Abstract:
A cab connected to an aircraft boarding bridge walkway apron end having a forward frame section supporting a passenger floor, the section can be moved laterally relative to the apron end, and the floor having floor panels that can be retracted or extended forward of a fixed floor panel leading edge, as well as having their side edges tilted to accommodate aircraft stairwell rail handles or to better position the frame adjacent the aircraft passenger boarding door thresholdA cab connected to an aircraft boarding bridge walkway apron end having a forward frame section supporting a passenger floor that can be moved laterally relative to the walkway apron end, or laterally relative to the aircraft cabin door, or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft, and the floor having floor panels that can be retracted or extended forward of a fixed floor panel leading edge, as well as having their side edges tilted to accommodate aircraft stairwell rail handles or to better position the frame adjacent the aircraft passenger boarding door threshold.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Priority of our U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/080,349, filed Apr. 1, 1998, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable 
     REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
     Not applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to airports. More particularly, the present invention relates to an aircraft passenger boarding bridges. 
     2. General Background of the Invention 
     Aircraft passenger boarding bridges usually are usable with jets or small commuter planes, but normally a single aircraft passenger boarding bridge cannot work with both a jet and a small commuter plane. In fact, the inventors believe that currently there are no passenger boarding bridges to allow passengers to board or de-board small commuter planes directly from a passenger terminal instead, passengers must enter and exit small commuter planes via stairs on the runway. 
     The following U.S. patents are incorporated herein by reference: 
     U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,046,908; 3,110,048; 3,683,440; 4,490,869; 5,004,188; 5,184,366; 5,226,204; and 5,267,368. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The apparatus of the present invention solves the problems confronted in the art in a simple and straightforward manner. What is provided is an aircraft passenger boarding bridge comprising a walkway having a first end and a second end, the first end for connecting to an airport building; a cab portion connected to the second end of the walkway for connecting the walkway to an airplane, the cab portion having sliding means for allowing the cab portion to slide laterally and having retractable floor members. The sliding means and the retractable floor members allow the aircraft passenger boarding bridge to be used for both commuter aircraft and jet airplanes. Preferably, there are at least two retracting floor members, one for each railing of the stairway of a commuter aircraft. Preferably, there is also a retracting floor member between the two retracting floor members for each railing, approximately the width of the space between the two railings. Optionally, a pivoting floor can be provided to maintain a level position relative to the ground. 
     In another embodiment, an aircraft passenger boarding bridge apparatus comprises a cab portion connectable to an aircraft passenger boarding bridge walkway for connecting the walkway to an airplane, the cab portion having sliding means for allowing the cab portion to slide laterally and having retractable floor members. Preferably, there are means for bolting the cab portion to an aircraft passenger boarding bridge walkway. Preferably, there are at least two retracting floor members, one for each railing of the stairway of a commuter aircraft. Preferably, there is also a retracting floor member between the two retracting floor members for each railing, approximately the width of the space between the two railings. Optionally, a pivoting floor can be provided to maintain a level position relative to the ground. 
     The present invention cleverly solves the problem of providing passenger access between an airport terminal and transporting aircraft of differing size and specifications, such as large commercial airliners, smaller commuter jets, and turbo prop aircraft currently in service with most commercial airline carriers today. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the kit apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an assembly drawing of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a side view of a hand rail safety cover of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the hand rail safety cover of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the hand rail safety cover of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the present invention showing a barrier system in a stowed position; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the present invention showing the barrier system in an open position; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the present invention showing a single station bridge in various positions; 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of the resent invention showing the single station bridge of  FIG. 13 ; and 
         FIG. 15  shows the structural skeleton of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes an aircraft passenger boarding bridge  310  (see  FIGS. 13 and 14 ) which includes a walkway  311  having a first end  312  and a second end  313 , the first end  312  for connecting to an airport building (walkway  311  is constructed of a first section  314  and a second section  315  which telescopically slides into section  314 ). At the second end  313  of the walkway  311  is an apron  319 . A cab portion  320  is connected to the second end  313  of the walkway  311  for connecting the walkway  311  to an airplane. There are sliding means (horizontal rollers  41  and vertical rollers  42  and associated motor means, not shown) for allowing the cab portion  320  to slide laterally relative to the apron  319 . The cab portion  320  has retractable floor members  31 ,  32  (see FIG.  12 ). The sliding means and the retractable floor members  31 ,  32  allow the aircraft passenger boarding bridge  310  to be used for both commuter aircraft and jet airplanes (when used for large commercial jet airplanes, all retractable floor members  31 ,  32  would be positioned so that their ends are even with the end of the non-retractable floor portions  33 , as shown in FIG.  12 ). 
     In  FIG. 12 , there are two retracting floor members  31 , one for each railing of the stairway of a commuter aircraft. There is also a retracting floor member  32  between the two retracting floor members  31  for each railing, approximately the width of the space between the two railings. 
     Optionally, a pivoting floor can be provided to maintain a level position relative to the ground.  FIGS. 8-10  show handrail safety covers  60  to cover the floor portion where the retractable floor members  31  are retracted to allow the cab portion  320  to fit over handrails on a commuter airplane. Typically two such handrail safety covers  60  would be used. Covers  60  can be made of 0.080 inch aluminum and can have an enclosure  61  to cover a handrail  230  of an airplane, a handrail  62  to be gripped by passengers, a lip  63 , a (preferably rubber) cushion  64 , and mounting pins  65  which can fit in sockets in the floor of cab portion  320 . 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  show a safety barrier  70  to help prevent people from walking off of the cab portion  320  of the present invention and not onto an aircraft when the cab portion  320  is used with a small plane or commuter jet. Safety barrier  70  can be, for example, 48 inches high and can include a webbing  72  supported by steel poles  71 . 
     Suitable means (such as preferably electric motors and associated controls) are provided to operate the retracting floor members of the present invention and to operate the side-shift feature of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates well how the side-shift feature of the present invention allows the cab portion  320  of the present invention to move up to the door of an airplane with propellers without having the propellers interfere with the movement of the cab portion  320 . As can be seen in  FIG. 13 , when the cab portion  320  is properly aligned to be used with a commuter plane, the cab portion can move parallel to the longitudinal axis of the plane and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the walkway  311 . 
     Retractable floor members  31  can be, for example, about six inches wide. Retractable floor members  31  can retract, for example, about thirty inches. Retractable floor member  32  can be, for example, about eighteen inches wide. Retractable floor member  32  can be preferably move beyond the rest of the floor of cab portion  320  into the doorway of a commuter aircraft until it contacts the floor of the commuter aircraft. Retractable floor member  32  can retract so that its end is, for example, about thirteen inches inward of the end of the non-retractable portion  33  of the floor of cab portion  320 , and can extend forward so that its end is beyond (forward of) the non-retractable portion  33  of the floor of cab portion  320  far enough to enter the doorway of a small commuter aircraft and contact the floor of the small commuter aircraft. 
     Cab portion  320  can preferably side shift about twenty inches in each direction from the center. Cab portion  320  includes two rear wall portions  81  and two side wall portions  82 . There is a window  83  in one of the side wall portions  82  to allow an operator to easily view the propeller of an airplane when maneuvering the cab portion  320 . The rear wall portions  81  are preferably each wider than the distance that the cab portion  320  shifts in each direction so that there will never be an open space between the outside of the apron  319  and the interior of the cab portion  320 . 
     There is an opening  84  between rear wall portions  81  which allows passengers to pass from the apron  319  into the cab portion  320 . 
     While not preferred, one could replace retractable floor member  32  with a stationary floor portion, though that might make it more difficult to position cab portion  320  properly and then one might need to provide some means for bridging the gap between the floor of a commuter airplane and the floor of the cab portion  320 . 
     Cab portion  320  can be provided as part of an aircraft passenger boarding bridge  310  when the bridge  310  is built, or cab portion  320  can be added to existing aircraft passenger boarding bridges, in which case cab portion  320  can be bolted onto the existing apron of the existing bridge after the bellows and bumper are removed from the apron and rollers  41  and  42  are added to the apron. 
     The present invention includes a “Commuter Aircraft Adaptation Kit” or retrofit unit, for replacing old or outdated cab and bellow systems on existing passenger boarding bridges. This kit physically bolts on to an existing bridge cab face and now gives the unit the capability of servicing smaller commuter aircraft as well as larger conventional airliners. 
     When servicing large wide body or standard jet aircraft, the new unit herein known as the “Commuter Aircraft Adaptation Kit”, would be in its normal configuration as on any standard boarding bridge. 
     When used with commuter turbo prop or smaller jet aircraft the unit would close in on the aircraft to close proximity then activate the retracting floor sections as to provide clearance for the aircraft&#39;s fold down door or stairs and handrails, then continue to dock up to the doorway side shifting the unit electrically until the floor or the bridge is close enough for passenger boarding or de-boarding maintaining an auto leveling activity. 
     The kit is also compatible on commuter bridges specifically for commuter aircraft. 
     The unit consists of 3 sub assemblies.
         1. The first is the steel frame unit containing the mounting system rollers, electric motors, mount for the pivoting floor section and mount of the canvas and bellows unit.   2. The second section is the bellows unit for holding up the weatherproof canvas.   3. The third is the floor section with its retracting floor sections.       

