IP Library Granted Patent US 7,246,771
Granted Patent B2
US 7,246,771 · App. 11/022,114 · Granted Jul 24, 2007

Lifting device for a luggage compartment in an aircraft, as well as aircraft with a lifting device for a luggage compartment

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,246,771
App. No.
11/022,114
Granted
Jul 24, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

The application concerns a lifting device for a luggage compartment in an aircraft, wherein the luggage compartment can be moved between an open and closed position, and the lifting device includes a power generation element that exerts a lifting force on the luggage compartment. The application also concerns an aircraft with a lifting device for a luggage compartment. The power generation element is an electrical power generation element, and the lifting device has a rechargeable energy accumulator to store energy for operation of the electrical power generation element.

Claims (24)

1. An aircraft comprising:

at least one luggage compartment, which is movable between an open and a closed position;

a lifting device for the at least one a luggage compartment; wherein the lifting device has a power generation element that exerts a lifting force on the luggage compartment;

the power generation element is an electrical power generation element; and

the lifting device has a dedicated rechargeable energy accumulator operable to store energy reserved for operation of the electrical power generation element.

2. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the energy accumulator includes electrical storage devices.

3. The aircraft of claim 2 , wherein the electrical storage devices include at least one capacitor.

4. The aircraft of claim 2 , wherein the electrical storage devices include a number of series-connected capacitors.

5. The aircraft of claim 3 , wherein the electrical storage devices include a number of series-connected capacitors.

6. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the energy accumulator is sufficient for at least one of the operating cycles of the luggage compartment.

7. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the power generation element is adapted to move the luggage compartment without outside force into the closed position.

8. The aircraft of claim 1 , further comprising a charging device to charge the energy accumulator with power from an electrical system is provided.

9. The aircraft of claim 8 , wherein the charging device has a charge power that is much lower than a power demand of the power generation element.

10. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the power generation element is an electric motor.

11. The aircraft of claim 10 , wherein the electric motor is operable in both directions of rotation.

12. The aircraft of claim 10 , wherein the electric motor is operable to lower the luggage compartment as a motor brake.

13. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the luggage compartment has at least one of a switch and a pushbutton operable for opening or closing the luggage compartment.

14. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the lifting device has a connection to a central control unit of the aircraft.

15. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the luggage compartment has an electrically operable lock.

16. The aircraft of claim 15 , wherein the lock is operable from a central control unit of the aircraft.

17. The aircraft of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the luggage compartments; wherein each of the luggage compartments has a respective energy accumulator.

18. The aircraft of claim 1 , comprising: a plurality of the luggage compartments; and one of the energy accumulators for the plurality of luggage compartments.

19. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the energy accumulator is sufficient for at least two operating cycles of the luggage compartment.

20. The aircraft of claim 1 , wherein the energy accumulator is sufficient for at least four operating cycles of the luggage compartment.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 31, 2011
From: AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
To: AIRBUS OPERATIONS GMBH
Reel/Frame 026360/0849 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 8, 2005
From: WISCH, BODO; ROWOLD, LARS
To: AIRBUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Reel/Frame 016552/0787 →