WO2000060173A1

WO2000060173A1 - Passageway for loading and unloading commuter aircraft

Info

Publication number: WO2000060173A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/008142
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Larson
Original assignee: Infra-Structure, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-04-02
Filing date: 2000-03-28
Publication date: 2000-10-12
Also published as: AU5646200A

Abstract

A walkway (10) comprising a passageway (12), for loading and unloading an airport transport vehicle, and associated vestibule (14) have a cover (15). A proximal end (16) of the passageway (12) provides a pivotally attached canopy (18). The passageway is connected at a distal end (20) to the vestibule (14) proximal end (22). The vestibule (14) distal end (24) provides a canopy (25). A mounting assembly (26) permits lateral pivoting of the passageway (12) and the vestibule (14). A frame member (28) comprises a cross member (38) having an apex (40). Casters (50) support the passageway (12). A baggage tray (52) comprises a pair of wheels (54) that contact the ground when the baggage tray (52) is in a down position.

Description

PASSAGEWAYFORLOADING AND UNLOADING COMMUTER_AIR_CRAF_T

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the protected movement of passengers during the loading and unloading of commuter aircraft. More particularly, the present invention relates to a mobile passenger walkway for the protected movement of passengers between a commuter aircraft and an aircraft transport vehicle (e.g. bus) .

BACKGROUND ART

Small commuter aircraft do not load or unload adjacent the terminal thus it is necessary to transport passengers to and from the terminal to the aircraft. Consequently, airport transport vehicles (i.e. buses) are used to shuttle passengers to and from the aircraft. Currently, there is no effective structure available to provide for the protected movement of passengers from the aircraft to the airport transport vehicle.

Numerous gangways, loading bridges and the like are found in the prior art. The gangways found in the prior art are generally adapted for the loading and unloading of passengers to and from large jet aircraft (e.g. Boeing 727, 727). Examples of these gangways are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,683,440; 4,319,376; 4,559,660; 4,984,321; Des. 327,951 and Des. 386,263. Gangways of this type can not be used with small commuter aircraft as these gangways are adapted to dock the aircraft between 6 ' and 16 ' above the ground and small commuter aircraft dock at ground level. In addition, gangways for use with large aircraft are generally designed to be permanent or semi-permanent in construction. That is, because of their sheer size, they are not intended or designed to be particularly mobile in nature. As a consequence, these gangways are ill-suited for busy commuter airports that may have many planes landing in different locations in a short span of time, therefore requiring a gangway that can be easily moved and deployed.

In my prior patent, U.S. Patent Number 5,603,343, I teach a passageway having plurality of independent U-shaped frame sections that are articulately connected in an 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. As such, is not suited or adapted to communicate with an airport shuttle vehicle (e.g. bus) .

It is apparent 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.

It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a passenger walkway overcoming the disadvantages inherent in the prior art.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an passenger walkway adapted to communicate between a commuter aircraft and a airport transport vehicle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an passenger walkway that can be easily moved from one location to another.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an passenger walkway that can be easily deployed. It is still another object of the present invention is to provide a passenger walkway for conducting passengers along a path from a airport transport vehicle to a commuter aircraft that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention is to provide an arcade for conducting passengers along a path from a airport transport vehicle to a commuter aircraft that is simple to use.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a mobile passenger walkway for providing the protected movement of passengers along a path from an airport transport vehicle to a commuter aircraft. The walkway includes a passageway, a first canopy assembly for selectively engaging the passageway with the airport transport vehicle, a vestibule communicating with passageway and a second canopy assembly for selectively engaging the vestibule to the aircraft.

The mobile passenger walkway further includes a mounting assembly for pivotally mounting the passageway to the vestibule to permit the selective arcuate adjustment of the walkway.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the mobile passenger walkway according to the present invention with the outer cover thereof cut away to reveal the frame structure of the passageway and vestibule;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing the decking of the walkway secured to the lowermost stringer of the frame structure;

Fig. 3 is a plan view along line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the overlapping transition decking located at the articulating portion of the walkway;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the frame structure showing the passageway and vestibule and the peak slide and pivot tube of the mounting assembly mounted thereto;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the mounting assembly showing the passageway and vestibule in unarticulated relationship;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the mounting assembly showing the passageway and vestibule in articulated relationship;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation view taken along line 7-7 of

Fig. 6, showing the peak slide an pivot tube;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of the peak slide and pivot tube showing the pivot collar; Fig. 9 is a plan view of the mounting assembly showing one of the plurality of side slide and pivot tubes;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the mounting assembly showing the passageway pivotally secured to the vestibule by one of the plurality of hinged connection tubes;

Fig. 11 is an elevation view of a baggage tray employed by the passenger walkway according to the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a elevation view of the fastening means used to secure the baggage tray to the passageway;

Fig. 13 is a elevation view of the deployed and stowed positions of the canopy used in connection with the passenger walkway according to the present invention;

Fig. 14 is an exploded view of the pivot apparatus for the canopy showing the pivot apparatus • component parts .