     The invention is an aircraft passenger boarding bridge which includes a cab portion which can slide laterally (see  FIG. 1 ) and includes retractable floor members (see  FIG. 2 ) to allow a single aircraft passenger boarding bridge to be used for both commuter aircraft and large jet airplanes. When used for a large jet airplane, the aircraft passenger boarding bridge would simply come out and meet the door opening of the large jet aircraft. When used for commuter aircraft, the cab would shift laterally to avoid the propeller of the aircraft and one or more of the retractable floor portions shown in  FIG. 2  would retract to allow the cab to move up to the opening of the small commuter aircraft without having the railing of the stairs of the aircraft get in the way (the floor portion which would otherwise hit the railing would be retracted electrically). 
     The cab unit which slides laterally and includes the moveable floor portions (the floor portions are shown differently in  FIG. 1  from in FIG.  2 —either embodiment could work) could be bolted onto a standard passenger boarding bridge for large jets. 
     The apparatus of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is an aircraft passenger boarding bridge  10  which includes a cab portion  20  which can slide laterally (see  FIG. 1 ) and includes retractable floor members  30  (see  FIG. 2 ) to allow a single aircraft passenger boarding bridge to be used for both commuter aircraft and jet airplanes. When used for a large jet airplane, the aircraft passenger boarding bridge  10  would simply come out and meet the door opening of the jet aircraft. When used for commuter aircraft  200  (see FIG.  7 ), the cab  20  would shift laterally to avoid the propeller of the aircraft and one or more of the retractable floor portions  30  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7  would retract to allow the cab to move up to the opening  210  of the small commuter aircraft  200  without having the railing  230  of the stairs of the aircraft get in the way (the floor portion which would otherwise hit the railing would be retracted electrically). 
     The cab unit  20  which slides laterally and includes the moveable floor portions (the floor portions are shown differently in  FIG. 1  from in FIG.  2 —either embodiment could work) could be bolted onto a standard aircraft passenger boarding bridge  50  for large jets (see FIG.  3 ). 
     The following is an example of how one could make an adaptation kit in accordance with the present invention. 
     The cab adaptation kit of the present invention can be a combination of four pieces or sub assemblies:
         sub assembly one—unit frame;   sub assembly two—canopy bellows;   sub assembly three—swivel floor; and   sub assembly four—retracting floor section.       

