Boarding Bridge Climate Duct Layout for Full Tunnel Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile boarding bridges with climate-control facilities face issues where only a portion of the tunnel is effectively heated or cooled due to the placement of climate controllers, leading to uncomfortable conditions for passengers, especially when boarding large aircraft where the unheated/uncooled space is greater.
Innovation Solution
A mobile boarding bridge equipped with climate controllers on the outside of the inwardmost tunnel, connected to a duct and air outlet system that distributes heated or cooled air throughout the entire tunnel interior, including a fan and aspirator for air recirculation and filtration, ensuring uniform temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If climate controllers are installed only on the aircraft boarding-door side tunnel (second or third tunnel), then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the temperature regulation coverage is insufficient leaving other tunnels unheated/uncooled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the climate control system into multiple independent climate controllers, each responsible for a specific tunnel section. The first climate controller is installed on the first tunnel and the second climate controller is installed on the second tunnel, allowing each section to be manufactured and assembled independently before being integrated into the complete boarding bridge system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point climate control approach (one controller on one tunnel) to a multi-point distributed control approach by installing climate controllers on multiple tunnels simultaneously. This spatial distribution across different dimensions of the boarding bridge structure enables comprehensive temperature regulation throughout the entire passenger pathway.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a 3-tunnel mobile boarding bridge is used to extend the service to large aircraft, then the adaptability is improved, but the amount of unheated/uncooled space increases leading to uncomfortable conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by installing dedicated climate controllers on each tunnel section (first tunnel and second tunnel) of the 3-tunnel boarding bridge. This segmented approach ensures that each extended tunnel segment receives independent climate control, maintaining temperature comfort throughout the entire length of the boarding bridge when serving large aircraft.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a modular climate control system where the same type of climate controller can be installed on any tunnel section. This multi-functional approach allows the system to effectively serve both 2-tunnel and 3-tunnel configurations, providing consistent temperature regulation regardless of the boarding bridge length or the size of the aircraft being served.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides a comfortable environment for passengers by ensuring the entire tunnel interior is heated or cooled, regardless of outside weather conditions, even for longer bridges used with large aircraft.
Implementation Method 1
a fan (169) which can move the air heated/cooled by the climate controller (161) toward the connecting pipe (163)
Implementation Method 2
a climate controller (161) which can heat or cool the air
Implementation Method 3
a climate controller (161) which can heat or cool the air
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile boarding bridge (101) is equipped with climate control facilities. The mobile boarding bridge is furnished with multiple collapsible tunnels (110, 120). A heating/cooling device (160) comprising a climate controller (161) generates hot or cold air and is furnished on the outside of the first tunnel (110) of said tunnels. A connection pipe (163) that connects to ducts (164) within the tunnel is attached to said climate controller (161). A duct (164) connected to said connection pipe (163) directs air that has been heated/cooled by the heating-cooling device (160) to the interior of the first tunnel (110). An aspirator comprises an air intake (171) which intakes air from the interior of the tunnel and an intake pipe (172) which leads air taken in at said air intake (171) to the interior of the climate controller (161).