U.S. patent application number 12/683534 was filed with the patent office on 2011-05-26 for boarding bridge with minute approaching device and shock absorbing part and operation method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to AB-TECH. CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Eunwoo PARK.
Application Number | 20110119842 12/683534 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43608131 |
Filed Date | 2011-05-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110119842 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
PARK; Eunwoo |
May 26, 2011 |
BOARDING BRIDGE WITH MINUTE APPROACHING DEVICE AND SHOCK ABSORBING
PART AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF
Abstract
The present invention relates to a boarding bridge with a minute
approaching device and a shock absorbing part and an operation
method thereof. The boarding bridge comprises a rotunda; a tunnel
which contractably extends from the rotunda and forms a passage; a
cab which is rotatbly coupled to the tunnel and connects the tunnel
and aircraft; a main moving device which moves the cab by
contraction and extension of the tunnel from a standby location of
the cab and an adjacent location of the aircraft; and a minute
approaching device which is provided in an end part of the cab and
minutely moves the end part of the cab from the adjacent location
to a contact location of the aircraft while the contraction and
extension of the tunnel stops. Accordingly, the boarding bridge
with the minute approaching device and the shock absorbing part and
an operation method thereof according to the present invention
enables an operator to operate the boarding bridge more
comfortably, prevents damage to the boarding bridge or a fuselage,
absorbs more shock and reduces or prevents a space between the
boarding bridge and the fuselage when the boarding bridge moves
upwards or downwards.
Inventors: |
PARK; Eunwoo; (Seoul,
KR) |
Assignee: |
AB-TECH. CO., LTD.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
43608131 |
Appl. No.: |
12/683534 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
14/71.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64F 1/3055
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
14/71.1 |
International
Class: |
E01D 1/00 20060101
E01D001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 25, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0114677 |
Claims
1. A boarding bridge, comprising: a rotunda; a tunnel which
contractably extends from the rotunda and forms a passage; a cab
which is rotatbly coupled to the tunnel and connects the tunnel and
aircraft; a main moving device which moves the cab by contraction
and extension of the tunnel from a standby location which the cab
stands by to an adjacent location which the cap is adjacent of the
aircraft; and a minute approaching device which is provided in an
end part of the cab and minutely moves the end part of the cab from
the adjacent location to a contact location of the aircraft while
the contraction and extension of the tunnel stops.
2. The boarding bridge according to claim 1, wherein the main
moving device comprises a wheel drive which is provided in a lower
part of a lift column coupled to the tunnel and moving the tunnel
upwards or downwards; and the minute approaching device comprises a
fixed floor provided in a lower part of the cab toward the tunnel
and a moving floor coupled in a direction facing the tunnel to move
with regard to the fixed floor, and the minute approaching device
moves the moving floor with regard to the fixed floor.
3. The boarding bridge according to claim 2, wherein the minute
approaching device comprises a minute drive whose first side is
fixed to the fixed floor and a second side is fixed to the moving
floor to supply a force moving the moving floor; and a minute
moving guide which guides the moving floor while the moving floor
is moved by the minute drive.
4. The boarding bridge according to claim 1, further comprising a
canopy clamp which is provided in a first side of the minute
approaching device and coupled to a canopy that seals between the
cab and a fuselage to move along a movement of the minute
approaching device.
5. The boarding bridge according to claim 1, wherein the minute
approaching device further comprises a shock absorbing member which
prevents a transmission of shock arising from one of the boarding
bridge and the aircraft to the other one of the boarding bridge and
the aircraft, and the shock absorbing part comprises a main shock
absorbing member which contacts the aircraft and absorbs shock, and
an auxiliary shock absorbing member which is provided between the
main shock absorbing member and the minute approaching device and
absorbs shock.
6. The boarding bridge according to claim 5, wherein the auxiliary
shock absorbing member comprises an auxiliary spring which is
coupled to the main shock absorbing member and absorbs shock, and a
shock absorber guiding member which guides the main shock absorbing
member and the auxiliary spring during a process of absorbing shock
by the auxiliary spring.
