A coupling module as an interface between a boarding bridge or boarding stairs and the fuselage of an aircraft

Abstract

Subject of the invention is a coupling module (1) as an interface between a boarding bridge or boarding stair and a fuselage of an aircraft, comprising a cabin and a passable swing bottom (3), wherein at least the swing bottom (3) is arranged on the cabin in a pivotable manner about a pivot axis (4) in order to align the swing bottom (3) to a door opening (5) in the fuselage (6) of the aircraft. According to the invention, the swing bottom (3) has at least one passable bottom front section (7) which is movable relative to a body (16) of the swing bottom in the direction of the fuselage of the aircraft.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a coupling module as an interface between a boarding bridge or boarding stair and a fuselage of an aircraft, comprising a cabin and a passable swing bottom arranged on the cabin, wherein at least the swing bottom is arranged on the cabin in a pivotable manner about a swing axis in order to align the swing bottom to a door opening present in the fuselage of the aircraft. BACKGROUND

[0002] EP 1 727 732 B1 discloses a coupling module as an interface between a boarding bridge or boarding stair and a fuselage of an aircraft. On the cabin a passable bottom is arranged, which can be extended towards the fuselage of the aircraft. The extendable bottom can be tilted about a transverse axis of the coupling module in order to match the height of the front edge of the bottom to the height of a door opening in the fuselage of the aircraft. The tilting of the swing bottom takes place in a hinge, the hinge axis of which coincides with the transverse axis extending in the width direction of the swing bottom and which therefore runs approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft that can be parked in front of the boarding bridge. The different heights of the lower edge of the door opening, with which the front side of the passable bottom has to be matched, cannot in principle be compensated in this way, because when the height of the lower edge of the door opening of different aircraft types varies, the passable bottom has to be tilted along a pivot axis that leads to the aircraft that can be parked and which is therefore perpendicular to the transverse axis and to the hinge axis.

[0003] EP 1 159 195 B1 discloses a coupling module as an interface between a boarding bridge or boarding stair and a fuselage of an aircraft, comprising a cabin and a passable swing bottom arranged on the cabin, wherein the swing bottom can be pivoted about a swing axis that leads approximately to the fuselage of the aircraft that can be parked in front of the coupling module. At the same time, the bottom can be moved on a transverse axis that runs perpendicular to the swing axis and in the width direction of the swing bottom.

[0004] In principle, it is required that a coupling module as an interface between a boarding bridge or boarding stair and a fuselage of an aircraft provides a passable bottom in a stationary position with only a minimum total depth, for example when the boarding bridge is not in use. The total depth of the boarding bridge in the direction of the forward direction of the aircraft that can be parked should not exceed a predetermined specific depth as far as possible, wherein at the same time a minimum depth is required in order to be able to react to specific aircraft.

[0005] The coupling module of a boarding bridge has a bottom which often has a different depth along the swivel axis and the dimension between the bumper which can be used to establish direct contact with the fuselage of the aircraft and the roll-up door or bulkhead in the coupling module is usually about 800 mm. However, new larger aircraft have aircraft doors which require a swivel range of more than 1000 mm, so that not all aircraft types can be docked to a coupling module which has a bottom depth of 800 mm from the bumper to the roll-up door or bulkhead. However, in the stationary positioning of the boarding bridge the total depth of the coupling module should not exceed a certain depth and predetermined safety distances must be observed. SUMMARY

[0006] The task of the present application is to further improve a coupling module with a swivel bottom, to extend its range of functions so that the coupling module can be highly matched to different aircraft types, while the swivel bottom does not exceed a certain depth as far as possible when the boarding bridge is in the stationary position.

[0007] Therefore, a coupling module is proposed as an interface between a boarding bridge or boarding stairs and the fuselage of an aircraft, the coupling module comprising a cabin and a passable swivel bottom, wherein at least the swivel bottom is arranged pivotably about a swivel axis on the cabin in order to align the swivel bottom to a door opening in the fuselage of the aircraft, the application is based on the recognition that a swivel bottom is constructed which has at least one passable front section of the bottom which can be moved in the direction of the fuselage of the aircraft relative to the body of the swivel bottom.

[0008] The core idea of the present application is to further improve a coupling module with a swivel bottom which not only can be pivoted about a swivel axis in order to match the swivel bottom to different heights of door openings of different aircraft types, but also to temporarily extend the swivel bottom in the direction of the parked fuselage of the aircraft. In order to extend the depth of the swivel bottom, according to the present application a front section of the bottom is provided which can be extended in the front side in the direction of the fuselage of the aircraft relative to the body of the current swivel bottom of the coupling module. Here in particular, the body forms part of the passable face of the swivel bottom.

[0009] The swivel bottom is here arranged pivotably about a swivel axis which extends essentially horizontally in the direction of the parked aircraft. In particular, the swivel axis extends perpendicularly to the lateral extent of the swivel bottom. The lateral extent constitutes the width of the swivel bottom which, neglecting angular adjustments, extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

[0010] The extendability can be realized in different ways. For example, the front section of the base can be telescopically retractable from the swing base, in particular it can be telescopically extendable from the passable swing base in the direction of the aircraft which can be parked. Here, the front section of the base does not have to be completely surrounded by the swing base when it is retracted, so that the extendability is also given when the front section of the base can be moved at least with its greater part below the swing base. It is also possible that the front section of the base can be extended into a recess, for example a pocket or a free space, which is machined in the body of the swing base and which opens with a receiving opening towards the aircraft fuselage, wherein the front section of the base can be retracted into the receiving opening.

[0011] A further possibility to realize the extendability is that the front section of the base can be pivoted or fanned out with respect to the body.

[0012] According to an embodiment, the front section of the base can be divided into at least two segments which are flexibly or movably connected to each other. It is also possible that a plurality of segments are movably, in particular rotatably or flexibly connected to each other. For example, the front section of the base can be made entirely of a flexible material, whereby upon loading of a corresponding force the front section of the base can be deformed over its entire length (seen in the extension direction). However, it can be sufficient if two or three segments which are flexibly or movably connected to each other are provided (seen in the extension direction). In particular, these can be separate parts which are connected to each other by means of spring plates or articulations or hinges. The axis of rotation about which the segments are arranged to be able to rotate relative to each other here preferably runs along the connecting line between the adjacent segments.

[0013] In the extended state, the first segment and the second segment (and possibly further segments) have a first orientation relative to each other. In particular, the segments can form a flat plane, i.e. they are arranged aligned with each other. In contrast, in the retracted state, the segments can have a second orientation relative to each other which is different therefrom. In particular, the segments can be inclined relative to each other. In particular, the segments can be arranged to sink obliquely downwards under the body in the retracted state. Thus, even if the body has a shorter length in the extension direction compared to the front section of the base or when the available space under the body is limited backwards by other components, the overall longer front section of the base can be retracted under the body.

[0014] In a further design variant, a guide can be provided for the movement guidance of the different segments of the front section of the base which are movably or flexibly connected to each other. In particular, the guide can be formed by the body and in particular by the underside of the body. In the retraction movement, the segments of the front section of the base are thus appropriately inclined relative to each other by the guide, so that the front section of the base sinks space-savingly under the body.

[0015] It is also advantageous if the front section of the base is designed in such a way that it can be extended over its width by different extension lengths. The front section of the base can also here have a plurality of sub-sections which are arranged next to one another or in a sectorial manner in the width direction, which can be extended or sectorially spread apart to different degrees in order to compensate for the curvature of the fuselage of the aircraft. If the front section of the base is implemented in one piece, it can also be extended, for example, into a kind of inclined position, in particular in which a bumper arranged on the front side of the front section of the base provides a final residual compensation, which can be pressed against the curvature of the fuselage of the aircraft to different degrees.

[0016] In order to move the front section of the base relative to the swing base, different drive options can be given. In addition to a conventional drive via a spindle and screw or via a pinion-rack drive (Ritzel-Zahnstein-Antrieb), it is advantageously provided that the drive is designed in such a way that the front section of the base does not cause any damage to the fuselage of the aircraft in the event of an exceptionally violent movement of the boarding bridge towards the fuselage of the aircraft. It is therefore advantageous if the front section of the base is arranged on the swing base in a kind of elastically flexible manner, so that a flexibility in the front section of the base can be achieved when the fuselage of the aircraft loads against the boarding bridge.

[0017] In order to form the flexibility of the front section of the base relative to the swing base, which is otherwise rigid, at least one pressure element is advantageously provided, with which a force can be loaded onto the front section of the base in the direction of extension relative to the body of the swing base. The pressure element or the plurality of pressure elements is designed in such a way that it or they elastically yield to counterpressure, although the pressure element is in the force flow between the swing base and the front section of the base and prestresses the front section of the base in a flexible manner in the direction of extension.

[0018] In particular, the pressure element can be implemented as a gas spring, so that the movement of the front section of the base relative to the body of the swing base is damped in addition to the spring action, wherein the pressure element can also be implemented in a simplified case as a simple spring element.

[0019] Furthermore, at least one or a plurality of traction means can be provided on the swing base, with which a force can be loaded onto the front section of the base, wherein the traction means or the traction means have, for example, flat belts, cables, in particular steel cables, webbings and / or toothed belts. If a force is introduced into the traction means, it acts against the force of the pressure element, so that any force acting from the fuselage of the aircraft onto the front section of the base also acts onto the front section of the base in the same force direction as the traction means. The front section of the base can therefore be moved with the traction means and the drive mechanism subordinated thereto, which acts in connection with the traction means, so that the at least one pressure element or preferably a plurality of pressure elements permanently load the front section of the base with force. If the front section of the base is to be retracted again, the drive mechanism retracts the traction means, so that the traction force of the traction means acts against the pressure element and in the same way retracts the pressure element itself.

[0020] The coupling module usually has a folding canopy with which the swing floor and / or the front section of the floor can be covered. The folding canopy is arranged on the coupling module. The folding canopy can be embodied such that no lateral gap occurs when the swing floor is pivoted. To this end, the folding canopy can be elongated downwards in a lower end region and reach below the lower edge of the swing floor and / or the front section of the floor. Alternatively, the folding canopy can be at least section-wise retracted and extended jointly with the front section of the floor. Alternatively or cumulatively, the folding canopy has longer pleats or corrugations in the region of the front section of the floor than in the region of the swing floor, so that it can follow the movement of the front section of the floor.

[0021] According to one embodiment, a front region of the folding canopy can be extended jointly with the front section of the floor in the direction of the aircraft fuselage. A lateral opening is thus avoided, and the folding canopy can substantially completely lie against the aircraft fuselage with the abutment even when the front section of the floor is extended and the folding canopy is extended jointly at least in the front region.

[0022] The coupling module can be embodied such that the swing floor together with the front section of the floor, the body, the bumper, the pressure element, the traction means, the drive means and / or the folding canopy form an assembly which can be preassembled and which can be arranged on the bay. This arrangement is achieved here in particular by the above-mentioned swingability about the pivot axis which extends substantially horizontally from the coupling module and is oriented in the direction of the aircraft which can be parked in front of the coupling module.

[0023] According to one embodiment, a carrying arm is arranged on the bay, by means of which the swing floor and / or the assembly which can be preassembled is received on the bay in a pivotable manner about the pivot axis.

[0024] The application also relates to a boarding bridge or boarding stair having a coupling module according to the above description.

[0025] Advantageous refinements of the application result from the description and the figures. The advantages of the features mentioned in the description and the advantages of combinations of multiple features are merely exemplary and can alternatively or cumulatively produce effects without having to be implemented by embodiments according to the application in order to achieve the advantages. The features mentioned in the application are to be understood with regard to their number as meaning exactly this number or a greater number than the number mentioned, without the term "at least" having to be used explicitly. Thus, when, for example, a front section of the floor is mentioned, this is to be understood as meaning exactly one front section of the floor, two front sections of the floor or multiple front sections of the floor. The features can be supplemented by other features or can be the only features which produce the respective result. The reference signs contained in the claims are not to limit the scope of the subject matter claimed by the claims, the reference signs being used only for the purpose of making the claims easier to understand. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Further measures to improve the application are shown in detail below in connection with the description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the application in conjunction with the drawings. Therein:

[0027] Figure 1 a side view of a coupling module with a retracted bottom front section is shown;

[0028] Figure 2 a top view of a swing bottom with a retracted bottom front section is shown;

[0029] Figure 3 a side view of a coupling module with an extended bottom front section is shown;

[0030] Figure 4 a top view of a swing bottom with an extended bottom front section is shown;

[0031] Figure 5 a perspective view of a coupling module from below is shown;

[0032] Figure 6 a view of a coupling module with a required swing movement to the left for a small aircraft is shown;

[0033] Figure 7 a view of a coupling module with a required swing movement to the right for a large aircraft is shown;

[0034] Figure 8 a top view of a swing bottom from an oblique view is shown;

[0035] Figure 9 a top view of a swing bottom in a swing movement of approximately 6° is shown; and

[0036] Figure 10 details of Figure 9 are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Figure 1 a side view of a coupling module 1 arranged on a boarding bridge 100, which can be articulated on the building side, for example, and can be installed in a height- movable manner, or which can alternatively form a boarding ladder, which can also have a coupling module 1, is shown. In the side view, a folding canopy 12 is shown, which covers the swing bottom 3 present on the inner side. A buffer 8 is arranged on the front side of the swing bottom 3 and is partially visible in the side view, with which the coupling module 1 can be brought against the outer side of the fuselage of an aircraft. The folding canopy 12 has an abutment frame 12a, which is flexible and can be brought against the curved outer side of the aircraft fuselage.

[0038] Figure 2A top view of the swing bottom 3 is shown, in which the folding canopy 12 is shown in cross section. The bottom front section 7 is not directly visible due to its retracted state, but the bottom front section 7 has already moved under the passable surface of the body 16 of the swing bottom 3.

[0039] The swing bottom 3 can be pivoted about a swing axis 4, which extends transversely to the lateral extent of the swing bottom 3 in the width B, as shown. The coupling module 1 is here located on the front side of the boarding bridge 100.

[0040] Figure 3 A side view of the coupling module 1 from Figure 1 arranged on the boarding bridge 100 is shown, in which, unlike the above, the bottom front section 7 is shown in the extended state, so that the depth of the swing bottom 3 increases in the direction toward the bumper 8 as the bottom front section 7 is extended forward. Here, the front portion of the folding canopy 12 is also extended outwardly together, as in the side view in Figure 3 , as shown in comparison with the side view in Figure 1 . If the bumper 8 has already moved toward the outside of the aircraft, the abutment frame 12a can then be moved close to the outside of the aircraft.

[0041] Figure 4 A top view of the swing bottom 3 with the front section 7 extended forward is shown. Here, the swing bottom 3 is elongated in the direction toward the aircraft fuselage 6, wherein the elongation has a range of approximately 100 mm to 400 mm, and preferably 250 mm to 350 mm. The extension length of the bottom front section 7 can be different. The bottom front section 7 is extended more on the right side of the drawing plane than on the left side of the drawing plane in order to match the curvature of the aircraft fuselage in the region of the bumper 8. Different extension lengths of the bottom front section 7 are also implemented by the folding canopy 12, so that the abutment frame 12a also has different sizes of the extended span. The bottom front section 7 can be one piece or multiple pieces, so that there can also be a plurality of bottom front sections 7 that are extended to different degrees according to the drawing.

