U.S. patent application number 11/286352 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-31 for method for aligning a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft.
This patent application is currently assigned to DEW Engineering and Development Limited. Invention is credited to Neil Hutton.
Application Number | 20070119003 11/286352 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38086015 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070119003 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hutton; Neil |
May 31, 2007 |
Method for aligning a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway of an
aircraft
Abstract
A method for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger
boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft includes waiting for
the aircraft to park within a parking space that is adjacent to the
passenger boarding bridge. A determination is made of a status of
the aircraft doorway, wherein the status is indicative of a door
panel being either closed or open. In dependence upon the
determined status being indicative of the door panel being open, an
alignment operation is performed for adjusting the aircraft
engaging-end of the passenger boarding bridge into an aligned
relationship relative to the aircraft doorway.
Inventors: |
Hutton; Neil; (Ottawa,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FREEDMAN & ASSOCIATES
117 CENTREPOINTE DRIVE
SUITE 350
NEPEAN, ONTARIO
K2G 5X3
CA
|
Assignee: |
DEW Engineering and Development
Limited
Ottawa
CA
|
Family ID: |
38086015 |
Appl. No.: |
11/286352 |
Filed: |
November 25, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
14/71.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64F 1/305 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
014/071.5 |
International
Class: |
E01D 1/00 20060101
E01D001/00 |
Claims
1. A method for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger
boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft, the method comprising:
waiting for the aircraft to park within a parking space that is
adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge; determining a status of
the doorway, the status indicative of a door panel being in one of
a secured-closed condition and an unsecured-open condition within
the doorway; and, in dependence upon the determined status being
indicative of the unsecured-open condition, performing an alignment
operation for adjusting the aircraft engaging-end of the passenger
boarding bridge into an aligned relationship relative to the
doorway of the aircraft.
2. A method according to claim 1, comprising opening the door panel
prior to determining the status of the doorway.
3. A method according to claim 2, wherein opening the door panel is
for providing an indication for communicating a request to initiate
the alignment operation for adjusting the aircraft engaging-end of
the passenger boarding bridge into an aligned relationship relative
to the doorway of the aircraft.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the doorway of the
aircraft is a doorway used optionally for passenger transfer, in
addition to another doorway of the aircraft.
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the doorway of the
aircraft is a doorway that is located aft of or over a wing of the
aircraft.
6. A method according to claim 1, comprising: determining whether
to transfer passengers between the doorway of the aircraft and the
passenger boarding bridge; and, when it is determined that
passengers are to be transferred between the doorway of the
aircraft and the passenger boarding bridge, opening the door panel
into the unsecured-open condition.
7. A method according to claim 2, wherein opening the door panel is
for providing to a bridge operator a visual indication for
communicating a request to perform the alignment operation.
8. A method according to claim 2, wherein opening the door panel is
for indicating a selected doorway for passenger transfer from a
plurality of available doorways of the same aircraft.
9. A method according to claim 2, comprising using an imager to
capture image data that is representative of a portion of the
aircraft including the doorway.
10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the imager is disposed
at a location that is remote from the aircraft.
11. A method according to claim 9, wherein the imager is disposed
proximate the aircraft engaging end of the passenger boarding
bridge.
12. A method according to claim 9, comprising processing the image
data, using a processor of an automated bridge alignment
control-system, to identify the visual indication of the
unsecured-open condition of the doorway.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the automated bridge
alignment control-system performs the alignment operation in an
automated manner.
14. A method according to claim 2, comprising releasably securing
an indicator within the doorway when the door panel is in the
unsecured-open condition and prior to determining the status of the
doorway.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the indicator includes
a feature that is visually distinct from any aircraft features
within a portion of the aircraft proximate the doorway.
16. A method according to claim 14, wherein the indicator visually
contrasts with a portion of the aircraft proximate the doorway.
17. A method according to claim 14, wherein the indicator includes
a feature that is at least one of distinctively colored,
distinctively patterned, light-reflective, fluorescent, and
light-emitting.
