WO2001025557A2

WO2001025557A2 - Improved frame construction for aircraft loading passageway

Info

Publication number: WO2001025557A2
Application number: PCT/US2000/041052
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Larson
Original assignee: Infra-Structures, Inc.
Priority date: 1999-10-06
Filing date: 2000-10-03
Publication date: 2001-04-12
Also published as: WO2001025557A8; WO2001025557A3

Abstract

A frame support (12) formed from a plurality of interlocking telescoping sections formed of an arcuate roof beam member (18) and vertical posts (14, 16). The posts (14, 16) are connected by a scissor assembly (26) constructed with anchoring channel members (32) attached to the vertical posts (14, 16) and a pair of crossed scissor arms (28) which are provided with a highly lubricous bearing-block (36) and guide (34). The frame supports (12) are mounted on shaped cooperating wheel mounts (44, 46) which slide against each other and which act to automatically orient the frame supports (12).

Description

IMPROVED FRAME CONSTRUCTION FOR AIRCRAFT LOADING PASSAGEWAY

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an improved construction of the corridor sections of a multi-sectional passageway.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In my earlier patent, U.S. 5,603,343, there is disclosed a passageway formed from a series of expandable and collapsible frame sections providing a pathway through which aircraft passengers move to and from the aircraft and the terminal building. Each frame section comprises a pair of inverted unitary U-shaped supports at its front and rear ends, mounted on casters at their lower ends and connected at their upper ends by an arched roof beam.

The U-shaped supports are interconnected by a scissor-like articulating assembly forming extendible collapsible side walls. Adjacent frame sections are serially connected by pivotal links which permit the passageway not only to elongate to a desired length, but to swing left or right at a radius permitting full accommodation to 2 the position of the aircraft on the apron.

Because the arched frame support is constructed as a unitary member, difficulty exists in its construction due to the need for a significant amount of shop space to accommodate the frame's size. Transportation of the passageway is arduous due to the bulky nature of the unitary support. Furthermore, this unitary arched support construction results in substantial manufacturing, transportation and storage costs.

Under severe weather conditions, the scissor-like articulating assembly tends to bind during the expansion and collapse of the passageway sometimes resulting in deformation and buckling of the assembly. To alleviate some of the problems associated with the binding of the assembly, it has been necessary to constantly lubricate the mechanism in order to reduce frictional forces.

Lastly, the frame sections are supported on wheels which are supported by mounting brackets which tend to interfere with each other when the frame sections are collapsed. The mountings also interfere with the arcing flexibility of the passageway.

Consequently, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved frame section for an aircraft passageway, avoiding the disadvantages of the prior known construction. It is another object of the present invention to provide for a more easily retractable passenger walkway.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for an improved frame section enabling the formation of a more easily retracted walkway as well as a passenger walkway which is easily stored.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a more economical passenger walkway.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a passenger walkway which is more easily assembled.

These objects and others together with their advantages and uses will be apparent from the following description of the present invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved corridor section of a passageway wherein the U-shaped frame supports comprise a plurality of interlocking telescoping sections having an arcuate roof beam member separate from its vertical posts. In addition, the scissor assembly is constructed with anchoring channel members attached to the vertical posts and a pair of crossed scissor arms which are provided with a highly lubricous bearing-block and guide, reducing any tendency to bind. The frame supports are mounted on shaped cooperating wheel mounts which slide against each other and which act to automatically orient the frame supports.

Full details of the present invention are set forth in the following description and in the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a corridor section according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partially sectional perspective view of the area encircled by A in fig. 1 showing the portion of the scissor assembly; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the wheel mount assembly shown in

area B of Fig. 1.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The corridor section according to the present invention, generally illustrated by

numeral 10 comprises a pair of U-shaped supports 12. Each support 12 is formed of a plurality of interlocking tubular members consisting of a vertical left leg 14, a vertical right leg 16 and a connecting roof arch beam 18. The vertical legs 14 and 16 each terminate at the upper ends in a clevis 20 into which the respective ends of the arched roof beam 18 fit. The cross-section of the vertical upright legs 14 and 16 is somewhat larger than that of the arched roof beam 18 so that a proper fit is made, suitable bolts

22 or pins hold the arched roof beam to the upright legs.

The tubular members are shown as square in cross section. While such is preferred, the tubular member may be cylindrical or of other shape. The arched roof beam 18 is preferably formed with a central ridge 24. The arched roof beam 18 may be circular or of other shape. Lastly, each part of the clevis 20, is an integral extension of the tubular sides 14 and 16. The clevis 20 may be formed by flat tongue plates welded or otherwise attached to the tube.

Mounted on the exterior face of the corridor section between each pair of right and left vertical upright legs 14 and 16 is a scissor assembly 26 comprising a pair of identical bars 28 pivoted together at the center. The upper end of each bar 28 is pivotally fastened to a respective vertical upright at 30. The lower end of each of the bars 28 is slidably located in anchoring channel 32, vertically fixed at the lower end of the upright in the opposite frame support. The anchor channels 32 are generally angular in cross section and are mounted by one side to the exterior face of the vertical upright, by bolts, screws, welds or the like, so that the guide openings 34 thereof face each other and allow the ends of the bar 28 to freely slide.

As seen in Fig. 2, the lower end of each bar 28 passes through the guide opening 34 in the anchoring channel 32 and is pivotally held in a bearing block 36. The bearing block 36 is cylindrically shaped and is formed, along its length, with a rectangular recess 38. The recess 38 has a depth slightly larger than the radius of the cylindrical bearing block 36 so that a retaining pivot pin 40, passing transversely into the recess, will hold the end of the bar 28. The bar 28 is thus permitted to swing upwardly and downwardly in the direction of the arrows A as the frame section is opened or collapsed.

