Device and method for using the passenger cabin of an aircraft for the transport of goods

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for using the cabin of an aircraft, comprising a seat rail (360), for the transport of packages, which system includes a container (100) comprising a rigid base (110) carrying ground connection means, walls connected to said base and delimiting an internal loading volume; lashing means for securing the container to the seat rail, wherein the ground connection means include an air cushion support means and which includes a portable, self-contained means for supplying air to said support means. Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Device and method for using the passenger cabin of an aircraft for the transport of goods Technical field

[0001] The invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to the field of aeronautics and the use for the transport of goods of the passenger cabin of an aircraft.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to the transport of freight or "cargo" in the cabin of an aircraft and more specifically in the cabin of an airplane initially intended for the transport of passengers and of which all or part of said cabin is used for cargo transport.

[0003] However, the invention is adaptable to other fields, in particular to the transport of goods in the hold of an aircraft, a ship, a railway vehicle or a road vehicle. Prior art

[0004] Aeronautical transport, particularly passenger transport, undergoes crises during which there is a temporary but significant drop in traffic.

[0005] These crises follow geopolitical events such as war or terrorism, economic crises or health crises such as epidemics. They lead to restrictions or a reduction in the movement of people and, consequently, reduced occupancy rates of means of transport.

[0006] Under these conditions, the crisis being temporary, it is sometimes useful to temporarily convert an aircraft intended for the transport of passengers into a cargo aircraft, intended for the transport of parcels.

[0007] For such a change of assignment to be profitable, it is desirable that it be rapid on the one hand and that the aircraft can be easily returned to its initial configuration on the other hand.

[0008] According to one embodiment of such a transformation, the passenger seats and possibly part of the interior fittings are removed, thus freeing up the cabin space into a space capable of accommodating parcels.

[0009] However, there are still difficulties in making such a modified device usable for the economical transport of parcels.

[0010] First of all, the cabin access doors are not modified and therefore retain a reduced width and access height compared to aircraft specifically dedicated to freight.

[0011] Furthermore, luggage compartments are generally not disassembled so that, combined with the reduced door opening, the containers used must be maneuvered in the cabin in order to avoid these obstacles, and the use of handling equipment such as a hand truck or pallet truck is not possible, because the aircraft floor is not designed to withstand the concentrated loads at the wheels of these handling equipment.

[0012] However, while a specifically designed cargo aircraft often includes a ball-bearing floor facilitating the movement of containers on said floor, the addition, and subsequent removal, of such a floor in the cabin of an aircraft intended for the transport of passengers is complex and adds mass.

[0013] Furthermore, preferably, the floor coverings initially present must be preserved, and handling of containers must not damage these coverings.

[0014] Finally, even if the seat rails are flush with the floor, they nevertheless constitute obstacles for rolling systems, the wheels are in fact likely to get stuck in the groove of the attachment interface, or even, crossing the rail is likely to cause a jump leading to an impact on the floor which is not designed and dimensioned for this purpose.

[0015] Document US 5,090,639 describes an example of a system, comprising containers, for transporting freight in the cabin of an aircraft initially intended for the transport of passengers.

[0016] The implementation of such a system requires the dismantling of the seats, interior fittings such as kitchens or toilets, called "galleys" in the jargon of the trade, floor coverings, and the installation of a specific floor, installed on the seat fixing rails.

[0017] According to this prior art, the containers are provided with wheels or rollers to allow their movement and maneuvering in the cabin. For this reason, it is necessary to install an additional floor to distribute the mass of the containers over the entire structure of the aircraft floor.

[0018] In fact, the weight of each container, transmitted to the floor via the reduced contact area of ​​its wheels, exceeds the admissible characteristics of the initial floor, particularly in terms of punching.

[0019] Also, the transformations of the interior of the aircraft to move from the “passenger” configuration to the “cargo” configuration are significant and economically unprofitable in the context of a temporary transformation.

[0020] According to another solution of the prior art, the interior of the cabin is retained without modification and the packages are transported on the seats, under the seats and in the luggage compartments.