18. A method according to claim 14, comprising using an imager to
capture image data that is representative of a portion of the
aircraft including the doorway.
19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the imager is disposed
at a location that is remote from the aircraft.
20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the imager is disposed
proximate the aircraft engaging end of the passenger boarding
bridge.
21. A method according to claim 18, comprising processing the image
data, using a processor of an automated bridge alignment
control-system, to identify the indicator within the doorway.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the automated bridge
alignment control-system performs the alignment operation in an
automated manner.
23. A method for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger
boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft, the method comprising:
parking the aircraft within a parking space that is adjacent to the
passenger boarding bridge; opening a door panel within a doorway of
the aircraft to which the passenger boarding bridge is to be
aligned; using a sensor disposed at a location that is remote from
the aircraft, sensing an indication that the door panel is open; in
dependence upon sensing the indication that the door panel is open,
providing a control signal between the sensor and a controller of
an automated bridge alignment control-system, the control signal
for initiating an automated alignment operation of the passenger
boarding bridge; and, in dependence upon receiving the control
signal at the controller, automatically aligning the passenger
boarding bridge to the doorway of the aircraft.
24. A method according to claim 23, wherein opening the door panel
is for providing an indication for communicating a request to
initiate an automated passenger boarding bridge alignment
operation.
25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the doorway of the
aircraft is a doorway used optionally for passenger transfer, in
addition to another doorway of the aircraft.
26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the doorway of the
aircraft is a doorway that is located aft of or over a wing of the
aircraft.
27. A method according to claim 23, comprising prior to opening the
door panel, determining whether to transfer passengers between the
doorway of the aircraft and the passenger boarding bridge.
28. A method according to claim 23, wherein opening the door panel
is for indicating a selected doorway for passenger transfer from a
plurality of available doorways of the same aircraft.
29. A method according to claim 23, wherein the sensor is an imager
and wherein sensing an indication that the door panel is open
comprises capturing image data relating to a portion of the
aircraft including the doorway, and processing the captured image
data to identify the presence of the indication that the door panel
is open.
30. A method according to claim 23, comprising subsequent to
opening a door panel within a doorway of the aircraft to which the
passenger boarding bridge is to be aligned, releasably securing an
indicator within the doorway for providing the indication that the
door panel is open.
31. A method according to claim 23, wherein the indicator is an
electromagnetic radiation transmitter and the sensor is an
electro-magnetic radiation receiver, and wherein sensing an
indication that the door panel is open comprises receiving an
electromagnetic signal transmitted from the transmitter to the
receiver.
32. A method for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger
boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft, the method comprising:
parking the aircraft within a parking space that is adjacent to the
passenger boarding bridge; determining whether to transfer
passengers between the doorway of the aircraft and the passenger
boarding bridge, the doorway selected from a plurality of doorways
of the same aircraft that are available for transferring
passengers; when it is determined that passengers are to be
transferred between the doorway of the aircraft and the passenger
boarding bridge, opening a door panel within the doorway subsequent
to the aircraft being parked; waiting for the passenger boarding
bridge to move into an aircraft engaging position that is aligned
with the doorway; and, directing passengers along a path between
the doorway of the aircraft and the passenger boarding bridge.
33. A method according to claim 32, comprising releasably securing
an indicator within the doorway for providing an indication that
the door panel is open, subsequent to opening the door panel.
34. A system for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a passenger
boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft, comprising: an
indicator for being mounted to an aircraft internal mounting
surface and adjacent to the doorway, the indicator including a
portion that is extensible across the doorway in a direction away
from the aircraft internal mounting surface, the portion that is
extensible having characteristics that are visually distinguishable
compared to an outer surface of the aircraft when the indicator is
viewed through the open doorway from a location that is external to
the aircraft.
35. A system according to claim 34, comprising an imager disposed
at the location that is external to the aircraft, the imager for
capturing image data relating to the indicator.
