Terminal docking port for an operational ground support system

• US 7,578,469 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: McCoskey, William R., Johnson, Richard N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Collins; Timothy D
• Application Number:
  US11/164,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20070040063A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 244/114.R, 244/137.1, 244/137.2
• US Class Current: 244/118.1
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/405 Powered wheels, e.g. for taxing
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/305 Bridges extending between terminal building and aircraft, e.g. telescopic, vertically adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/31 Passenger vehicles specially adapted to co-operate, e.g. dock, with aircraft or terminal buildings
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/35 for supplying electrical power to stationary aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/36 Other airport installations ground installations for de-icing aircraft B64F5/20
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/80 Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management

Abstract

A terminal (14) for an airport (13) includes multiple servicing levels (82, 102). A ground support service sub-system is coupled to the servicing levels (82, 102) and is configured to mate with a service opening (26) of the aircraft (12). The ground support service sub-system provides services to the aircraft (12) through the service opening (26) and on the servicing levels (82, 102).

Claims

1. A terminal for an airport comprising:

a plurality of servicing levels;

at least one ground support service sub-system coupled to said plurality of servicing levels and configured to mate with at least one service opening of at least one aircraft; and

a terminal carry-on system comprising;

a carry-on loading area comprising an area located on a terminal level of said terminal;

at least one carry-on module comprising a plurality of carry-on cargo compartments for loading carry-on cargo;

at least one carry-on module elevator for raising and lowering the at least one carry-on module between said terminal level and a tarmac level;

at least one carry-on module conveyor, located on the tarmac level, for conveying said at least one carry-on module between said terminal and an aircraft;

said at least one ground support service sub-system providing a plurality of services to said at least one aircraft through said at least one service opening and on said plurality of servicing levels.

2. A terminal as in claim 1 comprising a docking port that is configured to couple to a nose of said at least one aircraft.

3. A terminal as in claim 1 comprising a docking port that is configured to couple to a side of said at least one aircraft.

4. A terminal as in claim 1 wherein said at least one ground support service subsystem is selected from at least one of a passenger ingress/egress system, a cargo ingress/egress system, an primary service system, an secondary service system, a security system, and a health and maintenance monitoring system.

5. A terminal as in claim 4 wherein said primary service system is selected from at least one of a fuel system, a power system, an electrical power system, a water system, an air system, and a brake cooling system.

6. A terminal as in claim 4 wherein said secondary service system provides services selected from at least one of cabin cleaning services, galley services, lavatories, and trash services to said at least one aircraft.

7. A terminal as in claim 1 comprising a floor for passenger ingress and egress to and from said at least one aircraft.

8. A terminal as in claim 1 comprising a floor for cargo ingress and egress to and from said at least one aircraft.

9. A terminal as in claim 1 further comprising a first plurality of primary service couplers that mate with a second plurality of primary service couplers on said aircraft.

10. A terminal as in claim 1 further comprising a cargo elevator platform.

11. A terminal as in claim 1 further comprising an aircraft terminal mating system.

12. A terminal as in claim 11 wherein said aircraft terminal mating system is in the form of a machine vision technology system.

13. A terminal as in claim 11 wherein said aircraft terminal mating system comprises a docking coupler.

14. A terminal as in claim 11 wherein said aircraft terminal mating system comprises a global positioning system.

15. A terminal as in claim 11 wherein said aircraft terminal mating system comprises a precision guidance system that follows a guideline in mating said at least one aircraft to said at least one airport interface terminal docking port.

16. A terminal as in claim 1 wherein said at least one airport interface terminal docking port comprises at least one terminal for servicing a non-nose opening aircraft.

17. A terminal as in claim 1 wherein said at least one airport interface terminal docking port comprises a terminal carry-on system.

18. A terminal as in claim 1 further comprising at least one bar code reader that reads bar codes on cargo transported to and from the at least one aircraft.

19. A terminal as in claim 1 further comprises at least one cargo carousel.

20. A terminal for an airport as in claim 1, wherein:

said at least one carry-on module comprises at least one cubbyhole locker for storing passenger carry-on luggage.

21. A terminal for an airport as in claim 20, wherein:

said at least one carry-on module further comprises at least one cloak closet.

22. A terminal for an airport as in claim 20, wherein:

said at least one carry-on module further comprises a bar-code for being checked by a security system during transport of said at least one carry-on module to said aircraft.