guide rail, and four positioning and fixing components. The protective pad is located above the upper frame, the buffer pad is located above the protective pad, the double-ear connector and the guide rail are both arranged in pairs and located below the upper frame, and the four positioning and fixing components are respectively located at the four corners above the upper frame for limiting and fixing the pod.

3. A lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the positioning and fixing components includes a limiting block, an H-shaped connector, and a first quick-locking pin; the limiting block is positioned above the buffer pad, and the protective pad and the buffer pad are sandwiched between the limiting block and the upper frame; the H-shaped connector is hinged to the limiting block; and the first quick-locking pin passes through the H-shaped connector to fix the pod to the upper bracket.

4. A lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the lifting drive components includes two lifting mechanisms, two handwheels, two lead screws, and a control rod; the lifting mechanism adopts worm gear transmission, the control rod is coaxially connected to the worm of the lifting mechanism, the lead screw is threadedly connected to the worm gear of the lifting mechanism, the two handwheels are respectively located at both ends of the control rod, and the two lifting mechanisms are mounted on the central support.

5. A lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods according to claim 4, characterized in that, Two lead screws of one of the lifting drive components are hinged to a double-ear joint, and two lead screws of the other lifting drive component are slidably connected to a guide rail to achieve angle adjustment of the upper bracket.

6. A lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods according to claim 4, characterized in that, The central support includes a central truss, a lifting platform mounting plate, and a first vibration damper mounting plate; the lifting platform mounting plate is located above the central truss, the first vibration damper mounting plate is arranged on the lower surface of the central truss, and the lifting mechanism is fixedly installed on the lifting platform mounting plate.

7. A lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base includes a lower frame, four roller mounting plates, two traction joints, and a second shock absorber mounting plate; the four roller mounting plates are located at the four corners of the bottom of the lower frame, the two traction joints are located on the front and rear end faces of the lower frame respectively, and the second shock absorber mounting plate is arranged on the upper surface of the lower frame.

8. A lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods according to claim 7, characterized in that, The four wheels are respectively installed under the four roller mounting plates, and the wheels are omnidirectional wheels with brakes; the damping springs are connected to the first damper mounting plate and the second damper mounting plate.

9. A lifting device for storing and transporting airship pods according to claim 1, characterized in that, The towing rod includes a T-shaped rod, a universal joint, a second quick-locking pin, and a flexible grip. The universal joint is detachably connected to the towing joint via the second quick-locking pin. The T-shaped rod includes a pull rod and a handle. One end of the pull rod of the T-shaped rod is fixedly connected to the universal joint, and the flexible grip is sleeved on the handle of the T-shaped rod.

10. A lifting method for storing and transporting airship pods, characterized in that, Using the lifting device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9 specifically includes the following steps: S1: Lock the four wheels, operate the handwheel to lower the two lifting drive components to the lowest position, and fix the airship pod to the upper bracket by the first quick-locking pin; S2: Release the wheel lock, pull the device to the designated location using the towing bar, lock the wheels and store it in the pod, or load the device and pod together onto a vehicle for transport. S3: During the airship inflation process, select an appropriate time to pull the device to the airship assembly location, so that the vertical center plane of the pod is aligned with the vertical center plane of the airship. Adjust the height and tilt angle of the pod by operating the handwheel to meet the assembly requirements of the pod and the airship.

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