[0021] However, for reasons of safety standards, this solution limits the type of transportable goods, moreover, the carrying capacity is reduced. Summary of the invention

[0022] The invention aims to resolve the difficulties stated above and the inadequacies of the prior art, and to this end relates to a system for using the cabin of an aircraft, comprising seat rails, for transporting parcels, which system comprises a container comprising a rigid base carrying ground connection means, walls connected to said base and delimiting an internal loading volume; securing means for securing the container to a seat rail, in which the ground connection means comprise an air cushion lift means, which comprises a portable autonomous means for supplying air to the lift means.

[0023] Thus, the load of the container is distributed over a larger surface area of ​​the floor compared to prior art solutions using wheels or rollers, said surface area corresponding at least to the surface area of ​​the air cushion, which avoids the installation of an additional floor. Since the support is achieved without contact, the container remains easy to maneuver in all directions, without damaging the existing floor covering.

[0024] The invention is advantageously implemented according to the embodiments and variants set out below, which are to be considered individually or according to any technically effective combination.

[0025] Advantageously, the base comprises a plurality of air cushion devices organized according to a defined configuration, to provide support. This embodiment makes it possible to use smaller air cushion devices while distributing the mass over a larger floor area.

[0026] This embodiment is improved when the autonomous supply means comprises a distributor for controlling the air supply conditions of the air cushion devices. Thus, controlling the supply of the air cushion devices makes it possible to orient the container in 3 dimensions during its maneuver, and to control its attitude regardless of the distribution of the load in it.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the base comprises 3 air cushion devices to provide support in a triangular configuration. This embodiment is the most economical and allows, with a minimum number of air cushion devices, to benefit from all the advantages of the previous embodiments.

[0028] According to another embodiment, the base comprises 4 air cushion devices to provide support in a parallelepiped configuration.

[0029] Advantageously, the container of the device which is the subject of the invention comprises a location for supporting the autonomous means for supplying the air cushion devices. This embodiment facilitates the maneuvering of the container by a single person.

[0030] According to an alternative embodiment, the lashing means comprise a fitting fixed to two seat rails, said fitting comprising a shoulder forming a stop extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the seat rails and lashing means for lashing two containers to said fitting.

[0031] In addition to allowing better distribution of forces on the seat rails, this system allows the containers to be spaced apart so as to facilitate loading and unloading while ensuring their solid anchoring.

[0032] The invention also relates to a method for the temporary and reversible adaptation of an aircraft intended for the transport of passengers, comprising a cabin provided with seats fixed on seat rails, luggage compartments in the cabin and a passenger access door to said cabin, into an aircraft suitable for the transport of freight in the cabin, which method consists of: - remove the seats in a part of the cabin served by the door; - use the system which is the subject of the invention for transporting, loading and unloading freight through the passenger door.

[0033] Thus, the method which is the subject of the invention only requires the dismantling of the seats in the area intended for freight and optionally the dismantling of some interior fittings: the installation of floors, partitions or additional retaining nets, as well as the removal of floor coverings are not necessary, which considerably reduces the cost of the transformation and the immobilization of the device for this purpose.

[0034] The invention also relates to a method for loading and unloading goods in the cabin of an aircraft adapted according to the preceding method, comprising the steps of: i. load the goods into the container outside the aircraft; ii. move the container to the aircraft cabin entrance; iii. connect portable power supplies and support the container iv. move the container in the aircraft cabin to a designated location; v. stop the power supply to the air cushion devices; vi. secure the container to the seat rails using the lashing means.

[0035] Compared to prior art systems using wheeled containers, the implementation of the system that is the subject of the invention makes it possible to place the container in a stable position as soon as the air cushions are no longer supplied and thus facilitate its precise positioning in the cabin, in particular to comply with a load plan. The container can be handled by a single person during loading and unloading operations.