7. The boarding bridge according to claim 2, wherein the minute
approaching device further comprises a shock absorbing member which
prevents a transmission of shock arising from one of the boarding
bridge and the aircraft to the other one of the boarding bridge and
the aircraft, and the shock absorbing part comprises a main shock
absorbing member which contacts the aircraft and absorbs shock, and
an auxiliary shock absorbing member which is provided between the
main shock absorbing member and the minute approaching device and
absorbs shock.
8. A boarding bridge, comprising: a rotunda; a tunnel which
contractably extends from the rotunda and forms a passage; a cab
which is rotatbly coupled to the tunnel and connects the tunnel and
a fuselage; a shock absorbing part which is provided not to
transmit a shock arising from one of the cab and the fuselage to
the other one of the cab and the fuselage; and the shock absorbing
part comprising a main shock absorbing member contacting the
fuselage and absorbing shock, and an auxiliary shock absorbing
member provided between the main shock absorbing member and the cab
and absorbing shock.
9. The boarding bridge according to claim 8, further comprising a
main moving device which moves the cab by contraction and extension
of the tunnel from a standby location which the cap stands by to an
adjacent location which the cap is adjacent of the fuselage; and a
minute approaching device which minutely moves the cab from the
adjacent location to a contact location of the fuselage while the
contraction and extension of the tunnel is stops.
10. An operation method of a boarding bridge, the method
comprising: moving a cab by a main moving device of the boarding
bridge from a standby location of the cab to an adjacent location
of a fuselage by contraction and extension of the tunnel, wherein
the boarding bridge comprises a rotunda, a tunnel contractably
extending from the rotunda and forming a passage and the cab
ratably coupled to the tunnel and connecting the tunnel and the
fuselage; and moving the cab minutely by a minute approaching
device from the adjacent location to a contact location of the
fuselage while the contraction and extension of the tunnel
stops.
11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising absorbing
a shock by a main shock absorbing member which contacts the
fuselage and prevents a transmission of a shock arising from one,
of the cab and the fuselage to the other one of the cab and the
fuselage, and an auxiliary shock absorbing member which is provided
between the main shock absorbing member and the minute approaching
device and absorbs shock.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 2009-114677, filed on Nov. 11, 2009, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present
invention relate to a boarding bridge with a minute approaching
device and a shock absorbing part and an operation method thereof,
and more particularly, to a boarding bridge with a minute
approaching device and a shock absorbing part and an operation
method thereof which improves an aircraft contacting device or a
shock-absorbing device.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a boarding bridge is installed to connect an
airport building and aircraft to enable passengers to get on and
off aircraft safely and conveniently without being affected by
external environment such as weather conditions. Recently, airport
buildings have been incorporated with modern and high technology,
and aircraft have been upsized. Thus, the distance between aircraft
and airport buildings becomes far from each other. The boarding
bridge has a configuration that contacts, extends and moves
depending on the size and location of a gate located in a
fuselage.
[0006] The boarding bridge includes a tunnel which forms a passage
therein for passengers to move and has a plurality of partitioned
paths that slidably moves to adjust a length thereof; a rotunda
which functions as a rotational shaft or a pillar to enable the
tunnel to rotate according to a location of aircraft; a lift column
and a wheel drive which move the tunnel upwards and downwards or
extends or reduces the tunnel depending on a size of aircraft and a
location of a gate; and a cab which rotates with regard to the
tunnel and contacts aircraft to form a passage between the tunnel
and the aircraft. A canopy seals the cab and the fuselage not to be
affected by external air. A shock absorbing device directly
contacts the fuselage and absorbs shock arising from the aircraft
or the cab, and fills up a gap between the boarding bridge and the
aircraft, thereby allowing passengers or cargo to move more
safely.
[0007] To that end, it would be more preferable for the boarding
bridge to approach the fuselage more softly and give less shock to
such expensive aircraft. Even if small shock arises, it would be
preferable to reduce the shock and absorb more shock. Further, it
would be preferable to maintain a consistent space between an end
of the boarding bridge and the fuselage when the boarding bridge
moves upwards or downwards.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a boarding bridge with a minute approaching device and a
shock absorbing part and an operation method thereof which reduces
shock arising from a contact of a fuselage by the boarding bridge
and reduces or prevents a space when moving upwards or
downward.
