Extendable passenger loading bridge having improved placement of roller assemblies

Abstract

Disclosed are passenger loading bridge tunnels having improved placement of roller assemblies. Two or more separate tunnels form an extendable passenger loading bridge, which has flaps as to allow for easy access to the roller assemblies. The roller assemblies are placed in close vicinity to an edge of a passenger loading bridge tunnel, and are disengageable from the tunnel without disassembly of the passenger loading bridge.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A passenger loading bridge comprising: 
 an inner passenger loading bridge tunnel section having an opening at each of two ends for passenger communication therewith;    an outer roller assembly fixedly attached to the inner passenger loading bridge tunnel section in proximity to one of the openings of said inner passenger loading bridge tunnel section and disposed outside said inner passenger loading bridge tunnel section, so that when said inner passenger loading bridge tunnel section serves as an inner tunnel section of a telescoping passenger loading bridge, said outer roller assembly is rollingly engaged to a surface of an outer tunnel section of the telescoping passenger loading bridge.    
     
     
         2 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said outer roller assembly is attached to a bottom section of said inner passenger loading bridge tunnel section.  
     
     
         3 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said outer roller assembly is attached to a top section of said inner passenger loading bridge tunnel section.  
     
     
         4 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 1 , comprising: 
 an outer passenger loading bridge tunnel section having an opening at each of two ends for passenger communication therewith; and,    an inner roller assembly fixedly attached to the outer passenger loading bridge tunnel section in proximity to one of the openings of said outer passenger loading bridge tunnel section and disposed inside said outer passenger loading bridge tunnel section,    wherein the outer passenger loading bridge section is telescopically engaged with the inner passenger loading bridge section such that the inner roller assembly is rollingly engaged to a surface of the inner tunnel section and,    wherein the roller assembly is detachable from said outer tunnel without disassembly of said telescoping passenger loading bridge tunnel sections one from another.    
     
     
         5 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 4 , wherein said inner roller assembly is attached to the floor section of said outer tunnel.  
     
     
         6 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 4 , wherein said inner roller assembly is attached to the top section of said outer tunnel.  
     
     
         7 . A passenger loading bridge having inner and outer tunnels, each tunnel having sidewalls, a floor section and a top section; said inner tunnel and said outer tunnel telescoping with respect to each other and defining an overlapping area on each of said tunnels; said overlapping area defining an inward edge for an inner tunnel, and an outward edge for an outer tunnel, the direction of telescoping defining its longitudinal axis, the passenger loading bridge comprising: 
 a plurality of roller assemblies, each comprising a at least one wheel structure, and each positioned in the proximity of an edge of a tunnel in such a manner so as to allow access thereto without disengaging said inner and outer tunnels.    
     
     
         8 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one wheel structure is a single wheel structure, the plurality of roller assemblies comprising: 
 at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the outward edge of the floor section of the outer tunnel, in contact with the inner tunnel for rolling thereon; and    at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the outward edge of the top section of the outer tunnel, in contact with the inner tunnel for rolling thereon.    
     
     
         9 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 8 , the plurality of roller assemblies comprising: 
 at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the inward edge of the floor section of the inner tunnel, in contact with the outer tunnel for rolling thereon.    
     
     
         10 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 8 , the plurality of roller assemblies comprising: 
 at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the inward edge of the top section of the inner tunnel, in contact with the outer tunnel for rolling thereon.    
     
     
         11 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one wheel structure is a single wheel structure, the plurality of roller assemblies comprising: 
 at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the inward edge of the floor section of the inner tunnel, in contact with the outer tunnel for rolling thereon; and,    at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the inward edge of the top section of the inner tunnel, in contact with the outer tunnel for rolling thereon.    
     
     
         12 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 11 , the plurality of roller assemblies comprising: 
 at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the outward edge of the floor section of the outer tunnel, in contact with the inner tunnel for rolling thereon.    
     
     
         13 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 11 , the plurality of roller assemblies comprising: 
 at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the outward edge of the top section of the outer tunnel, in contact with the inner tunnel for rolling thereon.    
     
     
         14 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one wheel structure is a multiple wheel structure, the plurality of roller assemblies comprising: 
 at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the outward edge of the floor section of the outer tunnel, in contact with the inner tunnel for rolling thereon; and    at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the outward edge of the top section of the outer tunnel, in contact with the inner tunnel for rolling thereon.    
     
     
         15 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one wheel structure is a multiple wheel structure, the plurality of roller assemblies comprising: 
 at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the inward edge of the floor section of the inner tunnel, in contact with the outer tunnel for rolling thereon; and    at least one roller assembly positioned in proximity of the inward edge of the top section of the inner tunnel, in contact with the outer tunnel for rolling thereon.    
     
     
         16 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 7 , wherein the roller assembly is disengageable from the tunnel without disassembly of the bridge.  
     
     
         17 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the roller assembly is disengageable from the tunnel through the use of a latching mechanism.  
     
     
         18 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 16 , wherein the roller assembly is disengageable from the tunnel through the use of a tool.  
     
