WO2019238900A1 - Passenger boarding bridge - Google Patents
Passenger boarding bridge Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2019238900A1 WO2019238900A1 PCT/EP2019/065628 EP2019065628W WO2019238900A1 WO 2019238900 A1 WO2019238900 A1 WO 2019238900A1 EP 2019065628 W EP2019065628 W EP 2019065628W WO 2019238900 A1 WO2019238900 A1 WO 2019238900A1
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- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- bearing
- rail
- lubricant
- passenger boarding
- boarding bridge
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
- B64F—GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B64F1/00—Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations
- B64F1/30—Ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations for embarking or disembarking passengers
- B64F1/305—Bridges extending between terminal building and aircraft, e.g. telescopic, vertically adjustable
Definitions
- the invention refers to a passenger boarding bridge.
- the tunnel may be extendible and comprises at least two tunnel sections, which can be telescoped for adjusting the length of the tunnel to the distance between an airplane door and the terminal building.
- the tunnel sections are connected by roller bearings to enable relative movement of the tunnel sections during telescoping.
- US 3, 184,772 A discloses a conventional bearing concept, that uses rollers between the two tunnel sections.
- US 3,377,638 A shows an alternative bearing concept for the tunnel sections of a Passenger boarding bridge. Instead of rollers a sliding bearing is provided, which may lead to lower production cost and maintenance effort. Also EP 3 339 187 Al proposes to use a sliding bearing instead of rollers.
- the situation of wear should be improved in particular for parts, which are difficult to replace.
- the inventive passenger boarding bridge comprises a tunnel having a first tunnel section and a second tunnel section, the tunnel sections can be telescoped for adjusting the length of the tunnel along a main sliding direction; a number of bearings adapted to slidably support the tunnel sections relative to each other, having at least one bearing rail connected one of the tunnels section, in particular to the first tunnel section and at least one bearing sledge connected to the other, in particular the second, tunnel section;
- the bearing rail comprises a planar first horizontal bearing surface;
- the bearing sledge comprises a planar second horizontal bearing surface, which is adapted to slide along a planar first horizontal bearing surface of the bearing rail during telescoping and/or the bearing sledge comprises a planar second vertical guiding surface, which is adapted to slide along planar first vertical guiding surface during telescoping.
- the Passenger boarding bridge comprises at least one corrosion reduction means suitable for reducing the corrosion of the bearing rail.
- the corrosion reduction means are suitable for reduction the corrosion of the first horizontal bearing surface and/or of the
- the surface mentioned may also have an orientation which is different from a horizontal / vertical orientation.
- the bearing surface may inclined by e.g. 45° compared to the absolute horizontal orientation.
- the bearing surfaces are adapted to transmit the main gravitational loads of the tunnel section, wherein the guiding surfaces are adapted to hold the sections centered to each other in perpendicular to a main sliding direction.
- the passenger boarding means comprises a lubricant applicator, adapted to provide a lubricant on to the bearing rail.
- the lubricant applicator constitutes the corrosion reduction means constitutes an alternative to the corrosion reduction means according to claim 1.
- the lubricant may be a material based on MoS2 (Molybdenum disulfide) and/or graphite.
- the lubricant applicator is in particular separate to a bearing surface or a guiding surface sliding along the bearing rail. This enables separate replacement of the lubricant applicator or the bearing surface or guiding surface. Consequently the applicator is not incorporated into the surface material of the guiding/bearing surface.
- the lubricant applicator is adapted to apply the lubricant to the bearing rail.
- the bearing rail is in particular one of the largest parts of the bearing and consequently in most cases expensive and difficult to replace. Increasing lifetime of the bearing rail is thus desired.
- the lubricant applicator is adapted to apply a liquid lubricant. Applying a liquid may require a complex application apparatus, adapted to control the application of the lubricant, which may lead to exact dosage.
- the lubricant applicator is adapted to apply a solid lubricant. Applying a solid may be possible with a quite simple installation, but controlling the exact amount of applied lubricant may be not possible.
- the lubricant applicator comprises a lubricant reservoir for storing the lubricant and a lubricant pressurant adapted to urge the stored lubricant in a defined manner onto the bearing and/or guiding surface.
- the bearing rail comprises a bearing rail pad, separate to a bearing rail main body of the bearing rail, wherein the bearing rail pad forming the first horizontal bearing surface and/or the first vertical guiding surface.
- the bearing rail pad constitutes the corrosion reduction means or constitutes an alternative to the corrosion reduction means according to claim 1
- the bearing rail pad is mounted in a replaceable manner to the bearing rail main body.
- the bearing rail pad may be mounted in a replaceable manner to the bearing rail main body.
- the replace the running surfaces /bearing / guiding surfaces) of the rail without replacing the carrying structure.
- the friction plate is mounted in a replaceable manner to a bearing shoe main body of the bearing sledge, leading to easy replacement of the guiding surfaces of the bearing sledge.