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As seen in Figure 1, the present invention, generally depicted by the numeral 10, comprises a mobile passenger walkway for providing the protected movement of passengers along from a commuter aircraft to an airport transport vehicle

(e.g. bus) .

The passenger walkway for providing the protected movement of passengers along a path from a airport transport vehicle to an aircraft 10 comprises a passageway 12 and a vestibule 14. The passageway 12 and vestibule 14 have a cover 15 to protect the passengers as they travel through the passageway. The passageway 12 has a proximal end 16 to which is pivotally attached a canopy 18 for selectively engaging the passageway with an airport transport vehicle (e.g. bus) . The passageway 12 is attached at its distal end 20 to the vestibule 14.

The vestibule 14 has a proximal end 22 and a distal end

24. The proximal end 22 of the vestibule is pivotally attached to the passageway 12 as shown. The vestibule 14 is provided at its distal end 24 with a canopy 25 for selectively engaging the passageway to the aircraft.

The walkway for conducting passengers along a path from a bus to an aircraft 10 further comprises a mounting assembly, generally depicted by the numeral 26 for laterally pivotally attaching the passageway 12 to the vestibule 14.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 4, the passageway 12 includes a frame that is tubular and rigid, and comprises a first plurality of identically constructed frame members 28 that are vertically-oriented, linearly aligned and horizontally spaced-apart.

Each frame member 28 comprises a pair of uprights 30 that have upper terminal points 32, lower terminal points 34, and intermediate points 36. A cross member 38 connects, respectively, the upper terminal points of each of the first pair of uprights 30 to each other. As seen in Figure 4, the cross member 38 has an apex 40.

The frame of the passageway 12 further comprises a stringer 42 that extends horizontally and longitudinally across each of the apexes 40 of the cross members 38. The peak stringer 42 is secured to each of the cross members 38 at their apexes 40 so as to secure each of the frame members 28 to one another.

The frame of the passageway 12 further comprises a pair of upper stringers 44. Each of the upper stringers 44 extend horizontally and longitudinally across each side of the passageway. Each upper stringer 44 is secured to each of the frame members 28 at the upper terminal points 32 of each upright 30 along its respective side.

The frame of the passageway 12 further comprises a pair of intermediate stringers 46, each intermediate stringer 46 extends horizontally and longitudinally across each side of the passageway. Each intermediate stringer 46 is secured to each of the frame members 28 at the first intermediate points 36 of each upright 30 along its respective side.

The frame of the passageway 12 further comprises a pair of lower stringers 48, each lower stringer 48 extends horizontally and longitudinally across each side of the passageway. Each lower stringer 48 is secured to each of the frame members 28 at the lower terminal points 34 of each upright 30 along its respective side.

The passageway 12 further comprises a first plurality of swivel casters 50 that are disposed on the lower terminal points 34 of the plurality of members 28.

As seen in Figure 1 and 11, passageway 12 includes a baggage tray 52 that has an up position and a down position, and is pivotally attached to one of the lower stringers 48, so that it may be rotated from an vertical first position to a horizontal second position extending outwardly from the one lower stringer 48. The baggage tray 52 includes a pair of wheels 54 that extend perpendicularly therefrom so that when the tray is in the down position they contact the ground to support the tray.

As seen in Figure 12, the baggage tray 52 may be selectively secured to one of the intermediate stringers 46 by a pin 56 that is inserted through a flange 58 extending from the wheel mounting bracket 60 which is in turn secured to the baggage tray 52. The baggage tray 52 may be selectively secured to one of the intermediate stringers by inserting the pin 56 through the flange 58 and through a corresponding hole 62 in the intermediate stringer 46. In this manner, the baggage tray may be alternated from a stowed to a deployed position. When in the deployed position, the baggage tray is accessible from the interior of the walkway. Thus, as the passengers exit the aircraft they may leave their bags on the baggage tray to be carried to the airport transport vehicle by the airport personnel.

