U.S. patent application number 12/636381 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-13 for cargo aircraft.
Invention is credited to ELIE HELOU, JR..
Application Number | 20100116932 12/636381 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36460084 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100116932 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HELOU, JR.; ELIE |
May 13, 2010 |
CARGO AIRCRAFT
Abstract
In one embodiment, an aircraft for transporting at least one
cargo container is disclosed. The aircraft comprises a forward
fuselage, an empennage, a beam structure, and mounts to detachably
and structurally engage the at least one cargo container with the
beam structure. The beam structure is disposed between the forward
fuselage and the empennage and the beam structure configured to
receive the at least one cargo container. The beam structure and
structurally engaged cargo container provide sufficient structural
rigidity to support the aircraft in flight.
Inventors: |
HELOU, JR.; ELIE;
(Carpenteria, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CONNOLLY BOVE LODGE & HUTZ LLP
P.O. BOX 2207
WILMINGTON
DE
19899
US
|
Family ID: |
36460084 |
Appl. No.: |
12/636381 |
Filed: |
December 11, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11782850 |
Jul 25, 2007 |
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12636381 |
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10996799 |
Nov 23, 2004 |
7261257 |
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11782850 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
244/118.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 50/40 20130101;
B64C 1/10 20130101; B64C 39/024 20130101; B64C 2201/048 20130101;
B64C 2201/086 20130101; B64C 2201/104 20130101; B64C 39/02
20130101; Y02T 50/43 20130101; B64C 2001/0072 20130101; B64C 1/065
20130101; B64C 2201/162 20130101; B64C 1/00 20130101; B64C 1/061
20130101; B64C 2211/00 20130101; B64C 2201/128 20130101; B64C
2201/021 20130101; B64C 2201/167 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
244/118.1 |
International
Class: |
B64C 39/02 20060101
B64C039/02; B64C 1/06 20060101 B64C001/06; B64C 1/20 20060101
B64C001/20 |
Claims
1. An aircraft for transporting at least one cargo container
comprising: a forward fuselage; an empennage; a beam structure
disposed between the forward fuselage and the empennage, the beam
structure configured to receive the at least one cargo container;
and mounts to detachably and structurally engage the at least one
cargo container with the beam structure, the beam structure and
structurally engaged cargo container providing sufficient
structural rigidity to support the aircraft in flight.
2. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the mounts are disposed on the
underside of the beam structure to detachably suspend the at least
one cargo container therefrom.
3. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the mounts are disposed on the
top side of the beam structure to detachably support the at least
one cargo container thereon.
4. The aircraft of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of rigid
containers attached to beam structure via the mounts.
5. The aircraft of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of
attachments configured to engage adjacent rigid containers with one
another.
6. The aircraft of claim 5, wherein the mounts and the attachments
are universally engageable with one another.
7. The aircraft of claim 1, further comprising at least one panel
partially enclosing the at least one cargo container.
8. The aircraft of claim 7, wherein the at least one panel is an
aerodynamic panel.
9. The aircraft of claim 8, further comprising framing to support
the aerodynamic panels, the frame including vertical elements and
horizontal elements with corner elements lying in transverse planes
of the aircraft.
10. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein the at least one container
being at least four containers, a first two of the at least four
containers each extending longitudinally on top of and engaging the
beam structure via the mounts and arranged side by side, and a
second two of the at least four containers each extending
longitudinally on top of the first two containers, the at least
four containers including the attachments, the second two of the at
least four containers being arranged side by side and being
attached by the attachments to the first two of the at least four
containers.
11. The aircraft of claim 1, wherein either one or both of the
forward fuselage or the empennage is pivotally mounted relative to
the beam structure to fully expose an interior cavity above the
beam structure for loading of the at least one cargo container.
12. An aircraft for transporting at least one cargo container
comprising: a forward fuselage; an empennage; a beam structure
configured to receive the at least one cargo container and
comprising a first end to which the forward fuselage is attached, a
second end to which the empennage is attached, and a floor
therebetween; mounts to detachably and structurally engage the at
least one cargo container with the beam structure, the beam
structure and structurally engaged cargo container providing
sufficient structural rigidity to support the aircraft in
flight.
13. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the beam structure further
comprises flanges along each longitudinal side of the floor.
14. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the floor of the beam
structure includes rollers and/or anti-friction devices to
facilitate longitudinal movement of the at least one cargo
container along a surface of the floor.
15. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the beam structure further
comprises I-beams with bulkheads positioned periodically along the
beam structure and affixed to the floor and the I-beams.
16. The aircraft of claim 12, wherein the mounts are retained on
the floor of the beam structure.
17. The aircraft of claim 16, wherein the mounts are shoulder bolts
which extend between the beam structure and the at least one cargo
container.
18. The aircraft of claim 16, wherein the mounts are adjustably
positionable along the length of the floor.
19. The aircraft of claim 16, wherein the mounts are provided at
incremental positions along the length of the floor and configured
to engage different sized cargo containers.
20. An aircraft for transporting at least one cargo container
comprising: a forward fuselage; an empennage; a beam structure
disposed between the forward fuselage and the empennage, the beam
structure configured to receive a plurality of cargo containers and
comprising a floor; and mounts retained on the floor of the beam
structure, the mounts configured to detachably and structurally
engage the at least one cargo container with the beam structure;
wherein the beam structure and structurally engaged cargo container
provide sufficient structural rigidity to support the aircraft in
flight when the aircraft is fully loaded with the plurality of
cargo containers.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of prior application Ser.
No. 11/782,850, filed Jul. 25, 2007, which is a divisional of prior
application Ser. No. 10/996,799, filed Nov. 23, 2004, the
disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their
entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The field of the present invention is cargo aircraft for
transporting modular containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The basic unit for transporting goods has been the truck.
Being the basic unit, the truck has defined limitations on
intermodal containers that can typically be transported by ships,
trains and trucks. Much of commerce today for which intermodal
containers are most convenient are high volume, low weight
products, computers being one example. Thus, volume instead of
weight creates the limiting factor in the design of intermodal
containers. As such, containers have grown to the maximum volume
capacity of the basic unit, the truck. As such, intermodal
containers are limited by the dimensions allowed by highway
infrastructures.
[0004] The aforementioned intermodal containers have greatly
facilitated and lowered the cost of cargo transportation. However,
air cargo has generally been excluded from participation in
intermodal cargo systems. Aircraft of a size capable of carrying
substantial cargo have typically been designed first as passenger
aircraft. Cylindrical fuselages and lack of large access ports
thereto in such passenger aircraft limit the use of such aircraft
for truly intermodal cargo systems. Rather, the aircraft must
become the basic unit with odd shaped and smaller sized containers.
As a result, even with containerized cargo, a truck must be loaded
with multiple individual containers for efficient distribution of
air cargo. Such aircraft are also designed to be efficient at high
speeds, which is costly. Military transports are also not
particularly compatible with intermodel cargo systems as they are
designed for oversized cargo such as rolling equipment, e.g., tanks
and trucks, and palletized, irregularly shaped cargo. Most aircraft
specifically designed for the military also are mission directed
and overall efficiency for competitive cargo transportation is not
a first priority.
[0005] The inability of aircraft to participate in intermodal
container cargo systems has been disadvantageous to international
commerce. Business principals such as just-in-time supply and
changing business environments including rapid global internet
communication have created a demand for much more rapid
international shipping than can be provided by conventional ships.
However, air cargo systems remain both expensive and inconvenient
to intermodal shipping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present disclosure is directed to an aircraft having a
beam structure to receive at least one rigid cargo container with
mounts detachably integrating the at least one rigid cargo
container as part of the beam structure to provide structural
rigidity to the aircraft in flight.
[0007] In one embodiment, an aircraft for transporting at least one
cargo container is disclosed. The aircraft comprises a forward
fuselage, an empennage, a beam structure, and mounts to detachably
and structurally engage the at least one cargo container with the
beam structure. The beam structure is disposed between the forward
fuselage and the empennage and the beam structure configured to
receive the at least one cargo container. The beam structure and
structurally engaged cargo container provide sufficient structural
rigidity to support the aircraft in flight.
