Systems, methods, and vehicles for transporting large cargo onto and off a transport vehicle
Systems, methods, and vehicles for loading and unloading cargo from a long-distance transport vehicle, such as an aircraft, are described. The systems and methods include operating a plurality of vehicles to unload large cargo from the aircraft and transporting the large cargo to an installation site. In some instances, the vehicles hold the payload the entire time, including while loading aircraft, during flight, unloading the aircraft, and moving the payload to the installation site. Alternatively, the vehicles can drive on the plane to load the payload to a designated area, and equivalent vehicles can drive on the plane after the payload has been flown to unload the payload and moving the payload to the installation site. Various vehicles and systems, and components thereof, along with methods of operating the same, are also provided.
1 . A system for at least one of loading a payload onto a cargo aircraft or unloading a payload from a cargo aircraft, comprising:
a plurality of vehicles configured to move along a ground surface;
one or more support spans extending between at least two vehicles of the plurality of vehicles; and
a plurality of payload-receiving fixtures coupled to at least one of: (a) a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles; or (b) a support span of the one or more support spans, the plurality of payload-receiving fixtures being configured to secure a location of a payload with respect to the one or more support spans while the plurality of vehicles are moved along a ground surface,
wherein at least one vehicle of the plurality of vehicles comprises one or more actuators coupled to a frame of the vehicle, the one or more actuators being configured to receive a payload-receiving fixture of the plurality of payload-receiving fixtures and adjust a position of the payload-receiving fixture relative to the frame, and
wherein the one or more actuators are configured to rotate the payload-receiving fixture about a rotation axis extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the payload received by the payload-receiving fixture.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of: (a) the plurality of vehicles; (b) the one or more support spans; or (c) the plurality of payload-receiving fixtures are further configured to couple to one or more fixtures in a cargo bay of a cargo aircraft.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more support spans comprise one or more trusses.
4 . The system of claim 1 ,
wherein the one or more support spans comprise a first rail opposed to a second rail, the first and second rails being disposed on opposite sides of a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, and
wherein the plurality of payload-receiving fixtures are coupled to each of the first and second rails.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators are configured to adjust a height of the payload-receiving fixture relative to the frame.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators further comprise:
one or more hydraulic pistons configured to operate to adjust the position of the payload-receiving fixture relative to the frame.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators further comprise:
a plurality of pulleys; and
one or more cables disposed between the pulleys and configured to move with respect to the plurality of pulleys to adjust the position of the payload-receiving fixture relative to the frame.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vehicles are controlled by one or more controllers in communication with a power system disposed on one or more vehicles of the plurality of vehicles.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one vehicle of the plurality of vehicles are self-propelled.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the payload comprises one or more components of a wind turbine such that the plurality of payload-receiving fixtures are configured to receive the one or more components of the wind turbine.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more fixtures disposed in a cargo bay of the aircraft, at least one fixture of the one or more fixtures being configured to couple to a transportation means of at least one vehicle of the plurality of vehicles such that the transportation means moves along the one or more fixtures disposed in the cargo bay of the aircraft to move the payload through a portion of a longitudinal length of the cargo bay.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more fixtures comprise one or more longitudinal rails extending longitudinally through the cargo bay of the aircraft.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more fixtures comprise one or more mating features configured to complimentarily mate with one or more mating features of a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles to secure the payload in the cargo bay.
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the transportation means of the at least one vehicle further comprises at least one of wheels, skis, skids, linked tracks, articulated legs, or air cushions.
15 . A system for at least one of loading a payload onto a cargo aircraft or unloading a payload from a cargo aircraft, comprising:
a plurality of vehicles configured to move along a ground surface;
one or more support spans extending between at least two vehicles of the plurality of vehicles; and
a plurality of payload-receiving fixtures coupled to at least one of: (a) a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles; or (b) a support span of the one or more support spans, the plurality of payload-receiving fixtures being configured to secure a location of a payload with respect to the one or more support spans while the plurality of vehicles are moved along a ground surface,
wherein at least one vehicle of the plurality of vehicles comprises one or more air chambers coupled to a frame of the vehicle, the one or more air chambers being configured to receive a payload-receiving fixture of the plurality of payload-receiving fixtures and to at least one of inflate and deflate to adjust a position of the payload-receiving fixture relative to the frame.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one of: (a) the plurality of vehicles; (b) the one or more support spans; or (c) the plurality of payload-receiving fixtures are further configured to couple to one or more fixtures in a cargo bay of a cargo aircraft.
17 . The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
one or more fixtures disposed in a cargo bay of the aircraft, at least one fixture of the one or more fixtures being configured to couple to a transportation means of at least one vehicle of the plurality of vehicles such that the transportation means moves along the one or more fixtures disposed in the cargo bay of the aircraft to move the payload through a portion of a longitudinal length of the cargo bay.
18 . A system for at least one of loading a payload onto a cargo aircraft or unloading a payload from a cargo aircraft, comprising:
a plurality of vehicles configured to move along a ground surface;
one or more support spans extending between at least two vehicles of the plurality of vehicles;
a plurality of payload-receiving fixtures coupled to at least one of: (a) a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles; or (b) a support span of the one or more support spans, the plurality of payload-receiving fixtures being configured to secure a location of a payload with respect to the one or more support spans while the plurality of vehicles are moved along a ground surface; and
one or more fixtures disposed in a cargo bay of the aircraft, at least one fixture of the one or more fixtures being configured to couple to a transportation means of at least one vehicle of the plurality of vehicles such that the transportation means moves along the one or more fixtures disposed in the cargo bay of the aircraft to move the payload through a portion of a longitudinal length of the cargo bay.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the one or more fixtures comprise one or more longitudinal rails extending longitudinally through the cargo bay of the aircraft.
20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein at least one vehicle of the plurality of vehicles comprises one or more actuators coupled to a frame of the vehicle, the one or more actuators being configured to receive a payload-receiving fixture of the plurality of payload-receiving fixtures and adjust a position of the payload-receiving fixture relative to the frame.