163results about "Passenger handling installations" patented technology

A Mobile Security Unit (MSU) has a security checkpoint and a transport. The security checkpoint has an item screening area and a personal screening area. The checkpoint is configured as needed to fit within the transport. The MSU may further separate certain individuals into a secure, enclosed wanding station for additional security screening. The wanding station may be constructed using glass (or other strong, visually transparent substance) and metallic (such as aluminum or steel) posts so that people may be securely enclosed in the wanding station but still have a direct line of sight to personal items being screened at another location. The MSU is configured so that most people pass straight through the checkpoint, and people leaving the wanding station can easily obtain their items without delaying others.

A walkway having a series of fixed height corridor units and an inclined gangway unit at its forward end. The units are articulatingly connected and selectively collapsible. The gangway is selectively variable in height, being provided with elevating means at its front end, to permit docking at the raised door sill of the commuter aircraft.

An integrated operational ground mobility and support system (10) that includes an aircraft (12) having one or more service openings on a side of the aircraft (12). The integrated support system (10) may have an airport interface terminal docking port (14) that has a ground support service sub-system. The docking port (14) mates with the aircraft (12) at the service openings and has multiple service levels. The ground support service sub-system provides services to the aircraft (12) through the service openings and on the service levels. The integrated support system (10) may have in addition to or in replacement of the interface terminal docking port an aircraft loader/unloader. The loader/unloader has ground support service sub-systems and mates with the aircraft (12) at one or more of the service openings. The service sub-systems of the loader/unloader include a passenger ingress/egress system (62) and provide services to the aircraft (12).

An exchange station has openings for drones, a passenger check-in/check-out bay for processing passengers, a drone connect/release bay, having apparatus adapted to manage passenger pods mounted on smart chassis, and a computerized control system in wireless communication with control circuitry in the drones and smart chassis, guiding smart chassis with mounted passenger pods and drones, to make the exchange of pods from the smart chassis to drones. A passenger entering the passenger check-in bay is loaded into a pod mounted on a smart chassis, the pod with passenger is transported to the drone-connect/release bay, and the pod is there joined to a bare drone and disconnected from the smart chassis, the drone leaving with the passenger pod to a destination, and the smart chassis traveling away from the drone connect-release bay.

A servicing bridge (14) for an airport (13) includes multiple servicing levels (82, 102). A bridge (81) includes one or more of the servicing levels (82, 102) and extends from a terminal of the airport (13). A ground support service sub-system is coupled to the servicing levels (82, 102) and is configured to mate with a service opening (26) of the aircraft (12). The ground support service sub-system provides services to the aircraft (12) through the service opening (26) and on the servicing levels (82, 102).

A method and apparatus for boarding an aircraft. Passengers may be lined up in a first line and a second line relative to a doorway for the aircraft. A flow of the passengers in the first line and the second line may be controlled through a corridor connecting the doorway to a first aisle and a second aisle in an interior of the aircraft. The flow of the passengers may pass through a number of spaces in the corridor. The number of spaces may be reserved for a number of crew members during an emergency operation in which the passengers exit the aircraft.

A ramp assembly provides a transition surface from a vehicle floor to an alighting surface. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion that rotates between a stowed position and a deployed position. A panel is rotatably coupled to the ramp portion about a first axis. The ramp assembly further includes an actuator that provides a rotational force to the ramp portion that drives the ramp portion through a deployment motion. The deployment motion includes a first phase during which the rotational force rotates the ramp portion about the first axis. The deployment motion further includes a second phase during which the rotational force moves the first axis in a downward direction.

An aircraft (1000) includes multiple servicing levels (1014, 1016) and a flight deck level (1040) that is isolated from the servicing levels (1014, 1016). An aircraft security system (1001) includes a passive system (1030) and an active system (1032) that is in operation with said passive system (1030). The passive system (1030) includes a service opening (1050) for both passengers and cargo and the flight deck (1040) that is isolated from the service opening (1050).