36. A system according to claim 34, wherein the indicator includes
a portion that is at least one of distinctively colored,
distinctively patterned, light-reflective, fluorescent and
electromagnetic radiation emitting.
37. A system according to claim 34, wherein the indicator includes
a feature that is reproducibly positionable within the doorway of
the aircraft for providing an indication of the location of the
doorway.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The instant invention relates generally to passenger
boarding bridges, and more particularly to a method for aligning a
passenger boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In order to make aircraft passengers comfortable, and in
order to transport them between an airport terminal building and an
aircraft in such a way that they are protected from weather and
other environmental influences, passenger boarding bridges are used
which can be telescopically extended and the height of which is
adjustable. For instance, an apron drive bridge in present day use
includes a plurality of adjustable modules, including: a rotunda, a
telescopic tunnel, a bubble section, a cab, and elevating columns
with wheel carriage. Manual, semi-automated and fully-automated
bridge alignment systems are known for adjusting the position of
the passenger boarding bridge relative to an aircraft, for instance
to compensate for different sized aircraft and to compensate for
imprecise parking of aircraft at an airport terminal.
[0003] A manual bridge alignment system requires that a human
operator is present to perform the alignment operation each time an
aircraft arrives. Delays may occur when the human operator is not
standing-by to perform the alignment operation as soon as the
aircraft comes to a stop. In addition, human operators are prone to
errors which may result in the passenger boarding bridge being
driven into the aircraft or into a piece of ground service
equipment. Such collisions involving the passenger boarding bridge
are costly and also result in delays. However, an experienced human
operator may be better able to predict the outcome of future bridge
movements compared to some of the automated bridge alignment
systems that are currently on the market.
[0004] Semi-automated bridge alignment systems also require a human
operator, but the human operator may be present at a remote
location and interact with the bridge control system in a
tele-robotic manner. Alternatively, certain movements of the bridge
are automated whilst other movements are performed under the
control of the human operator.
[0005] Automated bridge alignment systems provide a number of
advantages compared to manual and semi-automated systems. For
instance, automated bridge alignment systems do not require a human
operator, and therefore the costs that are associated with training
and paying the salaries of human bridge operators are reduced.
Furthermore, an automated bridge alignment system is always
standing by to control the passenger boarding bridge as soon as an
aircraft comes to a stop. Accordingly, delays associated with
dispatching a human operator to perform a bridge alignment
operation are eliminated, particularly during periods of heavy
aircraft travel.
[0006] Of course, each type of bridge alignment system relies upon
having accurate and precise information regarding the position of
the doorway to which the passenger boarding bridge is to be
aligned. In the case of a manual bridge alignment system, the human
operator visually identifies the location of the doorway and then
drives the bridge in an appropriate direction. Similarly, an
automated bridge alignment system uses sophisticated imaging and
data processing systems to identify the location of the doorway.
Unfortunately, poor lighting conditions and other environmental
factors may make it difficult to identify precisely the position of
the doorway, especially in the case of an automated bridge
alignment system.
[0007] Furthermore, in some instances it may be necessary firstly
to determine whether or not to perform the alignment process, even
before the position of the doorway is determined precisely. In
particular, the over-the-wing portion of a dual boarding bridge is
not used every time an aircraft is parked, especially if the
incoming and outgoing flight has a minimal passenger load or if the
turn-around time of the aircraft is relatively long. Under these
circumstances, the pilot may wish to transfer all passengers using
only the front doorway of the aircraft, so as to reduce
wear-and-tear of the over-the-wing boarding bridge of the aircraft,
for instance. If the decision not to use the rear doorway of the
aircraft is made at the last minute, then communicating this
information to the bridge alignment system poses a problem.
[0008] It would be advantageous to provide a system and method that
overcomes at least some of the above-mentioned limitations of the
prior art.
SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0009] It is an object of at least some of the embodiments of the
instant invention to provide a system and method for indicating a
request to have a passenger boarding bridge aligned to a particular
doorway of an aircraft.
