Stanley Aviation Corporation

Robert F Hatch

Ronald A Rossway

Gerald D Lilja

Frank Fowler

Behzad B Suroosh

William J Campion, Jr

An aircraft engine shipping system includes a frame assembly for supporting the aircraft engine, and a cradle assembly mounted on the frame assembly for securing the aircraft engine to the frame assembly. The frame assembly includes shock absorbers to provide continual shock absorption to an aircraft engine loaded thereon. The shipping system may be configured in either a truck or air transport mode. In the truck transport mode, the aircraft engine is secured to the cradle assembly by an aft ring which attaches to the aft portion of the aircraft, and a pair of cradle arms which attach to the forward portion of the aircraft engine. In the air transport mode, the aircraft engine is attached to the cradle assembly by the aft ring, and a forward ring which attaches directly to the fan of the aircraft engine. In the air transport mode, the cradle arms are disconnected from the aircraft engine and rotated away from the engine in a stowed position. While in the air transport mode, the aircraft engine may be rotated wherein the forward and aft rings cooperate to achieve rotation of the aircraft engine. A jack system is used to raise or lower the aircraft engine in either the truck or air transport modes.

Shipping system for jet aircraft engine

An aircraft engine shipping system includes a frame assembly for supporting the aircraft engine, and a cradle assembly mounted on the frame assembly for securing the aircraft engine to the frame assembly. The frame assembly includes shock absorbers to provide continual shock absorption to an aircraft engine loaded thereon. The shipping system may be configured in either a truck or air transport mode. In the truck transport mode, the aircraft engine is secured to the cradle assembly by way of an aft ring which attaches to the aft portion of the aircraft, and a pair of cradle arms which attach to the forward portion of the aircraft engine. In the air transport mode, the aircraft engine is attached to the cradle assembly by way of the aft ring, and a forward ring which attaches directly to the fan of the aircraft engine. In the air transport mode, the cradle arms are disconnected from the aircraft engine and rotated away from the engine in a stowed position. While in the air transport mode, the aircraft engine may be rotated wherein the forward and aft rings cooperate to achieve rotation of the aircraft engine. A jack system is used to raise or lower the aircraft engine in either the truck or air transport modes.

Method of installing and removing jet aircraft engine

An aircraft engine shipping system includes a frame assembly for supporting the aircraft engine, and a cradle assembly mounted on the frame assembly for securing the aircraft engine to the frame assembly. The frame assembly includes shock absorbers to provide continual shock absorption to an aircraft engine loaded thereon. The shipping system may be configured in either a truck or air transport mode. In the truck transport mode, the aircraft engine is secured to the cradle assembly by means of an aft ring which attaches to the aft portion of the aircraft, and a pair of cradle arms which attach to the forward portion of the aircraft engine. In the air transport mode, the aircraft engine is attached to the cradle assembly by the aft ring the aft ring, and a forward ring which attaches directly to the fan of the aircraft engine. In the air transport mode, the cradle arms are disconnected from the aircraft engine and rotated away from the engine in a stowed position. While in the air transport mode, the aircraft engine may be rotated wherein the forward and aft rings cooperate to achieve rotation of the aircraft engine. A jack system is used to raise or lower the aircraft engine in either the truck or air transport modes.

Shipping system for jet aircraft engine and method of installing and removing jet aircraft engine

A fan shipping frame includes a frame assembly for supporting a loaded fan section of a jet aircraft engine. A plurality of caster assemblies attached to the shipping frame provide locomotive capability and adjustable height positioning so that a loaded fan section may be transferred onto the appropriate transport aircraft or vehicle. Rail members mounted on the frame assembly are alignable with rail members of a fan dolly so that the fan section may be directly transferred from the fan dolly onto the shipping frame. A template integral with the shipping frame enables the fan section to be mounted thereon. A platform assembly rotatably mounted to the shipping frame may be deployed to enable the fan section to be tilted or tipped from a vertical transport position to a horizontal transport position wherein the shipping frame may be transported in either position. A storage container mounted on the shipping frame stores the removed fan blades of the fan section in either position. In one embodiment, a telescoping template support group is provided enabling the template to be raised or lowered so that it is able to readily connect to fan sections which have differing heights when mounted to structures such as the fan dolly.

Shipping frame for fan section of aircraft engine

A jet aircraft engine transport apparatus utilizes three major subcomponents. The first subcomponent is a shipping stand which enables a jet aircraft engine to be configured for transport in either a truck transport mode or air transport mode. The second subcomponent is a fan dolly which releasably secures the fan section of the jet aircraft engine for transport. The fan dolly serves the dual purpose of enabling removal of the fan section from the jet aircraft engine and providing a means of transport so that the fan section may be transported on the fan dolly or loaded onto a fan shipping frame, the third major subcomponent of the transport apparatus of this invention. The fan shipping frame enables transport of the fan section in either an upright or horizontal position, and further provides for a fan storage container for securing the fan blades of the fan section.

Method of removing a fan section of a jet engine

A jet aircraft engine transport apparatus is disclosed which utilizes three major subcomponents. The first subcomponent is a shipping stand which enables a jet aircraft engine to be configured for transport in either a truck transport mode or air transport mode. The second subcomponent is a fan dolly which releasably secures the fan section of the jet aircraft engine for transport. The fan dolly serves the dual purpose of enabling removal of the fan section from the jet aircraft engine and providing a means of transport so that the fan section may be transported on the fan dolly or loaded onto a fan shipping frame, the third major subcomponent of the transport apparatus of this invention. The fan shipping frame enables transport of the fan section in either an upright or horizontal position, and further provides for a fan storage container for securing the fan blades of the fan section.

Jet aircraft engine transport apparatus

The shipping stand includes a cradle assembly mounted upon a frame assembly to which a jet aircraft is securable. The frame assembly includes a plurality of wheels for locomotive capability. 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 when the shipping stand is configured in a truck transport mode. A plurality of lifting mechanisms selectively raise the cradle assembly to a predetermined height creating gaps between upper transport flanges and lower transport flanges. The gaps correspond to the height of spacers positionable between the flanges in the truck transport mode. To place the shipping stand in an air transport mode, the lifting mechanisms are activated, the spacers are removed from between the flanges and the cradle assembly is lowered to eliminate the gaps between the flanges. Each spacer includes indicia which indicate which mode the shipping stand is configured and further includes an air mode slot and a truck mode slot which cooperates with corresponding mode pins ensuring that the appropriate indicia is viewable when the shipping stand is configured in either the truck transport mode or the air transport mode.

Jet aircraft engine shipping stand

A fan shipping frame includes a frame assembly for supporting a loaded fan section of a jet aircraft engine. A plurality of caster assemblies attached to the shipping frame provide locomotive capability and adjustable height positioning so that a loaded fan section may be transferred onto the appropriate transport aircraft or vehicle. Rail members mounted on the frame assembly are alignable with rail members of a fan dolly so that the fan section may be directly transferred from the fan dolly onto the shipping frame. A template bracket integral with the shipping frame enables the fan section to be mounted thereon. A platform assembly rotatably mounted to the shipping frame may be deployed to enable the fan section to be tilted from a vertical transport position to a horizontal transport position wherein, the shipping frame may be transported in either position. A storage container mounted on the shipping frame stores the removed fan blades of the fan section in either position.

Growing community of inventors

Aurora, CO, United States of America

Robert F Hatch