As best seen in Figures 4 and 13 , the vestibule 14 includes a frame that is tubular and rigid. The frame of the vestibule 14 is constructed from a pair of frame members 64a and 64b, respectively, that are vertically oriented, linearly aligned and horizontally spaced apart.

Each frame member 64a and 64b include a pair of uprights, 66a and 66b, respectively, that have upper terminal points 68, lower terminal points 70, and intermediate points 72 that are disposed between the upper terminal points 68 and the lower terminal points 70.

The frame of the vestibule 14 also includes a second plurality of cross members, 74a and 74b, that each connect, respectively, the upper terminal points 68 of each of the pair of uprights 66. The cross members 74a and 74b are inverted V- shaped and have second apexes 76a and 76b, respectively. The frame member 64a is adjacent the passageway 12 and has a height equal to that of each of the frame members 28. The frame member 64b has a height higher than, and is spaced from, the frame member 64a.

The frame of the vestibule 14 further comprises a peak stringer 78 that extends longitudinally from the apex 76a of the frame member 64a, upwardly to the apex 76b of the frame member 64b. The peak stringer 78 is secured at a first end to the apex 76a of frame member 64a and at a second end to the apex 76b of the frame member 64b.

The frame of the vestibule 14 further comprises a pair of upper stringers 80. Each upper stringer 80 extends horizontally and longitudinally across each side of the vestibule. Each upper stringer 80 is secured to each of the frame members 64a and 64b at the upper terminal points 68 of each upright 66 along its respective side.

The frame of the vestibule 14 further comprises a pair of intermediate stringers 82 that extend horizontally and longitudinally across each side of the vestibule. Each intermediate stringer 82 is secured to each of the frame members 64a and 64b at the second intermediate points 72 of each upright 66 along its respective side.

The frame of the vestibule 14 further comprises a second pair of lower stringers 84 that extend horizontally and longitudinally across each side of thereof. Each lower stringer 86 is secured to each of the frame members 64a and

64b at the lower terminal points 70.

The frame of the vestibule 14 further comprises a plurality of swivel casters 86 that are disposed on the lower terminal points 70 of the frame members 64a and 64b. As best seen in Figure 2 and 3, decking 87 on which the passengers walk is secured to the lower stringers of each of the frames of the passageway 12 and the vestibule 14.

The configuration of the mounting assembly 26 can best be seen in Figures 4 through 10. The mounting assembly 26 comprises a plurality of hinged connection tubes 88, a plurality of side slide and pivot tubes 90 and a peak slide and pivot tube 92.

The plurality of hinged connection tubes 88 secure the passageway 12 to the vestibule 14 along one side of the walkway. Each one of the hinged connection tubes 88 is secured at a first end to one of the plurality of frame members 28 of the passageway 12. Specifically, the first end of each hinged connection tube is secured to the frame member adjacent the vestibule 14 at upright 30.

The second end of each of the hinged connection tubes 88 is secured to frame member 64a of vestibule 14. Specifically, the second end of each hinged connection tube is secured to the frame member 64a adjacent the passageway at upright 66.

As seen in Figure 4, a hinged connection tube 88 is secured between the respective lower terminal points, upper terminal points and intermediate points of the uprights 30 and 66.

As best seen in Figure 10, each hinged connection tube 88 is provided with a hinge 89 that allows each end of the tube to pivot relative to the hinge.

The passageway 12 and vestibule 14 are attached along a second side by a plurality of side slide and pivot tubes 90. Each of the pivot tubes has a first end that is operably inserted through a collar 93 which is mounted to the upright 30 by a hinge 94. The hinge and collar construction enables each of the slide and pivot tubes to slide relative to the collar 93 and also pivot relative to upright 30 by hinge 94. As seen in Figure 4, a slide and pivot tube 90 is secured between the respective lower terminal points, upper terminal points and intermediate points of the uprights 30 and 66a.

The second end of each slide and pivot tube 90 is secured to upright 66a of frame member 64a of the vestibule 14. The second end of each slide and pivot tube is secured to the upright 66a by a hinge 96. In this way, each slide and pivot tube can pivot about upright 66a.