[0010] It is an object of at least some of the embodiments of the
instant invention to provide a system and method for identifying
the position of a doorway of an aircraft.
[0011] In accordance with an aspect of the instant invention there
is provided a method for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of a
passenger boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft, the method
comprising: waiting for the aircraft to park within a parking space
that is adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge; determining a
status of the doorway, the status indicative of a door panel being
in one of a secured-closed condition and an unsecured-open
condition within the doorway; and, in dependence upon the
determined status being indicative of the unsecured-open condition,
performing an alignment operation for adjusting the aircraft
engaging-end of the passenger boarding bridge into an aligned
relationship relative to the doorway of the aircraft.
[0012] According to an optional aspect, opening the door panel is
for providing an indication for communicating a request to initiate
the alignment operation for adjusting the aircraft engaging-end of
the passenger boarding bridge into an aligned relationship relative
to the doorway of the aircraft.
[0013] According to another optional aspect, the doorway of the
aircraft is a doorway used optionally for passenger transfer, in
addition to another doorway of the aircraft.
[0014] According to another optional aspect, the doorway of the
aircraft is a doorway that is located aft of or over a wing of the
aircraft.
[0015] According to another optional aspect, the method comprises:
determining whether to transfer passengers between the doorway of
the aircraft and the passenger boarding bridge; and,
[0016] when it is determined that passengers are to be transferred
between the doorway of the aircraft and the passenger boarding
bridge, opening the door panel into the unsecured-open
condition.
[0017] In accordance with another aspect of the instant invention
there is provided a method for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of
a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft, the method
comprising: parking the aircraft within a parking space that is
adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge; opening a door panel
within a doorway of the aircraft to which the passenger boarding
bridge is to be aligned; using a sensor disposed at a location that
is remote from the aircraft, sensing an indication that the door
panel is open; in dependence upon sensing the indication that the
door panel is open, providing a control signal between the sensor
and a controller of an automated bridge alignment control-system,
the control signal for initiating an automated alignment operation
of the passenger boarding bridge; and, in dependence upon receiving
the control signal at the controller, automatically aligning the
passenger boarding bridge to the doorway of the aircraft.
[0018] According to an optional aspect, the doorway of the aircraft
is a doorway used optionally for passenger transfer, in addition to
another doorway of the aircraft.
[0019] According to another optional aspect, the doorway of the
aircraft is a doorway that is located aft of or over a wing of the
aircraft.
[0020] According to another optional aspect, the method comprises
prior to opening the door panel, determining whether to transfer
passengers between the doorway of the aircraft and the passenger
boarding bridge.
[0021] According to another optional aspect, opening the door panel
is for indicating a selected doorway for passenger transfer from a
plurality of available doorways of the same aircraft.
[0022] In accordance with another aspect of the instant invention
there is provided a method for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of
a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft, the method
comprising: parking the aircraft within a parking space that is
adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge; determining whether to
transfer passengers between the doorway of the aircraft and the
passenger boarding bridge, the doorway selected from a plurality of
doorways of the same aircraft that are available for transferring
passengers; when it is determined that passengers are to be
transferred between the doorway of the aircraft and the passenger
boarding bridge, opening a door panel within the doorway subsequent
to the aircraft being parked; waiting for the passenger boarding
bridge to move into an aircraft engaging position that is aligned
with the doorway; and, directing passengers along a path between
the doorway of the aircraft and the passenger boarding bridge.
