COUPLING MODULE FOR FORMING AN INTERFACE BETWEEN THE CABIN OF A PASSENGER BRIDGE AND AN AIRPLANE

Abstract

A coupling module forms an interface between a cabin of a passenger bridge and an aircraft. The coupling module has a projecting roof and a floor arrangement overspanned by the projecting roof. The floor arrangement is pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis relative to the cabin. At least the floor arrangement and the projecting roof have a common pivot axis that is arranged in or beneath the floor arrangement, with the floor arrangement at least indirectly and substantially supporting the projecting roof.

Claims

1. A coupling module for forming an interface between a cabin of a passenger bridge and an aircraft, comprising: a floor arrangement; a projecting roof supported by the floor arrangement and overspanning the floor arrangement; the floor arrangement and the projecting roof being pivotally supported about a common pivot axis defined in or beneath the floor arrangement.

2. A coupling module according to claim 1, further comprising: a support body disposed in or beneath the floor arrangement; at least the floor arrangement and the projecting roof being at least indirectly supported by the support body.

3. A coupling module according to claim 2, wherein the support body is centrally arranged beneath the floor arrangement in the transverse direction (X), the pivot axis extending perpendicular to the transverse direction (X) and being arranged beneath a walkable surface of the floor arrangement.

4. A coupling module according to claim 2, wherein: the floor arrangement has outer end sides; the coupling module further comprising end side supports formed beneath the floor arrangement at the outer end sides of the floor arrangement disposed in the transverse direction; and the outer end sides of the floor arrangement are movably connected to the end side supports.

5. A coupling module according to claim 4, wherein: the floor arrangement and the projecting roof form a rocking arrangement by means of a central support of the support body such that when the floor arrangement pivots, a height of a first one of the outer end sides of the floor arrangement increases above a respective first one of the end side supports and a height of a second one of the outer end sides of the floor arrangement decreases above an oppositely disposed second one of the end side supports, and vice versa.

6. A coupling module according to claim 4, further comprising at least one mechanical connection element arranged between the outer end sides of the floor arrangement and the end side supports.

7. A coupling module according to claim 6, further comprising at least one pivot drive operable to control and/or actuate the at least one mechanical connection element between the outer end sides of the floor arrangement and the end side supports.

8. A coupling module according to claim 7, further comprising a respective coupling element formed between the pivot drive and each of the at least one mechanical connection elements.

9. A coupling module according to claim 8, wherein each coupling elements is push rod and/or a pull rod and/or a torsion rod.

10. A coupling module according to claim 7, wherein the at least one pivot drive is disposed centrally beneath the floor arrangement.

11. A coupling module according to claim 7, wherein the at least one pivot drive is disposed at the support body.

12. A coupling module according to claim 1, further comprising a pendulum frame supported on the floor arrangement, the projecting roof being supported by the pendulum frame.

13. A coupling module according to claim 12, further comprising at least one supporting frame supporting the pendulum frame on the floor arrangement such that the supporting frame rigidly connects the pendulum frame and the projecting roof on the floor arrangement.

14. A coupling module according to claim 12, further comprising at least one flexible surface body disposed in a region between the pendulum frame and a base frame.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Further measures improving the invention will be shown in more detail below together with the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the Figures. There is shown:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a passenger bridge with a coupling module arranged at a cabin of the passenger bridge;

[0027] FIG. 2 is a detail view of a coupling module in an arrangement at a cabin of a passenger bridge;

[0028] FIG. 3 is a further detail view of the coupling module having the features of the invention;

[0029] FIG. 4 is a front view of the coupling module in a state not pivoted relative to a base frame of the passenger bridge; and

[0030] FIG. 5 is a front view of the coupling module of FIG. 4, with the coupling module being shown pivoted about the pivot axis relative to the base frame of the passenger bridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a coupling module 100 in an arrangement at a passenger bridge 20. A cabin 21 that is a component of the passenger bridge 20 is arranged at a front end of the passenger bridge 20 facing the aircraft. The coupling module 100 is arranged pivotably about an imaginary horizontal pivot axis 4 at the cabin 21. The coupling module 100 has a frame at its free side that is arranged at a projecting roof 1 and that can be arranged to contact the outer skin of the aircraft and the frame is designed as a bumper 23. A respective articulated arm 24 is arranged at both sides in the interior of the coupling module 100 and serves to carry out of a deployment movement of the projecting roof 1 of the coupling module 100 to ultimately be able to place the bumper 23 at the outer skin of the aircraft body. The representation of the coupling module 100 furthermore shows the floor arrangement 2 which the passengers tread on directly after leaving the aircraft.