[0009] Also, it is another aspect of the present invention to
provide a boarding bridge and an operation method thereof which
includes a minute approaching device, a shock-absorbing part and a
space prevention device to operate the boarding bridge more
comfortably.
[0010] Further, it is another aspect of the present invention to
provide a boarding bridge and an operation method thereof which
includes a minute approaching device, a shock-absorbing part and a
space prevention device to minimize damage to the boarding bridge
and a fuselage.
[0011] Further, it is another aspect of the present invention to
provide a boarding bridge and an operation method thereof which
includes a minute approaching device, a shock absorbing part and a
space prevention device to absorb more shock and efficiently absorb
momentary shock.
[0012] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the present
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may
be learned by practice of the present invention.
[0013] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
are also achieved by providing a boarding bridge comprising a
rotunda; a tunnel which contractably extends from the rotunda and
forms a passage; a cab which is rotatbly coupled to the tunnel and
connects the tunnel and aircraft; a main moving device which moves
the cab by contraction and extension of the tunnel from a standby
location of the cab and an adjacent location of the aircraft; and a
minute approaching device which is provided in an end part of the
cab and minutely moves the end part of the cab from the adjacent
location to a contact location of the aircraft while the
contraction and extension of the tunnel stops.
[0014] According to an aspect of the invention, the main moving
device comprises a wheel drive which is provided in a lower part of
a lift column coupled to the tunnel and moving the tunnel upwards
or downwards; and the minute approaching device comprises a fixed
floor provided in a lower part of the cab toward the tunnel and a
moving floor coupled in a direction facing the tunnel to move with
regard to the fixed floor, and the minute approaching device moves
the moving floor with regard to the fixed floor.
[0015] According to another aspect of the invention, the minute
approaching device comprises a minute drive whose first side is
fixed to the fixed floor and a second side is fixed to the moving
floor to supply a force moving the moving floor; and a minute
moving guide which guides the moving floor while the moving floor
is moved by the minute drive.
[0016] According to another aspect of the invention, the boarding
bridge further comprises a canopy clamp which is provided in a
first side of the minute approaching device and coupled to a canopy
that seals the cab and the fuselage to move along a movement of the
minute approaching device.
[0017] According to another aspect of the invention, the minute
approaching device further comprises a shock absorbing member which
prevents a transmission of shock arising from one of the boarding
bridge and the aircraft to the other one of the boarding bridge and
the aircraft, and the shock absorbing part comprises a main shock
absorbing member which contacts the aircraft and absorbs shock, and
an auxiliary shock absorbing member which is provided between the
main shock absorbing member and the minute approaching device and
absorbs shock.
[0018] According to another aspect of the invention, the auxiliary
shock absorbing member comprises an auxiliary spring which is
coupled to the main shock absorbing member and absorbs shock, and a
shock absorber guiding member which guides the main shock absorbing
member and the auxiliary spring during a process of absorbing shock
by the auxiliary spring.
[0019] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
are also achieved by providing a boarding bridge, comprising a
rotunda; a tunnel which contractably extends from the rotunda and
forms a passage; a cab which is rotatbly coupled to the tunnel and
connects the tunnel and a fuselage; a shock absorbing part which is
provided not to transmit a shock arising from one of the cab and
the fuselage to the other one of the cab and the fuselage; and the
shock absorbing part comprising a main shock absorbing member
contacting the fuselage and absorbing shock, and an auxiliary shock
absorbing member provided between the main shock absorbing member
and the cab and absorbing shock.
[0020] According to another aspect of the invention, the boarding
bridge further comprises a main moving device which moves the cab
by contraction and extension of the tunnel from a standby location
of the cap to an adjacent location of the fuselage; and a minute
approaching device which minutely moves the cab from the adjacent
location to a contact location of the fuselage while the
contraction and extension of the tunnel stops.
