Movable Wall Conveyor for Aircraft Cargo Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for transporting goods in aircraft loading spaces are heavy, difficult to install, and require excessive space, making them inefficient for fuel conservation and easy access in narrow, hard-to-reach areas.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system with a movable transverse wall and a goods-bearing belt that is lightweight, easy to fit, and configured to unwind and wind around rollers, allowing for quick installation and minimal space usage, featuring a drivable roller and pulley system for efficient movement and loading/unloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional motor-driven loading mechanism is used, then goods can be transported in the loading space, but the system becomes heavy and difficult to install
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor system is divided into modular components including a conveyor body, transverse wall assembly, and roller elements that can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation enables quick installation without requiring heavy equipment or complex assembly procedures, directly addressing the ease of installation requirement while keeping individual component weights manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse wall is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to transition between blocking the aperture and retracting to allow access. This dynamic design eliminates the need for heavy fixed structures and complex mounting mechanisms, reducing overall system weight while maintaining functionality during installation and operation.
2Productivity
If a conventional loading mechanism is installed, then goods transportation is enabled, but the installation process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor components are pre-assembled into modular units with the goods-bearing belt pre-attached to the conveyor body and transverse wall assembly pre-configured. This preliminary assembly reduces on-site installation time and complexity, allowing the system to be quickly deployed in the loading space without requiring complex assembly procedures or specialized installation equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor body is designed with universal mounting features that can accommodate different aperture sizes and loading space configurations. The transverse wall assembly serves multiple functions including blocking the aperture, supporting the goods-bearing belt, and guiding goods movement. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying installation while maintaining high productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing aircraft loading systems are used, then goods can be transported, but the systems occupy excessive space in narrow loading areas
Solution Approach 1:
The transverse wall is designed to retract along the longitudinal axis of the loading space, transitioning between a forward position that blocks the aperture and a retracted position that allows access. This dimensional movement allows the system to adapt to narrow loading spaces by minimizing its volume when not in use, while still providing full functionality when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The goods-bearing belt is configured to be wound around the rollers when not in use, creating a compact nested arrangement. This nesting principle allows the conveyor elements to be stored in a minimal space within the loading area, maximizing space utilization while maintaining the ability to deploy the full system when goods transportation is required.
4Weight of moving object
If a lightweight conveyor system is used, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the system may lack sufficient strength to handle goods
Solution Approach 1:
The goods-bearing belt is constructed from composite materials that provide high strength-to-weight ratio, enabling it to bear the load of goods while contributing minimally to the overall system weight. The belt incorporates high-strength synthetic fibers or composite structures that maintain load-bearing capacity despite the reduced weight, directly addressing the contradiction between lightweight design and sufficient strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system employs local reinforcement at critical load-bearing points such as the roller supports, mounting brackets, and belt attachment areas. These localized strengthening measures ensure that the lightweight components have sufficient strength where needed, while the overall system remains lightweight. This selective reinforcement maintains load-bearing capacity without adding excessive weight throughout the entire system.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a system fro transportation of goods in a loading space. The system comprises a conveyor (1) for goods which is drivable to and for in the loading space. To provide a quickly and easily fittable system for transportation of goods which is of low weight and easy to work with, the conveyor comprises a first element (3) with a goods-bearing belt and with a wall (6) disposed transversely to the driving directions of the conveyor, the goods-bearing belt being fastened to the wall via a first end portion, the wall being movable between a first extreme position (A) at or in the vicinity of an aperture to the loading space and a second extreme position at a far end of the loading space from said aperture, and a second element (4) disposed at or in the vicinity of the aperture to the loading space as a continuation of said first element of the conveyor, to which second element the goods-bearing belt is fastened via a second end portion and, during movement of said transverse wall between said extreme positions, is unwindable and windable about two elongate rollers (7, 8) supported for rotation in the vehicle at a distance from one another, so that the instantaneously uppermost strand of the goods-bearing belt wound about the rollers serves as a movable loading and unloading surface for goods between said rollers. The conveyor (1) is also configured to allow movement of the transverse wall (6) between said extreme positions and thus at the same time to unwind or wind the goods-bearing belt.