Patent ID: 6062809
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: A61G,B60P,B64F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for lifting a passenger into and out of an aircraft with a manual, steerable lift having a basket for holding the passenger and at least one other person, the aircraft having an elevated opening, the method comprising the steps of:manually moving the lift, while also steering the lift, to a position that aligns the basket with the aircraft's opening;raising the basket with a lifter so as to displace a pair of lift arms until the basket is level with the aircraft's opening;stabilizing the basket with at least one stabilizing arm during the raising step;monitoring the raising the basket step with at least one of a lift arm limit switch and a stabilizing arm limit switch, the lift arm limit switch being operable to detect when a lift arm is raised above a predetermined safety limit height and the stabilizing arm limit switch operable to detect when a stabilizing arm is raised above a predetermined safety limit height;shutting down the lifter to prevent further raising of the lift arms if the lift arm limit switch detects that a lift arm has raised above a predetermined safety limit height or if the stabilizing arm limit switch detects that a stabilizing arm has raised above a predetermined safety limit height; andtransferring the passenger to and from the aircraft.