[0008] In accordance with a first aspect of the embodiment, the
mounts are disposed on the underside of the beam structure to
detachably suspend the at least one cargo container therefrom.
[0009] In accordance with a second aspect of the embodiment, the
mounts are disposed on the top side of the beam structure to
detachably support the at least one cargo container thereon.
[0010] In accordance with a third aspect of the embodiment, the
aircraft further comprises a plurality of rigid containers attached
to beam structure via the mounts.
[0011] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the embodiment, the
aircraft further comprises a plurality of attachments configured to
engage adjacent rigid containers with one another.
[0012] In accordance with a fifth aspect of the embodiment, the
mounts and the attachments are universally engageable with one
another.
[0013] In accordance with a sixth aspect of the embodiment, the
aircraft further comprises at least one panel partially enclosing
the at least one cargo container.
[0014] In accordance with a seventh aspect of the embodiment, the
at least one panel is an aerodynamic panel.
[0015] In accordance with an eighth aspect of the embodiment, the
aircraft further comprises framing to support the aerodynamic
panels, the frame including vertical elements and horizontal
elements with corner elements lying in transverse planes of the
aircraft.
[0016] In accordance with a ninth aspect of the embodiment, the at
least one container comprises at least four containers, a first two
of the at least four containers each extending longitudinally on
top of and engaging the beam structure via the mounts and arranged
side by side, and a second two of the at least four containers each
extending longitudinally on top of the first two containers. The at
least four containers includes the attachments, the second two of
the at least four containers is arranged side by side and attached
by the attachments to the first two of the at least four
containers.
[0017] In accordance with a tenth aspect of the embodiment, either
one or both of the forward fuselage or the empennage is pivotally
mounted relative to the beam structure to fully expose an interior
cavity above the beam structure for loading of the at least one
cargo container.
[0018] In another embodiment, an aircraft for transporting at least
one cargo container is disclosed. The aircraft comprises a forward
fuselage, an empennage, a beam structure configured to receive the
at least one cargo container, and mounts to detachably and
structurally engage the at least one cargo container with the beam
structure. The beam structure comprises a first end to which the
forward fuselage is attached, a second end to which the empennage
is attached, and a floor therebetween. The beam structure and
structurally engaged cargo container providing sufficient
structural rigidity to support the aircraft in flight.
[0019] In accordance with a first aspect of the embodiment, the
beam structure further comprises flanges along each longitudinal
side of the floor.
[0020] In accordance with a second aspect of the embodiment, the
floor of the beam structure includes rollers and/or anti-friction
devices to facilitate longitudinal movement of the at least one
cargo container along a surface of the floor.
[0021] In accordance with a third aspect of the embodiment, the
beam structure further comprises I-beams with bulkheads positioned
periodically along the beam structure and affixed to the floor and
the I-beams.
[0022] In accordance with a fourth aspect of the embodiment, the
mounts are retained on the floor of the beam structure.
[0023] In accordance with a fifth aspect of the embodiment, the
mounts are shoulder bolts which extend between the beam structure
and the at least one cargo container.
[0024] In accordance with a sixth aspect of the embodiment, the
mounts are adjustably positionable along the length of the
floor.
[0025] In accordance with a seventh aspect of the embodiment, the
mounts are provided at incremental positions along the length of
the floor and configured to engage different sized cargo
containers.
[0026] In a further embodiment, an aircraft for transporting at
least one cargo container is disclosed. The aircraft comprises a
forward fuselage, an empennage, a beam structure disposed between
the forward fuselage and the empennage, and mounts retained on the
floor of the beam structure. The beam structure configured to
receive a plurality of cargo containers and comprising a floor. The
mounts configured to detachably and structurally engage the at
least one cargo container with the beam structure. The beam
structure and structurally engaged cargo container provide
sufficient structural rigidity to support the aircraft in flight
when the aircraft is fully loaded with the plurality of cargo
containers.
[0027] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide an improved cargo aircraft. Other and further objects and
advantages will appear hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of an
aircraft.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view with portions broken
away for clarity of the aircraft of FIG. 1.
[0030] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken transversely through
the fuselage of the aircraft of FIG. 1.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cargo bay and combinations
of containers.
[0032] FIG. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of the
aircraft of FIG. 1.
[0033] FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective of the fuselage of the
aircraft of FIG. 5.
[0034] FIG. 7 is a side view of a fairing frame for the aircraft of
FIG. 1 with a container in place.
[0035] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the aircraft of FIG. 1 being
loaded or unloaded.
[0036] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the aircraft of FIG. 1 with
the forward fuselage raised.
[0037] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a frame structure of a
cargo container.
[0038] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a longer frame structure of
a cargo container.
[0039] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an exploded assembly of a
cargo container.
[0040] FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional view of a panel
illustrated in FIG. 12.
[0041] FIG. 14 is a detail cross-sectional view of an assembled
panel on a cargo container.
[0042] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of a mount between the
beam structure and a container.
[0043] FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of corner
attachments and couplers.
[0044] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an
aircraft.
[0045] FIG. 18 is a partial perspective view of the aircraft of
FIG. 17 with portions broken away for clarity.
[0046] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken transversely of the
fuselage of the aircraft of FIG. 17.
[0047] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an aircraft with cargo
containers side by side.
[0048] FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the fuselage of the
aircraft of FIG. 20.
[0049] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view as in FIG. 21 with an
amended beam configuration.
[0050] FIG. 23 is a partial perspective view of the aircraft of
FIG. 20 with portions broken away for clarity.
[0051] FIG. 24 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of an
aircraft.
[0052] FIG. 25 is a partial perspective view of the aircraft of
FIG. 24 with portions broken away for clarity.
[0053] FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view of the fuselage of the
aircraft of FIG. 24.
[0054] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the fuselage of yet
another embodiment.
[0055] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of an aircraft of a further
embodiment.
[0056] FIG. 29 is a partial side view of the fairing frame of FIG.
7 with a first attachment rail system.
[0057] FIG. 30 is a partial side view of the fairing frame of FIG.
7 with a second attachment rail system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0058] FIG. 1 illustrates a first aircraft design with an
integrating and supporting beam structure 30 having two ends. The
details of the beam structure 30 are better illustrated in FIGS. 2
and 3. The beam structure 30 includes a floor 32 which may include
rollers and/or antifriction devices to facilitate longitudinal
movement of a cargo container along the surface of the floor 32.
Restraining flanges 33 run along each longitudinal side of the
floor 32. In addition to the floor 32, the beam structure 30
includes I-beams 34 with bulkheads 36, 38 positioned periodically
along the beam structure 30 and affixed to the floor 32 and the
I-beams 34. The beam structure 30 becomes a rigid structure which
is preferably sufficient to support the aircraft in flight when
empty but cannot support the aircraft in flight when loaded.
[0059] A forward fuselage 40 is located at one end of the beam
structure 30. The forward fuselage 40 is shown to be that of a
drone with no cockpit. Since the Shuttle SRTM mapping mission, it
has been possible to have extended commercial flights without human
intervention. A cargo drone can fly at low speeds for long
distances without concern for crew time and passenger fatigue. The
aircraft can therefore be designed for highly efficient flight
profiles without accommodation for crew and passangers.
[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the forward fuselage 40 is
pivotally mounted relative to the beam structure 30 to fully expose
the interior cavity above the beam structure 30 from the forward
end of the aircraft for loading of cargo containers. The guidance
and control for the aircraft may be located in the forward fuselage
40; but, given the lack of a cockpit, can be located elsewhere with
equal facility. The forward fuselage 40 may be removed from
association with the beam as a unit.
[0061] An empennage 42 is attached to the other end of the beam
structure 30. The empennage 42 includes laterally extending
horizontal stabilizers 44 with twin vertical stabilizers 46
positioned at the outer ends of the horizontal stabilizers 44. As
illustrated in FIG. 8, the rear fuselage 48 forming part of the
empennage 42 may be split vertically and pivotally mounted to
either side of the main fuselage. In this way, access is provided
to the rear end of the beam structure 30 across the ramp defined by
the empennage 42 including the horizontal stabilizers 44. The
empennage 42 may be removed from association with the beam as a
unit.
[0062] Wings 50 are also structurally associated with the beam
structure 30. The wings 50 as well as the beam structure 30 may
contain fuel tanks. Landing gear 52 are provided under the wings
50; and a forward gear 54 is provided under the beam structure 30.
The wings 50 may be removed from association with the beam as a
unit.
[0063] Engines 56 are shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 to be
directly mounted to the beam structure 30. An engine on each side,
symmetrically mounted, is contemplated. Alternatively, as
illustrated in FIG. 28, the engines 56 are mounted atop the wings
50. This arrangement is understood to add to the efficiency of the
aircraft. The engines 56 may each be removed from association with
the beam as a unit.
[0064] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate framing to support aerodynamic
panels. The frame includes vertical elements 58 and horizontal
elements 60 with corner elements 62 lying in transverse planes of
the aircraft. One such frame 63 is illustrated in greater detail in
FIGS. 7, 29 and 30. These elements 58, 60 are typically of I-beam
cross section with lightening holes as in conventional aircraft
construction. Corner elements 64 extend longitudinally at the
intersections of the vertical elements 58 and horizontal elements
60. These corner elements 64 may provide structural rigidity to
augment the strength of the beam structure 30 and certainly provide
sufficient rigidity to retain fairing components in place on the
frame 62. In FIG. 5, a top fairing panel 66 and a side fairing
panel 68 are shown. Of course, a second side fairing panel 68 is
also deployed on the other side of the aircraft.
[0065] The aircraft thus defined provides a cargo bay which is
designed and sized to closely receive rigid cargo containers 70
forming right parallelepipeds which are the sizes of intermodal
containers. Such intermodal containers are typically of a given
height and width and varying incrementally in length. An
alternative to the construction of a fairing to define a cargo bay
between the forward fuselage 40 and the empennage 42 would be to
define the intermodal containers with aerodynamic surfaces. The
forward fuselage 40 and the empennage 42 would transition to create
an aerodynamic surface with the forward fuselage 40 and the
empennage 42. The containers 70 would be designed to be compatible
with truck transportation whether or not they have aerodynamic
surfaces.
[0066] In the embodiments, the rigid cargo containers 70 provide
strength to the beam structure 30. The beam structure 30 is
designed to be as light as possible. As such, the beam structure 30
is capable of supporting takeoff loads, flight loads and landing
loads of the aircraft when free of cargo. Additionally, the beam
structure 30 must be sufficient to support compression loads upon
landing even when fully loaded. However, the beam structure 30 is
not required to fully sustain bending and torsional loads in
flight, landing and takeoff when a rigid cargo container or
multiple such containers are in place in the aircraft. The
additional rigidity required is supplied by the rigid cargo
containers 70. To this end, the containers 70 are constructed with
sufficient structure and rigidity and are securely mounted to the
beam structure 30 such that bending and torsional forces
experienced by the beam structure 30 are imposed upon the securely
mounted container or containers 70.
[0067] Mounts 72 are provided on the beam structure 30. These
mounts may be bolted or otherwise retained on the floor 32.
Further, incremental adjustments are preferably provided in order
that the mounts 72 can attach to the container or containers 70
while accommodating variations in container length and placement.
Such incremental adjustment may be provided by patterns of
attachment holes in the floor 32 to allow for lateral or
longitudinal repositioning of the mounts 72 once the container or
containers 72 are in place. A mount 72 is illustrated in FIG. 15 as
a shoulder bolt 72 which extends between the beam structure 30 and
a container 70. Such a bolt 72 provides substantial shear
resistance as well as tension loading. The mounts 72 may be located
or positionable along the full length of the floor 32 or at
incremental positions reflecting standard container sizes. The
mounts may face inwardly from the sides of the floor 32. Access
ports through the fairings may be provided to allow access to the
mounts 72. Alternatively, mechanisms may be employed which are
automatic or remotely actuated.