[0036] The use of containers also allows loading time to be saved with prior preparation of containers to be loaded. Brief description of the drawings

[0037] The invention is implemented according to the embodiments set out below, which are in no way limiting, and with reference to Figures 1 to 6, in which:

[0038] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a perspective and exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a container of the system which is the subject of the invention;

[0039] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] shows the container in perspective in right-hand view with reference to [Fig.l];

[0040] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents, in a cross-section, the interior of a double-aisle aircraft transformed according to the method which is the subject of the invention;

[0041] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents, in a right-hand view with reference to detail Z of [Fig.1], an exemplary embodiment of a strap end key for securing a container of the system which is the subject of the invention;

[0042] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] represents in a perspective view an example of a variant of the lashing means of the system which is the subject of the invention;

[0043] [Fig.6] and [Fig.6] shows in a perspective view an example of an embodiment of a lashing fitting of the system shown [Fig.5]. Description of the embodiments

[0044] [Fig.l], according to an exemplary embodiment, the container (100) of the system which is the subject of the invention comprises a rigid base (110) made of metal or composite profiles assembled in a quadrangular shape according to this exemplary embodiment, by bolting, riveting or welding, on which rests a floor panel (111) made of a metal, plastic, composite or wooden material.

[0045] A superstructure (120) also made up of profiles according to this embodiment, is connected to the base by interlocking, bolting, riveting or welding, and supports walls (121) delimiting, with the floor panel (111), a cargo volume of the container, for the transport of goods in said container.

[0046] According to alternative embodiments, the walls (121) are rigid or flexible, solid or perforated, made of metal panels, plastic material, composite panels, textile tarpaulins, a net, particle boards or wood, advantageously adapted to the type of goods transported.

[0047] The production of the container which is the subject of the invention, at least of the base (110) and the superstructure (120) in a thermoplastic matrix composite material makes it possible to reduce the empty weight, and thus to increase the loading capacity, while making it possible to meet the structural and fire requirements.

[0048] Advantageously, one of the walls (122) constitutes an access to the interior of the container, in the form of a removable door or net as in the example shown.

[0049] The interior of the container is here represented as a single volume. However, according to alternative embodiments (not shown), the internal volume delimited by the walls (121, 122) is subdivided into cells by partitions extending between said walls.

[0050] The system which is the subject of the invention comprises means for fixing the container in the cabin, for example, fixing straps (130) comprising at one of their ends, a key (131) capable of cooperating with a lashing device, the other end of the strap comprises a means identical to that of the first end, according to a variant, a means capable of being attached to the superstructure (120) of the container.

[0051] A ratchet tensioner (133) is installed between the two ends, so that once the straps are tensioned, the container is firmly anchored to the structure of the aircraft.

[0052] This anchoring is all the more effective because the container, when in position at the desired location, rests on its base and not on wheels or rollers as in the solutions of the prior art. Thus, it is possible to apply high tension to the straps without risking a punching effect at floor level.

[0053] The movement of the container in the cabin of the aircraft is carried out by means of a lifting means using one or more air cushion devices (140) which, supplied with air, makes it possible to lift the loaded container, and to place it back on the ground when it is no longer supplied.

[0054] Said support means comprises one or more air cushion devices (140), fixed to the base (110) below the latter.

[0055] By way of example and according to alternative embodiments, the entire base may rest on a single air cushion, or smaller air cushion devices (140) may be distributed punctually under the base according to a defined configuration.

[0056] According to a non-limiting embodiment, such air cushions are marketed under the brand name AeroGo®, by the company Aerogo Inc., 1170 Andover Park West, Tukwila, WA 98188-3909, USA.

[0057] According to the embodiment shown [Fig.l], the base is quadrangular and the support device comprises 3 air cushion devices (140), arranged in a triangular configuration.

[0058] Alternatively, a plurality of air cushion devices are arranged under the quadrangular base in a rectangular configuration with 4 devices, hexagonal with 6 devices, or any other number of devices and any other arrangement.

[0059] Compared to prior art solutions using wheels or rollers, the thrust force exerted by each air cushion device, and acting by reaction on the floor of the aircraft, is distributed over a much larger surface area, eliminating any risk of punching said floor.

[0060] Thus, the container which is the subject of the invention makes it possible to carry a 400 kg load without risk of damaging the floors of the aircraft, and without it being necessary to reinforce the structure of the aircraft or to interpose a martyr floor between the original floor and the container.

[0061] [Fig.2], each air cushion device (140) is connected to an air supply duct (not shown) the ducts leading to a distributor (not shown).

[0062] According to an exemplary embodiment, the conduits and the distributor are permanently installed in the base of the container.

