Abstract:
An extensible platform on an extensible passenger loading bridge is disclosed in the present invention. When a loading bridge is connected to a small aircraft to allow passengers to board or deplane, a large size difference exists between the aperture of a loading bridge and the entry/exit hatch of a small aircraft; the loading bridge aperture being larger than the aircraft hatch. Accordingly, the size difference creates a potentially dangerous gap. The extensible platform on an extensible passenger loading bridge is for alleviating the gap and as such for providing a safe pathway to passengers when they board or deplane.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to extensible passenger loading bridge and more particularly to extensible passenger loading bridge comprising an extensible platform adaptable to small commuter aircraft for allowing safe boarding and deplaning of passengers.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The aircrafts customarily utilized in regional commuter service and general aviation are smaller than commercial jet aircraft. Their door openings are closer to the tarmac and the doors are designed to include their own stairs and handrails. The doors open outwardly and swing downwardly from the aircraft to the tarmac. The stairs and their associated rails are dragged along with the door toward the tarmac, which place the stairs in an appropriate position to be used by the passengers. Even if such a system is well conceived, the use of stairs for boarding or deplaning is limiting if not forbidding the accessibility of a small aircraft for many physically impaired people. U.S. Pat. No: 4,971,510 to Houle disclosed a wheelchair passenger device in the form of a cab that can be elevated to the level of an aircraft floor. Such a device is not applicable to small aircraft because the doors are equipped with stairs. Identically, the presence of the stairs and rails block the approach of any boarding bridge currently in use in airports. Moreover, many bridges are not compatible with the level that would allow access to the entry door of these small aircrafts.  
           [0003]    For security purposes, it is also important to address such a problem. Indeed, without a loading bridge adaptable to these small aircraft, the passengers have to cross the space between a terminal of an airport and the aircraft by walking in the open on the tarmac surrounded by the aircrafts noise, gas smell, under the rain or the snow or a burning sun, depending of the weather conditions. It is dangerous to have to circulate on the tarmac. It is an important issue to insure that the passengers reach the plane or the terminal in a safe condition.  
           [0004]    Many types of loading systems or safety device have already been disclosed (U.S. Pat. Nos: 5,603,343; 3,983,590; 4,620,339; 4,715077; 5,040,257; 5,257,431; 4,852,197; 4,110,859). However, they are adapted to large aircraft which have no stairs attached to their doors. As such, airports are equipped with such loading systems that allow passengers to board and deplane safely. The interface between the loading bridge and the aircraft, or the canopy has an aperture which size is compatible with doors of large aircrafts. For an economical purpose, it would be worthwhile to modify the existing interface of such a loading bridge to adapt it to small aircraft whose doors are differently conceived.  
           [0005]    In U.S. Pat. No: 5,524,318 to Thomas, a mobile self-propelled aircraft loading bridge adaptor for bridging between small aircraft and the conventional bridge entry ways provided at airports for use with standard size jets and similar aircraft is disclosed. The bridge is supported by adjustable lifts that provide independent elevation and lowering of the parts of the bridge connected to the lifts.  
           [0006]    In U.S. Pat. No: 5,761,757 to Mitchell et al., a passenger boarding bridge for providing a passageway from an aircraft to a passenger terminal including a cab section with a floor is disclosed. The floor section of the bridge is provided with a cutout portion that can accommodate the stair components of commuter aircraft. The adaptor of Mitchell comprises many parts that have to slide or move relatively to each other. Therefore, it necessitates a lot of maintenance to be adapted to a small aircraft or to be reconfigured to fit larger aircrafts. An alternative is to construct a new bridge for exclusive use with small aircraft.  
           [0007]    In U.S. Pat. No: 6,122,789 to Stephenson et al., an aircraft passenger boarding bridge system including a cab portion laterally slidable and retractable floor members is disclosed. The system provides 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. However, the system necessitates a lot of adaptations to accommodate such a variety of aircrafts. For example, the cab portion has sliding means to be adapted and eventually removed from the boarding bridge; this implies that the end of the boarding bridge in contact with the cab should also be modified to receive such a cab. Furthermore, the cab is equipped with many retractable floor members and optionally a pivoting floor to maintain a level position relative to the ground. Suitable means, preferably electric motors and associated controls, also have to be provided to operate the retracting floor members and the side shift feature. Therefore, the aircraft passenger boarding bridge system necessitates a lot of maintenance to be adapted to a small aircraft or to be reconfigured to fit larger aircrafts.  
