Passenger boarding bridge

Abstract

To provide a passenger boarding bridge which enables an operator to switch a key switch into an automatic level state flawlessly when a cab is attached to an air vehicle by automatic control.SOLUTION: One example of a passenger boarding bridge of the invention includes a lifting device, a travel device, a cab rotation device, an operation device 30, a key switch 36, a notification unit, and a control device 50. The control device 50 has: an operation mode in which operation of the lifting device, the travel device, and the cab rotation device based on operation of the operation device 30 is allowed; and an automatic level mode in which the lifting device is controlled so that a cab moves following a vertical motion of an air vehicle. The control device 50 turns on the operation mode when the key switch 36 is in an operation state and turns on the automatic level mode when the key switch 36 is in an automatic level state. In a case where automatic control is started in the operation mode, the control device 50 changes the operation mode to the automatic level mode after the cab is attached to the air vehicle and causes the notification unit to send a notification to an operator to urge the operator to change a state of the key switch 36 to the automatic level state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a passenger boarding bridge. [Background technology]

[0002] The passenger boarding bridge comprises a rotunda connected to the terminal building, a cab attached to the aircraft, a tunnel section that connects the rotunda and the cab and serves as a pedestrian walkway, and a lifting device that raises and lowers the tunnel section. The cab is equipped with a control panel that allows the operator to operate the passenger boarding bridge, and the control panel is equipped with a key switch.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes that in a passenger boarding bridge such as the one described above, after the cab has been installed on the aircraft, if the key switch is used to switch to auto-level mode, the lifting device is controlled so that the cab moves in tandem with the up and down movement of the aircraft when the aircraft moves up and down due to passengers getting on and off. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-217952 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The key switch described above has three states, for example, "OFF," "operation," and "auto-level," and the operator can change the state of the key switch by inserting and turning the operation key into the key hole of the key switch. When the key switch is in the OFF state, the passenger boarding bridge cannot be operated, but by switching the key switch to the operation state, the passenger boarding bridge can be operated using the operating device on the control panel. When the key switch is in the auto-level state, the system enters the auto-level mode described above. In this auto-level mode, the operator cannot operate the passenger boarding bridge using the operating device. The key switch is designed so that the operation key can be inserted and removed from the key hole when in the OFF state and auto-level state, but cannot be removed when in the operation state.

[0006] When manually attaching the passenger boarding bridge to an aircraft, the operator uses the operation key to set the key switch to the operating state, and after attaching the cab to the aircraft by the operator, the operator turns the operation key to set the key switch to the auto-level state and removes the operation key from the key hole. Setting the key switch to the auto-level state puts the bridge into auto-level mode. After this, when detaching the passenger boarding bridge from the aircraft, the operator inserts the operation key into the key hole and turns it to change the key switch from the auto-level state to the operating state, which ends the auto-level mode and allows the operator to operate the passenger boarding bridge.

[0007] On the other hand, when a passenger boarding bridge is installed on an aircraft using automatic control, it is desirable that the process from installing the cab on the aircraft to switching to auto-level mode be carried out automatically. In this case, the operator starts automatic control by turning the key switch to the operating state and pressing the automatic installation start button. After the cab moves from the standby position and is installed on the aircraft, it automatically switches to auto-level mode. In this case, the key switch remains in the operating state, resulting in a state in which the key switch state (operating state) and the control mode (auto-level mode) do not correspond. At this point, the operator could simply turn the operation key to switch the key switch to the auto-level state and remove the operation key, but because the system automatically switches to auto-level mode, there is a high possibility that the operator will forget to switch the key switch to the auto-level state.

[0008] If the operator forgets to switch to the auto-level mode, when the passenger boarding bridge is to be removed from the aircraft, the operator must turn the operation key to change the key switch from the operating state to the auto-level state, and then return it to the operating state. If the operator who removes the boarding bridge is different from the operator who installs it, the operator who removes the boarding bridge may be confused. Furthermore, if the operator forgets to switch to the auto-level mode, the operation key may be left inserted in the key hole of the key switch. If a passenger mischiefly turns the operation key to the OFF position, the auto-level mode will be stopped, causing inconvenience.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a passenger boarding bridge that allows the operator to smoothly switch the key switch to the auto-level state when the cab is installed on the aircraft using automatic control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, a passenger boarding bridge according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a rotunda connected to a terminal building, a tunnel section whose base end is connected to the rotunda and configured to be freely extendable in the longitudinal direction, a cab provided at the tip of the tunnel section and whose tip is attached to an aircraft, a lifting device attached to the tunnel section or the cab and raising and lowering the tunnel section or the cab, a traveling device attached below the lifting device and traveling on the ground, a cab rotation device that changes the orientation of the tip of the cab, an operation device provided on a control panel installed inside the cab and operated by an operator, a key switch provided on the operation panel and switched between an off state, an operating state, and an auto-level state by an operation key inserted into a key hole, an alarm unit installed inside the cab, and a control device that controls the operation of the lifting device, the traveling device, and the cab rotation device and inputs a signal indicating the state of the key switch, The control system has two control modes consisting of an operation mode that enables operation of the lifting device, the traveling device, and the cab rotating device based on operation of the operating device, and an auto level mode that controls operation of the lifting device so that the cab attached to the aircraft moves in accordance with the up and down movement of the aircraft. When the key switch is in the off state, the control is stopped, when the key switch is in the operating state, the control is in the operation mode, and when the key switch is in the auto level state, the control is in the auto level mode. When the key switch is in the operating state and in the operation mode, if automatic control of attaching the cab to the aircraft is started based on operation of the operating device by an operator, the lifting device, the traveling device, and the cab rotating device are operated to attach the cab to the aircraft, and then the mode is changed to the auto level mode, and the alarm unit is configured to alert the operator to prompt them to change the state of the key switch to the auto level state.

[0011] According to this configuration, when the cab is installed on the aircraft by automatic control, the key switch is switched to the auto-level mode while the key switch is in the operated state, but since a notification is given urging the operator to change the key switch to the auto-level state, the operator can smoothly change the key switch to the auto-level state. This eliminates the operator's confusion when the key switch is in the operated state when departing from the aircraft. It also prevents passengers from tampering with the cab if they forget to change the cab to the auto-level state and leave the operating key inserted in the key hole.

[0012] The control device may be configured such that, when the key switch is in the operating state and the automatic control is started to mount the cab on the aircraft, and then the control device is changed to the auto-level mode, the key switch changes from the operating state to the auto-level state once, and then changes from the auto-level mode to the operating mode when the key switch changes to the operating state.

[0013] The key switch may be configured so that the operation key can be inserted and removed from the key hole in the off state and the auto-level state, and so that the operation key cannot be removed from the key hole in the operating state. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The present invention has the above-described configuration and has the effect of providing a passenger boarding bridge that allows an operator to smoothly switch the key switch to the auto-level state when the cab is attached to the aircraft by automatic control.

[0015] The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a passenger boarding bridge according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a passenger boarding bridge. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view showing an example of a state in which the cab is mounted on an aircraft. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view of the tip of the cab to be attached to the aircraft, as seen from the aircraft side. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a control panel or the like. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the operation flow of an operator when attaching a passenger boarding bridge to an aircraft by manual control. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of the control flow of the control device when a passenger boarding bridge is attached to an aircraft by automatic control. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following, identical or corresponding elements will be designated by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and redundant explanations will be omitted. The drawings are schematic illustrations of the respective components for ease of understanding, and the shapes, dimensional ratios, and the like may not be accurately depicted. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0018] (Embodiment) Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a passenger boarding bridge according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the passenger boarding bridge as viewed from the side. Fig. 3 is a side view showing an example of a cab attached to an aircraft. Fig. 4 is a view of the tip of the cab attached to the aircraft as viewed from the front (aircraft side). Fig. 5 is a view showing an example of a control panel, etc.

[0019] This passenger boarding bridge 1 comprises a rotunda (base circular chamber) 4 that is connected to the boarding and disembarking entrance of the airport terminal building 2 and can rotate horizontally; a tunnel section 5 whose base end is connected to the rotunda 4 and is configured to be able to extend and retract longitudinally; a cab (tip circular chamber) 6 that is installed at the tip of the tunnel section 5 and can rotate forward and backward; and a drive column 7.

[0020] The rotunda 4 is supported by a support 70 so as to be rotatable in both directions around a rotation axis (vertical axis) CL1.

[0021] Tunnel section 5 forms a walkway for passengers, and is configured with multiple cylindrical tunnels 5a, 5b nested within each other to allow for free extension and contraction in the longitudinal direction. Note that while the tunnel section 5 is illustrated here as being composed of two tunnels 5a, 5b, it is sufficient for the tunnel section 5 to be composed of two or more tunnels. Furthermore, the base end of tunnel section 5 is connected to rotunda 4 so that it can swing freely around horizontal rotation axis CL4 (Figure 2) within rotunda 4, and thus tunnel section 5 is connected to rotunda 4 so that it can be freely raised and lowered.

[0022] A drive column 7 is attached as a support leg to a portion of the tunnel section 5 near the tip (the tunnel 5b on the tip-most side). The drive column 7 may be attached to the cab 6.

[0023] The drive column 7 is provided with a lifting device 8 that raises and lowers the cab 6 and the tunnel section 5. The lifting device 8 has, for example, a pair of support columns that support the tunnel section 5 and are configured to be extendable and retractable, and the tunnel section 5 can be raised and lowered by the extension and contraction of this pair of support columns. This allows the cab 6 and the tunnel section 5 to swing up and down with the rotunda 4 as the base point.

[0024] Additionally, the drive column 7 is provided with a traveling device 10 below the lifting device 8, which has two traveling wheels 9 (a right-side traveling wheel 9R and a left-side traveling wheel 9L) that can be independently driven to rotate forward and backward. The traveling device 10 is configured to be able to travel forward (in the direction of arrow F) and backward (in the direction of arrow B) by the rotational drive of the two traveling wheels 9. The traveling device 10 is also configured to be able to rotate forward and backward around a rotation axis CL2, allowing the traveling direction to be changed. As the traveling device 10 (traveling wheels 9) travels on the apron EP, the tunnel section 5 can be rotated around the rotation axis CL1 of the rotunda 4, and the tunnel section 5 can be extended or retracted.

[0025] The cab 6 is provided at the tip of the tunnel section 5, and is configured to be rotatable forward and backward around a rotation axis CL3 perpendicular to the floor surface of the cab 6 by a cab rotation device 6R (FIG. 5).

[0026] 3 and 4, a bumper 62 is provided at the tip of a floor 61 of a cab 6 attached to the aircraft 3, and a plurality of distance sensors 23 (for example, laser range finders) (two in this example) for measuring the distance between the cab 6 and the aircraft 3 are attached side by side in the left-right direction of this bumper 62. The installation position of the distance sensor 23 can be changed as appropriate, and may be placed on the floor 61 of the cab 6, for example.

[0027] 4, first and second cameras 21 and 22 for photographing the boarding and disembarking section (door) 3a of the aircraft 3 are installed in a recessed position at the tip of the cab 6. The installation positions of these first and second cameras 21 and 22 may be changed as appropriate as long as they are arranged apart from each other and can photograph the boarding and disembarking section 3a of the aircraft 3.

[0028] A closure 63 is provided at the tip of the cab 6. The closure 63 has a bellows section that can be expanded and contracted in the front-to-rear direction, and by attaching the cab 6 to the aircraft 3 and expanding the bellows section forward, the front end of the bellows section can abut against the periphery of the boarding / disembarking section (door) 3a of the aircraft 3.

[0029] In addition, a level detection device 64 is attached to the outer side wall of the cab 6. The level detection device 64 is an instrument that detects the amount of vertical movement of the aircraft 3 relative to the cab 6 when, after the cab 6 is attached to the aircraft 3, the aircraft 3 moves up and down due to passengers getting on and off, loading and unloading of luggage, etc.

[0030] This level detection device 64 has an advanceable foil 64A, a contact limit switch (not shown) for stopping the foil 64A at an optimal position as it moves forward, and the like. This contact limit switch is pre-adjusted to optimize the pressure of the foil 64A against the body surface of the aircraft 3, and when the foil 64A moves forward, the contact limit switch turns on, stopping the forward movement at a desired distance. This enables the level detection device 64 to press the foil 64A against the body surface of the aircraft 3 with optimal pressure.

[0031] When the level detection device 64 is activated, the wheel 64A moves forward, and the contact limit switch turns on, stopping the forward movement of the wheel 64A and bringing the wheel 64A into contact with the surface of the aircraft 3's body with optimal pressure. When the aircraft 3 moves up and down, the wheel 64A rotates. The level detection device 64 detects the amount of vertical movement of the aircraft 3 based on the rotation direction and angle of the wheel 64A, and when this amount of movement exceeds a predetermined amount, outputs this amount of movement to the control device 50. Based on this amount of movement, the control device 50 controls the lifting device 8 of the drive column 7 so that the cab 6 moves in accordance with the vertical movement of the aircraft 3. The level detection device 64 is not limited to the above configuration, as long as it can detect the amount of vertical movement of the aircraft 3 relative to the cab 6.

[0032] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the passenger boarding bridge 1 is equipped with, at appropriate positions, a rotunda angle sensor 24 that detects the rotation angle φr (Figure 1) of the rotunda 4, a cab angle sensor 25 that detects the rotation angle φc (Figure 1) of the cab 6 relative to the center line Ed of the tunnel section 5, a traveling angle sensor 26 that detects the rotation angle (angle indicating the traveling direction) φw (Figure 1) of the traveling device 10 relative to the center line Ed of the tunnel section 5 in a plan view, a lift sensor 27 that detects the amount of lift of the lifting device 8, and a tunnel length sensor 28 that is composed of a distance meter or the like and detects the length of the tunnel section 5 (for example, length LF in Figure 2).

[0033] 2 shows a state in which the tunnel section 5 is tilted and the tip 6a of the cab 6 faces the same direction as the extension direction of the tunnel section 5 (when the rotation angle φc of the cab 6 is 0). As shown in FIG. 2, the lifting device 8 is attached to the tunnel section 5 so that the extension and contraction direction of the tunnel section 5 and the extension and contraction direction (lifting and lowering direction) of the lifting device 8 are perpendicular to each other.

[0034] An operation panel 31 as shown in Fig. 5 is provided inside the cab 6. The operation panel 31 is provided with various operation switches 33 for operating the lifting device 8 to raise and lower the tunnel section 5 and the cab 6, and the cab rotation device 6R to rotate the cab 6, as well as an operation lever 32 for operating the traveling device 10 and a display device 34. The operation lever 32 is configured as a lever-shaped input device (joystick) with a multi-directional degree of freedom. The operation lever 32 and the various operation switches 33 form an operation device 30. The configuration of the operation device 30 can be changed as appropriate. The operation panel 31 is also provided with an audio output unit 35 such as a speaker for notifying the operator of predetermined information.

[0035] The operation panel 31 is also provided with a key switch 36. An operator can set the state of the key switch 36 to one of the following states: an OFF state, an operating state which is a first ON state, or an auto-level state which is a second ON state, by inserting an operation key 37 into a key hole 36a of the key switch 36 and turning it. The key switch 36 is configured so that the operation key 37 can be inserted and removed from the key hole 36a in the OFF state and the auto-level state, but cannot be removed from the key hole 36a in the operating state.

[0036] The control device 50 is also connected to the operation panel 31 via an electrical circuit, and receives input of information such as operation commands based on the operation of the operating device 30, as well as output signals from the sensors 23 to 28, to control the operation of the passenger boarding bridge 1 and output information to be displayed on the display device 34 and information to be output to the audio output unit 35. A signal indicating the state of the key switch 36 is also input to the control device 50.

[0037] The control device 50 has an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU and a storage unit such as a ROM and a RAM. A control program for operating the passenger boarding bridge 1 and information necessary for the operation are stored in advance in the storage unit, and the arithmetic processing unit executes the control program, causing the control device 50 to control the operations of the cab rotation device 6R, the lifting device 8, the traveling device 10, the closure 63, the level detection device 64, etc. The control device 50 may be configured as a single control device that performs centralized control, or may be configured as a plurality of control devices that cooperate with each other via communication means and perform decentralized control. The control device 50 is provided, for example, in the cab 6 or the tunnel 5b at the forefront.

[0038] Furthermore, the control device 50 can calculate in real time the positions (position coordinates) of predetermined parts of the passenger boarding bridge 1, such as the predetermined position of the tip 6a of the cab 6 and the center position of the traveling gear 10, using, for example, a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system (XYZ Cartesian coordinate system) whose origin is the intersection of the rotation axis CL1 of the rotunda 4 and the plane of the apron EP, and display these positions (position coordinates) on the display device 34. Here, the control device 50 is configured to calculate the current positions of predetermined parts of the passenger boarding bridge 1 based on the detection values ​​of the rotunda angle sensor 24, the cab angle sensor 25, the tunnel length sensor 28, and the lift sensor 27, etc.

[0039] The control device 50 also has two control modes: an operation mode, which is a first control mode, and an auto-level mode, which is a second control mode. The operation mode is a mode that enables operation of the cab rotation device 6R, the lifting device 8, the traveling device 10, and the closure 63 based on operation of the operation device 30 by the operator. The auto-level mode is a mode that activates the level detection device 64 and controls operation of the lifting device 8 so that the cab 6 mounted on the aircraft 3 moves in accordance with the up and down movement of the aircraft 3. The control device 50 is basically in the operation mode when the key switch 36 is in the operation state, and in the auto-level mode when the key switch 36 is in the auto-level state. Furthermore, the control device 50 is in a control-stop state when the key switch 36 is in the OFF state, and in this state, the cab rotation device 6R, the lifting device 8, the traveling device 10, and the closure 63 cannot be operated using the operation device 30.

[0040] In the passenger boarding bridge 1 of this example, the rotunda 4 is configured to rotate together with the tunnel section 5, but the tunnel section 5 may be configured to rotate around the rotunda 4 about a rotation axis CL1 while the rotunda 4 is fixed. In addition, in the passenger boarding bridge 1 of this example, the entire cab 6 is configured to rotate relative to the tunnel section 5, but only the tip portion including the closure 63 and the tip portion 6a of the cab 6 attached to the aircraft 3 may be configured to rotate about a rotation axis CL3. In this case, the cab rotation device 6R is configured to rotate only the tip portion including the closure 63 and the tip portion 6a of the cab 6. In either case, the cab rotation device 6R can rotate the tip portion 6a of the cab 6 attached to the aircraft 3 to change the orientation of the tip portion 6a.

[0041] Next, we will explain an example of the operation of the passenger boarding bridge 1. The operation of this passenger boarding bridge 1 is realized by the control of the control device 50.

[0042] When the aircraft 3 has not yet arrived at the apron, the passenger boarding bridge 1 waits at a predetermined waiting position indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1. The aircraft 3 stops with its axis aligned on the aircraft guidance line AL drawn on the apron and aiming at a predetermined stopping position determined in the extension direction of the aircraft guidance line AL.

[0043] To give an outline of the movement of the cab 6 thereafter, the cab 6 moves from the standby position to the mounting position, whereby the front end 6a of the cab 6 is mounted to the boarding section 3a of the aircraft 3. When the cab 6 is mounted to the aircraft 3, the bumper 62 of the front end 6a of the cab 6 may be in contact with the aircraft 3, or there may be a slight gap between the bumper 62 and the aircraft 3 that does not interfere with walking.

[0044] Thereafter, when the cab 6 leaves the aircraft 3, it returns to the standby position and stops, and waits at the standby position until the operation of attaching it to the boarding section of the next aircraft begins. Note that when the cab 6 leaves the aircraft 3 and returns to the standby position, the target position (position coordinates) of the traveling device 10 where the cab 6 will be waiting is stored in advance in the control device 50.

[0045] [Manual control] First, a case where the passenger boarding bridge 1 is attached to the aircraft 3 by manual control will be described. In the case of manual control, the operator operates the operation device 30 to perform the traveling operation of the traveling device 10, the raising and lowering operation of the lifting device 8, and the rotation operation of the cab rotation device 6R. Figure 6 is a diagram showing an outline of the operation flow of the operator when attaching the passenger boarding bridge 1 to the aircraft 3 by manual control.

[0046] The operator gets into the cab 6 of the passenger boarding bridge 1, which is waiting at the waiting position indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 1, and inserts and turns the operation key 37 into the key hole 36a of the key switch 36, switching the state of the key switch 36 from the OFF state to the operating state (step S1). Here, the control device 50 receives a signal indicating the state of the key switch 36, and when the state of the key switch 36 changes to the operating state, the control device 50 enters the operating mode. When the control device 50 enters the operating mode, it receives an operation signal from the operating device 30.

[0047] Next, the operator operates the operation device 30 to move the passenger boarding bridge 1 to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1 and attach the tip 6a of the cab 6 to the boarding section 3a of the aircraft 3 (step S2). That is, the operator operates the cab rotation device 6R, the lifting device 8, and the traveling device 10 using the operation device 30. Here, in order to move the passenger boarding bridge 1 to just before the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1, the operator may operate the operation device 30 to input model information of the aircraft 3 to which the passenger boarding bridge 1 is to be attached and press a preset button. In this case, the control device 50 causes the traveling device 10 to travel to a predetermined target position (a forward position when the cab is attached) of the traveling device 10 according to the input model information. Furthermore, the control device 50 raises and lowers the lifting device 8 to a predetermined lift amount when the cab is attached according to the input model information. Furthermore, the control device 50 may rotate the cab rotation device 6R to a predetermined rotation angle when the cab is attached according to the input model information.

[0048] After the cab 6 is mounted on the aircraft 3, the operator operates the operating device 30 to extend the closure 63 and deploy the bellows portion (step S3).

[0049] Next, the operator turns the operation key 37 clockwise to switch the state of the key switch 36 from the operation state to the auto-level state, and removes the operation key 37 (step S4). Here, when the state of the key switch 36 changes to the auto-level state, the control device 50 starts the auto-level mode and activates the level detection device 64. Then, the level detection device 64 advances the wheel 64A to abut against the surface of the fuselage of the aircraft 3, and begins detecting the amount of vertical movement of the aircraft 3. Based on the amount of vertical movement of the aircraft 3 input from the level detection device 64, the control device 50 controls the lifting device 8 so that the cab 6 moves in accordance with the vertical movement of the aircraft 3.

[0050] Thereafter, when the doors of the boarding / disembarking section 3a of the aircraft 3 are opened and passengers have finished boarding and disembarking, and the passenger boarding bridge 1 is to be returned to the standby position, the operator first inserts the operation key 37 into the key hole 36a of the key switch 36, which is in the auto-level state, and turns it counterclockwise to switch the key switch 36 to the operating state. When the state of the key switch 36 switches from the auto-level state to the operating state, the control device 50 terminates the operation of the level detection device 64. This causes the level detection device 64 to retract the wheel 64A to a predetermined position.

[0051] Next, the operator operates the operation device 30 to retract the closure 63, and then moves the traveling device 10 in reverse to return the cab 6 to the standby position. Here, the operator may press an automatic release start button provided on the operation device 30 to automatically retract the closure 63 and then return the cab 6 to the standby position.

[0052] [Automatic Control] Next, a description will be given of a case where the passenger boarding bridge 1 is attached to the aircraft 3 by automatic control. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an outline of the control flow of the control device 50 when the passenger boarding bridge 1 is attached to the aircraft 3 by automatic control.

[0053] The operator gets into the cab 6 of the passenger boarding bridge 1 waiting at the standby position, inserts the operation key 37 into the key hole 36a of the key switch 36, and turns it to switch the state of the key switch 36 from the OFF state to the operating state. The control device 50 receives a signal indicating the state of the key switch 36, and when the state of the key switch 36 changes to the operating state (Yes in step S21), the control device 50 starts the operating mode (step S22). When the operating mode is entered, the control device 50 receives an operation signal from the operating device 30.

[0054] Next, when the operator presses the automatic mounting start button provided on the operation device 30, the operation signal is input to the control device 50, and the control device 50 starts automatic mounting (Yes in step S23).

[0055] The control device 50 starts automatic attachment and attaches the cab 6 to the aircraft 3 (step S24). Here, when automatically attaching, i.e., moving the cab 6 from the standby position by automatic control and attaching the front end 6a of the cab 6 to the boarding / disembarking section 3a of the aircraft 3, for example, the control device 50 photographs the boarding / disembarking section 3a of the aircraft 3 using the cameras 21 and 22 installed on the cab 6, determines the three-dimensional position of the boarding / disembarking section 3a from these photographed images, and calculates the position (attachment position) where the front end 6a of the cab 6 is attached to the boarding / disembarking section 3a. Then, the control device 50 controls the traveling device 10, the lifting device 8, and the cab rotation device 6R to move the front end 6a of the cab 6 to the above-mentioned attachment position, thereby attaching the cab 6 to the boarding / disembarking section 3a of the aircraft 3. Note that the calculation of the attachment position may be performed multiple times before the cab 6 starts moving and during its movement. Furthermore, the position of the boarding / disembarking section 3a may be calculated using the detection value of the distance sensor 23.

[0056] Next, the control device 50 extends the closure 63 to deploy the bellows portion (step S25). Subsequently, the control device 50 ends the operation mode and starts the auto-level mode (step S26), and notifies the operator to change the key switch 36 to the auto-level state (step S27). This notification may be made by a display on the display device 34, or by a voice output from the voice output unit 35. Here, the notification may be made to change the key switch 36 to the auto-level state and to remove the operation key 37. Here, the display device 34 and the voice output unit 35 provided on the operation panel 31 are used as the notification unit, but they may also be provided separately from the operation panel 31 as long as they are installed inside the cab 6.

[0057] Based on the above notification, the operator turns the operation key 37 clockwise to change the state of the key switch 36 from the operation state to the auto level state, and then removes the operation key 37. This causes the state of the key switch 36 to correspond to the auto level mode, which is the control mode of the control device 50.

[0058] When returning the passenger boarding bridge 1 to the standby position, as in the case of manual control, the operator first inserts the operation key 37 into the key hole 36a of the key switch 36, which is in the auto-level state, and turns it to the left to switch the key switch 36 to the operating state.As the state of the operation key 37 switches from the auto-level state to the operating state, the control device 50 terminates the operation of the level detection device 64.

[0059] Next, the operator presses an automatic release start button provided on the operating device 30, and the control device 50 contracts the closure 63 and then returns the cab 6 to the standby position.

[0060] In this embodiment, when the cab 6 is attached to the boarding / disembarking section 3a of the aircraft 3 by automatic control, the key switch 36 is switched to the auto-level mode while the state of the key switch 36 is in the operated state, but since a notification is issued urging the operator to change the key switch 36 to the auto-level state, the operator can smoothly change the key switch 36 to the auto-level state. This eliminates the operator's confusion caused by the key switch 36 being in the operated state when departing from the aircraft 3. It also prevents passengers from tampering when they forget to change the state to the auto-level state and leave the operation key 37 inserted in the key hole 36a.

[0061] Although the passenger boarding bridge 1 is configured to be able to be attached and detached to the aircraft 3 by automatic control, the passenger boarding bridge 1 may be operated by manual control when an abnormality occurs during attachment or detachment, or when maintenance of the passenger boarding bridge 1 is being performed.

[0062] From the above description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Details of the structure and / or function thereof may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0063] The present invention is useful as a passenger boarding bridge or the like that allows an operator to smoothly switch the key switch to the auto-level state when the cab is attached to an aircraft by automatic control. [Explanation of symbols]

[0064] 1 Passenger boarding bridge 3 aircraft 3a Aircraft boarding and disembarking areas 4 Rotunda 5 Tunnel section 6 Cab 6R Cab rotation device 8 Lifting device 10 Running gear 30 Operating device 31 Control panel 34 Display section 35 Audio output section 36 key switches 37 Operation keys 50 Control device

Claims

1. A rotunda connected to the terminal building and A tunnel portion having a base end connected to the rotunda and configured to be extendable and retractable in the longitudinal direction; A cab provided at the tip of the tunnel section, the tip of which is attached to the aircraft; a lifting device attached to the tunnel section or the cab and configured to lift and lower the tunnel section or the cab; a traveling device attached below the lifting device and adapted to travel on the ground; a cab rotation device for changing the orientation of the tip end of the cab; an operating device provided on an operating panel installed inside the cab and operated by an operator; a key switch provided on the operation panel, which is switched between an off state, an operation state, and an auto-level state by an operation key inserted into a key hole; a notification unit installed inside the cab; a control device that controls the operations of the lifting device, the traveling device, and the cab rotation device and inputs a signal indicating the state of the key switch; Equipped with The control device the control system has two control modes, including an operation mode that enables the operation of the lifting device, the traveling device, and the cab rotation device based on the operation of the operation device by an operator, and an auto-level mode that controls the operation of the lifting device so that the cab mounted on the aircraft moves in accordance with the up and down movement of the aircraft; When the key switch is in the OFF state, the control is stopped. When the key switch is in the operating state, the operation mode is established, When the key switch is in the auto-level state, the auto-level mode is activated. When the key switch is in the operating state and in the operating mode, if automatic control of attaching the cab to the aircraft is started based on the operation of the operating device by an operator, the lifting device, the traveling device, and the cab rotation device are operated to attach the cab to the aircraft, and then the mode is changed to the auto-level mode, and the notification unit is configured to notify the operator that the state of the key switch should be changed to the auto-level state. Passenger boarding bridge.

2. The control device When the key switch is in the operating state, the automatic control is started to mount the cab on the aircraft, and then the cab is changed to the auto-level mode. When the key switch is in the operating state, the automatic control is started to mount the cab on the aircraft, and then the key switch is changed from the operating state to the auto-level mode. When the key switch is changed to the operating state, the automatic control is changed from the auto-level mode to the operating mode.

2. The passenger boarding bridge according to claim 1.

3. The key switch is The operation key is configured to be insertable into and removable from the key hole in the off state and the auto-level state, and the operation key is configured to be unable to be removed from the key hole in the operation state.

3. A passenger boarding bridge according to claim 1 or 2.

Images