Multi-purpose aircraft servicing bridge

• US 6,863,243 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2002
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Konya, Kazuhide, McCoskey, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barefoot, Galen
• Application Number:
  US10/242,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 244/137.2, 244/137.1, 14/715
• US Class Current: 244/137.2
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/305 Bridges extending between terminal building and aircraft, e.g. telescopic, vertically adjustable

Abstract

A multi-purpose aircraft servicing system (10) for an aircraft (12) is provided. The system (10) includes a multi-servicing bridge 16 having a main bridge section (26) with a plurality of bridge servicing units (56). A bridgehead (28) is mechanically coupled to the main bridge section (26) and mates to the aircraft (12). A method of servicing the aircraft (12) is also provided including parking the aircraft (12) at a terminal (24). The multi-purpose aircraft servicing system (10) is rotated to mate with the aircraft (12). The aircraft (12) is serviced from at least one side of the aircraft (12).

Claims

1. A multi-purpose aircraft servicing system for an aircraft comprising:

at least one multi-servicing bridge comprising;

at least one main bridge section having a plurality of bridge servicing units having a plurality of associated housings that are sectioned portions of said at least one main bridge section; and

at least one bridgehead mechanically coupled to said at least one main bridge section and mating to the aircraft.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one multi-servicing bridge further comprises at least one rotunda mechanically coupled to said at least one main bridge section, said at least one multi-servicing bridge is rotatable about said at least one rotunda.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one multi-servicing bridge comprises at least one telescoping section.

4. A system as in claim 1 comprising:

a first multi-servicing bridge for mating to a port side of the aircraft; and

a second multi-servicing bridge for mating to a starboard side of the aircraft.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one multi-servicing bridge comprises:

a first servicing unit having a first housing; and

a second servicing unit having a second housing and coupled to said first servicing unit, said second servicing unit being shorter in height than said first servicing unit.

6. A system as in claim 5 wherein said second servicing unit is lower in height relative to a wing of the aircraft.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one multi-servicing bridge comprises a plurality of servicing passageways.

8. A system as in claim 7 wherein at least one of said plurality of servicing passageways comprises at least two of said plurality of bridge servicing units.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one multi-servicing bridge comprises:

a passenger-servicing passageway; and

a cargo-servicing passageway mechanically coupled to and below said passenger-servicing passageway.

10. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one main bridge section comprises a plurality of servicing amenities.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one multi-servicing bridge is mechanically coupled to and embedded into an airline terminal.

12. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one multi-servicing bridge is serviceable via a servicing truck.

13. A system as in claim 1 wherein a multi-servicing bridge of said at least one multi-servicing bridge comprises a plurality of bridgeheads.

14. A system as in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said at least one multi-servicing bridge is height adjustable.

15. A multi-purpose aircraft servicing system for an aircraft comprising:

at least one multi-servicing bridge comprising;

at least one rotunda;

at least one main bridge section mechanically coupled to said at least one rotunda and having a plurality of passageways that are sectioned portions of said at least one main bridge section, wherein at least one of said plurality of passageways comprise a plurality of bridge servicing units having a plurality of associated housings; and

at least one bridgehead mechanically coupled to said at least one main bridge section and mating to the aircraft;

said at least one multi-servicing bridge rotatable about said at least one rotunda.

16. A method of servicing an aircraft within a multi-purpose aircraft servicing system comprising:

proving at least one multi-servicing bridge having a plurality of bridge servicing units with corresponding housings that are sectioned portions of a main bridge section;

parking the aircraft at a terminal;

rotating at least one multi-servicing bridge to mate with the aircraft; and

servicing the aircraft from at least one side of the aircraft.

17. A method as in claim 16 wherein servicing the aircraft comprises:

deplaning and enplaning passengers from at least one side of the aircraft;

performing galley servicing from at least one side of the aircraft;

performing cabin cleaning servicing from at least one side of the aircraft; and

performing cargo servicing from at least one side of the aircraft.

18. A method as in claim 16 further comprising:

rotating said at least one multi-servicing bridge to be embedded into an airline terminal having a terminal face; and

supplying at least one bridge servicing unit along said terminal face.

19. A method as in claim 16 wherein servicing the aircraft comprises servicing both a port side and a starboard side of the aircraft simultaneously.

20. A method as in claim 16 further comprising adjusting a servicing bridge parameter.