[0032] If the coupling module 100 pivots about the pivot axis 4, the floor arrangement 2 carries out a pivot movement about the pivot axis 4 that forms a kind of rocking movement. The projecting roof with the articulated arms 24 and a pendulum frame 10 at the rear side pivot along with the pivot movement.

[0033] FIG. 2 shows a detailed perspective view of the coupling module 100 in an arrangement at the cabin 21, wherein the coupling module 100 is already slightly pivoted about the pivot axis 4. This can be recognized by the fact that the pendulum frame 10 is rotated in front of the base frame 22 of the cabin 21.

[0034] The imaginary pivot axis 4 extends beneath the floor arrangement 2 of the coupling module 100 and a bumper 23, which is moved to or in front of the outer skin of the aircraft, is arranged at the front side at the floor arrangement 2.

[0035] Due to the perspective, one of the two lateral supporting frames 11 and one of the two articulated arms 24 can be recognized, with the projecting roof 1 being shown in the retracted state.

[0036] A surface body 12 in the form of a wave that, for example, forms part of a wave bellows is located between the base frame 22 and the pendulum frame 10. The pendulum frame 10 that moves along with the pivoting of the coupling module 100, shown by the double arrow, is arranged slightly spaced apart in front of the base frame 22. The surface body 12 here provides a sealing of the existing gap so that moisture or, for example, also wind, cannot enter into the passenger zone of the cabin 21.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows the view of the coupling module 100, with the walkable zone of the floor arrangement 2 having been removed so that a floor frame 13 becomes visible. The support body 3 is located beneath the floor frame 13 and the floor frame 13 is connected to the support body 3 via articulated connections. The floor arrangement 2 with the floor frame 13 is thus received at the support body 3 and is pivotable about the pivot axis 4. The support body 3 can be rigidly arranged, in a manner not shown in any more detail, at the cabin or at a traveling gear of the passenger bridge and the support body 3 is dimensioned such that the weight of the coupling module 100 and a number of passengers can be received in the coupling module 100.

[0038] The pendulum frame 10 that substantially overspans the floor arrangement 2 with the projecting roof 1 is arranged at the rear side of the projecting roof 1, shown by way of example as a folding roof.

[0039] FIGS. 4 and 5 show respective views of the coupling module 100 in a non-rotated state (FIG. 4) and in a state rotated with respect to the base frame 22 (FIG. 5).

[0040] The coupling module 100 is shown with the floor arrangement 2 and with the projecting roof 1 that is held by the pendulum frame 10, and with the floor arrangement 2, the projecting roof 1 and the pendulum frame 10 forming a unit rotatable as a whole with respect to one another and substantially rigid.

[0041] The support body 3 is located beneath the floor arrangement 2 and the pivot axis 4 is in or beneath the floor arrangement 2. At the front side, the coupling module 100 terminates with the bumper 23.

[0042] The floor arrangement 2 has oppositely disposed outer end sides 5 in the transverse direction X, shown by a double arrow in FIG. 4, and end side supports 6 that are rigidly connected to the base frame 22 are located beneath the outer end sides 5.

[0043] Mechanical connection elements 7 are formed between the outer end sides 5 and the end side supports 6. They are coupled to coupling elements 9 that are connected to a common pivot drive 8.

[0044] If the pivot drive 8 is activated, a movement is initiated in the connection elements 7 via the coupling elements 9 such that the coupling module 100 can rotate about the pivot axis 4 in front of the base frame 22.

[0045] FIG. 4 shows the connection elements 7 in a non-activated state, with a movement being initiated in the connection elements 7 via the coupling elements 9 on an activation of the pivot drive 8 that results in a rotation of the coupling module 100 as shown by FIG. 5. The rotation of the coupling module 100 takes place about the pivot axis 4 that is formed in or beneath the floor arrangement 2. The pivot drive 8 can, for example, be activated in the opposite direction for a return movement of the rotation of the coupling module 100 to move the coupling module 100 into the horizontal position or into an opposite pivot direction.

[0046] The invention is not restricted in its design to the preferred embodiment provided above. A number of variants is rather conceivable that also makes use of the solution shown with generally differently designed embodiments. All the features and/or advantages, including any construction details or spatial arrangements, originating from the claims, the description or the drawings can be essential to the invention both per se and also in the most varied combinations.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0047] 100 coupling module [0048] 1 projecting roof [0049] 2 floor arrangement [0050] 3 support body [0051] 4 pivot axis [0052] 5 outer end side [0053] 6 end side support [0054] 7 connection element [0055] 8 pivot drive [0056] 9 coupling element [0057] 10 pendulum frame [0058] 11 supporting frame [0059] 12 surface body [0060] 13 floor frame [0061] 20 passenger bridge [0062] 21 cabin [0063] 22 base frame [0064] 23 bumper [0065] 24 articulated arm [0066] X transverse direction