- the passenger boarding bridge comprises a sensor adapted to generate a signal indicative of the wear status of the friction plate.
- the sensor is adapted to measure a distance between the bearing sledge, in particular a bearing shoe main body of the bearing sledge, and the bearing rail. This enables to detect the optimum date for replacing the friction plates. Using a worn friction plate may cause increased wear to the rail, which can be prevented by using said sensor.
- a first brush is attached at the bearing sledge, contacting the rail in front of brake pad when viewed in a main sliding direction; Additionally there may a second brush attached at the bearing sledge, contacting the rail behind the same brake pad when viewed in the same main sliding direction.
- a lubricant may cause lump formation, in particular when the dust on the rails gets in contact with the lubricant. This may increase wear on the rails and increase friction. To prevent disadvantageous it the brushes clean the rails sections before the friction plates passing the respective rail section.
- the corrosion reduction means is the friction pad itself;
- the friction plate comprises composition including a lubricant.
- composition includes graphite as a lubricant.
- PEEK PolyEtherEtherKeton
- tests have shown that for the purpose of passenger boarding bridges the PEEK has good friction properties, wear protection properties referring to the pad itself as well as to the counterpart, supporting long service intervals.
- the composite comprises further graphite and/or fibers to further support the above properties.
- the invention refers also to a method of servicing a passenger boarding bridge as described above, the method comprising the following steps: replacing the planar second horizontal bearing surface within a first replacement interval; replacing the planar first horizontal bearing surface within a second replacement interval, after the first replacement interval has expired. That means in particular that the bearing surface of the sledge is to be replaced more frequently than the guiding surface of the bearing rail.
- the second replacement interval is at least five times greater than the first replacement interval.
- fig. 1 a partial side view of an inventive passenger boarding bridge having two tunnel sections
- fig. 2 a detailed side view (fig. 2a) and cross-section (fig. 2b) of the sliding mechanism within the passenger boarding bridge according of fig. 1
- fig. 3 a perspective view of a bearing sledge used within the passenger boarding bridge according to fig. 1 having a lubricant applicator in a first embodiment
- fig. 4 a schematical sketch of a bearing sledge used within the passenger boarding bridge according to fig. 1 having a lubricant applicator in another embodiment
- fig. 5 a perspective view of a bearing rail used within the passenger boarding bridge
- FIG 1 partially shows an inventive passenger boarding bridge 1, as in principal disclosed in WO 2014/146758 A1 and in EP 3 339 187 Al.
- the passenger boarding bridge 1 comprises an extendible tunnel 2, having two tunnel sections 3, 4 which can be telescoped along a main sliding direction D.
- the tunnel sections are supported to each other by means of multiple, here in sum eight, bearings 5, which are subsequently described in more detail.
- Figure 2 shows the bearing 5 comprising a bearing sledge 10 and a bearing rail 6, wherein the bearing sledge 10 can slide along a bearing rail 6.
- the bearing rail 6 has a planar first horizontal bearing surface 7.
- the bearing rail 6 is attached to the first tunnel section 3, the bearing sledge 10 is attached to the second tunnel section 4.
- no rollers are provided in the bearing 5, but instead the bearing sledge 10 can slide along the bearing rail 6.
- the tunnel may further comprise at least one bearing in which the bearing rail 6 is attached to the second tunnel section 4 and the bearing sledge 10 is attached to the first tunnel section 3.
- FIG. 2 shows details of of the bearing sledge 10.
- the bearing sledge 10 has a planar second horizontal bearing surface 13, which rests on the planar first horizontal bearing surface 7 of the bearing rail 6.
- the bearing surfaces are provided to transmit the vertical acting loads between the both tunnel sections 3, 4. Lateral guiding is supported by a planar first vertical guiding surface 8 of the bearing rail 6 and a planar second vertical guiding surface 14 attached to the bearing sledge 10. Since the horizontal bearing surfaces 7, 13 are provided to transmit vertical acting loads between the tunnel sections the stress acting on the horizontal bearing surfaces is more extensive than the stress acting on the vertical guiding surfaces 8, 14.
- the second horizontal bearing surface 13 and the second vertical guiding surface 14 are located on a friction pad 15, each of which is separate to a bearing shoe main body 17. This provides easy replacement of the frictions pads 15, since these pads 15 are wear parts.
- a slide friction in the bearings 5 may be slightly higher compared to the rolling friction of the conventional roller bearings.
- the main use of a passenger boarding bridge is more a static use, in which no telescoping procedure is given; the dynamic use during telescoping is limited to several minutes per day when the bridge is to be connected to the airplane or to be disconnected from the airplane. So the disadvantage of higher friction can be accepted, also since the bridge is unloaded during telescoping, because no passenger is allowed to stay within the tunnel as long the bridge is moved.
- the main advantage is a better distribution of forces along the rail since the contact in the bearing is significantly higher compared to conventional roller bearings. Consequently the rail can be designed with less material and/or the life cycle of the bridge can be increased.
