Flexible over the wing passenger loading bridge
First Claim
1. A method of automatically aligning a passenger loading bridge to an aircraft having a rear doorway aft of or over a wing, comprising:
- a) automatically determining a type of the aircraft;
b) retrieving information relating to an expected stopping position for the rear doorway of the determined type of the aircraft;
c) retrieving other information relating to a predetermined minimum height profile for allowing the passenger loading bridge to maintain a desired minimum safe distance relative to the wing of the aircraft;
d) waiting for the aircraft to stop;
e) automatically moving an aircraft engaging end of the passenger loading bridge toward the expected stopping position of the rear doorway for the determined type of the aircraft; and
f) moving an outboard portion of the passenger loading bridge relatively to an inboard portion of the passenger loading bridge about a first flexible connection disposed therebetween, and adjusting a height of the first flexible connection by pivoting the inboard portion of the passenger loading bridge about a second flexible connection, such that during (e) a point along the lower surface of the passenger loading bridge remains above the predetermined minimum height profile of the wing of the aircraft.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for moving passengers between an airport terminal building and a doorway of an aircraft located rearward of a wing of the aircraft which includes a passageway member pivotally anchored to one of the terminal building and a passenger loading bridge for servicing a front doorway of a same aircraft. The apparatus includes a telescopic passageway member that is pivotally mounted to the passageway member via a flexible connection. In use, the apparatus is cantilevered over the wing of an aircraft with the flexible connection substantially above a highest point along an upper surface of the aircraft wing. The flexible connection allows a cabin carried at an outboard end of the telescopic passageway member to mate to the rear doorway of the aircraft, providing an open passageway between the rear doorway and the terminal building through which passengers deplane. Positioning the flexible connection above the high point of the wing approximately minimizes the inclination of each passageway member floor surface.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of automatically aligning a passenger loading bridge to an aircraft having a rear doorway aft of or over a wing, comprising:
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a) automatically determining a type of the aircraft;
b) retrieving information relating to an expected stopping position for the rear doorway of the determined type of the aircraft;
c) retrieving other information relating to a predetermined minimum height profile for allowing the passenger loading bridge to maintain a desired minimum safe distance relative to the wing of the aircraft;
d) waiting for the aircraft to stop;
e) automatically moving an aircraft engaging end of the passenger loading bridge toward the expected stopping position of the rear doorway for the determined type of the aircraft; and
f) moving an outboard portion of the passenger loading bridge relatively to an inboard portion of the passenger loading bridge about a first flexible connection disposed therebetween, and adjusting a height of the first flexible connection by pivoting the inboard portion of the passenger loading bridge about a second flexible connection, such that during (e) a point along the lower surface of the passenger loading bridge remains above the predetermined minimum height profile of the wing of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of automatically aligning a passenger loading bridge to an aircraft having a rear doorway aft of or over a wing, comprising:
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adjusting a height of a flexible connection disposed between an outboard portion and an inboard portion of the passenger loading bridge to a first height;
adjusting a height of an aircraft engaging end of the passenger loading bridge by relatively moving the outboard portion and the inboard portion of the passenger loading bridge about the flexible connection, so as to adjust an angle between the outboard portion and the inboard portion of the passenger loading bridge about the flexible connection while maintaining the flexible connection at approximately the first height; and
,moving the aircraft engaging end over the wing of the aircraft in a direction that is toward the rear doorway of the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification