A ramp system is disclosed which may include first and second components. The first component may include horizontal and vertical portions, and a hook. The horizontal portion may be supported by a lip of a structure, and may have a width equivalent to a length of the lip. The vertical portion may be coupled with, and hang downward from, the horizontal portion, and may have the same width as the horizontal portion. The hook may be coupled with the vertical portion, and may have the same width as the horizontal portion. The second component may include a protrusion and channel. The protrusion may have a width equal or less than the width of the horizontal portion, and be supported by the hook. The channel may be coupled with the protrusion, and have the same width. The channel may receive a planar component which forms a sloped surface of a ramp.

The present invention is a support structure including elongate hollow cylinder and flat plates secured thereto. A first rigid flat plate is horizontally disposed in overlying relation to each hollow cylinder and a second rigid flat plate is horizontally disposed in underlying relation to each hollow cylinder. Stress-distributing strengthening members are circumferentially positioned about the hollow cylinder and secured to their associated rigid flat plates. A key may extend from a first end of each hollow cylinder and a mating socket may be formed in a second end of each hollow cylinder to facilitate end-to-end interconnection of a plurality of hollow cylinders.

A method is disclosed for deploying a ramp assembly. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The ramp assembly further includes a panel rotatable about a first end, wherein the ramp portion supportingly engages a second end of the panel to elevate the second end of the panel as the ramp portion moves toward the deployed position. The method includes the step of rotating the ramp portion until the ramp portion contacts an alighting surface. The method further includes the step of rotating the ramp portion until one of a first condition and second condition occurs. The first condition is that the ramp portion has reached a maximum slope. The second condition is that the second end of the panel has reached a predetermined elevation.

Ramp assembly systems and methods of use are described. According to one aspect, a vessel ramp assembly system includes a ramp assembly configured to assist with ingress and egress of an individual with respect to the vessel, a deployment system configured to move the ramp assembly between a stowed position with respect to the vessel and a deployed position with respect to the vessel, and a positioning system configured to move the ramp assembly to move a first end of the ramp assembly with respect to a deck of the vessel and provide a second end of the ramp assembly at an appropriate position where the individual may use the ramp assembly for the ingress and egress with respect to the vessel.

An aircraft boarding apparatus has a passenger bridge that has a confinement structure coupled to the second passenger bridge. The confinement structure exerts a ground-anchoring effect on the second passenger bridge to offset the ultralight configuration of the passenger bridge.

An aircraft boarding apparatus has a passenger bridge that has a confinement structure coupled to the second passenger bridge. The confinement structure exerts a ground-anchoring effect on the second passenger bridge to offset the ultralight configuration of the passenger bridge.

A novel system and related methods for sequentially deploying, in automated or semi-automated fashion, a strip of a plurality of truss bays with integral solar panels from a moving carrier onto a surface being traversed, resulting in a long, contiguous truss structure laid upon on the surface. The solar panels are angled at a predetermined orientation for solar operation at the deployment location. The carrier is easily and quickly reloaded with another set of truss bays for repeated deployment of a series of strips of solar truss structures in a solar array. The solar array thus is constructed in substantially less time and with substantially less labor that conventional support racking in the filed using prior art piece-wise assembly operations.

An aircraft boarding apparatus has a passenger bridge that has a confinement structure coupled to the second passenger bridge. The confinement structure exerts a ground-anchoring effect on the second passenger bridge to offset the ultralight configuration of the passenger bridge.

An aircraft boarding apparatus has a passenger bridge that has a confinement structure coupled to the second passenger bridge. The confinement structure exerts a ground-anchoring effect on the second passenger bridge to offset the ultralight configuration of the passenger bridge.

Passenger bridge (100), comprising a proximal end (110), comprising a passenger passage opening (111); a distal end (120), comprising a bridge head (121); at least one first bridge segments (130), a proximal one (131) of which comprises, at the said proximal end (110), said passenger passage opening (111); at least one second segments (140), a distal one (142) of which comprises, at said distal end (120), the bridge head (121); a first support structure (150), arranged to support said first (130) and second (140) bridge segments so that at least one of said first segments (130) and at least one of said second segments (140) can be individually tilted; whereby the said first (130) and second (140) bridge segments together form a connected passage way for passengers between the proximal (110) and distal (120) ends, allowing the bridge head (121) to move vertically in relation the proximal end (110) by said bridge segments (130,140) tilting; characterised in that the length of the distal second bridge segment (142) can be telescopably adjusted, thereby moving the bridge head (121) horizontally in relation to the proximal end (110), and in that the passenger bridge (100) further comprises a second support structure (160), supporting the distal end (120) and being individually horizontally movable in relation to the first support structure (150).