[0068] Attachments 74 are illustrated in FIG. 16 as formed boxes 76
through which slots 78 extend. By employing the formed boxes 76,
the slots 78 terminate to provide an inner face. The attachments 74
are located in the structure of the rigid container or containers
70. As such, the attachments 74 cooperate with the formed boxes 74
with slots 76 through the walls thereof. The formed boxes 76 may
include thick walls on one outer side or bottom to receive the
mounts 72.
[0069] To fix the attachments 74 to one another, couplers 84 are
employed. Each coupler 84 includes two heads 86 extending in
opposite directions from a coupler body 88. The heads 86 are
undercut between the body 88 and each of the heads 86 to form
opposed engaging surfaces on the inner sides of the heads 86. The
heads 86 also fit within the slots 76 in one orientation. The heads
86 have a convex surface for easier placement in the associated
slots 76.
[0070] The couplers 84 may be formed such that the heads 86 are on
a shaft rotatable within the body 88. A collar 90 is separated from
each of the heads 86 by substantially the thickness of the walls of
the formed boxes 76 with the collar 90 being of sufficient diameter
that the collar 90 cannot fit within the slots 78. The collar 90
also provides access once the heads 86 are positioned in the slots
78 for rotation of the heads 86 into a locked orientation with the
slots 78. The body 88 is of sufficient size and includes flat sides
92 such that it is prevented from rotating by the floor 32. Once
the head 86 have been properly located, a set screw 94 can be
placed to insure that the heads 86 will not rotate relative to the
attachments 74. The same mechanisms are employed between
attachments 74 on adjacent containers 70.
[0071] The mounts 72 may correspond to the attachments 74 and
employ the same mechanisms as shown in FIG. 16. Identical slots 78
in the floor 32 or the restraining flanges 33 can cooperate with
the slots 78 in the containers 70 and couplers 84 to restrain the
containers 70 and integrate the structures thereof with the beam
structure 30.
[0072] Each rigid cargo container 70 is constructed as shown in
FIGS. 10 through 16. A first internal structure of a container is
illustrated in FIG. 10. This structure includes four columns 96 and
eight beams 98 fixed together by corner attachments 74 as
illustrated in FIG. 10 to form a right parallelepiped. Panels 100
are then assembled with longerons 102 to form a top, a bottom and
sides of the cargo container 70. A representative panel 100 is
illustrated in FIG. 13. The panel 100 is formed of lightweight
material. In this embodiment the panel 100 is defined by two thin
sheets 104, 106 separated by honeycomb 108. Inner longerons 110 are
also placed between the sheets 104, 106 and attached thereto. About
the periphery of each of the panels 100, the sheets 104, 106 come
together to form an attachment flange 112. Each of these panels 100
may be of composite material or a mixture of aluminum sheets 104,
106 and formed honeycomb 108.
[0073] FIG. 13 illustrates the sides, top and bottom of the
completed cargo container 70 in association with the structure
defined by the four columns 96 and eight beams 98. Two panels 100
are associated together with longerons 102 positioned therebetween.
The attachment flanges 112 are fixed to the corner columns 96 and
beams 98 which include parallel flanges 114 for that purpose.
[0074] Where longer containers are contemplated, intermediary
columns 96 and beams 98 may additionally be employed. In this way,
all panels 100 may be of the same size through appropriate location
of the columns 96 with the overall lengths of the containers being
multiples of the container illustrated in FIG. 10. Multiple
containers of varying length may be employed to create an overall
payload for an aircraft of a given length. FIG. 4 illustrates such
arrangements with a sixty-foot long cargo area and containers 70
broken into various multiples of ten-foot lengths.
