Abstract:
A walkway having a series of fixed height corridor units and an inclined gangway unit at its forward end. The units are articulatingly connected and selectively collapsible. The gangway is selectively variable in height, being provided with elevating means at its front end, to permit docking at the raised door sill of the commuter aircraft.

Description:
[0001]    This application incorporates the subject matter of Provisional Application No. 60/203,722, filed May 12, 2000. All rights to said Provisional Application are claimed herein. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a walkway for protecting the movement of airline passengers to and from aircraft and in particular to a movable ramp passenger walkway for the protective movement of passengers between the ground and the doorway of the aircraft.  
           [0003]    In my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,343 there is disclosed a collapsible articulating ground passageway having a plurality of independent U-shaped frame sections that are articulately connected in an end to end series to form a flexible corridor. The passageway disclosed in my prior patent is adapted to communicate with a commuter aircraft at a first end and with the airport terminal at the other. These passageways were designed and intended for use on the ground with smaller commuter type aircraft which generally have door still wells below 6 feet. At present there still is no bridge or pathway apparatus which can dock with a commuter aircraft with a still well between 6 and 16 feet in height having the capability of extending and retracting while simultaneously swinging left and right as well as varying in height to meet the individual still wells of varying sized aircraft.  
           [0004]    It is apparent that numerous innovations for walkways, loading bridges and similar devices have been provided in the prior art. However, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as hereinafter described.  
           [0005]    It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a passenger walkway overcoming the disadvantages inherent in the prior art.  
           [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a passenger walkway adapted to communicate between an airport ground terminal and a varying sized commuter aircraft having between a “zero” height application to a 16 foot height application.  
           [0007]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a passenger walkway easily moved from one location to another.  
           [0008]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide a passenger walkway with an integral floor from the terminal to the aircraft.  
           [0009]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a passenger walkway can be easily deployed.  
           [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a passenger walkway simple and inexpensive to manufacture and maintain.  
           [0011]    The foregoing objects, together with other objects and advantages, will be apparent from the following disclosure of the present invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    According to the present invention there is provided a walkway having a series of fixed height corridor sections and a ramp section. The sections are joined in an articulating manner so that the plurality of corridor sections may be deployed over a long distance as from a terminal or bus to the aircraft. Each section is provided with a floor to permit passengers to walk above the ground between the bus and the aircraft. The ramp section is variable in height to accommodate docking with aircraft of varying heights. A top and side cover of each section is provided with a weather proof fabric for protection of passengers from inclement weather as they pass to and from the aircraft.  
           [0013]    Full details of the present invention are set forth in the following description and accompanying illustration of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The invention will be best understood by reference to the following drawings, wherein:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the ramped passageway according to the present invention docked at one end to the terminal bus and at its other end to an aircraft;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame structure forming the passageway shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an expanded frame section of the passageway according to the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the frame sections shown in FIG. 3 with the frame section collapsed;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4B is a reverse perspective view of the frame section shown in FIG. 4A;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the frame section shown in FIG. 3;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the frame section shown in FIG. 3;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the frame section shown in FIG. 4B;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the walkway illustrating the articulated relationship between the sections; and  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the gangway section showing the various inner elements of the gangway. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0025]    The movable walkway of the present invention depicted by the numeral  10 , is generally illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated the walkway is installed to permit passengers to walk from a bus  12  (or from a terminal exit) directly to an aircraft  14  waiting on the airport apron  16 .  
         [0026]    The construction of the walkway  10  is illustrated in FIG. 2, without any enclosure or covering. The walkway  10 , thus is formed of frame like skeleton structures divided into a plurality of sections each similar in construction to that shown in my earlier patent, namely a plurality of partially collapsible fixed height corridor sections  22  (only one shown) and an inclined gangway section  24 . The corridor sections  22  are articulately connected to each other and to the inclined gangway  24  in sequence, in a manner to be described hereinafter, with respect to FIG. 8.  
         [0027]    The construction of each corridor section  22  is shown in detail in FIGS. 3. through  7 . Each corridor section  22  comprises a plurality of U-shaped supports  26 . Preferably, three supports  26  are used, as such number enables construction of a corridor section of optimum length for movement, linear coverage and mass. Each support  26  is formed (FIG. 5) of a pair of vertically disposed tubular legs  28  and a connecting roof arch beam  30 . The vertical legs  28  each terminate at their upper ends in a clevis  32  into which the respective ends of the individual arched roof beam  30  seat. The cross-section of the vertical upright legs  28  is somewhat larger than that of the arched roof beam  32  and suitable bolts or pins inserted therethrough hold the arched roof beam  32  fixedly to the upright legs  28  much in the manner shown in my earlier patent.  
         [0028]    The U-shaped supports  26  are interconnected by a plurality of horizontal cross braces  34 . Generally, the cross braces  34  will be fixed at each of their ends to the vertical legs  28 , by suitable bolts or weldments so as to rigidly maintain the vertical supports  26  aligned and parallel with one another. In this arrangement, the length of each corridor  22  is fixed. Preferably, however, it is desirable to be able at least to partially collapse the corridor sections  22  so as to reduce their length permitting the overall length of the walkway to be reduced to meet the distance between bus (or terminal)  12  and the aircraft  14  and to reduce the overall bulk of the walkway  10  for storage.  
         [0029]    To affect collapsibility of each corridor section  22  alternate vertical supports  26 , (central support when only three supports are used) are provided with a cuff like guide  36  fixed in alignment with each of the braces  34 . In this manner a three support corridor is divided into two portions, denominated for conveyance as the anterior A and the posterior B portions. The set of the braces  34 , of the anterior portion are not attached to the center support but freely move through the corresponding guide  36 . In this manner the portions A &amp; B can seemingly telescope with respect to each other as seen in the figures.  