[0023] In accordance with another aspect of the instant invention
there is provided a system for aligning an aircraft-engaging end of
a passenger boarding bridge to a doorway of an aircraft,
comprising: an indicator for being mounted to an aircraft internal
mounting surface and adjacent to the doorway, the indicator
including a portion that is extensible across the doorway in a
direction away from the aircraft internal mounting surface, the
portion that is extensible having characteristics that are visually
distinguishable compared to an outer surface of the aircraft when
the indicator is viewed through the open doorway from a location
that is external to the aircraft.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described
in conjunction with the following drawings, in which similar
reference numbers designate similar items:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a simplified flow diagram of a method according to
an embodiment of the instant invention;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a simplified flow diagram of another method
according to an embodiment of the instant invention;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a simplified flow diagram of yet another method
according to an embodiment of the instant invention;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a partial elevational view of an aircraft
including a doorway in a secured-closed condition;
[0029] FIG. 5 is a partial elevational view of an aircraft
including a doorway in an unsecured-open condition;
[0030] FIG. 6 is a partial elevational view of an aircraft
including a doorway in an unsecured-open condition;
[0031] FIG. 7 is a partial elevational view of an aircraft
including a doorway in an unsecured-open condition with a
screen-type indicator deployed;
[0032] FIG. 8 is a partial elevational view of an aircraft
including a doorway in an unsecured-open condition with a
retractable belt-type indicator deployed; and,
[0033] FIG. 9 is a partial elevational view of an aircraft
including a doorway in an unsecured-open condition with a
light-emitting retractable belt-type indicator deployed.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0034] The following description is presented to enable a person
skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided
in the context of a particular application and its requirements.
Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles
defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications
without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.
Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the
embodiments disclosed, but is to be accorded the widest scope
consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, shown is a simplified flow diagram of a
method according to an embodiment of the instant invention. Step
100 is a step of waiting for the aircraft to park within a parking
space that is adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge. During
this waiting period, the aircraft is guided to a predetermined
position on the apron surface and is urged to a stop. Ground
service equipment optionally is connected to the aircraft after the
aircraft is parked, but such connections are not considered to be a
part of the parking process. At step 102, a determination is made
of a status of the doorway to which the passenger boarding bridge
is to be aligned. In particular, the determined status is
indicative of a door panel being in one of a secured-closed
condition and an unsecured-open condition within the doorway. The
secured-closed condition is identical to the door panel condition
during flight, that is to say, the door panel forms an air-tight
seal with the doorway when in the secured-closed condition. In
contrast, the unsecured-open condition corresponds to any other
state of the door panel, which is not suitable for flight. When in
the unsecured-open condition, the door panel optionally is in a
fully open position, or is only partially open. In either case, the
door panel does not form an air-tight seal with the doorway when in
the unsecured-open condition. At step 104, and in dependence upon
the determined status being indicative of the unsecured-open
condition, an alignment operation is performed for adjusting an
aircraft engaging-end of the passenger boarding bridge into an
aligned relationship relative to the doorway of the aircraft.
Accordingly, the open door panel serves as an indication for
communicating a request to have a passenger boarding bridge aligned
to a particular doorway of an aircraft. This indication is
particularly useful when multiple-bridges are used, such as for
instance an over-the-wing bridge as described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,526,615, issued on Mar. 4, 2003 in the name of Hutton et. al.,
the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Although the nose-loader portion is always used, sometimes the
over-the-wing portion is not. In such a case, an open door panel in
the doorway aft of or over the aircraft wing functions as a
convenient, "low tech" call signal, which does not require any
additional specialized communication equipment such as
transmitters, receivers, and the like.
[0036] The method described with reference to FIG. 1 is useful with
any of the manual, semi-automated and automated bridge alignment
control systems discussed supra. When a manual system is in use,
the human bridge operator visually determines the status of the
doorway. For instance, the human operator looks to see if the door
panel is open or closed.
