Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Work holding
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-11
2001-09-25
Hail, III, Joseph J. (Department: 3723)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Work holding
C029S281100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292999
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a shipping system providing a means of transport for an object and, more particularly, to a shipping system for transport of a jet aircraft engine wherein the shipping stand may be placed in either a truck transport mode or an air transport mode. Further, this invention relates to a method by which a jet aircraft engine may be installed and removed from the wing of an aircraft and transported by the shipping system.
BACKGROUND ART
In the aircraft industry, it is often necessary for the engines of an aircraft to be removed for inspection or repair. These aircraft engines are perhaps the most critical assembly of an aircraft which must be maintained in a high state of repair. Regular and rigorous maintenance must be performed on the engines which also require thorough inspections. Accordingly, it may be necessary to remove these engines from the wing or fuselage of an aircraft so that the engine can undergo the required inspection or repairs.
Some prior art devices exist for securing and transporting a jet engine that has been removed from an aircraft. One example of a prior art device is found in commonly assigned prior patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,512. This reference discloses a shipping stand including a cradle assembly mounted upon a frame assembly to which a jet aircraft engine is securable. A plurality of shock absorbers are operatively engaged between the cradle assembly and frame assembly to provide adequate shock protection to a loaded jet aircraft engine. A plurality of lifting mechanisms selectively raise the cradle assembly to selected predetermined heights. Depending upon the selected height, the cradle may be placed in either a truck transport mode or air transport mode. Spacers are provided to place the shipping stand in a truck transport mode, and said spacers are removed in order to place the shipping stand in an air transport mode.
While this prior art device and others may be adequate for their intended purposes, one significant shortfall is that none of these prior art devices provide a shipping system which may be configured for either the truck transport of a Trent 800 aircraft engine, or the air transport of that engine in a Boeing 747 aircraft. The Boeing 747 aircraft is one of the most commercially available aircraft which may be used to haul the engines of other aircraft due to its large cargo hold. As further explained below, the invention described herein is a multi-purpose stand alone system which may configure the Trent 800 jet engine for either truck or air transport, and further allows the engine to be readily mounted or removed from the aircraft.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In the most broad disclosure of the invention, a shipping system is disclosed which secures a jet aircraft engine wherein the engine may be positioned in either a truck transport mode, or an air transport mode which enables the engine to be rotated as necessary. The rotation of the aircraft engine is achieved while the engine is mounted on the shipping stand, and no external equipment such as a crane or forklift are required to rotate the engine.
The advantage of such a dual mode shipping system is based upon the need to transport a jet aircraft engine on land and/or within the cargo hold of a Boeing 747 or other jet aircraft to other destinations. In both the truck and air transport modes, shock absorption is provided by the shipping system to protect it from impacts associated with both road and air travel. Without such protection, the jet engine could sustain unnecessary damage.
Conveniently, when the shipping system, with the aircraft engine attached, is placed in the air transport mode, the shipping system is lowered and the aircraft engine is rotated to further reduce the effect height of the aircraft engine enabling it to fit in the cargo door of a commercial aircraft such as a Boeing 747. Particularly for the Trent 800 engine, the engine gear box and other protruding components located adjacent the gear box present a critical height limitation in terms of loading such an engine through the cargo door of a Boeing 747. When this particular engine is mounted to the wing of an aircraft, the gear box and the other protruding components reside at the lower end of the engine. In order to meet the height restriction of the Boeing 747 cargo door, the engine must be rotated so that the gear box and other protruding components are rotated to the side. Then the engine can be lowered up to 16 inches while mounted on the shipping system.
The structure of the shipping system includes a frame assembly including a plurality of frame members which provide adequate support to a cradle assembly which cradles or secures the jet aircraft engine. Casters or wheels are mounted to the frame enabling the shipping system to be transported on the airfield by a vehicle in order that the engine may then be loaded for either truck or air transport. A shock absorbing system is operatively engaged between the frame assembly and cradle assembly to provide adequate shock protection to the jet aircraft engine despite its configuration in either the truck or air transport mode.
When the shipping system is in the truck transport mode, the cradle is lifted to a desired height by a jack assembly and the jet aircraft engine loaded on the cradle is then locked in place. In this truck transport mode, an aft securing ring is used to secure the aft end of the aircraft engine, and a pair of opposing cradle arms secure the forward end of the aircraft engine.
If the loaded aircraft engine is to be transported in the air transport mode, the aft end of the aircraft engine is secured by the aft ring; however, a forward ring is used to secure the forward end of the aircraft engine, and the forward and aft rings work in cooperation to rotate the engine while it is loaded on the shipping system. During operation in the air transport mode, the opposing cradle arms are disconnected from the aircraft engine and are swung away from the aircraft engine to avoid interference with the engine during rotation.
The jack assembly allows four independent jacks to operate in synchronization to raise or lower the aircraft engine to the desired height. Additionally, a pair of spacers may be used at the aft end of the shipping system to disable the two aft jacks so that the forward ring may be raised or lowered independently of the aft ring when preparing the shipping system for air transport.
The jack assembly and the drive means for rotating the loaded aircraft engine may be operated by hand, or mechanically. It is preferable to use the mechanical means; however, if these systems fail, the jet aircraft engine may still be manually lifted or lowered, and manually rotated.
Although the shipping system is described as having particular utility with respect to transport of a Trent 800 jet aircraft engine, it will be understood that the present invention is intended for many other uses as it is easily adaptable to accommodate the transport of many different types of jet aircraft engines for truck transport or air transport. The height of the cradle assembly in the truck transport mode and the air transport mode may be altered so that a particular jet aircraft engine may be loaded directly onto a specific type of aircraft. For example, for aircraft other than a Boeing 747, the cradle assembly may be raised or lowered by altering the specific construction of the frame assembly or cradle assembly. The forward and aft ring assemblies may be sized to allow them to attach to the desired jet aircraft engine. Also, the ranges of the jacks may also be altered to accommodate the specific height necessary for transition between the air and truck transport modes.
It should also be understood that use of the terms “truck transport mode” does not limit the transport of the shipping system by truck, but simply refers to the transfer of the shipping system by some means other than an aircraft which has certain cargo load size restrictions. Thus, truck transport mode could refer to transport by truck, ship or large
Hatch Robert F.
Rossway Ronald A.
Suroosh Behzad B.
Hail III Joseph J.
Sheridan & Ross P.C.
Stanley Aviation Corporation
Wilson Lee
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