[0021] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
are also achieved by providing an operation method of a boarding
bridge, the method comprising moving a cab by a main moving device
of the boarding bridge from a standby location of the cab to an
adjacent location of a fuselage by contraction and extension of the
tunnel, wherein the boarding bridge comprises a rotunda, a tunnel
contractably extending from the rotunda and forming a passage and
the cab ratably coupled to the tunnel and connecting the tunnel and
the fuselage; and moving the cab minutely by a minute approaching
device from the adjacent location to a contact location of the
fuselage while the contraction and extension of the tunnel
stops.
[0022] According to another aspect of the invention, the method
further comprises absorbing a shock by a main shock absorbing
member which contacts the fuselage and prevents a transmission of a
shock arising from one of the cab and the fuselage to the other one
of the cab and the fuselage, and an auxiliary shock absorbing
member which is provided between the main shock absorbing member
and the minute approaching device and absorbs shock.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will
become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a boarding bridge according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is an extended lateral view of a cab in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a floor of the cab;
[0027] FIG. 4 is a lateral sectional view of the floor taken along
line A-A' in FIG. 3;
[0028] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a minute approaching device;
[0029] FIG. 6 is a lateral sectional view of a shock absorbing
part;
[0030] FIGS. 7 and 8 are lateral views which illustrate an
operation process of the boarding bridge according to the present
invention; and
[0031] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the boarding bridge.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
[0032] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention
will be described with reference to accompanying drawings, wherein
like numerals refer to like elements and repetitive descriptions
will be avoided as necessary.
[0033] Hereinafter, a boarding bridge and an operation method
thereof which includes a minute approaching device and a shock
absorbing part according to the present invention will be described
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.
[0034] FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a boarding bridge according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an
extended lateral view of a cab in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of
a floor of the cab. FIG. 4 is a lateral sectional view of the floor
taken along line A-A' in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a plan view of a minute
approaching device. FIG. 6 is a lateral sectional view of a shock
absorbing part. FIGS. 7 and 8 are lateral views which illustrate an
operation process of the boarding bridge according to the present
invention. FIG. 9 is a block diagram of the boarding bridge.
[0035] A boarding bridge 100 according to the present invention
includes a rotunda 110, a tunnel 120, a cab 140 and a minute
approaching device 210 to form a passage between an airport
building and aircraft to thereby enable passengers to get on the
aircraft or a cargo to be loaded thereinto regardless of external
weather conditions. The boarding bridge 100 further includes a
shock absorbing part 230.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, the rotunda 110 supports the
tunnel 120, and acts as a rotational shaft when the tunnel 120
rotates and acts as a supporting pillar when the tunnel 120
contracts and extends. The rotunda 110 may be extended and
installed at an airport building or installed in an end part of a
fixed tunnel 123 connected to the airport building as in FIG.
1.
[0037] The tunnel 120 forms a passage through which passengers
move. The tunnel 120 includes the fixed tunnel 123 and contracting
and extending tunnels 125a and 125b. Hereinafter, the tunnel has a
reference numeral 120 without being classified particularly. The
contracting and extending tunnel 120 may change its length,
direction and height. The tunnel 120 may include therein various
equipment such as an air-conditioning and heating equipment for
passengers' convenience. The tunnel 120 may move until an adjacent
location as shown in FIG. 2.
[0038] A lift column 130 is coupled to the tunnel 120 and moves the
tunnel 120 upwards and downwards to adjust a height of the tunnel
120. That is, the lift column 130 adjusts the height of the tunnel
120 so that a bottom of the cab 140 corresponds to a height of a
gate provided in a body the aircraft in various sizes and
heights.
[0039] A wheel drive 133 which is attached to a lower part of the
lift column 130 supplies a driving force to the tunnel 120 if a
direction or a length of the tunnel 120 is changed. The length of
the tunnel 120 may be changed by wire, chair or other various means
as necessary. The reference numeral 137 refers to a service land
and a stair which act as a passage to move from the outside of the
tunnel 120 to the inside thereof. According to the present
exemplary embodiment, a major moving device which moves the
boarding bridge 100 to a standby location and the adjacent location
includes the wheel drive 133.
