METHOD FOR AUTOMATED DOCKING OF A PASSENGER BRIDGE OR A GOODS HANDLING BRIDGE TO A DOOR OF AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20090217468A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FMT International Trade AB
• Original Assignee: FMT International Trade AB
• Inventors: Anderberg, Nils-Erik
• Granted Patent: US 8,645,004 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 14/71.500
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/3055 with hinged head interface between aircraft and passenger bridge

Abstract

Method for automatically docking a passenger bridge (1, 2) to an airplane (5) door (3, 4) at an airport gate, wherein the airplane is brought to and stopped in a predetermined position by contact less measurement of the distance between the airplane and a fixed point and wherein a control computer (14) is adopted to control the movement of the passenger bridge and wherein a start signal (24) is required from a person after the person has established the correct type of airplane and version of the airplane type to enable the control computer to cause the passenger bridge to be moved for docking.

Claims

1. A method of docking automatically a passenger bridge or a goods handling bridge to a door of an airplane at an airport gate, in which the airplane (5) is brought to a pre-determined position and stopped in said position by contact less measuring of the distance between the airplane and a fixed point, wherein the distance is indicated on a display (6) mounted in front of the pilot of the airplane on, for instance, an airport structure (7), wherein the display (6) is caused to show to the pilot the position of the airplane (5) relative to an airplane stop point, and to show the type of airplane concerned, wherein said distance measuring and display functions are caused to be activated by an all-inclusive airport installed data system (17), and wherein there is included a control computer which is adapted to control the movements of the passenger bridge, characterized in that subsequent to activation of a distance meter (13) for measuring said distance and of the display (6) for positioning an arriving airplane there is required a start signal (24) given by a person subsequent to having established that the correct type of airplane and the correct version of the airplane type has been set to enable the control computer (14) to cause the passenger bridge (1;

2) to be moved for docking with an airplane (5), in that provided that the airplane has stopped within a given pre-determined position interval, wherein the distance meter (13) is caused to send a signal to said control computer (14), which has access to data relating to the positions of the airplane doors on different airplane types and versions of airplane types, so as to guide movement of the passenger bridge (1;

2) to a position in which the cabin (15;

16) of the passenger bridge connects with the door (3;

4) of the airplane (5) in the absence of the influence of a driver.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said start signal (24) is caused to be sent from a control unit (25) by a person who superintends the various airport gates, subsequent to the person having received an all-clear signal regarding the type of airplane concerned and the version of airplane type.

3. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the start signal (21) is caused to be sent by the pilot with the aid of a transmitter (22).

4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the transmitter (22) is adapted to send radio waves or, alternatively, infrared light to a receiver (23) located in connection with the passenger bridge (1;

2) or with said display (6).

5. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the display (6) is caused to show the version of the type of airplane in addition to the airplane type to the pilot subsequent to activation of a distance meter (13) for measuring said distance and a display (6) for positioning of an incoming airplane, and in that when the pilot accepts the displayed type of airplane and the version of said airplane type, the pilot causes the airplane to move forwards to the stopping point, wherein movement of the airplane to said stopping point constitutes said start signal (24).

6. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that information relating to an expected airplane type and version of said airplane type for activating said distance meter (13) and said display (β

) is taken from said all-inclusive data system (17).

7. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that information relating to an incoming airplane type and version of said airplane type for activating the distance meter (13) and the display (6) is read from a transponder (19) located in or on the airplane, with the aid of a reader (20) placed in connection with the display (6).

8. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said predetermined area is the area within which the cabin (14;

15) of the passenger bridge (1;

2) can be moved to a position at the door (3;

4) of the airplane (5) when the airplane has stopped.

9. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance meter (13) includes a device for sending and receiving electromagnetic pulses, such as a scanning laser (2) or a microwave system directed towards an area along a centre line (19) along which an airplane (5) is intended to move in an airplane positioning process and located in a position in front of a positioned airplane.

10. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the start signal (21) is caused to be sent by the pilot with the aid of a transmitter (22).

11. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the display (6) is caused to show the version of the type of airplane in addition to the airplane type to the pilot subsequent to activation of a distance meter (13) for measuring said distance and a display (6) for positioning of an incoming airplane, and in that when the pilot accepts the displayed type of airplane and the version of said airplane type, the pilot causes the airplane to move forwards to the stopping point, wherein movement of the airplane to said stopping point constitutes said start signal (24).

12. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the display (6) is caused to show the version of the type of airplane in addition to the airplane type to the pilot subsequent to activation of a distance meter (13) for measuring said distance and a display (6) for positioning of an incoming airplane, and in that when the pilot accepts the displayed type of airplane and the version of said airplane type, the pilot causes the airplane to move forwards to the stopping point, wherein movement of the airplane to said stopping point constitutes said start signal (24).

13. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the display (6) is caused to show the version of the type of airplane in addition to the airplane type to the pilot subsequent to activation of a distance meter (13) for measuring said distance and a display (6) for positioning of an incoming airplane, and in that when the pilot accepts the displayed type of airplane and the version of said airplane type, the pilot causes the airplane to move forwards to the stopping point, wherein movement of the airplane to said stopping point constitutes said start signal (24).

14. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that information relating to an incoming airplane type and version of said airplane type for activating the distance meter (13) and the display (6) is read from a transponder (19) located in or on the airplane, with the aid of a reader (20) placed in connection with the display (6).