[0037] When an automated bridge alignment control system is in use,
an imager replaces the human operator and captures image data that
is representative of a portion of the aircraft including the
doorway. The image data is processed to determine whether or not
the door panel is open or closed. When it is determined that the
door panel is open, the automated bridge control system aligns the
aircraft engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge with the
doorway of the aircraft, in an automated manner. An example of an
automated bridge alignment control system suitable for use with the
method of FIG. 1 is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,724,314, issued to
Hutton on Apr. 20, 2004, the entire contents of which is
incorporated herein by reference. Advantageously, the features
along the lateral surface of the aircraft appear to be more
discontinuous when the door panel is open compared to when the door
panel is closed. Such discontinuous features provide relatively
more useful information when imaged by the imager. Accordingly, the
probability that the automated bridge alignment control system will
improperly determine the status of the doorway is low.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 2, shown is a simplified flow diagram
of another method according to an embodiment of the instant
invention. At step 200 the aircraft is parked within a parking
space that is adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge. For
instance, the aircraft is guided to a predetermined position on the
apron surface and is urged to a stop. Ground service equipment
optionally is connected to the aircraft after the aircraft is
parked, but such connections are not considered to be a part of the
parking process. At step 202 a door panel is opened within a
doorway of the aircraft to which the passenger boarding bridge is
to be aligned. At step 204 a sensor disposed at a location that is
remote from the aircraft is used for sensing an indication that the
door panel is open. In dependence upon sensing the indication that
the door panel is open, a control signal is provided at step 206
between the sensor and a controller of an automated bridge
alignment control-system. The control signal is for initiating an
automated alignment operation of the passenger boarding bridge. At
step 208, in dependence upon receiving the control signal at the
controller, the passenger boarding bridge is aligned automatically
to the doorway of the aircraft. An example of an automated bridge
alignment control system suitable for use with the method of FIG. 2
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,724,314, issued to Hutton on Apr.
20, 2004.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 3, shown is a simplified flow diagram
of yet another method according to an embodiment of the instant
invention. At step 300 the aircraft is parked within a parking
space that is adjacent to the passenger boarding bridge. For
instance, the aircraft is guided to a predetermined position on the
apron surface and is urged to a stop. Ground service equipment
optionally is connected to the aircraft after the aircraft is
parked, but such connections are not considered to be a part of the
parking process. At step 302, a determination is made whether to
transfer passengers between the doorway of the aircraft and the
passenger boarding bridge. For instance, the pilot makes the
determination based upon the number of passengers aboard the flight
and/or the turn-around time of the flight. When it is determined
that passengers are to be transferred between the doorway of the
aircraft and the passenger boarding bridge, then at step 304 a door
panel is opened within the doorway subsequent to the aircraft being
parked. Step 306 is a step of waiting for the passenger boarding
bridge to move into an aircraft engaging position that is aligned
with the doorway. For instance, the passenger boarding bridge is
aligned in one of a manual fashion, a semi-automated fashion and an
automated fashion. An example of an automated bridge alignment
control system suitable for aligning the passenger boarding bridge
in an automated fashion is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,724,314,
issued to Hutton on Apr. 20, 2004. At step 308, passengers are
directed along a path between the doorway of the aircraft and the
passenger boarding bridge.
[0040] It is to be understood that the numbering of steps in FIGS.
1 through 3 is not intended to imply any particular order, and that
some steps may be performed in an order other than what is
described supra. For instance, the step 302 of determining whether
to transfer passengers between the doorway of the aircraft and the
passenger boarding optionally is performed prior to the step 300 of
parking the aircraft within a parking space that is adjacent to the
passenger boarding bridge. Other such variations from the specific
order of steps described supra will be apparent to one of skill in
the art upon reading the description of the various embodiments of
the instant invention.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 4, shown is a partial elevational view
of an aircraft 400 including a door panel 402 of a doorway 404 in a
secured-closed condition. FIG. 4 illustrates the condition of the
doorway when alignment of a passenger boarding bridge to the
doorway 400 is not desired. FIG. 4 also shows that the door panel
402 tends to "blend-in" with the rest of the lateral surface of the
aircraft 400. Prior automated bridge alignment systems are known to
have difficulty identifying the precise location of the doorway 404
due to the paucity of identifiable features. To this end, often the
location of the doorway relative to a reference feature of the
aircraft is stored in a database and provided to the automated
bridge alignment system during the alignment process. In other
cases, markings are placed along the lateral surface of the
aircraft in order to help with the doorway location identification.
