GB2092986A

GB2092986A - A service vehicle for aircraft

Info

Publication number: GB2092986A
Application number: GB8138160A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MARREL AIR
Current assignee: MARREL AIR
Priority date: 1980-12-17
Filing date: 1981-12-17
Publication date: 1982-08-25
Also published as: ES8301166A1; FR2496048B1; FR2496048A1; ES508045A0; CH644072A5; GB2092986B; DE3149566A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an elevating gangway mounted on the front of the container (3) of a service vehicle (1) as used in airports, the container being already fixed to an elevating platform. A vehicle (1) is provided with a container (3) which is adapted for lifting by a lever system operated by jacks. A gangway (4) can be elevated on the front face of the container by any appropriate means. The personnel can gain access to the second floor of the aircraft (7). Application: Servicing and replenishing food and drink for the passengers of an aircraft having two floors. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A service vehicle for aircraft The present invention relates to a lifting gangway for an airport servicing vehicle.

At an airport, there are service vehicles which are used to permit servicing of the interior of the aircraft, for example, changing and cleaning the seating, and more particularly for carrying supplies of food and drink for the passengers. These vehicles, which are called "commisariats" (commissioners) are equipped with a principal platform, which frequently forms the base of a container or wagon body. This platform can be raised to the height of the fuselage of an aircraft by a lever arrangement activated by jacks. It is possible to elevate the platform to a height of about six meters.

The introduction of new aircraft which have two floors of seating in theirfuselage, requires commissioning vehicles which are able to elevate their platforms to higher levels.

The aim of the present invention is to adapt an existing type of commissioning vehicle to the new service requirements, by the provision of a supplementary elevating platform.

According to a characteristic of the invention, a commissioning vehicle is provided on the front of its container body, which includes a principal elevation platform, with a gangway which is mounted for elevation on the front face of the container body by any appropriate means.

Following another characteristic of the invention, the front frame of the container body is provided with two laterally spaced slideways arranged vertically, which guide the gangway in its vertical movement.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the motion of the gangway is derived from a cable and pully system. Preferably the cable system is driven by a jack. According to a supplementary feature of the invention, the container body does not have an element projecting above its roof.

The invention will be better understood from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle equipped with an arrangement in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the commissioning vehicle, with the principal platform in the lowered position; Figure 3 is a side view of the commissioning vehicle with the principal platform in the raised position; Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing a gangway also in the raised position, and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the commissioning vehicle equipped with the gangway according to the invention, showing a cable system controlling the operation of the gangway.

There is shown in Figure 1 a commissioning vehicle 1, provided with an elevating platform 2 on which is mounted a container 3. A gangway 4 is positioned on the front end of the container 3. The vehicle is also provided with stabilizing jacks 5.

In Figure 2, the commissioning vehicle is shown along side an aircraft 7 (illustrated in chain dotted lines) which has to be revictualled. The vehicle is positioned at right angles to the fuselage of the aircraft, underneath a door 8. The stabilizers 5 are lowered into the operative position, their feet 6 engaging on the ground.

The servicing of an aircraft having two cabin floors is carried out in two stages with a vehicle provided with an arrangement according to the invention.

At the first stage, the vehicle is used as a classic or conventional "commisariat". The first floor of the aircraft is serviced, see Figure 3. The principal elevating platform is in the raised position. A lever arrangement 9 is deployed under the action of a hydraulic cylinder 10. With this system, the altitude of the floor of the container 3 with respect to the ground can be as much as six meters. The gangway is in a lowered position. There are positioned on its sides two removable guards 11. Personnel can then move with safety from the wagon to the interior of the aircraft across the gangway.

There is shown in Figure 4 the commissioning vehicle at the second stage of servicing the aircraft, that is to say when the gangway 4 is used for the servicing of the second floor.

When the gangway is in the elevated position, the height of its floor with respect to the ground can be as much as ten metres. The gangway is lifted on the front face of the container by appropriate means.

The operation of the operating means is as follows:- The operator takes out of the wagon 3 the material which is required, and puts it on the gangway 4, which is then in the lowered position.

When this operation is finished, the operator himself stands on the gangway; an arrangement permits him to control the elevation of the gangway up to the level of the door of the second floor. The operator can then gain access to the interior of the aircraft. If he wishes to return to the inside of the container 3, he takes his place on the gangway and activates the control arrangement for descent; the gangway being stopped automatically at the level of the floor of the container.

In Figure 5 there is shown a possible system for manoeuvring the gangway 4. The latter is guided by two vertical rails 12, positioned in the framework at the front end of the container, near to the lateral stanchions of the framework. Each rail receives a guide or some guide rollers carried on vertical sliders of the gangway 4. A cable 14 is attached at one of its extremities to a slider 13 and some pulleys 16, 17 and 18 direct the cable around a pulley block arrangement 21 carried by the piston rod of a hydraulic or pneumatic jack 22, the other extremity of the cable 14 being anchored to the barrel of the jack 22. A cable 15 is attached to the other slider 13, passes over the pulleys 19 and 20, around the pulley block 21 and is anchored on the barrel of the jack 22.

The two cables 14 and 15 can alternatively be fixed to any other fixed point of the chassis of the container.

The functioning of the arrangement is as foilows: The projection of the piston rod of the jack produces a displacement of the cables 14 and 15, equal to double the traverse of the jack 22, by virtue, of the action of the pulley block 21. The gangway 4 is thus pulled upwardly by the cables and guided by the rails 12. Retraction of the piston rod permits a slackening of the cables, and the gangway descends under the action of gravity.

A similar system for manoeuvring the gangway permits an arrangement in which there is no part of the arrangement projecting above the vehicle.

To make allowance for the fact that the positioning of the vehicle near to the servicing door is not very precise, it may be necessary to lengthen the gangway or to move the wagon forwardly. The assembly of the wagon and gangway may be moved towards the front by an arrangement of jacks fixed to the platform. It is also possible to provide the front of the gangway 4 with a second gangway sliding on horizontal rails, and movable mannually or mechanically.

The gangway according to the invention can be adapted without difficulty to existing vehicles. When thus equipped, they can attain a significant height, whilst keeping within the overall dimensions usual in airports.

Claims

1. A servicing vehicle, especially for airports, provided with a principal elevating platform, in which the elevating platform has on one end a gangway adapted for elevation above the level of the principal platform by the action of any appropriate means.

2. A servicing vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, in which a wagon is fixed to the elevating platform, whilst the gangway is adapted for elevation on the front face of the wagon (or container).

3. A servicing vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which a cable arrangement is provided for elevating the gangway.

4. A servicing vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which one or more power cylinders are provided for elevating the gangway directly.

5. A servicing vehicle as claimed in Claim 3, in which two cables (14, 15) are provided, each attached at one end to a vertical mounting one on each side of the gangway, and each passing over a system of pulleys, to a pulley block over which they pass in parallel, the other end of each cable being anchored to a fixed position on the wagon or container.

6. A servicing vehicle as claimed in Claim 5, in which the pulley block is carried by the rod of a jack, the projection movement of the jack providing the lifting of the gangway, and the retraction movement of the piston rod controlling the tension in the cables during descent of the gangway under gravity.

7. A servicing vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 2 to 6, in which no part of the arrangement projects above the wagon, the connection between the wagon and the gangway being a rolling arrange ment.

8. A servicing vehicle constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.