Abstract: A connecting means provides a connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in a second compartment of the vehicle. The first and the second compartment are separated by a wall. A catering system for a vehicle includes the connecting means. A method provides a sealed connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in second compartment of a vehicle. The connecting means includes a frame, a hatch arrangement for selectively closing and opening a frame aperture with a hatch cover and a bellows arrangement including a flexible bellows. The flexible bellows can be extended from the frame to a storage means located in the second compartment of the vehicle. A continuous passage defined by the flexible bellows and the frame provides a sealed connecting passage between the first compartment and the storage means.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment separated by a floor structure, and a cargo unit including a storage rack arrangement and a transport arrangement operable for selectively transporting objects between the storage rack arrangement and a predetermined transfer position in a cavity of the cargo unit. The transport arrangement includes a conveying apparatus including a table unit movable along a vertical transport path, and the vehicle includes a mounting means adapted for securing the cargo unit in a predetermined operating position inside the cargo compartment, in which an access aperture in an upper cover of the cargo unit is disposed in alignment with a through hole in the floor structure. A lift apparatus including a gripping device is operable to convey objects from the transfer position through the access aperture and the through hole between the cargo compartment and the passenger compartment.

Abstract: An aircraft monument includes an elongate cavity having an open end and a lift apparatus mounted to the monument and adapted for lifting goods along the longitudinal axis of the cavity. The monument is adapted to be mounted on a floor structure of an aircraft separating two compartments of the aircraft from each other such that the open end of the cavity faces the floor structure. The lift apparatus includes a guide means including two straight guide members spaced apart, and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, a conveying means including two conveying members each mounted to a different guide member, a moving means for linearly moving the two conveying members, a control means for controlling the moving means to synchronize the linear movement of the conveying members, and a gripping means secured to the conveying means and adapted for selectively gripping and releasing goods.

Abstract: A self-aligning connector for data and/or power transmission includes a base plate, a plurality of data and/or power contact elements arranged on the base plate, first and second positioning means attached to the base plate, a mounting means and a frame assembly connecting the base plate to the mounting means and comprising a plurality of frames. Each frame is directly connected to exactly two elements selected from a group consisting of the plurality of frames, the mounting means and the base plate. Each frame is tiltable at least about one axis and/or displaceable in at least one direction with respect to each element it is directly connected to. A connector assembly includes a first self-aligning connector and a second connector. A vehicle includes a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a wall, a bellows assembly and the connector assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring system for monitoring a state of a door lock mechanism of a door or of a closure of a storage space of a means of transportation, comprising a generator and a sensor/actuator. The generator produces electrical energy from vibration energy, and the sensor detects the state of the door lock mechanism. The sensor uses the kinetic energy that is produced by the actuation of the door lock to generate an electrical signal, which is then transmitted to a microcontroller.

Abstract: A self-aligning connector for data and/or power transmission includes a base plate, a plurality of data and/or power contact elements arranged on the base plate, first and second positioning means attached to the base plate, a mounting means and a frame assembly connecting the base plate to the mounting means and comprising a plurality of frames. Each frame is directly connected to exactly two elements selected from a group consisting of the plurality of frames, the mounting means and the base plate. Each frame is tiltable at least about one axis and/or displaceable in at least one direction with respect to each element it is directly connected to. A connector assembly includes a first self-aligning connector and a second connector. A vehicle includes a first compartment and a second compartment separated by a wall, a bellows assembly and the connector assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment and a cargo compartment separated by a floor structure, and a cargo unit including a storage rack arrangement and a transport arrangement operable for selectively transporting objects between the storage rack arrangement and a predetermined transfer position in a cavity of the cargo unit. The transport arrangement includes a conveying apparatus including a table unit movable along a vertical transport path, and the vehicle includes a mounting means adapted for securing the cargo unit in a predetermined operating position inside the cargo compartment, in which an access aperture in an upper cover of the cargo unit is disposed in alignment with a through hole in the floor structure. A lift apparatus including a gripping device is operable to convey objects from the transfer position through the access aperture and the through hole between the cargo compartment and the passenger compartment.

Abstract: An aircraft monument includes an elongate cavity having an open end and a lift apparatus mounted to the monument and adapted for lifting goods along the longitudinal axis of the cavity. The monument is adapted to be mounted on a floor structure of an aircraft separating two compartments of the aircraft from each other such that the open end of the cavity faces the floor structure. The lift apparatus includes a guide means including two straight guide members spaced apart, and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, a conveying means including two conveying members each mounted to a different guide member, a moving means for linearly moving the two conveying members, a control means for controlling the moving means to synchronize the linear movement of the conveying members, and a gripping means secured to the conveying means and adapted for selectively gripping and releasing goods.

Abstract: A cargo container for storing goods and for loading into a cargo compartment of a vehicle includes a housing including a base plate and defining an interior cavity, a storage rack arrangement in the form of a storage rack module and adapted for storing a plurality of goods in the cavity, and a transport arrangement in the form of a transport module and including a conveying means and a control unit therefor, operable for selectively transporting goods stored in the storage rack arrangement from the storage rack arrangement to a predetermined location in the cavity. For each of the storage rack modules and transport modules removable from the container, the cargo container includes a releasable coupling mechanism for fastening the respective module and for locating it in a predetermined position with respect to the remainder of the container.

Abstract: A connecting means provides a connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in a second compartment of the vehicle. The first and the second compartment are separated by a wall. A catering system for a vehicle includes the connecting means. A method provides a sealed connecting passage between a first compartment of a vehicle and a storage means located in second compartment of a vehicle. The connecting means includes a frame, a hatch arrangement for selectively closing and opening a frame aperture with a hatch cover and a bellows arrangement including a flexible bellows. The flexible bellows can be extended from the frame to a storage means located in the second compartment of the vehicle. A continuous passage defined by the flexible bellows and the frame provides a sealed connecting passage between the first compartment and the storage means.

Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring system for monitoring a state of a door lock mechanism of a door or of a closure of a storage space of a means of transportation, comprising a generator and a sensor/actuator. The generator produces electrical energy from vibration energy, and the sensor detects the state of the door lock mechanism. The sensor uses the kinetic energy that is produced by the actuation of the door lock to generate an electrical signal, which is then transmitted to a microcontroller.