One advantageous embodiment of the present invention is an integrated transport
system (14) for moving an object (20) in an aircraft (10)
between a main cabin (16) and an overhead cabin (18) via a shaft
(24) in connection therebetween. This integrated transport system (14)
includes a single-unit gantry-lift device (42) with an object carrier (32)
for receiving the object (20). This object carrier (32) has one or
more restraint members (34, 38) for securing the object (20) in the
object carrier (32) and preventing the object (20) from inadvertently
tipping or falling out of the object carrier (32). In this embodiment, the
single-unit gantry-lift device (42) further includes a lift device (46)
for moving the object carrier (32) generally along a longitudinal axis (22)
of the shaft (24) and a gantry device (44) for moving the object
carrier (32) generally along a first axis (26) of the overhead cabin
(18) and/or a second axis (28), which is disposed generally perpendicular
to the first axis (26).