An integrated operational ground mobility and support system (10) that includes an aircraft (12) having one or more service openings. The integrated support system (10) may have an airport interface terminal docking port (14) that has a ground support service sub-system. The docking port (14) mates with the aircraft (12) at the service openings and has multiple service levels. The ground support service sub-system provides services to the aircraft (12) through the service openings and on the service levels. The integrated support system (10) may have in addition to or in replacement of the interface terminal docking port an aircraft loader/unloader. The loader/unloader has ground support service sub-systems and mates with the aircraft (12) at one or more of the service openings. The service sub-systems of the loader/unloader include a passenger ingress/egress system (62) and provide services to the aircraft (12).

A bellows for an airplane boarding corridor for passengers, and a corridor including such bellows. A bellows actuator device of the invention has chambers that can be inflated and deflated on command to enable the bellows to be extended and to allow the bellows to be retracted, and it also returns the bellows to the retracted condition. Advantageously, the inflatable chambers of the actuator device of the invention form at least two rows of tubes disposed symmetrically or substantially symmetrically about a longitudinal plane of symmetry of the bellows, each row being individually inflatable. The present invention is mainly applicable to making equipment, in particular weatherproofing bellows, for airport boarding corridors for passengers.

The invention relates to an improved boarding bridge. The improved boarding bridge comprises a movable channel which consists of an inner movable channel, a middle movable channel and an outer movable channel in sliding fit; the inner side of an inner guide rail is provided with an inner inversed U-shaped groove; the outer side of an outer guide rail is provided with an outer inversed U-shaped groove; an idle wheel is matched with the inner inversed U-shaped groove and the outer inversed U-shaped groove; the improved boarding bridge also comprises a plurality of covering devices for covering the inner inversed U-shaped grooves of the inner guide rails on the inner bottoms of the middle movable channel and the outer movable channel; each covering device consists of a fixed plate, a curtain sheet, a torsional spring and a bent decorative baffle; the curtain sheet is connected to the fixed plate through a pivot; the torsional spring is matched with the curtain sheet and the fixed plate; a horizontal plate of the bent decorative baffle is fixedly connected with the top of the fixed plate; the fixed plate is fixed on the upper part of the inner inversed U-shaped grove; and curtain sheets of two adjacent covering devices are staggered by the thickness of one curtain sheet in the horizontal direction. As the structure is adopted, the improved boarding bridge prevents the bareness of the inner guide rail and the idle wheel and removes potential safety hazards.

The adjustable stairs for passengers to get on and off bus have the structure comprising horizontal stair boards and vertical stair boards, and feature the movable connection between horizontal stair boards and vertical stair boards and at least one extension shaft driven with power unit and connected with the stair boards to change the overall shape of the stairs between stairs and inclined plate. Specifically, the horizontal stair boards and vertical stair boards are hinged, and the power unit may be motor, air pump, hydraulic unit, etc. Change the stairs into one inclined plate makes it possible for the wheeled chair, wheeled case, etc. to get on and off bus conveniently.

A personal rapid transport system comprising guideways (20) and automated transportation pods (28) containing wireless computer communications (44) allows passengers to undertake transactions with airline, airport and security staff while traveling from intermodal centers (16) directly to aircraft boarding gates (38). The system transports checked bags to the gate and, with the possible exception of security screening, mostly eliminates the need for standing in line and walking long distances. The system issues boarding passes and baggage tags to passengers in the transportation pods, informs them of the waiting time until boarding and offers them their option of waiting areas. The system can ensure passengers arrive at boarding gates at their individually assigned boarding times thus virtually eliminating waiting at the gate. The system can inform arriving passengers when their bags are offloaded so they can deplane, immediately collect their luggage and board a transportation pod for a non-stop return trip to their originating intermodal center or destination of choice. The system can facilitate a security perimeter (24) around all public access airport buildings whereby passenger and other screening can be accomplished prior to entry to such buildings. It can also facilitate the elimination of large public transportation vehicles such as buses from the airport property thus removing a potential terrorist target. In addition, the system can eliminate the potential terrorist target presented by large groups of people waiting with unscreened baggage to be processed through ticketing and bag check-in. The system facilitates the replacement of conventional airport terminal buildings with consolidated concession facilities (26) and allows airport facilities such as runways (10) and concourses (14) to be spaced far apart.