[0040] A leveler 160 detects a height of aircraft and adjusts the
height of the cab 140. If the height of the aircraft rises when the
cab 140 contacts the aircraft for passengers to get off the
aircraft, the leveler 160 detects the raised height of the aircraft
and transmits the detection result to the controller 270. Then, the
controller 270 controls the lift column 130 to raise the height of
the tunnel 120. Then, the bottom of the cab 140 rises and its
height becomes equal to the height of the gate of the aircraft in
height. Thus, passengers may safely move between the aircraft and
the boarding bridge 100.
[0041] The canopy 170 seals the cab 140 and the aircraft so that
the passage is not affected by external air. The canopy 170 is
shaped like a bellows. Since the canopy 170 is shaped like a
bellows, it may absorb shock on its own. A contact part of the
boarding bridge 100 and the aircraft is left and right sides and an
end of an upper side of the canopy 170. In the minute approaching
device 210, the contact part of the boarding bridge 100 and the
aircraft is the shock absorbing part 230 of the end part.
[0042] A level maintaining device 180 is coupled to a lower part of
the minute approaching device 210 and is supported by the fixed
floor 145 to maintain a level of a moving floor 221. The level
maintaining device 180 may include a mechanical lifting device
unlike a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder according to the exemplary
embodiment.
[0043] The cab 140 is coupled to an end part of the tunnel 120 and
forms a passage between the tunnel 120 and the aircraft. The cab
140 includes the fixed floor 145 and the moving floor 221. The cab
140 further includes a cab rotating drive 151 which supplies a
rotational force to the cab 140 rotating with regard to the tunnel
120. The cab 140 is provided in an end part of the boarding bridge
100 and secures a field of vision, and includes an operation room
(not shown) to operate the boarding bridge 100.
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fixed floor 145 includes a
fixture which has a sufficient strength and forms a bottom of the
passage in a lower part of the cab 140, and includes a moving floor
panel 223 acting as a footing for passengers in an upper part
thereof. A support 149 is provided in a lower part of the fixed
floor 145 to support the minute approaching device 210.
[0045] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the minute approaching device 210
includes a minute moving part 220 and the shock absorbing part 230.
As shown in FIG. 2, the minute approaching device 210 is provided
in an end part of the cab 140, and moves the cab 140 from the
adjacent location to a contact location of the aircraft after the
cab 140 completes moving from the standby location to the adjacent
location by the movement of the tunnel 120.
[0046] The minute moving part 220 is provided in a lower end part
of the cab 140, and is supported by the fixed floor 145. The minute
moving part 220 includes the moving floor 221 which has a
sufficient strength for passengers to move, the minute drive 225
and a minute moving guide 227.
[0047] The moving floor panel 223 is formed in an upper part of the
moving floor 221 to act as a footing. As shown in FIG. 4, the
moving floor panel 223 partly overlaps the fixed floor panel 147.
Even if the minute approaching device 210 moves and the moving
floor panel 223 moves a little, the fixed floor panel 147 overlaps
the moving floor panel 223 and forms a bottom.
[0048] The minute approaching device 210 is moved by the minute
drive 225 and the minute moving guide 227. A first side of the
minute drive 225 is supported by the fixed floor 145 and a second
side thereof is coupled with the moving floor 221 and supplies a
driving force to move the moving floor 221. The minute drive 225
according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a power
cylinder, but not limited thereto. Alternatively, the minute drive
225 may include a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, or other
mechanism such as a rack and pinion having a motor. The minute
moving guide 227 guides a movement of the minute approaching device
210. The minute moving guide 227 according to the present exemplary
embodiment includes a bush 227a which is coupled to the fixed floor
145, and a guiding shaft 227a which is coupled to the inside of
opposite bushes 227a and coupled to the moving floor 221 to
slidably move. If the minute drive 225 applies a force to the
moving floor 221, the guiding shaft 227a which is coupled to the
moving floor 221 is guided by two bushes 227a of the fixed floor
145, and the moving floor 221 may move toward the body of the
aircraft distant from the tunnel 120. The minute moving guide 227
may include a general bush, an LM guide and a rack and a pinion
other than the guiding shaft 227a and the ball bush 227a.