- Figures 3 shows the bearing sledge 10 comprising several components, including a bearing support 11 and a bearing shoe 12.
- the bearing support 11 is fixed to the second tunnel section 4, the bearing shoe 12 is attached to the bearing support 11 by means of a first joint 16, which may be a ball joint or a shaft joint.
- the first joint 16 enables at least a tilting of the bearing shoe 12 relative to the bearing support 11 along an axis X, which is aligned horizontally and perpendicular to the main sliding direction D.
- the bearing shoe 12 again comprises a bearing shoe main body 17, to which further components are attached.
- the bearing 5 comprises a lubricant applicator 20.
- the lubricant applicator 20 may be attached at the bearing sledge 10, in particular at the bearing shoe main body 17.
- the lubricant applicator 20 provides lubricant at a frictional contact area between the first horizontal bearing surfaces 7 and the second horizontal bearing surface 13 and/or between the first vertical guiding surface 8 and the second vertical guiding surface 14.
- the lubricant applicator 20 comprises a lubricant reservoir 21, containing a predefined amount of lubricant 23.
- the lubricant reservoir 21 is a block of solid lubricant 23 sliding along the respective bearing or guiding surface 7, 8, thereby dispensing lubricant to the respective surface 7, 8.
- the lubricant improves sliding capabilities as well as corrosion resistance, in particular where the first bearing or guiding surface 7, 8 is made of steel or other metal.
- the lubricant applicator 20 comprises a lubricant pressurant 22, which is adapted to urge the lubricant 23 onto the surface 7, 8 to be applied in a defined manner.
- the lubricant pressurant 22 comprises one or more springs 21 which apply a normal force N between the lubricant reservoir 21 and the respective surface. Based on the quantity of the normal force N the amount of lubricant applied to the surface 7, 8 during movement of the bridge 1 is defined.
- the lubricant reservoir 21 is mounted at the bearing sledge 10 by means of the lubricant pressurant 22, here in the form of two spring brackets.
- the friction pad comprises a composition of PEEK, graphite and fiber, in particular glass fiber or carbon fiber.
- PEEK alone or in combination with graphite has good lubricating properties.
- the invention provides brushes 110 contacting the rails 6 and arranged to at the sledge 10, in particular fixed at the bearing shoe 12.
- the brushes 110 are located in a position so that they clean the sections of the rail 6, before the brake pads 13, 14 contacts this sections. So the brushes 110 are located in front of the brake pads, when viewed in main sliding direction D.
- Figure 4 shows an embodiment, in which a liquid lubricant can be applied.
- the lubricant applicator comprises a cylinder as a lubricant reservoir 21, in which a liquid lubricant 23 is stored.
- a lubricant pressurant 22 comprises an actuator and a piston, acting on the sored liquid lubricant 23.
- a lubricant duct 24 provides a passage from the lubricant reservoir 21 to the second horizontal bearing surface 13 or to the second vertical guiding surface 14.
- Figure 3 and 4 show additionally a sensor 18 adapted to provide a signal, which is indicative to the wear status of the friction plates 15.
- the sensor 18 is attached to the bearing sledge 10, in particular the bearing shoe main body 17.
- the sensor 18 may comprise a sensor pin 19, contacting the bearing rail 6, so that the distance d between the shoe main body 17 and the bearing rail 6 is measured. If the distance d falls below a predetermined critical value, the friction pad 15 is worn and is to be replaced.
- a second sensor can be provided on the other end of the bearing sledge as depicted by dotted lines. To use two sensors at different locations it is possible to detect that the surfaces 13 is worn irregularly. For example if the right sensor shows a greater distance d than the left (dotted) sensor, than this is an indication, that the left friction pad 15 is worn more than the right friction pad 15. This situation cannot be detected by using merely just the sensor on the right side.
- bearing rail 5 or at least one of the bearing surfaces 7, 8 could be an integral part the tunnel sections structural elements.
- Figure 5 shows the bearing rail 6, comprising at least one bearing rail main body 9 made of steel or other metal.
- the bearing rail main body 9 is provided with a rail pad 40.
- the bearing rail main body 9 is part of the tunnel sections structure and welded to other structural parts of the tunnel section.
- a rail pad 40 forms the planar first horizontal bearing surface 7 and/or a rail pad 40 forms the planar first vertical guiding surface 8.
- the rail pad 40 is in particular made of plastic, in particular comprising PEEK.
- the hardness of the surface first surfaces and/or of the second surfaces and/or of the friction plates and/or of the rail pads is in particular at least that high, that during operation no plastic deformation applies to the rail pad.
