Aircraft door detector/warning device

Abstract

Disclosed is an electromechanical system for minimizing passenger door contact with the Passenger Loading Bridge (PLB) floor and subsequent damage to said door, during passenger loading or off loading. The system, as configured at the Cab entry, senses the proximity of the aircraft door by contacting a sensing pad, attached to the PLB floor. This initiates a sequence of events. 1) Both visual and auditory alarms are initiated to alert the passenger loading agents and/or the bridge operator of a fault. 2) The PLB is moved down and away from the door sufficiently to prevent the PLB floor from coming in contact with the door. The loading agents or PLB operator can then perform the necessary steps to reset the device and continue loading.

1 . A device to detect the proximity of the hard surface of the Passenger Loading Bridge (PLB) Floor to the aircraft door, at the doorway through which passengers enter and egress the aircraft, or any object by contacting and being energized by a compressive force being applied to a switching pad wired to a control panel. 
     
     
         2 . A means as in  claim 1 , which will stop the upward movement of the PLB prior to the PLB floor coming in contact with the aircraft door, retracting the Auto Level Arm away from the fuselage and initiate the PLB vertical down drive for three inches. 
     
     
         3 . A means as in  claims 1  and  2  which will actuate audible and visual alarms at both the Gate Attendant's station (terminal) and on the PLB to alert the Gate Attendants of a malfunction of the auto level system, continuing until alarms are manually stopped by depressing or otherwise engaging the Power on or reset button by the attendants and subsequent remediation of the malfunction, and the auto level arm is reset to its normal place against the fuselage, returning the PLB auto level to service. 
     
     
         4 . A means, where the control side of the vertical drive up control is energized, either by accident or not, causing the Door Detector Pad to make contact with the door, the vertical up motion will stop and cause the following sequence of events to be initiated: the Door Detector/Warning Device is set into motion, the auto level arm of  claims 2  and  3  is retracted from the fuselage and the alarms of  claim 3 , including a red strobe, are energized and continue until the power on button is depressed, resetting the system and this device is self-monitoring if the sensing pad is damaged or the pad is compressed by any means and for a time period of more than 5 seconds, an amber light illuminates indicating the device is faulted or inactive but this will not interrupt or affect the operation of the PLB.