[0049] The minute approaching device 210 further includes a canopy
clamp 224a which is provided in a lateral side thereof and is
coupled to the canopy 170 moving along a canopy rail 224a of the
fixed floor 145. The canopy 170 may move along with the movement of
the minute approaching device 210.
[0050] The shock absorbing part 230 is coupled to an end part of
the minute approaching device 210 to absorb shock arising from the
boarding bridge 100 or the aircraft and prevents transmission of
the shock to the boarding bridge 100 or the aircraft. The shock
absorbing part 230 contacts the aircraft and thus includes a
material such as rubber not to damage the fuselage. The shock
absorbing part 230 includes a main shock absorbing member 233 which
is provided in the end part of the minute approaching device 210,
and an auxiliary shock absorbing member 235 which is coupled to the
minute moving part 220 and moves the main shock absorbing member
233. The main shock absorbing member 233 is shaped like a cylinder
which is hollow inside. A section of the cylinder is deformed by a
pressure of the minute drive 225 when contacting the fuselage. If
the main shock absorbing member 233 is deformed too severely, a
minute moving sensor 229 which is provided in the cylinder detects
the deformation. Then, the controller 270 controls the minute drive
225 not to press the minute moving part 220. As shown in FIG. 6, a
first side of the auxiliary shock absorbing member 235 is coupled
to the fixed floor 145 and a second side thereof is coupled to the
main shock absorbing member 233 to absorb a shock of the main shock
absorbing member 233. The auxiliary shock absorbing member 235
includes an auxiliary spring 237 which absorbs shock, and a shock
absorber guiding member 239 which guides a movement of the main
shock absorbing member 233 according to contraction and extension
of the auxiliary spring 237. The auxiliary spring 237 is coupled to
a shock absorbing supporting member 241 which is shaped like an
alphabet L and is supported by the fixed floor 145. The shock
absorber guiding member 239 is shaped like a roller which is
coupled to a shock absorbing member fixing member 243 provided
between the auxiliary spring 237 and the main shock absorbing
member 233 and moves along the shock absorbing supporting member
241.
[0051] In the conventional art, if the tunnel 120 moves, the lift
column 130, the wheel drive 133 and the cab 140 move all and the
end part of the cab 140 contacts the aircraft. That is, a weight of
elements which are moved by the contact of the boarding bridge 100
and the aircraft is heavy. According to the present invention,
however, a weight of elements which are moved by a contact of the
aircraft is significantly lighter than that in the conventional art
since only the minute approaching device 210 and the canopy 170
move. Thus, the shock which arises from the contact of the aircraft
and the boarding bridge 100 is reduced in proportion to moved
elements. Thus, the shock which arises from the contact of the
aircraft and the boarding bridge 100 may sharply be reduced.
[0052] The shock may also arise when passengers pass the tunnel 120
and the cab 140 or move inside the aircraft not only when the
boarding bridge 100 contacts the aircraft. According to the present
invention, the shock absorbing part 230 includes a plurality of
shock absorber members 233 and 235 and significantly reduces the
shock arising from the movement of passengers. That is, the
shock-absorbing part 230 may absorb shock arising from the main
shock absorbing member 233 and the auxiliary shock absorbing member
235 to thereby increase the shock absorbing volume. Particularly,
the shock absorbing part 230 has configuration which efficiently
responds to a heavy shock which arises momentarily from a long
distance.
[0053] Thus, damage to the boarding bridge 100 or to the aircraft
during the contact thereof may be prevented and an operator may
operate the boarding bridge 100 more comfortably. Also, a safety
accident may be prevented by a more comfortable and safe operation.
