Movable Passenger Bridge with Direct Transfer Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing movable passenger bridges require passengers to walk excessively long distances due to multiple sections and transfer sections, making the embarkation and disembarkation process cumbersome and time-consuming, especially when the height difference between the terminal building and the ship's hull is small.
Innovation Solution
A movable passenger bridge design featuring sections connected by shorter transfer sections supported by a steel beam framework, allowing these sections to form angles with the horizontal plane, with an entry module that can connect directly to a transfer section, reducing the need for multiple transfers and enabling direct access between the terminal building and the ship's hull, using hydraulic cylinders and wheel arrangements for mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sections and transfer sections are used to accommodate height differences, then the passenger bridge can adapt to elevation differences between terminal building and ship hull, but the passenger travel distance becomes excessively long and the process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of section inclinations through hydraulic cylinders, allowing the passenger bridge to adapt to varying height differences. The sections can be independently angled relative to the horizontal plane, enabling the system to optimize its configuration for different elevation scenarios, thus reducing unnecessary travel distance while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the inclination parameters of individual sections dynamically. By adjusting the angle of each section relative to the horizontal plane (e.g., at an inclination of 1:12), the system can accommodate height differences of 5-15 meters without requiring all sections to be at maximum inclination, thereby reducing overall passenger travel distance while maintaining the ability to handle various elevation scenarios.
2Length of stationary object
If multiple sections with intermediate transfer sections are used, then the passenger bridge can span the required distance and accommodate height differences, but the number of transfers increases making the process time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic inclination adjustment of sections to optimize the bridge configuration. By adjusting section angles in real-time based on the specific height difference and distance requirements, the system can minimize the number of transfers needed while maintaining the necessary span length and elevation accommodation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the inclination parameters of sections to reduce transfer time. By calculating and setting appropriate angles (such as 1:12 inclination) for each section based on the specific operational scenario, the system can achieve the required span with fewer transfers compared to a fixed configuration, thereby reducing passenger transfer time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sections are individually raised and lowered to connect to terminal building and ship door, then the passenger bridge can adapt to different connection points, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the passenger bridge into multiple independently controllable sections, each capable of individual inclination adjustment. This segmentation allows each section to be raised and lowered independently to connect to different terminal building and ship door locations, providing connection flexibility while distributing the structural complexity across modular units rather than a single complex mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of section positions and inclinations through hydraulic cylinders and control systems. This dynamic capability allows the bridge to adapt to various connection points by adjusting section angles and positions in real-time, achieving connection flexibility while using standardized modular sections that reduce overall structural complexity compared to a fully custom design.
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 design significantly reduces passenger travel distance and time by allowing direct access between the terminal building and the ship's hull, accommodating height differences efficiently while maintaining maneuverability and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
The sections can be individually raised and lowered, so that the first end of the passenger bridge can be connected to a terminal building or the corresponding, and so that the other end of the passenger bridge can be connected to a door in the hull of a ship. Furthermore, the sections are arranged to form an angle to the horizontal plane
Implementation Method 2
The framework is supported by wheel arrangements arranged to abut against a quay, where at least one wheel arrangement is driven in order to manoeuvre the passenger bridge on a quay
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
Movable passenger bridge for embarking and disembarking a ship, which passenger bridge comprises a number of sections (2, 3, 4) of the passenger bridge, where each pair of two adjacent sections (2,3; 3, 4) are connected at their respective ends by shorter transfer sections (5,6), arranged so that passengers can walk from section to section. The sections and the transfer sections are supported by a framework (19) of steel beams. The said sections (2, 3, 4) are displaceably arranged relative to the framework, so that these can form an angle in relation to the horizontal plane, so that a height difference between a first port (7), arranged to be connected to an opening in a terminal building or the corresponding, and a second port (8, 9), arranged to be connected to an opening in the hull of the ship, can be absorbed. The framework is supported by wheel arrangements (10-13) arranged to abut against a quay. The invention is characterised in that an entry module (14), arranged by the said first port (7), on the one hand is connectable to a first of the sections (2) of the passenger bridge, on the other hand is connected to that one of the transfer sections (6) which is located closest to and lying in the same vertical plane as the entry module (14), whereby a connection can be established from the entry module (14) directly into the second transfer section (6).