Automatically retracting passenger loading bridge
AssigneeDEW Engineering and Development Limited
InventorNeil Hutton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for automatically retracting a passenger loading bridge from an engaged position relative to an aircraft having a door, the aircraft being releasably connectable to a service provider is disclosed. The system comprising at least a sensor for detecting one of a plurality of predetermined events other than a user input at an input device coupled thereto and for providing a signal in dependence upon said detected predetermined events; and a bridge actuator in operative communication with the at least a sensor for receiving the signal and for automatically performing a retraction movement in order to retract the bridge from the aircraft in response to the signal indicative of one of the plurality of predetermined events being sensed.
Claims47
A system for automatically retracting a passenger loading bridge relative to a door of an aircraft comprising:
- a retraction initiator for providing a control signal indicative of a passenger loading bridge retraction request prior to the aircraft moving substantially from a parking location adjacent the passenger loading bridge;
- a bridge controller in operative communication with the retraction initiator for receiving the control signal therefrom, for determining a first movement for moving the passenger loading bridge from a first position in which a cabin end of the passenger loading bridge is mated with the door of the aircraft toward a second position in which the cabin end of the passenger loading bridge is other than mated with the door of the aircraft, and for providing a second signal indicative of the first movement;
- and,
- a bridge actuator in operative communication with the bridge controller for receiving the second signal therefrom and for automatically performing the first movement of the passenger loading bridge.
A system for automatically retracting a passenger loading bridge from an engaged position relative to an aircraft having a door, the aircraft being releasably connectable to a supply conduit, the system comprising:
- at least a sensor for detecting one of a plurality of predetermined events other than a user input at an input device coupled thereto and for providing a signal in dependence upon said detected predetermined events;
- and,
- a bridge actuator in operative communication with the at least a sensor for receiving the signal and for automatically performing a retraction movement in order to retract the bridge from the aircraft in response to the signal indicative of one of the plurality of predetermined events being sensed.
A method of retracting a passenger loading bridge from an engaged position relative to an aircraft having a door comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving data indicative of a passenger loading bridge retraction request while the bridge is engaged to the aircraft and prior to the aircraft moving substantially from an engaged position to a second position other than an engaged position;
- b) determining a retraction movement for moving the passenger loading bridge toward the second position;
- and,
- c) automatically performing the determined retraction movement of the passenger loading bridge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.