As best seen in Figure 6, each slide and pivot tube 90 has a through hole 98 at its midpoint. Likewise, each collar 93 has a through hole 100. When the passageway and vestibule are in the unarticulated position, as seen in Figure 5, the through holes 98 and 100 are vertically aligned. This permits the insertion of a pin through the holes to thereby selectively lock the collar 93 in place. This construction permits the passenger walkway according to the present invention to have a first mode (when the pin is inserted) where passageway and vestibule are held in a linear alignment, and a second mode (when the pin is removed) where the passageway and vestibule may be arcuately adjusted relative to one another.

The mounting assembly 26 further comprises a peak slide and pivot tube 92. As seen in Figure 4, the first end of the peak slide and pivot tube 92 is inserted through a collar 104 that pivotally depends from the peak stringer 42, adjacent the apex 40 of the frame member 28 that is adjacent the vestibule 14. The collar 104 is pivotally mounted to the peak stringer 42 such that the peak slide and pivot tube 92 can slide therein as well as rotate with the collar 104.

The peak slide and pivot tube 92 is secured at a second end to a fixed collar 106 that pivotally depends from the peak stringer 78, adjacent the second apex 76a of the frame member 64a adjacent the passageway 12.

Collar 104 is secured to peak stringer 42 by a pin 108. The pin 108 is secured to the collar but does not pass therethrough, thereby permitting the peak slide and pivot tube 92 to slide within the collar.

Fixed collar 106 is secured to peak stringer 42 by a pin

110 that passes through the collar as well as the peak slide and pivot tube 92. This fixes one end of the peak slide and pivot tube 92 , only permitting the pivotal movement of the same at its second end.

The construction and mounting of the canopies 18 and 25 can best be seen with reference to Figures 13 and 14. Each canopy 18 and 25 is operable from a first stowed position to a second position where it engages the aircraft transport vehicle and aircraft, respectively.

The canopy 18 is mounted to one of the plurality of frame members 38 of the passageway 12. Specifically, the canopy 18 is mounted to the frame member 38 adjacent the airport transport vehicle. The canopy 25 is mounted to frame member 64b of the vestibule 14.

As the construction of each of the canopies 18 and 25 is identical, for simplicity, only the construction of canopy 25 will be described in detail. Likewise, the pivot apparatus used to mount the canopy 25 is identical to the pivot apparatus used to mount the canopy 18. Consequently, only a single pivot apparatus 114 is described in detail.

The canopy 25 includes a hood 112 that is pivotally mounted to the pair of uprights 66b by a pivot apparatus 114. The hood 112 comprises a pair of upper tubes 116 that are parallel and extend outwardly from the pivot apparatus 114 for pivoting therewith.

Each of the pair of upper tubes 116 is bent at an obtuse angle, and has a proximal end 118 that is attached to the pivot apparatus 114 and a distal end 120 for engaging the aircraft.

The hood 112 further comprises a first terminal cross member that extends between and interconnects the distal ends 120 of the upper tubes 116.

The hood 112 also includes a first pair of lower tubes

124 that are parallel to each other and extend from the pivot apparatus 114 for pivoting therewith and provides handles for pivoting the pair of upper tubes 116 of adjusting the hood 112 to the aircraft.

The configuration of the pivot apparatus 114 can be seen with reference to Figure 13 and 14. As shown, the pivot apparatus 114 is secured to upright 66b of the frame member 64b between the second upper cross member 74 and the second upper stringer 80. As shown in Figure 14, the pivot apparatus 114 comprises a mounting plate 126 that is mounted to the upright 66. The mounting plate 126 is secured to a spacer plate 128 for pivoting therewith. A rotating plate 130 is operably connected to the spacer plate 128 and mounting plate 126. The upper tubes 116 and lower tubes 124 are attached to the rotating plate 130 for pivoting therewith. The mounting plate 126 is disk shaped and has a central mounting throughbore 132 that receives a mounting bolt 134 that extends through the upright 66.

A plurality of assembly bolts 136 that are spaced about the mounting plate 126 and extend therethrough.

The spacer plate 128 is disk shaped and has a mounting throughbore 138 that receives the mounting bolt 134. The spacer plate 128 also includes a pair of assembly slots 152 that are arcuately shaped and receive, respectively, the first pair of assembly bolts 136 so as to allow the first spacer plate to rotate relative to the mounting plate 126 during adjustment.