Since the damage is prevented, the lifespan of the boarding bridge
100 may be extended. Passengers may move comfortably and stably. As
the shock absorbing part 230 has a double shock absorbing
configuration, a space which is caused by a round body of the
aircraft when the aircraft moves upwards or downwards may be
prevented or reduced. Since the boarding bridge 100 is closely
adhered to the aircraft, passengers may feel secure. That is, in
the conventional art, when the aircraft moves upwards or downwards
while the boarding bridge 100 contacts the aircraft, a space
between the boarding bridge 100 and the aircraft becomes larger due
to a round body of the aircraft, and passengers may miss their step
due to the space. According to the present invention, however, such
concern may be prevented.
[0054] With the foregoing configuration, an operation process of
the boarding bridge 100 according to the present invention will be
described with reference to FIGS. 2, 7, 8 and 9.
[0055] The boarding bridge 100 is moved from the standby location
as shown in FIG. 7 to the adjacent location as shown in FIG. 8.
That is, an operator of the boarding bridge 100 or the controller
270 operates or controls the wheel drive 133 to move the cab 140
from the standby location to the adjacent location which is a
location adjacent to the aircraft (e.g., approximately 200 mm
distant from the aircraft). During the process, the controller 270
may control the wheel drive 133 or the lift column 130, which
drives a length, a direction and a height of the tunnel 120, based
on information transmitted from a sensor detecting the length of
the tunnel 20, a sensor detecting the direction of the tunnel 120,
a sensor detecting the height of the tunnel 120 and a sensor
detecting a rotation angle of the cab 140.
[0056] As shown in FIGS. 2, 8 and 9, an operator of the boarding
bridge 100 or the controller 270 controls the minute approaching
device 210 to move a part of the cab 140 from the adjacent location
to the contact location. During this process, the fixed floor 145
of the cab 140 does not move, and only the moving floor 221 moves.
That is, a pressure is applied by the minute drive 225, the moving
floor 221 is guided by the minute moving guide 227 and becomes
distant from the tunnel 120. Then, the moving floor 221 which is
provided in the lower part of the fixed floor panel 147 moves, and
the main shock absorbing member 233 contacts the fuselage and is
pressed by the minute drive 225. Then, the main shock absorbing
member 233 which is shaped like a hollow cylinder is deformed. If
the minute moving sensor 229 detects a predetermined pressure on
the main shock absorbing member 233 and transmits the detection
result to the controller 270, the controller 270 controls the
minute drive 225 not to press the main shock absorbing member 233.
If the minute moving part 220 moves, the canopy clamp 224a attached
to the minute moving part 220 also moves. The canopy 170 then moves
along the canopy rail 224a of the fixed floor 145. If the minute
moving part 220 contacts the aircraft, the bellows of the canopy
170 unfolds and seals the cab 140 and the aircraft. If the leveler
160 detects rise or fall of the height of the gate in the aircraft,
the controller 270 controls the lift column 130 to adjust the
height of the tunnel 120 based on the detection signal. The level
of the minute moving part 220 is controlled by the level
maintaining device 180. The reference numeral 250 refers to a
sensor and the reference numeral 260 refers to a driver.
[0057] According to the present invention, a minute approaching
device, instead of a tunnel, moves when the boarding bridge
contacts the fuselage to thereby sharply reduce the weight of moved
elements and reduce shock.
[0058] Also, the boarding bridge may be operated more comfortably
since the weight of moved elements is lighter when the boarding
bridge contacts the aircraft.
[0059] Further, as the weight of moved elements is lighter at the
time of contact of the boarding bridge, damage to the boarding
bridge or the fuselage which may arise during the contact process
may be minimized.
[0060] Further, as the weight of moved elements is lighter at the
time of contact of the boarding bridge, safety accident may be
prevented.
[0061] Further, a plurality of shock absorbing parts may absorb
more shock and efficiently absorb momentary shock.
[0062] Further, the shock absorbing part may prevent or reduce a
space between the aircraft and the boarding bridge even if the
aircraft in round shape moves upwards or downwards. Thus,
passengers may feel comfortable when boarding the aircraft.
[0063] Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these
exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and
spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the
appended claims and their equivalents.
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