Boarding Bridge Gangplank Interface for Low Doorsill Aircraft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current boarding bridges cannot efficiently interface with low-doorsill airplanes, leading to exposure to weather conditions, increased operational costs, and safety concerns for passengers with disabilities, as they require passengers to use stairs and buses for access.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a lower-frame assembly with caster-wheel assemblies, an upper-frame assembly with adjustable height and pivoting capability, and gangplank assemblies that connect the boarding bridge to the airplane, providing a covered walkway and accommodating different doorsill heights and orientations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the boarding bridge cab is raised or lowered to dock with larger airplanes, then it can accommodate those airplanes, but it cannot accommodate smaller airplanes with lower doorsill heights
Solution Approach 1:
The boarding bridge apparatus employs dynamic gangplank assemblies that can be adjusted in length and angle to accommodate different airplane door positions and heights. The gangplanks connect the fixed bridge structure to the airplane door, providing flexibility without requiring complex adjustments to the entire bridge cab structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the connection function into separate components: the fixed bridge cab structure and the adjustable gangplank assemblies. This segmentation allows the main bridge structure to remain simple while the gangplanks provide the necessary adaptability through their adjustable design.
2Ease of operation
If smaller airplanes park far away from the airport terminal, then they can be accessed, but passengers are exposed to outside weather conditions and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The extendable gangplank assemblies serve as intermediary structures that bridge the gap between the terminal and the airplane. They provide a covered, protected pathway for passengers to walk through, shielding them from weather conditions while enabling access to airplanes that would otherwise require distant parking.
3Ease of operation
If passengers use stairs to board low doorsill airplanes, then they can access the airplane, but safety concerns arise for passengers with disabilities and mobility impairments
Solution Approach 1:
The gangplank assemblies are designed to bridge the height difference between the terminal floor and the airplane door, creating a near-level pathway. This eliminates the need for passengers to climb stairs or navigate significant height changes, making boarding safe and accessible for passengers with disabilities and mobility impairments.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the boarding bridge uses a fixed structure, then it is simple and reliable, but it cannot accommodate airplanes with different door positions and orientations
Solution Approach 1:
The gangplank assemblies incorporate adjustable mechanisms that allow operators to modify the length, angle, and orientation of the gangplanks to match different airplane door positions. This dynamic adjustment capability provides versatility while keeping the main bridge structure fixed and simple.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an apparatus to interface a boarding bridge having a first deck and an airplane having a second deck. The apparatus includes a lower-frame assembly, upper-frame assembly, bridge gangplank assembly, and airplane gangplank assembly. The lower-frame assembly includes a plurality of wheel assemblies. The upper-frame assembly is connected to the lower-frame assembly at adjustable height and pivoting position, and includes a third deck atop the upper-frame assembly. The bridge gangplank assembly is connected to a first end of the upper-frame assembly, and includes a fourth deck to connect the first deck and the third deck. The airplane gangplank assembly is connected to a second end of the upper-frame assembly, and includes at least a fifth deck to connect the third deck and the second deck.