[0063] The distributor is adjusted to supply each air cushion device so as to maintain its attitude during movement of the container.

[0064] A connection conduit (241) emerging from the base according to this embodiment, allows the connection of a stand-alone portable compressor (not shown), preferably operating on batteries.

[0065] Advantageously, the container comprises means (242) for temporarily connecting the compressor to the container and supporting it during the handling phases.

[0066] The compressor is advantageously a stand-alone compressor powered by batteries, with a power equal to or greater than 1100 W with a compressed air reserve of 2 liters or more.

[0067] [Fig.3], the external shape and dimensions of the container are adapted to the fuselage of the aircraft, or of a type of aircraft, and to the position of the container in said fuselage.

[0068] As a non-limiting example, a container intended to be installed in the central part of an aircraft for the transport of passengers with a double aisle may be of simple cubic shape, whereas a container intended to be installed on the sides of the same aircraft or in a single-aisle aircraft will comprise a cutaway (320) in its upper part, or also in its lower part, allowing it to be installed, as close as possible to the skin of the fuselage, under a baggage compartment (350) which in fact does not need to be dismantled, without being hindered by the shape of the fuselage.

[0069] Also, the dimensions of the container are adapted both in height and width, to the passage of a passenger door of the aircraft.

[0070] By way of non-limiting example, according to a first embodiment the container of the system which is the subject of the invention comprises a base with a substantially square surface area of ​​1 mx 1 m for a maximum height of the superstructure of 1.5 m, thus offering a maximum cargo volume of approximately 1.4 m3 per container.

[0071] The container of the system which is the subject of the invention is designed in particular to be installed in the cabin of an aircraft initially intended for the transport of passengers, in an area where the seats have been removed.

[0072] Under these conditions, the attachment interface (361) of the seats, carried by profiles called seat rails (360), is flush with the floor of the aircraft.

[0073] The seat rails and their attachment interface are designed and dimensioned to hold the seats and their occupants, under acceleration conditions corresponding to the certification requirements of the aircraft.

[0074] These assembly interfaces therefore constitute secure anchors for fixing the container in the aircraft cabin.

[0075] Said hooking interface (361) comprises, according to a current embodiment, two upturned wings defining a lock which is machined by a succession of bores, generally 25.4 mm (1 inch) apart, thus creating a so-called buttonhole opening. These interfaces are standardized and defined in the ISO 7166:1985 standard.

[0076] [Fig.4], according to an exemplary embodiment, the lashing device comprises a key (131) at the end of the container fixing strap, and comprises a tenon (431), advantageously conforming to the ISO 7166:1985 standard and more generally capable of being inserted through a bore in the buttonhole opening and of a shape adapted to hook into the lock.

[0077] A lock (432), bearing on the top of the seat rail interface, cooperates with a quick-locking device (not shown) removably attached to the seat rail. Thus, the lashing device, according to this embodiment, comprises the straps provided with their keys at their ends, and the quick-release fasteners, all cooperating with the seat rails.

[0078] [Fig.5], according to a variant of the lashing system, the device which is the subject of the invention comprises fixing fittings (530) which are lashed to the seat rails.

[0079] Each fitting is fixed to two seat rails (360) by suitable means, in particular a standardized tenon inserted into each of the two seat rails.

[0080] Said fittings each comprise a shoulder (531). Said shoulder rises perpendicular to the floor and thus forms a stop extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the seat rails, a stop on which the base of a container rests in the longitudinal direction once it is installed in the cabin of the aircraft, which allows precise positioning and orientation of each container in the cabin.

[0081] Each fitting comprises means (532) for attaching the straps of 2 containers positioned on either side of the shoulder (531).

[0082] This variant makes it possible to move the containers away from each other, the distance (535) between two fittings being greater than the width of a container, while ensuring precise positioning of these in the cabin and better distribution of the forces on the seat rails.

[0083] This distance (535) between the fittings facilitates the maneuvering of the container during loading-unloading operations.

[0084] The container and its lashing device are sized to meet international specifications with regard to the mass carried per container, either in terms of accelerations: - 9G in the longitudinal direction towards the front, - 2.1 G backwards, - + / - 1.8G lateral, - 7.8G down, - 5.5G upwards.