     
         19 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 7 , comprising: 
 a flap hingedly mounted for covering at least one roller assembly and for providing access to the at least one roller assembly.    
     
     
         20 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 7 , comprising: 
 a flap hingedly mounted to the floor section of the inner tunnel, extending the floor section of the inner tunnel, and for providing access to the at least one roller assembly.    
     
     
         21 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 20 , comprising: 
 a flap hingedly mounted, in an axis substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the inner tunnel, for providing access to the at least one roller assembly as well as for providing an inclined ramp and for allowing an other than step transition from the outer tunnel to the tunnel.    
     
     
         22 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 20 , comprising: 
 a flap hingedly mounted, in an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the inner tunnel, for providing access to the at least one roller assembly as well as for providing an inclined ramp and for allowing an other than step transition from the outer tunnel to the tunnel.    
     
     
         23 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 7 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an edge is positioned within 24 inches of said edge.  
     
     
         24 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 23 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an edge is positioned within 12 inches of said edge.  
     
     
         25 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 24 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an edge is positioned on a side of said edge that is away from the tunnel from the plane defined by said edge such that a plane parallel to the plane defined by said edge and passing through the roller assembly other than bisects the same tunnel.  
     
     
         26 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 24 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an edge is positioned on a side of said edge that is away from the tunnel from the plane defined by said edge such that a plane parallel to the plane defined by said edge and passing through the roller assembly bisects the same tunnel.  
     
     
         27 . A passenger loading bridge according to  claim 7 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an edge is positioned on a side of said edge that is away from the tunnel from the plane defined by said edge such that a plane parallel to the plane defined by said edge and passing through the roller assembly other than bisects the same tunnel.  
     
     
         28 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 7 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an edge is positioned on a side of said edge that is away from the tunnel from the plane defined by said edge such that a plane parallel to the plane defined by said edge and passing through the roller assembly bisects the same tunnel.  
     
     
         29 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel having sidewalls, a floor section, and a top section, a first and a second opening defined by the floor section, the top section and the sidewalls, as well as an inside and an outside defined by the floor section, the top section and the sidewalls, the passenger loading bridge comprising: 
 at least one roller assembly comprising a at least one wheel structure, positioned in proximity of the first opening and disengageably mounted on the floor section of the passenger loading bridge tunnel; and    at least one roller assembly comprising a at least one wheel structure positioned in proximity of the first opening and disengageably mounted on the top section of the passenger loading bridge tunnel.    
     
     
         30 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 29 , wherein at least one roller assembly is disengageably mounted on the inside of the passenger loading bridge tunnel.  
     
     
         31 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 29 , wherein at least one roller assembly is disengageably mounted on the outside of the passenger loading bridge tunnel.  
     
     
         32 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 30 , having a roller assembly, which comprises a at least one wheel structure, positioned in proximity of the second opening disengageably mounted on the outside of the passenger loading bridge tunnel floor section.  
     
     
         33 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 30 , having a roller assembly, which comprises a at least one wheel structure, positioned in proximity of the second opening disengageably mounted on the outside of the passenger loading bridge tunnel top section.  
     
     
         34 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 31 , having a roller assembly, which comprises a at least one wheel structure, positioned in proximity of the second opening disengageably mounted on the inside of the passenger loading bridge tunnel floor section.  
     
     
         35 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 31 , having a roller assembly, which comprises a at least one wheel structure, positioned in proximity of the second opening disengageably mounted on the inside of the passenger loading bridge tunnel top section.  
     
     
         36 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one wheel structure is a single wheel structure.  
     
     
         37 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one wheel structure is a multiple wheel structure.  
     
     
         38 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 29 , wherein a roller assembly is disengageable from the tunnel through the use of a latching mechanism.  
     
     
         39 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 29 , wherein a roller assembly is disengageable from the tunnel through the use of a tool.  
     
     
         40 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 29 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an opening of the passenger loading bridge tunnel is positioned within 24 inches of said opening.  
     
     
         41 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 40 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an edge is positioned within 12 inches of said opening.  
     
     
         42 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 41 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an edge is positioned on a side of said edge that is away from the passenger loading bridge tunnel from the plane defined by said edge such that a plane parallel to the plane defined by said edge and passing through the roller assembly other than bisects the passenger loading bridge tunnel.  
     
     
         43 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 41 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an edge is positioned on a side of said edge that is away from the passenger loading bridge tunnel from the plane defined by said edge such that a plane parallel to the plane defined by said edge and passing through the roller assembly bisects the passenger loading bridge tunnel.  
     
     
         44 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 29 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an edge is positioned on a side of said edge that is away from the passenger loading bridge tunnel from the plane defined by said edge such that a plane parallel to the plane defined by said edge and passing through the roller assembly other than bisects the passenger loading bridge tunnel.  
     
     
         45 . A passenger loading bridge tunnel according to  claim 29 , wherein a roller assembly in proximity to an edge is positioned on a side of said edge that is away from the passenger loading bridge tunnel from the plane defined by said edge such that a plane parallel to the plane defined by said edge and passing through the roller assembly other than bisects the passenger loading bridge tunnel.