Galley cart storage system and method of use

Abstract

A mobile platform galley cart storage and retrieval system includes a plurality of joined walls defining a galley area. A plurality of mobile carts are stored in the galley area, including at least a first side-by-side subgroup of carts and a second-side-by-side subgroup-of carts positioned above the first subgroup. An optional third subgroup is positioned above the second subgroup. An automatic transfer system lifts and horizontally transfers carts to predetermined storage locations on racks supporting each elevated subgroup of carts. The carts are stored in either randomly accessible locations or in first-in/last-out locations.

1 . A mobile platform service product storage and retrieval system, comprising: 
 a plurality of joined walls defining a galley area;    a plurality of mobile carts operably storable in the galley area;    a first side-by-side subgroup of the mobile carts; and    a second side-by-side subgroup of the mobile carts positioned within the galley area above the first subgroup.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising at least one first track supporting the second subgroup of the mobile carts.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising: 
 a passageway located in the galley area; and    a work area having a counter space and a plurality of cabinets positioned on an opposed side of the passageway from the plurality of mobile carts;    wherein a headroom clearance is provided under the first track for personnel located within the passageway.    
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising a first plurality of predetermined parking locations, each operable to store one of the mobile carts of the second subgroup.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , comprising: 
 at least one automatic transfer device operable to transfer select ones of the mobile carts;    wherein the transfer device is automatically operable to lift one of the mobile carts of the first subgroup to the first track and subsequently position the one cart in one of the first predetermined parking locations.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , comprising: 
 a third side-by-side subgroup of the mobile carts positioned within the galley area above the second subgroup; and    at least a second track supporting the third subgroup of the mobile carts.    
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , comprising a second plurality of predetermined parking locations, each operable to store one of the mobile carts of the third subgroup.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 7 , comprising: 
 at least one transfer device operable to transfer select ones of the mobile carts;    wherein the transfer device is automatically operable to lift one of the mobile carts of the first subgroup to one of the first track and the second track and subsequently position the one cart in one of the first predetermined parking locations and the second predetermined parking locations.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising: 
 a transfer path between one of the first and second tracks and the first subgroup of the mobile carts; and    a designated cart retrieval location in the first subgroup;    wherein the transfer device is operable to retrieve a stored one of the mobile carts positioned in one of the first predetermined parking locations and the second predetermined parking locations, and operably transfer the stored one cart along the transfer path to the designated retrieval location.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a passenger area support deck operably supporting the galley area.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , comprising a galley support system operable to permit a horizontal translation of the galley area on the passenger area support deck.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 3 , comprising: 
 the second group of mobile carts being divisible into both a forward and an aft subgroup of mobile carts, both the forward and the aft subgroup operatively oriented perpendicular to a mobile platform fore/aft centerline; and    the at least one first track includes a forward track operably supporting the forward subgroup and an aft track operably supporting the aft subgroup;    wherein the headroom clearance is provided under one of the forward track and the aft track for personnel located within the passageway.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 5 , comprising a control panel operable to control operation of the automatic transfer device.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 5 , comprising at least one access panel manually operable to access at least one of the mobile carts during a failure of the automatic transfer device.  
   
   
       15 . A mobile platform service product storage and retrieval system, comprising: 
 a plurality of joined walls defining a galley area;    a plurality of mobile carts operably storable in the galley area including a first cart subgroup and a second cart subgroup positioned above the first subgroup; and    a substantially circular rack defining a plurality of predetermined mobile cart parking locations, each of the locations operable to store one of the mobile carts of the second cart subgroup.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , comprising a rotatable platform positioned adjacent the rack rotatably operable to position each of the mobile carts of the second cart subgroup at one of the predetermined parking locations.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , comprising a transfer device operable to transfer select ones of the mobile carts between the first cart subgroup and the rotatable platform.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the transfer device comprises at least a lift mechanism centrally located within the first cart subgroup.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein each of the mobile carts of the first cart subgroup are configured in a side-by-side arrangement to any adjacent cart.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , comprising: 
 a rack operably supporting the mobile carts of the second cart subgroup; and    a plurality of predetermined parking positions locatable on the rack;    wherein the transfer device is operable to one of position and retrieve each of the mobile carts of the second cart subgroup at one of the predetermined positions.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein each of the mobile carts is operable to store a plurality of service products.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 15 , comprising: 
 a passageway located in the galley area;    wherein a headroom clearance is provided under the circular rack for personnel located within the passageway.    
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , comprising an arrangement having a counter and a plurality of cabinets positioned on an opposed side of the passageway from the plurality of mobile carts.  
   