[0085] By meeting these requirements, the system which is the subject of the invention can be installed in only part of the cabin of an aircraft, for example over a third of the length of the fuselage in the rear part, the rest of the cabin remaining occupied by passengers.

[0086] Since the goods are contained in the containers and the containers are securely fastened to the seat rails, there is no need for a structural separation between the cargo space and the passenger space of the cabin.

[0087] Since the aircraft have at least one door at each end of the cabin, passengers board through one of the doors while containers board through the other door.

[0088] The system which is the subject of the invention makes it possible to prepare the loading in the containers in advance, so that their embarkation / disembarkation is rapid and does not harm the downtime of the device.

[0089] Thus, by way of example, the containers are installed, loaded and secured in the cabin before passengers board in the case of mixed use, passengers and cargo, of the aircraft, then unsecured and unloaded after the passengers disembark.

[0090] To this end, the containers are advantageously loaded with freight outside the aircraft and advantageously in advance.

[0091] The containers thus loaded are brought by any means known from the prior art to one of the access doors to the aircraft cabin, each container is moved individually inside the cabin to its location in the cabin, by connecting the means of support of said container to a compressor delivering compressed air, advantageously a self-contained battery-powered compressor.

[0092] Advantageously, the lashing fittings have been installed in advance at the intended locations of the containers in the cabin, and these are not dismantled during the previous unloading.

[0093] Thus, once the container has arrived at its location in the cabin, the power supply to the lifting means is cut off, the base of the container then rests on the floor and the compressor can be recovered for moving another container. The container in position is then securely fastened to the fittings by means of its straps.

[0094] Thus a reduced number of operators, equipped with 2 or 3 autonomous compressors, easily and quickly load a plurality of containers into the aircraft cabin.

[0095] The above description and the exemplary embodiments show that the invention achieves the intended aim and makes it possible to quickly transform all or part of the passenger cabin of an aircraft, in an easily reversible manner, into a cargo area.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for the temporary and reversible adaptation of an aircraft intended for the transport of passengers, comprising a cabin provided with seats fixed on seat rails (360), luggage compartments (350) in the cabin and a passenger access door to said cabin, into an aircraft suitable for the transport of cargo in the cabin suitable for operations of transport, loading and unloading of cargo, which method consists of: - dismantling the seats in a part of the cabin served by the passenger door; - characterized in that it uses for the transport, loading and unloading steps, a system comprising: - a container (100) comprising a rigid base (110) carrying ground connection means (140); - walls (121, 122) connected to said base and delimiting an internal loading volume;- fixing straps (130) comprising at one of their ends a key (131, 431) capable of cooperating with a lashing device (432, 530) for lashing the container to a seat rail; - the ground connection means comprise an air cushion support means (140) and a portable autonomous means for supplying air to said support means, capable of allowing the movement of said container in the part of the cabin served by the passenger door and where the seats have been removed.;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the rigid base (110) of the container comprises a plurality of air cushion devices (140) arranged in a defined configuration, to provide support.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the autonomous means for supplying the container comprises a distributor for controlling the air supply conditions of the air cushion devices (140).

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the rigid base (110) of the container comprises 3 air cushion devices (140) for providing support in a triangular configuration.

5. Method according to claim 2, in which the rigid base (110) of the container comprises 4 air cushion devices (140) for providing support in a parallelepiped configuration.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein the container comprises a location and means (242) for supporting the self-contained means. power supply of air cushion devices.

7. Method according to claim 1, in which the device for securing to the seat rail comprises fixing fittings (530) secured to the seat rails of the aircraft cabin, said fittings comprising a shoulder (531) forming a stop extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, each fitting comprising means for attaching (532) straps for securing two containers to said fitting.

8. A method for loading and unloading goods into the cabin of an aircraft using an aircraft adapted according to the method of claim 1, comprising the steps of: i. loading the goods into the container outside the aircraft; ii. moving the container to the entrance of the aircraft cabin; iii. connecting the portable power means and supporting the container; iv. moving the container into the aircraft cabin to a designated location; v. stopping the power supply to the air cushions; vi. securing the container to the seat rails by means of the securing straps.

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