The rotating plate 130 includes a pair of rotating plate assembly slots 154 that are arcuately shaped and receive, respectively, the first pair of assembly bolts 136 so as to allow the rotating plate 130 to rotate relative to the mounting plate 126 during adjustment. The rotating plate 130 also includes a pair of opposed sleeves 156 and 158. The tube 156 is adapted to receive one of the upper tubes 116 for rotating therewith, and the other sleeve 158 is adapted to receive one of the first lower tubes 124 and rotate therewith.

The spacer plate 128 provides a bearing surface for both the mounting plate 126 and the rotating plate 130 when the rotating plate 130 is pivoted, and as such, is made from one of tetrafluoroethylene fluorocarbon polymers and fluorinated ethylene-propylene resin, which are both sold under the Trademark TEFLON®, as per THE CONDENSED CHEMICAL DICTIONARY; Eighth Edition; Hawley; Van Norstrand Reinhold Company; 1971.

The only significant difference between the canopy 18, its associated pivot apparatus, and the structure described above, is their mounting location. That is, the canopy 18 and its associated pivot apparatus are mounted to the frame member 28 of the passageway 12 adjacent the aircraft transport vehicle.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a walkway for conducting passengers along a path from a bus to an aircraft, however, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Claims

CLAIMSThe invention claimed is:

1. A walkway for allowing the protected movement of passengers along a path from an aircraft to a bus, comprising: a) a passageway having open proximal and distal ends and a rigid frame structure; b) a vestibule having open first and second ends and a rigid frame structure; c) means for mounting said first end of said vestibule to said distal end of said passageway for pivotal movement with respect to each other, said proximal end of said passageway being adapted to be positioned at the opening of said bus and said second end of said vestibule adapted to be positioned at the opening of said aircraft.

2. The walkway as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said vestibule frame structure and passageway frame structure have roller means mounted thereto allowing the movement of said walkway.

3. The walkway as defined in claim 2 , wherein said vestibule includes an enlarged canopy mounted to said second end for selectively engaging said aircraft.

4. The walkway as defined in claim 2 , wherein said passageway includes a second canopy mounted to said proximal end for selectively engaging said bus.

5. The walkway as defined in claim 3 , wherein said first canopy includes means for selectively rotating said first canopy from a first stowed position remote from said aircraft to a second position engaging said aircraft.

6. The walkway as defined in claim 4, wherein said second canopy includes means for selectively rotating said second canopy from a first stowed position remote from said bus to a second position engaging said bus.

7. The walkway as defined in claim 2, including a fabric cover extending over said passageway and said vestibule.

8. The walkway as defined in claim 2 , wherein said means for mounting includes at least one hinged connection tube mounted along one side of the walkway, said hinged connection tube having a first end secured to said passageway and a second end mounted to said vestibule.

9. The walkway as defined in claim 8, wherein said means for mounting includes at least one slide and pivot tube having a first end slidably inserted through a collar pivotally mounted to said passageway and a second end pivotally mounted to said vestibule.

10. The walkway as defined in claim 2, wherein said mounting assembly includes means for selectively alternating between a first mode wherein said passageway and vestibule are held in linear alignment and a second mode wherein said passageway and vestibule are arcuately adjustable with respect to one another.

11. The walkway as defined in claim 2, wherein said walkway includes a baggage tray extending outwardly therefrom and being accessible to said passengers as they walk through said walkway.

12. The walkway as defined in claim 2 , wherein said frame structure of said passageway is constructed from a plurality of identically constructed frame sections.

13. The walkway as defined in claim 12, wherein said each one of said plurality of identically constructed frame sections include a pair of spaced vertical uprights having upper terminal ends and a cross member connecting said upper terminal ends.

14. The walkway as defined in claim 13 , wherein said frame structure of said passageway further comprises a peak stringer that extends the length of said passageway and interconnects said cross members.

15. The walkway as defined in claim 2, wherein said frame structure of said vestibule includes a first and second frame member.

16. The walkway as defined in claim 15, wherein said first frame member of said vestibule frame structure includes a pair of uprights having upper terminal ends and a cross member that interconnects said upper terminal ends.

17. The walkway as defined in claim 16, wherein said second frame member of said vestibule frame structure includes a pair of uprights longer than said uprights of said first frame member having upper terminal ends and a cross member that interconnects said upper terminal ends.

18. The walkway as defined in claim 17, wherein said frame structure of said vestibule further comprises a peak stringer that interconnects said cross members of said first frame and said second frame.