     The side shift can be, for example, 24″. The floor sections could retract 18″, and there are preferably 3 retracting sections. The floor could pivot 15 degrees.
     Sub Assembly One—Unit Frame   

     The steel frame is the strong back and mounting structure for the other three sub assemblies. The unit frame bolts to the aircraft passenger boarding bridge cab section after all existing bellows and bumper have been removed right up to the face wall. Six bolts, for example, hold the unit frame to the aircraft passenger boarding bridge cab wall and a bottom brace also is a bolt-on unit. Power is then connected to the unit for the side shift motor, canopy motors and retracting floor sections. The frame unit measures, for example, 120″×144″×36″ with two 3″×2″×⅛″ steel tube extending out from the base facing forward. The frame can be made from 2″×3″×⅛″ steel angle with a mounting frame of 4″×3″×¼″ angle steel, rollers of the V-groove type are located at the bottom of the frame which allow lateral movement or side shifting of the entire adaptation kit. The bottom frame also holds the mount and provides a place to mount the canopy bellows as well as the swivel floor sub units. The front of frame has angle mount for installing canvas material and also holds all electrical motors for movement. The top rear frame also holds two 3″ rollers for support 25″ off each end. The frame mount also bolts the roof of cab.
     Sub Assembly Two—Canopy Bellows   

