Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2003-04-22
Allen, Stephone B. (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Optical or pre-photocell system
C250S206100, C250S559290, C014S071500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06552327
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and a device for positioning one end of a movable bridge to a door on a craft.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
Modern airports or harbors are usually equipped with passenger bridges on which the passengers may walk safely between the terminal building and the aircraft or the boat, while being sheltered from the rain and wind.
A known mobile-type passenger bridge used at airports comprises a rotunda that is connected to a terminal building and is rotatably mounted on a column anchored in the ground. From the rotunda extends a passageway, which is made up of a number of telescoping elements, enabling variation of the length of the passageway. At the end of the passageway located farthest away from the rotunda, there is provided a cabin which is pivotable in relation to the passageway. The passageway element to which the cabin is attached is suspended from a vertically adjustable frame, which in turn is supported by a bogie with wheels that can be driven separately.
The passenger bridge normally occupies a parking position in the vicinity of the place where the aircraft is to come to a halt after landing. When the aircraft has come to a halt, an operator controls the passenger bridge vertically and angularly, pivots the cabin and telescopically extends the passageway in the direction of the aircraft, such that the end of the bridge is connected to the door of the aircraft. The operation in the horizontal plane is achieved by altering the speeds of the bogie wheels in relation to one another.
Owing to its complexity, this operation requires operators with special training, which of course is expensive for the airlines. Furthermore, it takes a long time to perform the connection. Also it happens that the bridges bump into the aircraft as a result of mismaneuvering on the part of the operator, thus damaging the aircraft. Apart from being costly it also happens that the person who is to maneuver the bridge is not present in time. This results in unnecessary delays which are costly. It is important to minimize the time for docking of the bridge to the craft in order to minimize the time the craft is standing still.
The bridge has to be adjusted also after connection to the aircraft. As passengers enter or exit the aircraft, the height of the aircraft changes. To avoid damage to the aircraft, e.g. to avoid that a force is exerted on the door, the height of the bridge has to be adjusted accordingly. Conventionally, this is achieved with a wheel that is in contact with the aircraft and that senses movement of the aircraft in relation to the bridge. However, the wheel may damage the aircraft if the wheel is incorrectly adjusted. The wheel may also malfunction due to too small friction between the wheel and the aircraft.
PCT Application SE95/01034 describes a device for controlling the movement of a passenger bridge. However, this system is reliable only for movement to a position close to the aircraft. Thus, the bridge has to be operated manually during the last part of its movement.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,204 describes an automatic loading bridge with a different control system. The system uses video cameras in the control of the bridge. The system maneuvers an end of the bridge to a position close to the door, whereupon a person controls the bridge, during the last part of its movement, by looking at images recorded by the video cameras. Suggestions are made in the patent specification that the system could be arranged to operate fully automatically using image-processing of the recorded images to calculate the distance between the bridge and the aircraft. However, image-processing is time-consuming, thus making the movement based thereon slow.
Thus, there is a need for a reliable system that provides the necessary information about the position of the bridge relative to the craft when connected to the aircraft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a device that solves the problems described above.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a reliable device for measuring vertical movements of a craft relative to a passenger bridge.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a device that facilitates the implementation of a fully automatic system for controlling a loading bridge.
One more object of the present invention is to provide a method of controlling the connection of one end of a loading bridge to a door on a craft.
Still, a further object of the present invention is to provide a passenger bridge that is arranged to automatically adjust its height to the height of the door on a craft.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a passenger bridge that is arranged to automatically connect to a door on a craft in reasonable time.
According to the invention, these objects are achieved by a method, a device and a bridge as claimed in the appended claims.
A device for positioning one end of a movable bridge in relation to a door on a craft comprises, according to the present invention, a control unit for controlling at least the vertical movement of the bridge and for storing information on the position of the door on the craft. Furthermore, the control unit comprises a sensor arranged to transmit electromagnetic radiation in different directions; and to detect electromagnetic radiation; and the control unit is arranged to measure the time difference between the transmission of radiation in at least two different directions and the detection of said radiation, to thereby determining the position of the bridge in relation to the craft in said directions, and to control at least the vertical movement of said one end of the bridge to a position at the door in response to the determined position of the bridge and the stored information on the position of the door.
Preferably, the different directions are separated at least in the vertical direction. This facilitates the determination of the position of the bridge relative to the craft in the vertical direction.
By measuring the distance between the bridge and the craft in different directions, separated in the vertical direction, and with knowledge of the craft, it is possible to control the height of the bridge in relation to the craft. The device does not rely on contact between the craft and the device and therefore any risk of damage to the craft due to the device is eliminated. Further. the device cannot malfunction due to too low friction at the surface of the craft. Furthermore, the device according to the invention may be used to automatically control the connection of the bridge to a door on a craft. As the device is not dependent on contact with the craft, it is reliable.
A method according to the invention for positioning one end of a movable passenger or goods loading bridge adjacent to a door on a craft comprises the steps of storing information about the position of the door on the craft, transmitting electromagnetic radiation in different directions, detecting electromagnetic radiation having the same wavelength as the transmitted radiation, measuring the time between the transmission of radiation and the detection of radiation from at least two different directions, thereby determining the position of the bridge in relation to the craft in said directions, and moving the bridge, in response to the determined position and the stored information.
There are numerous ways in which the electromagnetic radiation might be transmitted from the sensor.
Preferably the sensor in a device according to the present invention is arranged to repeatedly transmit a set of electromagnetic pulses in different directions, and to detect electromagnetic pulses after reflection on a craft. The control unit is arranged to measure the time between the transmission of an electromagnetic pulse and the following reception of an electromagnetic pulse having the same wavelength as the transmitted pulse, for at least two of the transmitted pulses, thereby determining the distance between the bridge and the craft as a f
Allen Stephone B.
FMT International Trade AB
Orum & Roth
LandOfFree
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