           [0008]    For an economical purpose, and to avoid having a plurality of bridges, limiting the maintenance and space required for positioning of bridges, an interface easily adaptable to existing loading bridges that overcomes the above disadvantages would be advantageous.  
           [0009]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an interface capable of functioning with a variety of aircraft and overcoming some of the above disadvantages.  
           [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a passenger loading bridge ensuring a safe passage of passengers while they are boarding or deplaning.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a passenger loading bridge interface for accommodating aircraft having a door equipped with a stairs. The passenger loading bridge interface comprises:  
           [0012]    a first edge for connection to a passenger loading bridge;  
           [0013]    a second edge for mating with an aircraft having at least a first portion of a size sufficient to mate with the door of the aircraft and a second portion being movable into at least an extended position for mating with an aircraft having a door with a top step approximately coplanar with the aircraft floor when the first portion engages the top step and an other than extended position for mating with an aircraft having a door absent a top step approximately coplanar with the aircraft floor when the first portion engages the airplane above the first step, the first and second edge delineating a floor; and,  
           [0014]    a drive for moving the second portion between the extended position and the other than extended position.  
           [0015]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a passenger loading bridge interface for accommodating aircraft having a door equipped with a stairs. The passenger loading bridge interface comprises:  
           [0016]    a first edge for connection to a passenger loading bridge; and,  
           [0017]    a second edge for mating with an aircraft having at least a first portion of a size sufficient to mate with the door of the aircraft and a second portion being movable into at least an extended position for mating with an aircraft having a door with a top step approximately coplanar with the aircraft floor when the first portion engages the top step and an other than extended position for mating with an aircraft having a door absent a top step approximately coplanar with the aircraft floor when the first portion engages the airplane above the first step, the first and second edge delineating a floor.  
           [0018]    In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a passenger loading bridge interface for accommodating aircraft having a door equipped with a stairs. The passenger loading bridge interface comprises:  
           [0019]    a first edge for connection to a passenger loading bridge;  
           [0020]    a second edge for mating with an aircraft having at least a first portion of a size sufficient to mate with the door of the aircraft and a second portion being movable into at least an extended position for mating with an aircraft having a door with a top step approximately coplanar with the aircraft floor when the first portion engages the top step and an other than extended position for mating with an aircraft having a door absent a top step approximately coplanar with the aircraft floor when the first portion engages the airplane above the first step, the first and second edge delineating a floor;  
           [0021]    a mechanism for positioning the second portion in the extended position and in the other than extended position;  
           [0022]    a further mechanism for extending a first side of the second portion and a second further mechanism for extending a second opposing side of the second portion independent of the first side of the second portion; and  
           [0023]    whereby upon a curvature of an aircraft the further mechanism and the second further mechanism allow an angled contact between the aircraft side and the second portion. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 is a prior art perspective view showing an interface in a first position equipping an extremity of a loading bridge for small aircraft;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 2 is a prior art perspective view showing the interface of FIG. 1 in a second position;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the aircraft interface in the form of a slidable extension is in a first position;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the aircraft interface in the form of a slidable extension is in a second position;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 5 a  is a front view of the floor of the aircraft interface;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 b  and  c  are bottom views of the aircraft interface in the first and second positions;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 is a side view of the slidable platform in a first position;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 7 is a side view of the slidable platform in a second position;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the aircraft interface is in the form of a flipable extension;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 9 a  is a bottom view of the flipable extension in an extended position;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 b  is a side view of the flipable extension downwardly flipped.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 a  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein the aircraft interface in the form of a slidable extension is in a neutral position; and  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 10 b  and  c  are perspective view of the aircraft interface in the form of a slidable extension in a first and second position.  
         [0037]    To facilitate the understanding of the present invention, the same numerals are used to identify the same structural elements that are shown in the different figures. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0038]    [0038]FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an aircraft interface for connecting an extremity or a cab  10  of a loading bridge to an aircraft entry. In the configuration shown here, the aircraft is a large aircraft. Because such interface can be adapted to small aircraft, it has some elements relatively movable to each other. A passenger loading bridge operator&#39;s station is behind partition  12  that includes a viewing port or window  14 . On the left side  18  and the right side  20  of the cab, two barriers extend from the portal panel  22 . The floor of the aircraft interface is constituted of three different panels: the panel  16  is a portion of the floor that is generally at the same level than the floor of the loading bridge; the panel  26  is a portion that can be moved upwardly opening a space; the panel  24  is a slidable portion of the floor that can slide laterally in the opened space under the raised panel  26 . In the configuration of this figure, all the three panels are at a same level. A handrail and movable barricade  28  is attached to the sliding panel  24 . The forefront of the aircraft interface is a bumper  30  that is positioned in contact with the aircraft. The bumper  30  is divided into two bumper elements, a stationary element  32  and a movable element  34 .  
         [0039]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the aircraft interface of FIG. 1 has been modified to fit with a small aircraft. In such a configuration, the panel  26  is raised and the panel  24  is in the opened space below the panel  26  a distance substantially identical to a small aircraft entry. The handrail and movable barricade  28  attached to the sliding panel  24  are moved laterally at the same time, as the panel  24  is slid below the panel  26  and for the same distance. By sliding laterally, an open area is created which is delineated on the left side by the barrier  18  extending from the portal panel  22 , and by the handrail and movable barricade  28 . Another barrier  36  extends from the handrail and movable barricade  28  to the left side by the barrier  18 . The movable element  34  of the bumper is moved upwardly and slightly inboard.  
         [0040]    A preferred embodiment of the instant invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. The aircraft interface of the present invention is an interface adaptable to a variety of aircraft with a low level of maintenance. As shown in FIG. 3, the aircraft interface is suitable for use with small aircraft. The interface  40  is composed of a roof  42 , a left sidewall  44  and right sidewall  46 , and a floor  48 . The floor  48  has a substantially rectangular shape, a part of the right and left small sides are limited by the left sidewall  44  and right sidewall  46 . Another part of the small sides of the floor  48  is limited by security barrier  57  on the right side and security barrier  58  on the left side. The floor  48  is generally at the same level and adjacent to the floor of the boarding bridge to which the aircraft interface is attached. The floor  48  has an extensible portion  56  for sliding below the floor  48  in a forward and backward direction. The extensible portion  56  has a smaller size than the floor  48 . A bumper  50  terminates the front edge of the floor  48 ; the bumper is divided into two bumper elements, a movable bumper  52  attached to the extensible portion  56  of the floor  48 , and a stationary bumper  54  attached to a forefront portion of the floor  48  that is not extensible. The movable bumper  52  is longer than the stationary bumper  54 . The size of the forefront portion of the floor  48  that is not extensible is substantially identical to a size of the door of the small aircraft. When the extensible portion  56  of the floor  48  is slide forward, the interface can accommodate small aircraft; conversely, when the extensible portion  56  of the floor  48  is slide backward, the interface can accommodate large aircraft or small aircraft wherein the stairs attached to the door has a top step which is other than approximately coplanar with the floor of the aircraft as shown in FIG. 4. For security purpose, the barrier  58  comprises an additional barrier element attached to a proximal corner of the extensible portion  56  of the floor  48 . The additional barrier element is optionally an assembly of telescopic elements, chain type elements, or jointed and articulated bars. Advantageously, when the extensible portion of the floor  56  is extended toward the small aircraft, the additional barrier element of the barrier  58  extends the same to prevent a passenger to take this passage and fall. The sliding movement of the extensible portion  56  of the floor  48  in the forward and backward direction is achieved by a drive means in the form, for example, of a hydraulic piston or an electric actuator.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 5 a  shows a front view of the aircraft interface at the floor level. To facilitate understanding of the drawing, the bumper  52  is not illustrated. However, the bumper  54  is shown. This drawing is particularly important to show an embodiment for the slidable extension  56  to slide above the floor  48 . In such a view, the floor shows an upper surface  47  and a lower surface  49 . On a left side and a right side of the portion of the floor  48  that has the extensible portion  56  are located supports for the slidable extension  56 . The supports is in the form of L-shaped holder  150  having a part  151  normal to the floor  48  and a part  152  parallel to the floor  48  that elongates inwardly. The part  152  has a thickness smaller than a length of the part  151 . Therefore a space exists between the part  152  and the lower surface  49  where the slidable extension  56  is inserted and upon a mechanical support is able to slide back and forth. In such a view, the slidable extension  56  shows an upper surface  53  and a lower surface  55 .  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 5 b  and  5   c  are bottom views of the aircraft interface in the first and second positions. More particularly, those two Figs. are illustrative of the mechanism that allows switching from the first to the second position of the slidable extension. The mechanism is in the form of electric actuators or pistons  156  attached at one extremity  154  to the lower surface  55  of the slidable extension between the two parts  151  of the L-shaped holder  150 . When the electric actuators or pistons are activated, their length is increased a predetermined length; upon deactivation, the electric actuators or pistons return to their initial length. FIG. 5 b  shows the slidable extension  56  in the retracted position and the pistons  156  are deactivated. However, in FIG. 5 c , the electric actuators or pistons are activated, their length is increased. Because the extremities  154  are attached to the lower surface of the slidable extension, the slidable extension is pushed forward between the L-shaped holders  150 .  
         [0043]    Referring now to FIG. 6, a side view of the aircraft interface accommodating a small aircraft is shown. The dashed lines signify that the element is hidden to the view but real. A small aircraft door  60  equipped with its own stairs  62  and a left handrail  64  and right handrail  66  is in an open state. For small aircraft, the stairs swing downwardly when the door is open. In this embodiment, the top step  68  is at a level substantially coplanar to the floor  70  of the aircraft. The aircraft interface is positioned so that the stationary bumper  54  attached to the forefront portion of the floor  48  that is not extensible bumps against the counter step  69  of the top step  68 . The aircraft interface is also positioned so that the level of the floor  48  substantially coincides with the level of the top step  68 . The positioning of the aircraft interface is such that the left barrier  57  of the interface is aligned with the left handrail  64 . The extensible portion  56  of the floor  48  is slid toward the aircraft until the movable bumper  52  engages the aircraft. The length of the extension of the extensible portion  56  of the floor  48  corresponds the depth of the top step  68 . The extensible part of the barrier  58  attached to the extensible portion  56  of the floor  48  is elongated while the extensible portion  56  is slide forward.  
         [0044]    Referring now to FIG. 7, a side view of the aircraft interface that can accommodate large aircraft or small aircraft wherein a stairs  76  attached to a door  78  has a top step  80  whose floor does not coincide with a floor  82  of the aircraft. The dashed lines signify that the element is hidden to the view but real. The small aircraft door  78  equipped with its own stairs  76  is in an open state. For small aircraft, the stairs swing downwardly when the door is open. In this embodiment, the top step  80  is at a lower level than a level  82  of the aircraft floor. In such a configuration, the aircraft interface is positioned so that the stationary bumper  54  attached to the forefront portion of the floor  48  that is not extensible engages a top counter step  84 . The aircraft interface is also positioned so that the level of the floor  48  substantially coincides with the level of the aircraft floor  82 . The positioning of the aircraft interface is such that the left barrier  57  of the interface is in an alignment with a left edge  86  of an opening of the aircraft. The extensible portion  56  of the floor  48  is slid backward below the floor  48  and the bumper  52  is aligned with the bumper  54 . Similarly, the barrier  58  is not extended in this configuration of the aircraft interface.  