         [0030]    A sub-flooring, generally depicted by the numeral  38  is provided as seen in detail in FIG. 2. The sub-flooring  38  comprises an array of longitudinal braces  40  similar to the braces  34  and arranged similarly as described above so that one set of braces  40  slide freely through cuff-like guides  42  fixed to the corresponding support  26 , thus maintaining the collapsibility.  
         [0031]    Interconnecting the opposed floor brace  40  is an array of longitudinal and transverse floor beams  44 . Each arrangement of braces  40  and floor beams  44  are staggered at different levels to each other, to maintain collapsibility, by sliding one over the other as seen in FIGS. 4 a ,  4   b  &amp;  6 . The sub-floor is arranged upward of the lower ends  46  of the vertical legs so as to be spaced from the ground. Each vertical leg  28  is provided with a roller or caster  48  at its lower end. (for the sake of clarity not all the drawings show the rollers.)  
         [0032]    The floor of each section is completed by attaching a central deck plate  50  over each sub floor  38 . At the free end of the deck plate  50  in the anterior portion A of each corridor there is attached an inclined transitional ramp  52 , hanging down to the ground. The transitional ramp  52  is provided with a folded-in bottom  54  forming a lip resting stabilly on the ground. The free end of the deck plate  50  in the posterior portion B extends as a short shelf like member  56  adapted to extend outwardly over the adjacent floor in the next sequential corridor or gangway section. Of course the dimension of the sub-floor  38  and the plate  50  are such that telescoping movement of the anterior and posterior portions A and B are not hindered. The transitional ramp  52  and the extensions  56  are provided with holes  57  which will register with each other on serially arranging the corridors so as to form pivot bearings allow the corridors  22  to articulate or swing relative to each other with a defined arc.  
         [0033]    Returning to FIG. 2, the gangway  24  is constructed having a plurality of vertically oriented U-shaped supports  58  and horizontal braces  60 , similar to those used in formation of the rigid fixed section  22 , except that they increase in height from the anterior end  62  where they are aligned and equal in height to those forming the corridor section  22  to a height at its posterior end  64  capable of fully enclosing the doorway opening of any commuter or small aircraft. A second distinction between the gangway  24  and the corridor  22  lies in the fact that the frame structure is not collapsible and the braces  60  are fixedly on the vertical supports held at each end as well as between the ends to form a fixed length passageway.  
         [0034]    The gangway  24  is provided with a raisable sub-floor, generally depicted by the numeral formed of parallel side beams and a plurality of cross beams in the arrangement of a ladder. The sub-floor  66  is pivotedly attached at its rear anterior end  68  to the lower beams of the gangway  24  so as to be raisable at its posterior end  64 , by means of a carriage assembly  70  slideably mounted in the lower most anterior brace  72 , which is formed in the shape of a c-channel. (see also FIG. 9.)  
         [0035]    Secured over the sub-flooring  66  is one or more deck plates  74 , forming a continuous ramp from the anterior end,  68  to the posterior end  64 . At the posterior end  64 , an auxiliary deck plate  76  extends forwardly to form a continuous extension ramp through the gangway  24 .  
         [0036]    At the extreme forward end of the gangway passage  24  there is located a horizontal stable platform  78 , which is guided within a pair of horizontally opposed rails  80 , so as to be able to reciprocally slide between a first position cantilevered outward from the gangway passage  24  to a second storage position within the gangway  24 . The rails  80  are themselves guided by vertical tracks  82  and are connected to the posterior end of the sub-flooring  66 , by a curved hinge  84  (FIG. 9).  
         [0037]    The stable platform  78  is raised and lowered selectively by a scissor type elevating mechanism  86 . The upper and lower ends of the scissor  86  ride is horizontal rails  88 , fixed to the lower portion of the vertical support, while the upper ends of the scissors  86 , ride in the respective horizontal rails  80 . The scissor  86  is actuated by a reversible electric motor  90  and screw transmission system  92  to elevate the platforms  78  and the forward end of the sub-floor  66 . Having the anterior end  68  of the sub-floor mounted in a slidable carriage  70  avoids binding or other problems, as the sub-floor  66  is raised at the posterior end.  
         [0038]    In this manner an inclined ramp  94  is formed within the gangway  24  which can be elevated to the proper height of the aircraft door and whereby the stable platform  78  can be extended to abut the door sill providing a smooth walking transition for the passengers from ground level to aircraft level.  
         [0039]    As seen in FIG. 8 the anterior end of the inclined gangway  24  is provided with an extended tongue  100 , which passes beneath the posterior shelf  56  of the adjacent corridor section  22 , and is pinned thereto so as to permit the inclined gangway  24  to swing in an articulating arc. FIG. 8, also shows the pivot pin arranged between the aligned corridor section  22 .  
         [0040]    As seen in FIG. 2, there is provided a laterally extending bracket  102  fixed to the lower most portion of the posterior end of the gangway  24 . This bracket  102  is employed to allow a motive drive device such as an electric cart to be hooked thereto enabling the operator of the cart to easily maneuver and move the walkway.  
         [0041]    The corridor and inclined gangway sections  22  and  24  are covered in the manner described in my earlier patent with a fabric cover capable of maintaining suitable condition within the walkway no matter the anterior weather condition. The fabric may be provided with windows, removable panels or screens. As seen in FIG. 2, herein rigid plastic or metal wall panels can be installed along the bottom of the corridor or inclined gangway sections  22  and  24  to insure the absence of rain or snow with the passageway.  
         [0042]    Thus it will be seen that the objects desired by the present invention have all been met.  
         [0043]    Various embodiments and modifications have been suggested herein and other changes and modifications will be obvious to those skilled in this art. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure be given wide scope and the invention limited only by the claims appended hereto.