Aircraft non-ambulatory/ambulatory boarding and off-loading system

• US 6,802,391 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2002
• Issued: 10/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Florida Manufacturing Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: US Airport Products Corporation
• Inventors: Ganiere, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN SHUE, ALVIN C
• Application Number:
  US10/153,413
• Publication Number:
  US 20030217891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 182/69.6, 182/63.1, 182/69.1, 182/2.5, 182/141, 182/148, 182/1, 182/15, 182/16, 182/17, 182/116, 182/115, 182/727, 414/495
• US Class Current: 182/69.6
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/315 Mobile stairs
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/32 for handling freight
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/0625 with wheels for moving around the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/0666 Multiple scissor linkages vertically arranged
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 7/08 hydraulically or pneumatically operated
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 11/0255 having adjustable gradient E04F11/1041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/39 Ladders having platforms; Ladders changeable into platforms platforms for use on ladders E06C7/16
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 1/397 characterised by having wheels, rollers, or runners
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 5/04 capable of being elevated or extended ; Fastening means during transport, e.g. mechanical, hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 7/12 Lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders

Abstract

The invention is a loading system, which is a combination adjustable height stairway and a landing platform at one end that can be elevated to the level of the aircraft loading door and a lifting portion for loading articles to and from the landing platform. Both the lifting portion and the adjustable height stairway are side by side and are adapted to move in unison to and from the aircraft and further adapted to independently elevate or descend. The stairway and lifting portion may each be independently operated by at least one hydraulically driven motor. The system can moved to and from the aircraft using a combination of independent drive wheels and swivel wheels in order to provide tight maneuverability of the combined stairway and lifting portion.

Claims

1. An aircraft loading system comprising:

an adjustable height stairway portion including a landing at one end of a stairway which can be elevated to an aircraft service door, said stairway portion;

being means for boarding and off-loading ambulatory passengers from the aircraft;

each step of the stairway having means for maintaining a horizontal orientation with the elevating and lowering of the stairway portion to allow the continuing boarding or off-loading of ambulatory passengers at any operational elevated height of the stairway portion;

a lifting portion, the lifting portion being means for lifting and lowering articles and non-ambulatory passengers to and from the landing;

the lifting portion including a platform that can be elevated so as to be in close juxtaposition with the landing so that the articles can be transferred to or from the platform from or to the landing;

the stairway portion and the lifting portion being in a generally parallel side-by-side relationship and connected with each other so as to move along the ground surface in unison, and for allowing, when positioned along the aircraft body with the landing juxtapositioned to the aircraft service door, the simultaneous off-loading or boarding of ambulatory passengers and articles or non-ambulatory passengers;

means for independently elevating and lowering the stairway portion and the lifting portion; and

steering and mobility means for steering and moving the system in position for servicing an aircraft.

2. The aircraft loading system according to claim 1, wherein the steering and mobility means further comprises:

bearing means attached to predetermined locations on the system, said bearing means for ground bearing and for maintaining stability of the system during relative movement of the system with the ground surface and during operation when servicing the aircraft.

3. The aircraft loading system according to claim 2, wherein the bearing means is at least three spaced-apart wheel assemblies.

4. The aircraft loading system according to claim 3, wherein the steering and mobility means further includes swivel connections between at least one of the spaced-apart wheel assemblies of the bearing means and a frame structure of the system to which the steering and mobility means is supported.

5. The aircraft loading system according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the spaced-apart wheel assemblies is an independently driven wheel assembly.

6. The aircraft loading system according to claim 3, wherein at least two of the spaced-apart wheel assemblies are each independently driven wheel assemblies.

7. The aircraft loading system according to claim 1, wherein the means for independently elevating and lowering the stairway portion includes driven actuator means.

8. The aircraft loading system according to claim 1, wherein the means for independently elevating and lowering the lifting portion includes driven actuator means.

9. The aircraft loading system according to claim 1, wherein the lifting portion further comprises:

a scissor lifting portion having an upper portion from which the platform is suspended and adapted to be lowered to the ground surface and elevated to be juxtapositioned with the landing.

10. The aircraft loading system according to claim 9, wherein the scissor lifting portion includes driven actuator means.

11. The aircraft loading system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pivotable landing ramp attached to the landing, said landing ramp being adapted to serve as a safety rail when in an upright position while the stairway portion is being elevated or lowered and to serve as a walkway ramp from the landing through the aircraft service door when it is lowered through said aircraft service door.

12. The aircraft loading system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a removable safety rail portion attached to the platform on a side that would abut the aircraft,

wherein when the platform is aligned with the aircraft door, the safety rail portion is removable to allow for unloading and loading through the aircraft service door.

13. The aircraft loading system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pivotable platform ramp attached to the platform, said platform ramp being adapted to serve as a safety rail when in an upright position while the stairway portion is being elevated or lowered and to facilitate movement of articles on and off the platform.