Each of these solutions suffers from some disadvantage. For
instance, if the type or sub-type of aircraft is not properly
identified, then the doorway will not actually be at the location
that is provided from the database. In addition, markings on the
aircraft may be obscured by dirt, snow, or may have become detached
from the aircraft during flight, and therefore not easily
identified under some operating conditions.
[0042] Referring now to FIG. 5, shown is a partial elevational view
of an aircraft 400 including a door panel 402 of a doorway 404 in
an unsecured-open condition. In FIG. 5, the door panel 402 has been
moved only part of the way from the fully closed position to the
fully open position, resulting in a visible space 406 between the
door panel 402 and the portion of the aircraft 400 surrounding the
doorway 404. The visible space 406 is identified relatively easily
regardless of whether a manual or automated bridge alignment system
is used. Identification of the visible space 406 results in the
determination of the unsecure-open status of the doorway, which is
understood to be an indication that a request is being made to have
a passenger boarding bridge aligned to that doorway.
Advantageously, the interface between the visible space 406 and the
portion of the aircraft 400 surrounding the doorway 404 is useful
for determining precisely the location of the doorway 404 during
the alignment process. In particular, the visible space 406
contrasts with the portion of the aircraft 400 surrounding the
doorway 404, rendering the interface, which corresponds to the
outline of the doorway 404, easier to identify precisely.
[0043] Referring now to FIG. 6, shown is a partial elevational view
of an aircraft 400 including a door panel 402 of a doorway 404 in
an unsecured-open condition. In FIG. 6, the door panel 402 has been
moved all the way from the fully closed position to the fully open
position, resulting in a visible space 408 that is approximately
the size of the door panel 402. The visible space 408 is identified
relatively easily regardless of whether a manual or automated
bridge alignment system is used. Identification of the visible
space 408 results in the determination of the unsecure-open status
of the doorway, which is understood to be an indication that a
request is being made to have a passenger boarding bridge aligned
to that doorway. Advantageously, the interface between the visible
space 408 and the portion of the aircraft 400 surrounding the
doorway 404 is useful for determining precisely the location of the
doorway 404 during the alignment process. In particular, the
visible space 408 contrasts with the portion of the aircraft 400
surrounding the doorway 404, rendering the interface, which
corresponds to the outline of the doorway 404, easier to identify
precisely.
[0044] Referring now to FIG. 7, shown is a partial elevational view
of an aircraft 400 including a door panel 402 of a doorway 404 in
an unsecured-open condition, with a screen-type indicator 410
deployed. The screen-type indicator 410 is mounted to an aircraft
internal mounting surface and adjacent to the aircraft doorway, and
includes a portion that is extensible across the doorway in a
direction away from the aircraft internal mounting surface. In
other words, during use, a user aboard the aircraft pulls the
screen portion downwardly so as to cover the open space 408 either
entirely or only partially. As is shown in FIG. 7, the screen-type
indicator 410 is visually distinct from the surface of the aircraft
400 surrounding the doorway 404. Optionally, the screen-type
indicator 410 is at least one of distinctively colored,
distinctively patterned, light-reflective, and fluorescent.
Optionally, the screen-type indicator 410 includes a feature 412
that is visually distinct from any aircraft features within a
portion of the aircraft proximate the doorway 404. Optionally, the
feature 412 is at least one of distinctively colored, distinctively
patterned, light-reflective, fluorescent and electro-magnetic
radiation emitting. The feature 412 is shown by way of a
non-limiting example as a distinctly patterned circular
feature.
[0045] Identification of the screen-type indicator 410 and/or the
feature 412 results in the determination of the unsecure-open
status of the doorway, which is understood to be an indication that
a request is being made to have a passenger boarding bridge aligned
to that doorway. Optionally, the feature 412 is disposed within a
portion of the screen-type indicator 410 at a predetermined
location for being reproducibly deployable to a known position
within the doorway 404. In this way, once the feature 412 is
identified by an automated bridge alignment system, the passenger
boarding bridge may be aligned automatically with the doorway 404
based upon the known location of the feature 412 and a known
relationship between the location of the feature and the location
of the doorway 404.