   
       24 . A galley cart storage and retrieval system for a mobile platform, the system comprising: 
 a plurality of joined walls defining a galley area;    a plurality of mobile carts operably storable in the galley area in one of a first cart subgroup, a second cart subgroup and a third subgroup;    each of the subgroups having the mobile carts arranged in a side-by-side configuration; and    a rack operable to support each of the mobile carts of both the first and second subgroups;    wherein the rack is elevated above a galley area passageway.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , comprising: 
 a mobile platform longitudinal axis; and    a rack operably aligned in parallel to the mobile platform longitudinal axis;    wherein each of the mobile carts are positionable having a side of each mobile cart positioned perpendicular to the mobile platform longitudinal axis.    
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the rack comprises both a first rack portion operably supporting the first cart subgroup and a second rack portion operably supporting the second cart subgroup.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , comprising a transfer device operable to transfer free ones of the mobile carts to one of the first rack portion and the second rack portion.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein each of the mobile carts of the first cart subgroup and the second cart subgroup are stored in a first-in/last-out order.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 27 , comprising: 
 a passageway located in the galley area; and    an input/removal access for the transfer device to operably access the mobile carts from one of the first cart subgroup and the second cart subgroup, the access located adjacent to a first side of the passageway.    
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 29 , comprising: 
 an arrangement having a countertop and a plurality of cabinets, the arrangement positioned adjacent an opposed second side of the passageway;    wherein the third cart subgroup is operably positioned under the countertop.    
   
   
       31 . A galley cart storage and retrieval system for a mobile platform, the system comprising: 
 a first row of galley carts;    a second row of galley carts positioned above the first row;    a third row of galley carts positioned both approximately level with and in front of the first row;    each of the galley carts of the first, second and third rows being arranged in a side-by-side configuration of adjacent carts within each of the rows; and    an automated rotation mechanism operable to simultaneously rotate both the first row and the second row of galley carts;    wherein rotation of the first row and the second row of galley carts operably positions a desired one of the first row and the second row of galley carts for removal through an end cart removal cavity of the third row.    
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , comprising a sub-portion of the automated rotation mechanism operable to translate the desired one of the first row and the second row of galley carts for removal through the end cart removal cavity of the third row.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 31 , comprising a manual device operable to manually translate the desired one of the first row and the second row galley carts for removal through the end cart removal cavity of the third row.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 31 , comprising a galley countertop positioned above the third set of galley carts.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the automated rotation mechanism comprises an opposed pair of cart lifts, each positioned at an opposite ends of both of the first row and the second row of galley carts.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the first row, the second row, and the third row of galley carts, together with the automated rotation mechanism comprise a first galley portion.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 36 , comprising: 
 a second galley portion forming a mirror image arrangement with the first galley portion; and    a central galley passageway disposed between the first and second galley portions.    
   
   
       38 . An automated stacked galley cart stowage system, comprising: 
 a plurality of galley carts;    a two-layer stacked galley having an upper layer and a lower layer of the galley carts;    an automated, mechanized device to move the galley carts between the layers;    a single-cart-layer galley substantially adjacent to the two-layer stacked galley;    a transfer device operably permitting individual ones of the galley carts to be moved between the two-layer stacked galley and the single-cart-layer galley; and    a galley workspace substantially adjacent to the single-cart-layer galley operably positioned opposite from the two-layer stacked galley.    
   
