Passenger Bridge Dome Module Segmentation for Transport and Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing coupling modules for passenger boarding bridges are complex and costly to transport due to their vertical extent, requiring on-site assembly by manufacturer staff, which increases costs and complexity, and are prone to wear issues when aligning with aircraft doors.
Innovation Solution
A coupling module design that divides into two parts, a head and foot part, allowing alignment relative to the aircraft door opening without adjustments, and can be transported in standard containers, with a pivoting device integrated into the foot part for easy assembly by untrained personnel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the coupling module is designed as a single integrated unit with pivoting capability, then alignment precision with aircraft door is improved, but device complexity and transport difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling module is divided into two separate parts: a head part containing the pivoting device and bumper, and a foot part containing the fixed floor structure. This segmentation allows the complex pivoting mechanism to be transported separately while simplifying the foot part, resolving the contradiction between alignment precision and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivoting device is pre-assembled and pre-adjusted in the head part before transport. This preliminary action ensures that when the head part is connected to the foot part on-site, the alignment precision is already established, eliminating the need for complex on-site adjustments while maintaining high alignment accuracy.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the coupling module is designed as a single integrated unit, then structural stability is improved, but transportability and ease of assembly decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling module is segmented into transportable head and foot parts that can be moved separately using standard equipment. This segmentation improves ease of operation during transport and assembly while maintaining structural stability through precise connection interfaces and the stabilizing effect of the fixed floor in the foot part.
3Reliability
If the coupling module is aligned parallel to the upper edge of the door opening, then bumper wear is reduced and sealing is improved, but the vertical extent increases making transport difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the coupling module into head and foot parts, the vertical extent is effectively reduced for transport purposes. The head part with the bumper can be positioned for optimal alignment with the aircraft door to minimize wear, while the foot part with the fixed floor provides structural support without interfering with the reduced vertical profile during transport.
4Reliability
If manufacturer staff monitor on-site assembly, then assembly reliability is improved, but labor costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection interface between the head part and foot part is designed with pre-marked alignment features and self-aligning mechanisms. This preliminary preparation allows untrained personnel to assemble the coupling module reliably without requiring manufacturer staff monitoring, thereby improving assembly efficiency while maintaining assembly reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a dome module (20) as an interface between the cabin (2) of a passenger boarding bridge (1) and an aircraft, wherein the dome module (20) has a canopy (21) and a dome module floor (10) spanned by the canopy (21), wherein the dome module (20) is horizontally divisible in height, so that the dome module (20) consists of a dome module head part (26) and a dome module foot part (32), both of which are detachably connected to each other.