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 8, shown is a partial elevational view
of an aircraft 400 including a door panel 402 of a doorway 404 in
an unsecured-open condition, with a retractable belt-type indicator
414 deployed. The belt-type indicator 414 is mounted to an aircraft
internal mounting surface and adjacent to the aircraft doorway 404,
and includes a portion that is extensible across the doorway in a
direction away from the aircraft internal mounting surface. In
other words, during use, a user aboard the aircraft pulls the
belt-type portion across the open space 408, for instance from left
to right in the figure. The free end of the belt-like portion is
then secured, in this specific example, to a receptacle that is
mounted to another aircraft internal mounting surface along the
right-hand edge of doorway 404 in FIG. 8. Optionally, the belt
portion of the belt-like indicator 414 is at least one of
distinctively colored, distinctively patterned, light-reflective,
and fluorescent. Optionally, a feature 416 that is visually
distinct from any aircraft features within a portion of the
aircraft proximate the doorway 404 is mounted on the retractable
belt-type indicator 414. The feature 416 optionally is removably
mounted on the retractable belt-type indicator 414, or is
permanently mounted on the retractable belt-type indicator 414.
Optionally, the feature 416 is at least one of distinctively
colored, distinctively patterned, light-reflective, fluorescent and
light emitting. The feature 416 is shown by way of a non-limiting
example as a distinctly patterned circular feature.
[0047] Identification of the belt-type indicator 414 and/or the
feature 416 results in the determination of the unsecure-open
status of the doorway, which is understood to be an indication that
a request is being made to have a passenger boarding bridge aligned
to that doorway. Optionally, the feature 416 is disposed within a
portion of the belt-type indicator 414 at a predetermined location
for being reproducibly deployable to a known position within the
doorway 404. In this way, once the feature 416 is identified by an
automated bridge alignment system, the passenger boarding bridge
may be aligned automatically with the doorway 404 based upon the
known location of the feature 416 and a known relationship between
the location of the feature 416 and the location of the doorway
404.
[0048] Referring now to FIG. 9, shown is a partial elevational view
of an aircraft 400 including a door panel 402 of a doorway 404 in
an unsecured-open condition, with a retractable belt-type indicator
418 deployed and supporting a light-emitting element 420. The
belt-type indicator 418 is mounted to an aircraft internal mounting
surface and adjacent to the aircraft doorway 404, and includes a
portion that is extensible across the doorway in a direction away
from the aircraft internal mounting surface. In other words, during
use, a user aboard the aircraft pulls the belt-type portion across
the open space 408, for instance from left to right in the figure.
The free end of the belt-like portion 418 is then secured, in this
specific example, to a receptacle that is mounted to another
aircraft internal mounting surface along the right-hand edge of
doorway 404 in FIG. 9. Optionally, the belt portion of the
belt-like indicator 418 is at least one of distinctively colored,
distinctively patterned, light-reflective, and fluorescent. A
light-emitting element 420 is mounted on the retractable belt-type
indicator 418. The light-emitting element 420 optionally is
removably mounted on the retractable belt-type indicator 418, or is
permanently mounted on the retractable belt-type indicator 418.
[0049] Identification of the light-emitting element 420 results in
the determination of the unsecure-open status of the doorway, which
is understood to be an indication that a request is being made to
have a passenger boarding bridge aligned to that doorway.
Advantageously, the light emitting element is highly visible to
human bridge operators and to electronic imagers, even under
conditions of poor lighting or adverse weather. Optionally, the
light-emitting element 420 is disposed within a portion of the
belt-type indicator 418 at a predetermined location for being
reproducibly deployable to a known position within the doorway 404.
In this way, once the light-emitting element 420 is identified by
an automated bridge alignment system, the passenger boarding bridge
may be aligned automatically with the doorway 404 based upon the
known location of the light-emitting element 420 and a known
relationship between the location of the light-emitting element 420
and the location of the doorway 404.
[0050] Numerous other embodiments may be envisaged without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *