Passenger bridge for aircraft

Abstract

A bridge apparatus is provided for extending between a stationary aircraft and a motorized passenger boarding bridge having an articulating cab floor. The bridge apparatus comprises a panel adapted to be movably coupled to the articulating cab floor. The bridge apparatus further comprises a limiter configured to inhibit movement of the bridge apparatus in at least one direction when the bridge apparatus reaches a predetermined position relative to the aircraft.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bridge apparatus for extending between a stationary aircraft and a motorized passenger boarding bridge having a floor, the bridge apparatus comprising: 
 a panel including an aircraft-facing portion and an attachment portion, the attachment portion configured to be movably coupled to the floor of the passenger boarding bridge, the panel being movable between a first position and a second position,    a limiter in communication with the passenger boarding bridge motor, the limiter configured to inhibit motorized movement of the passenger bridge in at least one direction when the panel moves beyond a predetermined position relative to the floor.    
     
     
         2 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the limiter communicates with the passenger boarding bridge motor when the panel moves about a pivot axis past the predetermined position.  
     
     
         3 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge apparatus further comprises a second limiter configured to limit movement of the passenger boarding bridge when the passenger boarding bridge moves to a predetermined position.  
     
     
         4 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined position is the engagement of a limiter with a portion of the aircraft.  
     
     
         5 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the bridge apparatus further comprises an articulating cab floor configured to mate with the passenger boarding bridge.  
     
     
         6 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is arranged to engage a top step of a stairway of the aircraft.  
     
     
         7 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the limiter inhibits cab vertical downward movement when the panel moves beyond a predetermined position.  
     
     
         8 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the limiter inhibits cab forward movement when the panel moves beyond a predetermined position.  
     
     
         9 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second limiter inhibits cab rotate counterclockwise movement when the passenger boarding bridge moves to a predetermined position.  
     
     
         10 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the second limiter inhibits cab rotate clockwise movement when the passenger boarding bridge moves to a predetermined position.  
     
     
         11 . A bridge apparatus for extending between a stationary aircraft and a motorized passenger boarding bridge having an articulating cab floor, the bridge apparatus comprising: 
 a panel adapted to be movably coupled to the articulating cab floor provided by the passenger boarding bridge and    a limiter configured to inhibit movement of the bridge apparatus in at least one direction when the bridge apparatus reaches a predetermined position relative to the aircraft.    
     
     
         12 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the bridge apparatus further comprises an articulating cab floor configured to mate with the passenger boarding bridge.  
     
     
         13 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the limiter communicates with the passenger boarding bridge motor when the panel moves past the predetermined position.  
     
     
         14 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the bridge apparatus further comprises a second limiter configured to limit movement of the passenger boarding bridge when the passenger boarding bridge moves to a predetermined position.  
     
     
         15 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined position is the engagement of one of the limiters with a portion of the aircraft.  
     
     
         16 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the limiter inhibits cab vertical downward movement when the panel moves beyond a predetermined position.  
     
     
         17 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the limiter inhibits cab forward movement when the panel moves beyond a predetermined position.  
     
     
         18 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second limiter inhibits cab rotate counterclockwise movement when the passenger boarding bridge moves to a predetermined position.  
     
     
         19 . The bridge apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the second limiter inhibits cab rotate clockwise movement when the passenger boarding bridge moves to a predetermined position.  
     
     
         20 . Abridge apparatus for extending between a stationary aircraft and a passenger boarding bridge having a motor and a motor control system comprising: 
 a panel arranged to be movably secured to an articulating cab floor of the boarding bridge, the panel being movable and positioned to engage a portion of the aircraft,    a limiter in communication with the motor control system and configured to inhibit movement of the boarding bridge in at least one direction when the panel moves to a predetermined position.    
     
     
         21 . A bridge apparatus for extending between a passenger boarding bridge and a stationary aircraft having an entry floor, the bridge apparatus comprising 
 an extension arranged to be pivotally coupled to an attachment edge of the passenger boarding bridge and a panel arranged to be pivotally coupled to one of the extension or the passenger boarding bridge, the extension being pivotal in a generally vertically downward direction relative to the attachment edge.    
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for extending between a passenger boarding bridge and a stationary aircraft comprising 
 an extension arranged for coupling to the passenger boarding bridge    a side rail system including at least one rail unit, a retainer, a retainer receiver sized to receive the retainer, and one of the retainer or the retainer receiver being configured for attachment to one of the passenger boarding bridge or the extension, the retainer configured to be movably secured to the retainer receiver.    
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the extension includes an articulating cab floor.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the side rail system is coupled to the articulating cab floor.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the rail unit is movable between a bridge moving position and a passenger boarding position.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the retainer includes at least one peg.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the retainer receiver includes a plurality of peg engaging walls arranged to inhibit movement of the rail unit from at least one of the stowed, bridge moving or passenger boarding positions.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the rail unit is removable from the retainer receiver.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the rail unit includes a generally L-shaped horizontal frame member.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein at least a portion of the L-shaped horizontal frame member extends beyond an edge of the extension when the side rail is in its passenger boarding position.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the side rail system includes a positioning wand positioned to lie adjacent a predetermined portion of the aircraft when the passenger bridge is in its proper mating position relative to the aircraft.