[0042] Figure 4 It is also shown in that the body 16 can be divided into three segments 17 to 19, which are substantially triangular in the shown embodiment. The segments 17 to 19 are respectively pivotably connected to one another at their respective connecting lines, so that the orientation of the segments 17 to 19 can be changed during the swing movement, respectively.

[0043] Figure 5A perspective view of the coupling module 1 arranged on the boarding bridge 100 is shown in Fig. 1, wherein this view shows the swingable bottom 3 from the underside. Here, the movement and drive mechanism set up for the extension of the bottom front section 7 is clearly visible. The bottom front section 7 is prestressed in the extension direction Ra by a plurality of pressure elements 9 in the form of gas springs, which are arranged distributed over the width of the bottom front section 7 at approximately the same spacing from one another. Here, the bottom front section 7 can be divided into different sections, which can be extended in the extension direction Ra by the pressure elements 9 individually and independently of one another.

[0044] The pressure elements 9 press against at least one bottom front section 7 in the extension direction Ra, and a traction mechanism 10 is provided as a counter-movement mechanism, which is connected to one drive mechanism or to the respective drive mechanisms 11. According to this embodiment, the drive mechanism or the drive mechanisms 11 are constructed as tube motors, which are in operative connection with a traction mechanism pulley 15, which guides the traction mechanism 10. Thus, the pressure elements 9 prestress at least one bottom front section 7 in the extension direction Ra towards the aircraft fuselage, and the traction mechanism 10 and the drive mechanism or the drive mechanisms 11 to which it is subordinate can retract the bottom front section 7 in the retraction direction Re with a counter force.

[0045] Figure 6 A front view of the coupling module 1 is shown, in which the swingable bottom 3 is moved in swing motion to the left relative to the boarding bridge 100 for a small aircraft, in which the boarding bridge 100 has to be lowered considerably, so that the swingable bottom 3 is twisted about the swing axis 4 relative to the obliquely running boarding bridge 100 by approximately +6°, for example. The swingable bottom 3 is carried on the underside by a load frame of the boarding bridge 100.

[0046] Figure 7 A front view of the coupling module 1 is shown, in which the swingable bottom 3 is moved in swing motion to the left relative to the boarding bridge 100 for a small aircraft, in which the boarding bridge 100 has to be lowered considerably, so that the swingable bottom 3 is twisted about the swing axis 4 relative to the obliquely running boarding bridge 100 by approximately +6°, for example. The swingable bottom 3 is carried on the underside by a load frame of the boarding bridge 100.

[0047] In Figure 8 and Figure 9 respectively show a top view of the swingable bottom 3 from an oblique angle, wherein Figure 8 there is no swing motion and the bottom front section 7 is extended, while in the illustration of Figure 9 the swingable bottom 3 is shown inclined by approximately 6° and the bottom front section 7 is retracted. Corresponding to the absence of swing motion, the sections 17 to 19 of the body 16 are arranged substantially in one plane in the illustration of Figure 8 so that a flat surface is formed. In the illustration of Figure 9 there is an inclination, the sections 17 to 19 are respectively oriented obliquely relative to one another along the respective connecting lines.

[0048] Due to the oblique downward inclination of the section 17 of the body 16 in the pendulum movement, the front section 7 of the bottom can only be retracted in a direction parallel to the body 16 over a limited depth of the body 16. By dividing the front section 7 of the bottom in the retraction direction into sections 20 to 22 which are rotatably connected to one another and thus can change their orientation relative to one another, the front section 7 of the bottom can sink obliquely downward below the body 16 upon reaching the obliquely downward oriented section 17. For better illustration, in Figure 9 The rectangularly enclosed detail 23 is shown enlarged in

[0049] List of reference signs:

