A canopy for a passenger boarding bridge, includes a fixed frame, a flexible frame configured to align to a fuselage of a plane or a ship, a bellow roof clamped between the fixed frame and the flexible frame, and a suspension system. The suspension system includes a first cylinder actuator, and a second cylinder actuator, wherein the first cylinder actuator is configured to provide a pushing force in a first pushing direction and the second cylinder actuator is configured to provide a pushing force in a second pushing direction, wherein the first cylinder actuator and the second cylinder actuator are connected in series and the first pushing direction is opposite to the second pushing direction.

The invention discloses a multi-bar linkage mechanism based conveyor, comprising a gantry system, a multi-bar linkage mechanism based conveyor boom, a boom support, a two-drum winch, a roller unit and an automatic control system. The gantry system, the two-drum winch and the boom support are mounted on a deck of a hull. The conveyor boom is formed of multi-bar linkage mechanisms, the movement of which can be changed. Rollers are mounted on the conveyor boom. The rear segment of the conveyor boom is articulated with the boom support. The two-drum winch is connected to the multi-bar linkage mechanism based conveyor boom via a steel wire rope and by a set of gantry pulleys. A hydraulic device and a control device are arranged between adjacent multi-bar linkage mechanisms. A tension sensor is arranged at an end of the steel wire rope. The whole conveyor is controlled by the automatic control system.

The present invention discloses a method for operating a multi-bar linkage mechanism based conveyor. Stretching the mechanism based conveyor comprises: an automatic control system is started to control a first two-drum winch, a second two-drum winch, and hydraulic cylinders in a multi-bar linkage mechanism based conveyor boom to operate together until the mechanism enters an operating state, and the first two-drum winch, the second two-drum winch, and the hydraulic cylinders in the multi-bar linkage mechanism based conveyor boom stop operating. Then, the angle of the multi-bar linkage mechanism based conveyor boom can be adjusted by controlling the operation of the second two-drum winch. Retracting the mechanism based conveyor comprises: the automatic control system is started to control the first two-drum winch, the second two-drum winch, and the hydraulic cylinders in the multi-bar linkage mechanism based conveyor boom to operate together until the mechanism enters a non-operating state.

A system and method for controlling the movement of an extendible bridge structure has proximity sensors coupled to a distal end thereof and includes a first movement mechanism for extension and retraction thereof. A processor receives signals from the proximity sensors and, based thereon, selectively generates and provides control signals to the first movement mechanism to automatically extend the structure to a predetermined position against a vehicle positioned in a predetermined area. A flexible boot is attached to the distal end of the structure. The processor generates and provides control signals to a second movement mechanism coupled to the flexible boot to extend the flexible boot against the vehicle. The processor also monitors and identifies any changes in a positional relationship between the flexible boot and the vehicle after initial extension thereof and provides generated control signals to the first movement mechanism to restore the structure to the predetermined position.

A ferry slip (100) comprising a vehicle driveway (41,42) arranged on a quayside (60), the ferry slip (100) comprising an elongate fluid cylinder unit (20) connected to the quayside (60) and extending longitudinally away from the quayside (60) in a seawards direction (x), the fluid cylinder unit (20) having a support element (10) at its seawards end, the fluid cylinder unit (20) fluidly connected to an accumulator unit (70) via a fluid distribution system (80). There is also provided a method of operating a ferry slip.

A ferry slip (100) comprising a vehicle driveway (41,42) arranged on a quayside (60), the ferry slip (100) comprising an elongate fluid cylinder unit (20) connected to the quayside (60) and extending longitudinally away from the quayside (60) in a seawards direction (x), the fluid cylinder unit (20) having a support element (10) at its seawards end, the fluid cylinder unit (20) fluidly connected to an accumulator unit (70) via a fluid distribution system (80). There is also provided a method of operating a ferry slip.

An offshore platform device comprising a platform and a docking device which has a vertically oriented longitudinal axis (L) and is designed to be raised along its longitudinal axis (L) relative to the platform (3) into a transport position and to be lowered into an operational position, the docking device (4) having at its lower end at least one docking point (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) which is accessible from a boat (11) in the operational position.

An aerobridge and dual method of operation thereof that significantly reduces the turnaround time (time between routes) of an aircraft vehicle at a terminal gate. The aerobridge includes a cab rotunda, cab, and a bridge formed of a plurality of passageways and/or ramps. The passageways/ramps are telescopically received in a proximal-most passageway/ramp in a retracted position and are telescopically extended along the aircraft vehicle in an extended position. The aerobridge may further include a plurality of height-adjustable and/or retractable support mechanisms disposed in underlying relation to the bridge. The aerobridge can be mated with an aircraft vehicle using a shoot-out method or a swing method, thus accommodating different airports' configurations and limitations.

An aerobridge and dual method of operation thereof that significantly reduces the turnaround time (time between routes) of an aircraft vehicle at a terminal gate. The aerobridge includes a cab rotunda, cab, and a bridge formed of a plurality of passageways and/or ramps. The passageways/ramps are telescopically received in a proximal-most passageway/ramp in a retracted position and are telescopically extended along the aircraft vehicle in an extended position. The aerobridge may further include a plurality of height-adjustable and/or retractable support mechanisms disposed in underlying relation to the bridge. The aerobridge can be mated with an aircraft vehicle using a shoot-out method or a swing method, thus accommodating different airports' configurations and limitations.

A portable, height-adjustable gangway includes a lower tower structure comprising a lower landing and a lower movement assembly comprising a first set of wheels permitting the lower tower structure to travel over ground, an upper tower structure comprising an upper landing, an upper movement assembly comprising a second set of wheels permitting the upper tower structure to travel over ground, and an extending tower support connecting the upper movement assembly and the upper landing and comprising expandable struts configured to move the upper landing towards and away from the upper movement assembly, and a travellator pivotally connected to the lower tower structure and pivotally connected to the upper tower structure such that, when the expandable struts of the tower support extend at least one of towards and away from the upper movement assembly, the escalator tilts. The escalator can be a continuous set of stairs, a gondola-like trolley, or both.