[0075] FIG. 8 illustrates employment of the first embodiment
through the placement of a cargo container 70. A truck 116 is shown
aligned with the cargo area of the aircraft. In this case, the rear
fuselage 48 is defined by doors which extend in an aerodynamic form
and can also open to fully expose the interior of the fairing for
insertion or removal of the rigid cargo container 70. This
container 70 may be, as illustrated in FIG. 4, one single container
or a preassembled group of containers 70. Winches and other
mechanisms may be employed to assist in the repositioning of the
container or containers 70 either in the aircraft or on the truck
116. Alternatively, the forward fuselage 40 may be pivoted out of
the way as illustrated in FIG. 9 and the container 70 loaded from
or unloaded to the truck 116 from the front of the aircraft. The
landing gear 52 and/or forward gear 54 may be additionally
exendable or retractable or the mounts thereof my be able to move
up and down to accommodate the level of the bed of a truck 116.
[0076] The general principles described herein with regard to the
first embodiment also apply to the several other embodiments which
are presented. A second embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 17
through 19. In this embodiment, the beam structure 30 is arranged
at the top of the aircraft with the rigid cargo container or
containers 70 suspended thereunder through attachments to the
underside of the beam structure 30. In this second embodiment, the
beam structure is effectively inverted and is formed of a very
similar structure to that of the first embodiment. The wings 50 are
correspondingly associated with the top of the aircraft to be at
the beam structure for support. Further, the engines 56 are also so
located.
[0077] This repositioning of the beam structure 30 makes the
loading and unloading of containers through the empennage 42 more
difficult. However, the forward fuselage 40 continues to provide
loading capability through rotation of the forward fuselage 40 out
of the way. Alternatively, cargo bay doors 118, as illustrated in
FIG. 19, may provide access for loading of the container or
containers 70 from below. To accommodate this overhead placement of
the beam structure 30, the landing gear 52 must be supported at a
greater distance than as required in the first embodiment. Either
the gear 52, 54 itself or structure 119 may extend within
additional fairings 120 to either side of the fuselage.
[0078] FIGS. 20 through 23 illustrate another configuration having
a double-wide beam structure 30 to accommodate side-by-side rigid
cargo containers 70. But for the dimensional changes and required
additional structural rigidity within the beam structure 30, the
foregoing discussion applies to this embodiment. FIGS. 21 and 22
show two different configurations of the I-beams 34 to support
different expected weight requirements. These figures also
illustrate a central column disposed between the side by side
containers which can be a bulkhead or a series of independent
columns. Alternatively, the side by side containers 70 can be
linked together as discussed above and the containers 70 at or
adjacent that joint also attached to mounts associated with the
central corner element 64 with no central column present.
[0079] FIGS. 24 through 26 illustrate yet another embodiment
designed to accommodate a different arrangement of rigid cargo
containers 70. In this embodiment, two-high sets of containers are
placed side by side to achieve four times the cross-sectional area
for container cargo as in the first embodiment. The same comments
applied to FIGS. 21 and 22 regarding the central column,
illustrated between the containers 70 in FIG. 26, apply to this
embodiment.
[0080] FIG. 27 provides a hybrid between the first and second
embodiments. Two sets of side-by-side cargo containers 70 are
positioned above and below the beam structure 30. The same comments
applied to FIGS. 21 and 22 regarding the central column,
illustrated between the containers 70 in FIG. 27, apply to this
embodiment.
[0081] FIGS. 29 and 30 illustrate yet another feature which can
augment the structure of the system. A rail 122 is associated with
the frame 62 in two locations as illustrated in the two figures. A
corresponding channel 124 is shown located in the container 70. The
channel 124 may be an interlocking fit as shown only at the corners
of the container 70 or fully through the container with additional
support provided therealong. The rail mechanism is shown in
association with the fairing but may be associated with the beam
structure 30 as well.
[0082] Thus, improved cargo aircraft have been disclosed. While
embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and
described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that
many more modifications are possible without departing from the
inventive concepts herein. The invention is therefore not to be
restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
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