Preferably, the block is formed of a lubricous material, i.e., an ultra high molecular weight (UHMW) polymer impregnated with an oil whereby manual oiling is avoided. The block 36 is slightly smaller in diameter than the sectional area of the angular anchoring channel 32 so that it not only slides freely in the longitudinal direction but rotates freely within the channel, in the direction of arrows B. In this manner as a multi-section corridor assembly is opened and closed to form the passageway, and as the passageway is radiused or swung, sufficient play as well as lubrication exists to prevent binding of the block 36 and/or scissor bars 28. In addition, the placement of a cylindrical block with a angular channel member provides tangential contacts reducing the total contact surface and thus reduces the friction generated.

To limit the downward movement of the bars 28, when the corridor section 10 is extended, and to limit the rotary movement of the bearing block 36 as the corridor section 10 radiuses with respect to adjacent frame section, a stop 42 is formed unitarily with the bearing block 36 so as to project between the edges of the guide opening 34 of the anchoring channel. Preferably the stop 42 is made of the same material as the bearing block 36 although since the stop 42 is not subject to the same wear as the bearing block it may be made of a different less lubricous material.

The legs of the U-shaped frame supports 12 are respectively provided with cooperating self-centering wheel assemblies 44, 46. Each wheel assembly comprises a flat rigid mounting plate 47, to the upper surface of which, the vertical legs 16 (and if desired, the anchoring channels of the scissor assembly) are welded. The plates differ basically in the shape of their opposing edges. One, (here shown as the trailing edge 48 of the foremost wheel assembly 44) is formed with a concave shape while the other (here shown as the leading edge 50 of the trailing wheel assembly 46) is formed with a conforming arcuate convex shape. In this manner when the corridor section 10 is collapsed, the front and rear wheel assemblies 44, 46 will conveniently abut, shift and automatically align themselves due to the concave and convex mating surfaces sliding against each other. As a consequence, the frame supports 12 of the corridor section 10 align themselves axially. To ensure that the plates of the respective wheel assemblies 44, 46 do not jump and seat one on top of the other, the convex edge 50 is covered with a band forming a short upright wall 52 70 maintaining the arcuate shape but rising sufficiently to prevent any overlapping between the plates.

The plates 47 of each wheel assemblies 44, 46 have been shown as generally trapezoidal although such shape is not critical. The plates may be rectangular, circular or of other geometrical shape.

Lastly, as in the prior patent, conventional caster wheels 54 are attached to the bottom surface of the mounting plates.

Various modifications and changes have been disclosed herein, and others will be apparent to those skilled in this art. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is by way of illustration and not limiting of the present invention.

Claims

1. An improved passageway through which passengers may move for unloading and loading aircraft comprising a plurality of independent frame sections arranged in longitudinal end to end series, each section having at least a first and a second U-shaped brace, each U-shaped brace having a left and a right leg, the upper end of each leg is provided with a clevis for attachment to the lower end of an roof arched beam, a slotted guide attached to the lower end of each of each leg, a pair of pivot bars arranged to criss-cross each other, the upper end of each of the pivot bars being pivotally fixed to the upper end of each leg, the lower ends of each pivot bar being slidably attached to the slotted guides, each of the legs and each of the slotted guides being attached to a wheel assembly, the frame sections being articulately connected to form an elongated flexible corridor, and each of said sections being connected to its adjacent section in the longitudinal series by pivotal latch means enabling said passageway to flex laterally and assume an arcuate disposition.

2. An improved passageway through which passengers may move for unloading and loading aircraft comprising a plurality of independent frame sections arranged in longitudinal end to end series, each section having at least a first and a second U-shaped brace, each U-shaped brace having a left and a right leg connected by an roof arched beam, a slotted guide attached to the lower end of each of each leg, a pair of pivot bars arranged to criss-cross each other, the upper end of each of the pivot bars being pivotally fixed to the upper end of each leg, the lower ends of each pivot bar being pivotally attached to a wear block, the wear block being slidably positioned within the slotted guides, each of the legs and each of the slotted guides being attached to a wheel assembly, the frame sections being articulately connected to form an elongated flexible corridor, and each of said sections being connected to its adjacent section in the longitudinal series by pivotal latch means enabling said passageway to flex laterally and assume an arcuate disposition.

3. An improved passageway through which passengers may move for unloading and loading aircraft comprising a plurality of independent frame sections arranged in longitudinal end to end series, each section having at least a first and a second U-shaped brace, each U-shaped brace having a left and a right leg connected by an roof arched beam, a slotted guide attached to the lower end of each of each leg, a pair of pivot bars arranged to criss-cross each other, the upper end of each of the pivot bars being pivotally fixed to the upper end of each leg, the lower ends of each pivot bar being slidably attached to the slotted guides, each of the legs and each of the slotted guides being attached to a mounting plate of a wheel assembly, the mounting plate of a first wheel assembly is provided with an arcuate edge and the mounting plate of a second wheel assembly is provided with a reciprocal arcuate edge whereby proper seating is achieved when the frame section is collapsed, the frame sections being articulately connected to form an elongated flexible corridor, and each of said sections being connected to its adjacent section in the longitudinal series by pivotal latch means enabling said passageway to flex laterally and assume an arcuate disposition.