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Abstract
Passenger boarding bridge (1), comprising, - a tunnel (2) having a first tunnel section (3) and a second tunnel section (4), the tunnel sections (3, 4) can be telescoped for adjusting the length of the tunnel (2) along a main sliding direction (D), - a number of bearings (5) adapted to slidably support the tunnel sections (3, 4) relative to each other, having at least one bearing rail (6) connected to the first tunnel section (3) and at least one bearing sledge (10) connected to the second tunnel section (4), wherein the bearing rail (6) comprises a planar first horizontal bearing surface (7), wherein the bearing sledge (10) comprises a planar second horizontal bearing surface (13), which is adapted to slide along a planar first horizontal bearing surface (7) of the bearing rail (6) during telescoping and/or wherein the bearing sledge (10) comprises a planar second vertical guiding surface (14), which is adapted to slide along planar first vertical guiding surface (8) during telescoping, wherein at least one corrosion reduction means (20, 40) suitable for reduction the corrosion of the bearing rail (6) is provided.
Description
Description
Passenger boarding bridge
The invention refers to a passenger boarding bridge.
A passenger boarding bridge of the claimed type, in general example shown in WO
2014/146758 Al, connects an airplane with a terminal building via a tunnel. The tunnel may be extendible and comprises at least two tunnel sections, which can be telescoped for adjusting the length of the tunnel to the distance between an airplane door and the terminal building. The tunnel sections are connected by roller bearings to enable relative movement of the tunnel sections during telescoping. US 3, 184,772 A discloses a conventional bearing concept, that uses rollers between the two tunnel sections.
US 3,377,638 A shows an alternative bearing concept for the tunnel sections of a Passenger boarding bridge. Instead of rollers a sliding bearing is provided, which may lead to lower production cost and maintenance effort. Also EP 3 339 187 Al proposes to use a sliding bearing instead of rollers.
Also the sliding bearing has to deal with wear. In the bridge of US 3,377,638 A anti-friction elements of oil impregnated porous bronze are used, which should improve the sliding capacities. However the elements of oil impregnated porous bronze supply very few oil to the bearing.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative or improved passenger boarding bridge as described above. In particular the situation of wear should be improved in particular for parts, which are difficult to replace.
According to the invention a Passenger boarding bridge according to claim 1 is proposed;
embodiments are subject of the subclaims and the description.
The inventive passenger boarding bridge comprises a tunnel having a first tunnel section and a second tunnel section, the tunnel sections can be telescoped for adjusting the length of the tunnel along a main sliding direction; a number of bearings adapted to slidably support the tunnel sections relative to each other, having at least one bearing rail connected one of the tunnels section, in particular to the first tunnel section and at least one bearing sledge connected to the other, in particular the second, tunnel section; the bearing rail comprises a planar first
horizontal bearing surface; the bearing sledge comprises a planar second horizontal bearing surface, which is adapted to slide along a planar first horizontal bearing surface of the bearing rail during telescoping and/or the bearing sledge comprises a planar second vertical guiding surface, which is adapted to slide along planar first vertical guiding surface during telescoping. The Passenger boarding bridge comprises at least one corrosion reduction means suitable for reducing the corrosion of the bearing rail. In particular the corrosion reduction means are suitable for reduction the corrosion of the first horizontal bearing surface and/or of the first vertical guiding surface.
Here the surface mentioned may also have an orientation which is different from a horizontal / vertical orientation. In particular the bearing surface may inclined by e.g. 45° compared to the absolute horizontal orientation. In particular the bearing surfaces are adapted to transmit the main gravitational loads of the tunnel section, wherein the guiding surfaces are adapted to hold the sections centered to each other in perpendicular to a main sliding direction.
In an embodiment the passenger boarding means comprises a lubricant applicator, adapted to provide a lubricant on to the bearing rail. In particular the lubricant applicator constitutes the corrosion reduction means constitutes an alternative to the corrosion reduction means according to claim 1. The lubricant may be a material based on MoS2 (Molybdenum disulfide) and/or graphite.
The lubricant applicator is in particular separate to a bearing surface or a guiding surface sliding along the bearing rail. This enables separate replacement of the lubricant applicator or the bearing surface or guiding surface. Consequently the applicator is not incorporated into the surface material of the guiding/bearing surface.
In an embodiment the lubricant applicator is adapted to apply the lubricant to the bearing rail. The bearing rail is in particular one of the largest parts of the bearing and consequently in most cases expensive and difficult to replace. Increasing lifetime of the bearing rail is thus desired.
In an embodiment the lubricant applicator is adapted to apply a liquid lubricant. Applying a liquid may require a complex application apparatus, adapted to control the application of the lubricant, which may lead to exact dosage.
In an embodiment the lubricant applicator is adapted to apply a solid lubricant. Applying a solid may be possible with a quite simple installation, but controlling the exact amount of applied lubricant may be not possible.
In an embodiment the lubricant applicator comprises a lubricant reservoir for storing the lubricant and a lubricant pressurant adapted to urge the stored lubricant in a defined manner onto the bearing and/or guiding surface.