A system and method is provided for improving efficiency of aircraft gate services and reducing time spent by an aircraft parked parallel to an airport terminal wherein aircraft utilities and gate services provided during turnaround are supported by an arrangement of flexibly movable, service and utility-carrying extendable passenger boarding bridges that enable passenger and baggage exchange concurrently with connection of utilities and provision of gate services to the aircraft. Aircraft are maneuvered by a pilot into and out of a parallel parking location in a forward direction by an engines-off electric taxi system that does not rely on the use of aircraft main engines to drive the aircraft, enabling loading bridge, utility, and service connections to be made to multiple aircraft doors as soon as the aircraft arrives at a parking space and then quickly disconnected upon departure.

An aerial vehicle has a passenger cabin for receiving at least one passenger, a load-bearing structure beneath the cabin, and a propulsion system including a number of propulsion units, which propel the aerial vehicle for powered flight and vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). The propulsion units are preferably carried by support arms attached to the load-bearing structure and extending upwards therefrom so as to support the propulsion units at a level above the cabin. The aerial vehicle is preferably reconfigurable to a compact configuration after landing, with at least some of the propulsion units overlapping the cabin and/or each other, while still allowing passenger transfer in and out of the vehicle, thereby facilitating efficient use of space for implementing a vertiport.

A public transportation system combines a unique combination of components that includes interoperable electric-powered vehicles, facilities, hardware and software having specifications, standards, processes, capabilities, nomenclature, and concepts of operations that together include a concerted, comprehensive, multi-modal, future system for moving people and goods that is herein named Quiet Urban Air Delivery (QUAD) and in which uniquely-capable, ultra-quiet, one to six-seat, electrically-powered, autonomous aircraft (SkyQarts) fly sub-193 kilometer trips on precise trajectories with negligible control latency and perform extremely short take-offs and landings (ESTOL) with curved traffic patterns at a highly-distributed network of very small, airports (“SkyNests”) that themselves have standardized compatible facilities that interoperate with SkyQarts as well as with versatile, autonomous electric-powered payload carts (EPCs) and robotic delivery carts (RDCs) to provide safe, fast, on-demand, community-acceptable, environmentally friendly, high-capacity, affordable door-to-door delivery of both passengers and cargo across urban, suburban and rural settings across the globe.

A mobile access unit for allowing passengers to embark or disembark from a craft, such as an aircraft, the unit comprising:

• • a first moveable ramp section, extending from an entry/exit end, which allows access to the loading door of the craft, to a hinged end, wherein the entry/exit end can rotate about the hinged end, between a raised position and a lowered position;
  • a second moveable ramp section, extending from a hinged end to a ground entry/exit end, which allows access to the ground, wherein the ground entry/exit end can rotate about the hinged end, between a raised position and a lowered position; and
  • a non-linear middle ramp section, extending from a first linking end, which links with the hinged end of the first moveable ramp section, to a second linking end, which links with the hinged end of the second moveable ramp section;

wherein the first moveable ramp section, middle ramp section and second moveable ramp section can together form a continuous non-linear ramp that can extend from the craft loading door to the ground, wherein the continuous non-linear ramp includes two or more turns and wherein the sum of the angles turned by the continuous non-linear ramp over its length is 360 degrees or more.

A terminal (14) for an airport (13) includes multiple servicing levels (82, 102). A ground support service sub-system is coupled to the servicing levels (82, 102) and is configured to mate with a service opening (26) of the aircraft (12). The ground support service sub-system provides services to the aircraft (12) through the service opening (26) and on the servicing levels (82, 102).