[0050] 1 coupling module

[0051] 3 pendulum bottom

[0052] 4 pendulum axis

[0053] 5 door opening

[0054] 6 aircraft fuselage

[0055] 7 front section of the bottom

[0056] 8 bumper

[0057] 9 pressure element

[0058] 10 traction mechanism

[0059] 11 drive mechanism

[0060] 12 folding roof

[0061] 12a abutment bottom

[0062] 15 traction mechanism pulley

[0063] 16 body

[0064] 17 section

[0065] 18 section

[0066] 19 section

[0067] 20 section

[0068] 21 section

[0069] 22 section

[0070] 23 detail

[0071] 100 boarding bridge

[0072] Ra extension direction

[0073] Re retraction direction

[0074] B width

Claims

1. A coupling module (1) as an interface between a boarding bridge (100) or boarding stair and a fuselage of an aircraft, the coupling module comprising a cabin, a folding canopy (12) and a passable swing bottom (3), wherein, At least the pendulum bottom (3) is arranged on the cabin in a pivotable manner about a pivot axis (4) for aligning the pendulum bottom (3) to a door opening (5) in a fuselage (6) of an aircraft, the pivot axis running transversely to the lateral extent of the pendulum bottom, and the folding awning covers the pendulum bottom, characterized in that the pendulum bottom (3) has at least one configured passable bottom front section (7), which is movable relative to a body (16) of the pendulum bottom (3) in the direction of the fuselage, wherein the folding awning (12) is at least section-wise retractable and extendable jointly with the bottom front section (7) and remains stationary on the cabin when the pendulum bottom (3) is pivoted about the pivot axis (4).

2. Coupling module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom front section (7) is telescopable relative to the body (16).

3. Coupling module (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom front section (7) is movable under the body (16) of the pendulum bottom (3) and / or is movable into a recess provided in the body (16).

4. Coupling module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a first section and a second section of the bottom front section (7) are flexibly or movably connected to one another and have a first orientation relative to one another in an extended state and a second orientation relative to one another in a retracted state, the second orientation being different from the first orientation.

5. Coupling module (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the first orientation is aligned and / or the second orientation is inclined.

6. Coupling module (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that a guide is provided for the bottom front section (7) for guiding the change in orientation of the first and second sections when retracted.

7. Coupling module (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the guide is formed by the body (16).

8. Coupling module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bottom front section (7) is configured for extension at different extension lengths over its width (B).

9. Coupling module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a bumper (8) is arranged on a front side of the bottom front section (7).

10. Coupling module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one pressure element (9) is provided, with which a force can be applied to the bottom front section (7) in the extension direction (Ra).

11. Coupling module (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the pressure element (9) is set up in the force flow between the body (16) of the pendulum bottom (3) and the bottom front section (7), and / or wherein the pressure element (9) is embodied as a gas spring.

12. Coupling module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that A traction mechanism (10) is provided on the swing bottom (3), with which a force can be applied to the bottom front section (7), and / or wherein the traction mechanism (10) is embodied as a flat belt, a cable and / or a toothed belt.

13. The coupling module (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the traction mechanism (10) applies a force to the bottom front section (7) in the retraction direction (Re) against the force of the pressure element (9).

14. The coupling module (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that a drive mechanism (11) is provided, with which the traction mechanism (10) is in operative connection.

15. The coupling module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the folding canopy (12) covers the bottom front section (7), wherein the folding canopy (12) has longer folds or corrugations in the region of the bottom front section (7) than in the region of the swing bottom (3).

16. The coupling module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a lower end region of the folding canopy (12) is guided below the passable upper side of the swing bottom (3) in order to prevent a gap from forming between the folding canopy (12) and the swing bottom (3) when the swing bottom (3) is pivoted about the swing axis (4).

17. The coupling module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the swing bottom (3) together with the bottom front section (7), the bumper (8), the pressure element (9), the traction mechanism (10), the drive mechanism (11) and / or the folding canopy (12) forms a preassemblable assembly which can be arranged on the cabin.

18. The coupling module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a carrier arm is arranged on the cabin, by means of which the swing bottom (3) and / or the preassemblable assembly is accommodated on the cabin in a pivotable manner about the swing axis (4).

19. A boarding bridge (100) having a coupling module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

20. A boarding ladder having a coupling module (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 18.

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