In an embodiment the bearing rail comprises a bearing rail pad, separate to a bearing rail main body of the bearing rail, wherein the bearing rail pad forming the first horizontal bearing surface and/or the first vertical guiding surface. In particular the bearing rail pad constitutes the corrosion reduction means or constitutes an alternative to the corrosion reduction means according to claim 1
In an embodiment the bearing rail pad is mounted in a replaceable manner to the bearing rail main body. Here it may be possible to the replace the running surfaces /bearing / guiding surfaces) of the rail without replacing the carrying structure.
In an embodiment the friction plate is mounted in a replaceable manner to a bearing shoe main body of the bearing sledge, leading to easy replacement of the guiding surfaces of the bearing sledge.
In an embodiment the passenger boarding bridge comprises a sensor adapted to generate a signal indicative of the wear status of the friction plate. In particular the sensor is adapted to measure a distance between the bearing sledge, in particular a bearing shoe main body of the bearing sledge, and the bearing rail. This enables to detect the optimum date for replacing the friction plates. Using a worn friction plate may cause increased wear to the rail, which can be prevented by using said sensor.
In an embodiment a first brush is attached at the bearing sledge, contacting the rail in front of brake pad when viewed in a main sliding direction; Additionally there may a second brush attached at the bearing sledge, contacting the rail behind the same brake pad when viewed in the same main sliding direction. Using a lubricant may cause lump formation, in particular when the dust on the rails gets in contact with the lubricant. This may increase wear on the rails and increase friction. To prevent disadvantageous it the brushes clean the rails sections before the friction plates passing the respective rail section.
In an embodiment the corrosion reduction means is the friction pad itself; Here the friction plate comprises composition including a lubricant. In an embodiment composition includes graphite as a lubricant. To include the lubricant within the friction pad improves the system as easy to install and easy to service.
In an the composite comprising PolyEtherEtherKeton (PEEK); tests have shown that for the purpose of passenger boarding bridges the PEEK has good friction properties, wear protection properties referring to the pad itself as well as to the counterpart, supporting long service intervals. In particular the composite comprises further graphite and/or fibers to further support the above properties.
The invention refers also to a method of servicing a passenger boarding bridge as described above, the method comprising the following steps: replacing the planar second horizontal bearing surface within a first replacement interval; replacing the planar first horizontal bearing surface within a second replacement interval, after the first replacement interval has expired. That means in particular that the bearing surface of the sledge is to be replaced more frequently than the guiding surface of the bearing rail. In particular the second replacement interval is at least five times greater than the first replacement interval.
The invention is described in more detail with the help of the figures, the figures show: fig. 1 a partial side view of an inventive passenger boarding bridge having two tunnel sections; fig. 2 a detailed side view (fig. 2a) and cross-section (fig. 2b) of the sliding mechanism within the passenger boarding bridge according of fig. 1; fig. 3 a perspective view of a bearing sledge used within the passenger boarding bridge according to fig. 1 having a lubricant applicator in a first embodiment; fig. 4 a schematical sketch of a bearing sledge used within the passenger boarding bridge according to fig. 1 having a lubricant applicator in another embodiment; fig. 5 a perspective view of a bearing rail used within the passenger boarding bridge
according to fig. 1 having a rail pad.
Figure 1 partially shows an inventive passenger boarding bridge 1, as in principal disclosed in WO 2014/146758 A1 and in EP 3 339 187 Al. The passenger boarding bridge 1 comprises an extendible tunnel 2, having two tunnel sections 3, 4 which can be telescoped along a main sliding direction D. The tunnel sections are supported to each other by means of multiple, here in sum eight, bearings 5, which are subsequently described in more detail.
Figure 2 shows the bearing 5 comprising a bearing sledge 10 and a bearing rail 6, wherein the bearing sledge 10 can slide along a bearing rail 6. The bearing rail 6 has a planar first horizontal bearing surface 7. The bearing rail 6 is attached to the first tunnel section 3, the bearing sledge 10 is attached to the second tunnel section 4. In contrast to the conventional passenger boarding bridges no rollers are provided in the bearing 5, but instead the bearing sledge 10 can slide along the bearing rail 6.
In an embodiment, the tunnel may further comprise at least one bearing in which the bearing rail 6 is attached to the second tunnel section 4 and the bearing sledge 10 is attached to the first tunnel section 3.
Figure 2 shows details of of the bearing sledge 10. The bearing sledge 10 has a planar second horizontal bearing surface 13, which rests on the planar first horizontal bearing surface 7 of the bearing rail 6. The bearing surfaces are provided to transmit the vertical acting loads between the both tunnel sections 3, 4. Lateral guiding is supported by a planar first vertical guiding surface 8 of the bearing rail 6 and a planar second vertical guiding surface 14 attached to the bearing sledge 10. Since the horizontal bearing surfaces 7, 13 are provided to transmit vertical acting loads between the tunnel sections the stress acting on the horizontal bearing surfaces is more extensive than the stress acting on the vertical guiding surfaces 8, 14.
