Portable, height adjustable gangway and systems and methods for accessing vehicles or vessels

A portable, height-adjustable gangway system, comprising:

• a lower tower structure comprising:
• a lower landing;
• a lower movement assembly comprising a first set of wheels permitting the lower tower structure to travel over ground;
• and
• a lower extending tower support connecting the lower movement assembly and the lower landing and comprising expandable struts configured to move the lower landing towards and away from the lower movement assembly:
• an upper tower structure comprising:
• an upper landing;
• an upper movement assembly comprising a second set of wheels permitting the upper tower structure to travel over ground;
• and
• an, upper extending tower support connecting the upper movement, assembly and the upper landing and comprising upper expandable struts configured to move the upper landing towards and away from the upper movement assembly;
• and
• a cross-support connecting the lower tower structure to the upper tower structure;
• and
• a travellator comprising:
• a lower pivotal connection pivotally connected to the lower tower structure and an upper pivotal connection pivotally connected to the upper tower structure such that the travellator tilts responsive to at least one of:
• the lower expandable struts of the lower tower support extending at least one of towards and away from the lower movement assembly;
• and
• the upper expandable struts of the upper tower support extending at least one of towards and away from the upper movement assembly,
• each of the lower and upper pivotal connections comprising a respective telescoping section configured to independently expand and/or contract in length dependent upon an angle of tilt of the travellator
• a lower horizontal first portion at the lower landing;
• an upper horizontal first portion at the upper landing;
• a second portion pivotally connected to the lower horizontal first portion and pivotally connected to the upper horizontal first portion such that, responsive to movement of at least one of the lower and upper landing, the second portion tilts between horizontal and a given maximum angle;
• a translatable step;
• an inner track connected to the lower horizontal first portion, to the upper horizontal first portion, and to the second portion;
• and
• an outer track connected to the lower horizontal first portion, to the upper horizontal first portion, and to the second portion to define, together with, the inner track, a step path at which the step moves along at least the second portion.

A portable, height-adjustable gangway, comprising:

• a lower tower structure comprising:
• a lower landing;
• and
• a lower movement assembly comprising a first set of wheels permitting the lower tower structure to travel over ground;
• an upper tower structure comprising:
• an upper landing;
• an upper movement assembly comprising a second set of wheels permitting the upper tower structure to travel over ground;
• and
• an extending tower support connecting the upper movement assembly and the upper landing and comprising expandable struts configured to move, the upper landing towards and away from the upper movement assembly;
• and
• a gondola:
• pivotally connected to the lower tower structure and pivotally connected to the upper tower structure such that, responsive to the expandable struts of the tower support extending at least one of towards and away from the upper movement assembly, the travellator tilts.