         [0045]    Referring now to FIG. 8, another preferred embodiment according the instant invention is shown. In this embodiment, the extensible portion of the floor  48  of the aircraft interface is in the form of a downwardly (as shown in FIG. 8) or upwardly (not shown) flipable extension  90 . The interface  40  is composed of a roof  42 , a left sidewall  44  and right sidewall  46 , and a floor  48 . The floor  48  has a substantially rectangular shape, a part of the right and left small sides are limited by the left sidewall  44  and right sidewall  46 . Another part of the small sides of the floor  48  is limited by security barrier  57  on the right side and security barrier  58  on the left side. In this embodiment, the barrier  58  has no extensible part. The floor  48  is generally at the same level and adjacent to the floor of the loading bridge to which the aircraft interface is attached. A stationary bumper  54  is attached to a forefront portion of the floor  48  that is not extensible. The size of the forefront portion of the floor  48  that is not extensible is substantially identical to a size of the door of the small aircraft. The flipable extension is substantially rectangular shaped. The flipable extension  90  has a smaller size than the floor  48 . A first long side of the extension is attached to an edge of the floor  48 , which is not in continuation of the floor of the boarding bridge, with a hinge allowing the extension to pivot relatively to the floor  48 . The above-mentioned hinge might be in the form of a plurality of hinges or any other kind of mechanism that permits two elements to pivot relatively one to the other. The flipable extension is retained in a substantially horizontal position with locking devices (not shown) located below the floor  48  of the interface. In the substantially horizontal position, the floor  48  and the flipable extension are substantially coplanar. The edge of the floor  48  to which the first long side of the flipable extension  90  is attached is equipped with a stationary bumper  92 . A second long side of the extension is equipped with a bumper  94  that is in contact with an aircraft when engaged.  
         [0046]    In FIG. 9 a  is shown a bottom view of the flipable extension in the extended position. The first long side of the flipable extension  90  is attached to the floor  48  and is movable relative to the floor  48  thanks to hinges  96 . The second long side of the flipable extension ends with the bumper  94 . The flipable extension is retained in a substantially horizontal position with locking devices  98  that are illustrated here as extensible/retractable bars  100 .  
         [0047]    In FIG. 9 b  is shown a side view of the flipable extension  90  in an unextended mode. When the bars  100  in the locking device  98  are retracted, then the flipable extension is not retained in a substantially horizontal plane and is allowed to swing downward. Due to the hinges  96  the flipable extension pivots relative to the floor  48  and flips downwardly resulting in an angle of about 90° between the flipable extension and the floor  48 . The stationary bumper  92  along the edge of the floor  48  to which the first long side of the flipable extension  90  is attached becomes the forefront edge of the aircraft interface.  
         [0048]    Essentially, the use of the flipable extension is similar to the use of the slidable extension. If the door of the aircraft has a top step at a level substantially coplanar to the floor of the aircraft, then the aircraft interface is positioned so that the stationary bumper  54  attached to the forefront portion of the floor  48  that is not extensible engages the counter step of the top step. The aircraft interface is also positioned so that the level of the floor  48  substantially coincides with the level of the top step. The positioning of the aircraft interface is such that the left barrier  57  of the interface is aligned with the left handrail  64 . The flipable extension  90  of the floor  48  is maintained in a substantially horizontal position by the bars  100  in an extended position; therefore, the bumper  94  engages the aircraft. The size of the flipable extension  90  of the floor  48  corresponds to the depth of the top step. Because the barrier  58  has no extensible portion, an operator adds an independent barrier to prevent passengers from falling from the loading bridge when desirable.  
         [0049]    If the door of the aircraft has a top step at a lower level than a level of the aircraft floor, the aircraft interface is positioned so that the stationary bumper  54  attached to the forefront portion of the floor  48  that is not extensible engages the top counter step. The aircraft interface is also positioned so that the level of the floor  48  substantially coincides with the level of the aircraft floor. The positioning of the aircraft interface is such that the left barrier  57  of the interface is aligned with a left edge of an opening of the aircraft. The flipable extension  90  of the floor  48  is flipped downwardly resulting in a 90° angle between the flipable extension  90  and floor  48 ; the bumper  92  is aligned with the bumper  54  and is directly in contact with the aircraft once positioned for enplaning and deplaning operations.  
         [0050]    An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 10 a - c . The aircraft interface suitable for use with small aircraft, as for example aircraft that have fold-down steps, has a slidable floor as the one depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. As a consequence, FIGS. 10 a - c  point out the difference between the two embodiments; i.e. the alignment of the bumper  52  and  54  corresponds to a neutral position of the extensible portion  56  of the floor  48 . FIG. 10 a  illustrates the extensible portion  56  in the neutral position whereas FIG. 10 b  shows the extensible portion in an extended position and FIG. 10 c  shows the extensible portion  56  of the floor  48  in a retracted position. The purpose of such a design is to provide general safety, enhanced fire protection and an adequate seal to the aircraft.  
         [0051]    Numerous other embodiments may be envisaged without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.