The second horizontal bearing surface 13 and the second vertical guiding surface 14 are located on a friction pad 15, each of which is separate to a bearing shoe main body 17. This provides easy replacement of the frictions pads 15, since these pads 15 are wear parts.
During telescoping a slide friction in the bearings 5 according to the invention may be slightly higher compared to the rolling friction of the conventional roller bearings. But the main use of a passenger boarding bridge is more a static use, in which no telescoping procedure is given; the dynamic use during telescoping is limited to several minutes per day when the bridge is to be connected to the airplane or to be disconnected from the airplane. So the disadvantage of higher friction can be accepted, also since the bridge is unloaded during telescoping, because no passenger is allowed to stay within the tunnel as long the bridge is moved. The main advantage is a better distribution of forces along the rail since the contact in the bearing is significantly higher compared to conventional roller bearings. Consequently the rail can be designed with less material and/or the life cycle of the bridge can be increased.
Figures 3 shows the bearing sledge 10 comprising several components, including a bearing support 11 and a bearing shoe 12. The bearing support 11 is fixed to the second tunnel section
4, the bearing shoe 12 is attached to the bearing support 11 by means of a first joint 16, which may be a ball joint or a shaft joint. The first joint 16 enables at least a tilting of the bearing shoe 12 relative to the bearing support 11 along an axis X, which is aligned horizontally and perpendicular to the main sliding direction D. The bearing shoe 12 again comprises a bearing shoe main body 17, to which further components are attached.
In the embodiment of figure 3 the bearing 5 comprises a lubricant applicator 20. In this particular embodiment the lubricant applicator 20 may be attached at the bearing sledge 10, in particular at the bearing shoe main body 17. In this embodiment the lubricant applicator 20 provides lubricant at a frictional contact area between the first horizontal bearing surfaces 7 and the second horizontal bearing surface 13 and/or between the first vertical guiding surface 8 and the second vertical guiding surface 14.
The lubricant applicator 20 comprises a lubricant reservoir 21, containing a predefined amount of lubricant 23. In this particular embodiment the lubricant reservoir 21 is a block of solid lubricant 23 sliding along the respective bearing or guiding surface 7, 8, thereby dispensing lubricant to the respective surface 7, 8. The lubricant improves sliding capabilities as well as corrosion resistance, in particular where the first bearing or guiding surface 7, 8 is made of steel or other metal.
The lubricant applicator 20 comprises a lubricant pressurant 22, which is adapted to urge the lubricant 23 onto the surface 7, 8 to be applied in a defined manner. In this particular embodiment the lubricant pressurant 22 comprises one or more springs 21 which apply a normal force N between the lubricant reservoir 21 and the respective surface. Based on the quantity of the normal force N the amount of lubricant applied to the surface 7, 8 during movement of the bridge 1 is defined. Besides that the lubricant reservoir 21 is mounted at the bearing sledge 10 by means of the lubricant pressurant 22, here in the form of two spring brackets.
In another embodiment the friction pad comprises a composition of PEEK, graphite and fiber, in particular glass fiber or carbon fiber. PEEK alone or in combination with graphite has good lubricating properties.
When getting in contact with dust the lubricant tends to lump formation. Therefore the invention provides brushes 110 contacting the rails 6 and arranged to at the sledge 10, in particular fixed at the bearing shoe 12. The brushes 110 are located in a position so that they clean the sections of the rail 6, before the brake pads 13, 14 contacts this sections. So the brushes 110 are located
in front of the brake pads, when viewed in main sliding direction D. Figure 4 shows an embodiment, in which a liquid lubricant can be applied. The lubricant applicator comprises a cylinder as a lubricant reservoir 21, in which a liquid lubricant 23 is stored. A lubricant pressurant 22 comprises an actuator and a piston, acting on the sored liquid lubricant 23. A lubricant duct 24 provides a passage from the lubricant reservoir 21 to the second horizontal bearing surface 13 or to the second vertical guiding surface 14.
Figure 3 and 4 show additionally a sensor 18 adapted to provide a signal, which is indicative to the wear status of the friction plates 15. In this particular embodiment the sensor 18 is attached to the bearing sledge 10, in particular the bearing shoe main body 17. The sensor 18 may comprise a sensor pin 19, contacting the bearing rail 6, so that the distance d between the shoe main body 17 and the bearing rail 6 is measured. If the distance d falls below a predetermined critical value, the friction pad 15 is worn and is to be replaced. In figure 3 merely one sensor 18 is explicitly shown at the right end of the bearing sledge 10. Additionally a second sensor can be provided on the other end of the bearing sledge as depicted by dotted lines. To use two sensors at different locations it is possible to detect that the surfaces 13 is worn irregularly. For example if the right sensor shows a greater distance d than the left (dotted) sensor, than this is an indication, that the left friction pad 15 is worn more than the right friction pad 15. This situation cannot be detected by using merely just the sensor on the right side.