     This bellows can have the same physical dimensions as a Jetway Systems standard seven bellow canopy and bellows unit consisting of a steel structure and a canvas covering with a pad cushion on the outside face. This unit also can also be mounted in a standard manner as on the Jetway Systems unit. However, the unit employed on this system is preferably of lighter gauge material and thus is easier to install.
     Sub Assembly Three—Swivel Floor   

     This unit is the part of the system which is different from all existing commercially available passenger boarding bridges and contains the last two sub assemblies, swivel floor and retracting floor sections. Other bridge floor systems may have similar movement, however, this unit is different from all others as the floor sections move forward and aft allowing for the stairs and handrails of a smaller aircraft door to dock close enough for passenger boarding and de-boarding in a more normal manner as with standard walkways used on large aircraft. The floor section can swivel up and down at each end with the pivot point in the center location much like a child&#39;s teeter totter or bar and fulcrum with the floor section behind the pivoting section which will be hinged at two angles connecting the rear floor to the pivoting floor section without the need of a step, providing a smooth incline. Preferably electric motors provide locomotion of the floor movement. Sensors and limit switches provide protection from over-travel. The moving floor dimension is for example approximately 10′×3′ rectangle using angle steel and tubing for a frame work and a two ¼″ piano hinge for the aft floor assembly. The floor can preferably pivot 15 degrees up or down.
     Sub Assembly Four—Retracting Floor Sections   

     This is the section of the kit of the present invention which gives the whole unit its unique capability to be able to operate with and service smaller commuter aircraft as well as large wide body jet aircraft at the push of a button, eliminating the need to unbolt or remove add-on equipment designed to function in a like manner as the completed self-contained unit of the present invention. Incorporated in sub assembly three, the pivoting floor, is a section of three retracting floor pieces approximately 18″ in length and two measuring 6″ wide and a center section of 22″ wide, for example. These sections can be mounted on 1″ rollers on each side and have a bar track much like a desk drawer or dishwasher loading rack. These are preferably electrically operated by motors and can retract to provide clearance for the aircraft door and handrails. These retracting sections are located at the front and right of the floor at the bumper area, as sections of the bumper travel with the floor sections during movement. Thus by providing a level floor and a side shifting cab to locate exactly on the aircraft door and handrails, then by retracting the floor sections the bridge will close in at a close proximity to the aircraft to allow passenger boarding and canopy closure. 
     Parts List 
     
         
         
           
               10  aircraft passenger boarding bridge 
               20  cab portion 
               30  retractable floor member 
               31  retractable floor member of cab portion  320   
               32  retractable floor member of cab portion  320   
               41  horizontal rollers 
               42  vertical rollers 
               50  standard aircraft passenger boarding bridge for large jets 
               60  handrail safety cover 
               61  enclosure of cover  60   
               62  handrail of cover  60   
               63  lip of cover  60   
               64  cushion (preferably rubber) of cover  60   
               65  mounting pins of cover  60   
               70  safety barrier 
               71  steel pole 
               72  safety webbing 
               81  rear wall portions of cab portion  320   
               82  side wall portions of cab portion  320   
               83  window 
               84  opening between rear wall portions  81   
               91  roof portion 
               120  cab portion 
               200  commuter aircraft  200   
               210  opening of the small commuter aircraft  200   
               220  cab portion 
               230  railing of the stairs of the small commuter aircraft  200   
               310  aircraft passenger boarding bridge 
               311  walkway of aircraft passenger boarding bridge  310   
               312  first end of walkway  311   
               313  second end of walkway  311   
               314  first section of walkway  311   
               315  second section of walkway  311   
               319  apron of walkway  311   
               320  cab portion of aircraft passenger boarding bridge  310   
           
         
       
    
     All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise. 
     The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.