   
       39 . A galley cart storage system for an aircraft, comprising: 
 a passenger deck of the aircraft defining a first aircraft volume and a second aircraft volume positioned above the first aircraft volume;    a first storage device operably positioned in the first aircraft volume on the passenger deck having a first set of galley carts positioned in a side-by-side configuration;    a second storage device operably positioned in the second aircraft volume having a second set of galley carts positioned in the side-by-side configuration; and    a cart lift device operable to lower any of the second set of galley carts to the first aircraft volume.    
   
   
       40 . The storage system of  claim 39 , comprising: 
 a ceiling of the passenger deck;    wherein the second aircraft volume is positioned substantially directly above the first aircraft volume and below the ceiling.    
   
   
       41 . The storage system of  claim 40 , wherein the cart lift device comprises a single cart lift operably positioned at a location corresponding to a horizontally outward-most cart position of both the first and the second set of galley carts.  
   
   
       42 . The storage system of  claim 40 , wherein the cart lift device comprises a pair of cart lifts each positioned at one of an opposed pair of horizontally outward-most cart positions of each of the first and the second set of galley carts.  
   
   
       43 . The storage system of  claim 40 , wherein the cart lift device comprises a plurality of cart lifts having an individual one of the cart lifts positioned in vertical alignment with each galley cart of the second set of galley carts and operable to access each galley cart of the second set of galley carts.  
   
   
       44 . The storage system of  claim 39 , comprising: 
 a plurality of individually accessible first galley cart storage positions located in the first aircraft volume; and    a first translation device operable to move any one of the galley carts in the first aircraft volume to one of the first storage positions.    
   
   
       45 . The storage system of  claim 44 , comprising: 
 a plurality of individually accessible second galley cart storage positions located in the second aircraft volume; and    a second translation device operable to move any one of the galley carts in the second aircraft volume to one of the second storage positions.    
   
   
       46 . The storage system of  claim 39 , comprising: 
 a third aircraft volume positioned horizontally adjacent the first aircraft volume on the passenger deck; and    a third storage device operably positioned in the third aircraft volume having a third set of galley carts positioned in the side-by-side configuration.    
   
   
       47 . The storage system of  claim 46 , comprising: 
 a countertop operably positioned above the third aircraft volume;    wherein the countertop is usable by a flight attendant for meal preparation.    
   
   
       48 . The storage system of  claim 47 , comprising a plurality of food service devices positioned above the countertop.  
   
   
       49 . The storage system of  claim 47 , comprising an aisle space adjacent the third aircraft volume for personnel access to the third set of galley carts.  
   
   
       50 . The storage system of  claim 49 , comprising: 
 a vacated space beneath the countertop in the third aircraft volume; and    a manual extraction device operable to translate an individual cart of the first set of galley carts through the vacated space and into the aisle space.    
   
   
       51 . The storage system of  claim 46 , comprising a translation device operable to move an individual cart of the galley carts between the first aircraft volume and the third aircraft volume.  
   
   
       52 . The storage system of  claim 39 , comprising a plurality of increased strength support beams located in the passenger deck below said storage system.  
   
   
       53 . The storage system of  claim 39 , comprising a storage system structural containment system operable to secure the first and second set of galley carts during a high load condition.  
   
   
       54 . A method for storing and retrieving carts of a mobile platform galley, the method comprising: 
 grouping a plurality of mobile carts into a side-by-side orientation to each other;    dividing the mobile carts into at least a first cart group a second cart group;    positioning the second cart group above the first cart group one of within and adjacent to the mobile platform galley;    automatically accessing an individual mobile cart of the second cart group; and    transferring the individual mobile cart to an access area in the first cart group.    
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , comprising: 
 vertically aligning individual mobile carts of each of the first and second cart groups; and    removing one of the mobile carts from the access area of the first cart groups.    
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 54 , comprising: 
 further dividing the mobile carts into a third cart group; and    positioning the third cart group above the second cart group.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56 , comprising: 
 automatically accessing an individual mobile cart of the third cart group; and    transferring the individual mobile cart to the access area in the first cart group.    
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 54 , comprising manually accessing any one of the mobile carts during a period when automatic access is not available.