In general the bearing rail 5 or at least one of the bearing surfaces 7, 8 could be an integral part the tunnel sections structural elements.
Figure 5 shows the bearing rail 6, comprising at least one bearing rail main body 9 made of steel or other metal. The bearing rail main body 9 is provided with a rail pad 40. In particular the bearing rail main body 9 is part of the tunnel sections structure and welded to other structural parts of the tunnel section. A rail pad 40 forms the planar first horizontal bearing surface 7 and/or a rail pad 40 forms the planar first vertical guiding surface 8.
The rail pad 40 is in particular made of plastic, in particular comprising PEEK.
The hardness of the surface first surfaces and/or of the second surfaces and/or of the friction plates and/or of the rail pads is in particular at least that high, that during operation no plastic deformation applies to the rail pad. By using the rail pad 40, the bearing rail main body 9, which is even expensive or impossible to exchange, can be protected with respect to corrosion.
List of reference signs
1 passenger boarding bridge
2 tunnel
3 first tunnel section
4 second tunnel section
5 bearing
6 bearing rail
7 planar first horizontal bearing surface
8 planar first vertical guiding surface
9 bearing rail main body
10 bearing sledge
11 bearing support
12 bearing shoe
13 planar second horizontal bearing surface
14 planar second vertical guiding surface
15 friction plates
16 first joint
17 bearing shoe main body
18 sensor
19 sensor pin
110 brush
20 lubricant applicator
21 lubricant reservoir / lubricant block
22 lubricant pressurant / spring bracket
23 lubricant
24 lubricant duct
40 plastic rail pad
X axis of rotation
D main sliding direction
d distance between shoe main body and guide bearing rail
N normal force
Claims
1. Passenger boarding bridge (1), comprising,
- a tunnel (2) having a first tunnel section (3) and a second tunnel section (4), the tunnel sections (3, 4) can be telescoped for adjusting the length of the tunnel (2) along a main sliding direction (D),
- a plurality of bearings (5) adapted to slidably support the tunnel sections (3, 4) relative to each other, having at least one bearing rail (6) connected to one of the tunnel sections (3), in particular the first tunnel section (3), and at least one bearing sledge (10) connected to another of the tunnel sections (4), in particular the second tunnel section (4), wherein the bearing rail (6) comprises a planar first, in particular, horizontal bearing surface (7), wherein the bearing sledge (10) comprises a friction plate (15) having a planar second, in particular, horizontal bearing surface (13), which is adapted to slide along a planar first, in particular, horizontal bearing surface (7) of the bearing rail (6) during telescoping and/or wherein the bearing sledge (10) comprises a friction plate (15) having a planar second, in particular vertical, guiding surface (14), which is adapted to slide along a planar first, in particular vertical, guiding surface (8) during telescoping, characterized by, at least one corrosion reduction means suitable for reduction the corrosion of the bearing rail (6).
2. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to the preceding claim,
characterized in,
that the corrosion reduction means is a friction pad (15), wherein the friction pad (15) is made of a composite material comprising a lubricant.
3. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to the preceding claim,
characterized in,
that the friction pad (15) is a composite comprising PolyEtherEtherKeton (PEEK), in particular further comprising graphite, and/or fiber, in particular carbon fibre and/or glass fiber.
4. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in,
that the corrosion reduction means (20, 40) are suitable for reduction the corrosion of the first bearing surface (7) and/or of the first guiding surface (8).
5. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in,
that the corrosion reduction means is a lubricant applicator (20), adapted to provide a lubricant (21) on to the bearing rail (6).
6. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to the preceding claim,
characterized in,
that the lubricant applicator (20) is separate to a bearing surface (13) or a guiding surface (14) sliding along the bearing rail.
7. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to any of claims 5 or 6,
characterized in,
that the lubricant applicator is adapted to apply a solid lubricant to the bearing rail (6).
8. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to any of claims 5 to 7,
characterized in,
that the lubricant applicator (20) is adapted to apply a liquid lubricant to the bearing rail
(6).
9. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to any of claims 5 to 8,
characterized in,
that the lubricant applicator (20) comprises a lubricant reservoir (21) for storing the lubricant (23) and a lubricant pressurant (22) adapted to urge the stored lubricant (23) in a defined manner onto one of the bearing and/or guiding surfaces (7, 8).
10. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in,
that the corrosion reduction means is a bearing rail pad (40), separate to a bearing rail main body (9) of the bearing rail (6), wherein the bearing rail pad (40) forming the first bearing surface (7) and/or the first guiding surface (8).
11. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to the preceding claim,
characterized in,
that the bearing rail pad (40) is mounted in a replaceable manner to the bearing rail main body (9).
12. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in,
that the friction plate (15) is mounted in a replaceable manner to a bearing shoe main body (17) of the bearing sledge (10).
13. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized by,
a sensor (18) adapted to generate a signal indicative of the wear status of the friction plate (15), in particular the sensor (18) is adapted to measure a distance (d) between the bearing sledge (10), in particular a bearing shoe main body (17) of the bearing sledge (10), and the bearing rail (6).
14. Passenger boarding bridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized by,
at first brush (110a) attached at the bearing sledge (10), contacting the rail (6) in front of a bearing surface (13) when viewed in a main sliding direction (D);
in particular further comprising a second brush (110b) attached at the bearing sledge (10), contacting the rail (6) behind the same bearing surface (13) when viewed in the same main sliding direction (D).
15. Method of servicing a passenger boarding bridge (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps:
- replacing the planar second bearing surface (13) within a first replacement interval,
- replacing the planar first bearing surface (7) within a second replacement interval, after the first replacement interval has expired.
16. Method according to the preceding claim,
characterized in,
that the second replacement interval is at least two times greater than the first replacement interval.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP19734707.3A EP3807150A1 (en) | 2018-06-15 | 2019-06-14 | Passenger boarding bridge |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP18382426 | 2018-06-15 | ||
| EP18382426.7 | 2018-06-15 | ||
| DE102018212170 | 2018-07-23 | ||
| DE102018212170.2 | 2018-07-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2019238900A1 true WO2019238900A1 (en) | 2019-12-19 |
Family
ID=67137895
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2019/065628 WO2019238900A1 (en) | 2018-06-15 | 2019-06-14 | Passenger boarding bridge |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP3807150A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2019238900A1 (en) |
Citations (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3184772A (en) | 1959-02-02 | 1965-05-25 | Stanray Corp | Telescoping loading and unloading structure for aircraft |
| US3377638A (en) | 1965-09-13 | 1968-04-16 | Wollard Aircraft Service Equip | Conveyance loader |
| US3728754A (en) * | 1971-07-16 | 1973-04-24 | Global Erectors Inc | Vertically adjustable loading ramp apparatus |
| CN202935593U (en) * | 2012-10-16 | 2013-05-15 | 蒂森克虏伯机场系统(中山)有限公司 | Extension-type passageway with rolling wheel device for boarding bridge |
| CN103662075A (en) * | 2013-12-20 | 2014-03-26 | 华德宝机械（昆山）有限公司 | Boarding bridge gallery with channel steel rails and composite roller bearing combination structure |
| WO2014146758A1 (en) | 2013-03-16 | 2014-09-25 | Thyssenkrupp Airport Services S.L. | Passenger bridge |
| KR101681831B1 (en) * | 2015-05-14 | 2016-12-13 | 현대로템 주식회사 | A boarding bridge that have the function prevent to expose drain |
| CN206141860U (en) * | 2016-09-26 | 2017-05-03 | 美迪斯智能装备有限公司 | Adopt nested formula passageway of compound gyro wheel bearing |
| EP3279094A1 (en) * | 2015-04-03 | 2018-02-07 | Korea Airports Corporation | Movable boarding bridge |
| EP3339187A1 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2018-06-27 | Thyssenkrupp Elevator Innovation Center, S.A. | Passenger boarding bridge |
-
2019
- 2019-06-14 EP EP19734707.3A patent/EP3807150A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2019-06-14 WO PCT/EP2019/065628 patent/WO2019238900A1/en unknown
Patent Citations (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3184772A (en) | 1959-02-02 | 1965-05-25 | Stanray Corp | Telescoping loading and unloading structure for aircraft |
| US3377638A (en) | 1965-09-13 | 1968-04-16 | Wollard Aircraft Service Equip | Conveyance loader |
| US3728754A (en) * | 1971-07-16 | 1973-04-24 | Global Erectors Inc | Vertically adjustable loading ramp apparatus |
| CN202935593U (en) * | 2012-10-16 | 2013-05-15 | 蒂森克虏伯机场系统(中山)有限公司 | Extension-type passageway with rolling wheel device for boarding bridge |
| WO2014146758A1 (en) | 2013-03-16 | 2014-09-25 | Thyssenkrupp Airport Services S.L. | Passenger bridge |
| CN103662075A (en) * | 2013-12-20 | 2014-03-26 | 华德宝机械（昆山）有限公司 | Boarding bridge gallery with channel steel rails and composite roller bearing combination structure |
| EP3279094A1 (en) * | 2015-04-03 | 2018-02-07 | Korea Airports Corporation | Movable boarding bridge |
| KR101681831B1 (en) * | 2015-05-14 | 2016-12-13 | 현대로템 주식회사 | A boarding bridge that have the function prevent to expose drain |
| CN206141860U (en) * | 2016-09-26 | 2017-05-03 | 美迪斯智能装备有限公司 | Adopt nested formula passageway of compound gyro wheel bearing |
| EP3339187A1 (en) | 2016-12-22 | 2018-06-27 | Thyssenkrupp Elevator Innovation Center, S.A. | Passenger boarding bridge |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP3807150A1 (en) | 2021-04-21 |
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