Patent ID: 6481039
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: B64F

Abstract:
A passenger loading bridge for conducting passengers or cargo from an airport terminal to an aircraft entry door of an aircraft comprising:a pivotal support for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis; an extensible walkway having one end connected at approximately ground level to the pivotal support for communicating with the airport terminal at ground level and having an aircraft engaging end at an opposite end, the walkway comprising: a first section for communicating with the airport terminal; and, a second section connected to the first section providing telescopic movement for extending and retracting the aircraft engaging end; and, a wheeled gantry having a support member disposed for supporting the second section for providing steerable movement of the second section and for lifting or lowering the aircraft engaging end of the second section, the wheeled gantry including: a support beam; a lift mechanism including two standards, each mounted proximate either end of the support beam, the lift mechanism for adjusting a distance between the support beam and the bottom of the second section; a wheel axle comprising two wheels mounted proximate opposite ends of the wheel axle, for providing movement to the second section, wherein the distance between the two wheels exceeds the length of the support beam and a distance between the wheel axle and the support beam is less than a radius of the wheels; and a steering mechanism mounted to the support beam for angularly displacing the wheels approximately 180 degrees in rotation, wherein placement of the wheels of the wheeled gantry allows for lowering of the gantry support member to a height above ground being approximately equal or less than a gantry wheel diameter.