Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
014710300 | With lift means | 53 |
20080201875 | Docking Buffer - A height-adjustable docking buffer is described for protecting facades when vehicles are docked in building openings. The docking buffer is made up of a fixed mounting frame and a height-adjustable buffer block for a loading ramp or a transfer bridge. The buffer block is designed as an essentially horizontal bumper bar, and includes an inflatable gasket, the ends of which are height-adjustably supported on two spaced, fixed mounting frames, preferably in the form of pillars. A method for operating the docking bar is also disclosed. | 08-28-2008 |
20080250578 | SHIMLESS FRAME SUPPORT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DOCK LEVELERS - A frame of a dock leveler that positions a deck portion of the dock leveler so that the deck portion is level with a surrounding dock floor at a driveway end when mounted in a pit in the dock floor includes a pit supported portion placed on a floor of the pit, a deck supporting portion providing support to the deck portion, and an adjusting assembly connected to the pit supported portion and to the deck supporting portion and operable to move and hold the deck supporting portion so that the deck portion of the dock leveler is at a selected position with respect to the surrounding dock floor. | 10-16-2008 |
20090100614 | Device for a Gangway - A device for a gangway construction is described, which is characterised in that it is composed of a number of sections, each comprising a polygonal frame, one connected to the frame formed as a landing, and a gangway, the one end of which is hinge-connected to the frame/landing while the other end is set up to rest against the frame/landing of an underlying frame, and the construction is arranged to be readjusted between a folded position where the sections are lying on top of each other, as in a stack of frames, with each gangway inserted in the frame, and an active, using position where the frames are set up a distance apart so that the gangways form a suitable angle between adjoining landings/frames. Also described are a section for building a gangway construction, a railing construction and also applications of the invention. | 04-23-2009 |
20090205145 | BOARDING BRIDGE - It is an object to provide a boarding bridge in which differences in level are eliminated between walkway portions of adjacent gangway units so that falling or the like of passengers can be prevented. A boarding bridge is provided in which a proximal-end tunnel and a distal-end tunnel are telescopically fitted and extend and contract by relative movement in a longitudinal direction, wherein, of the proximal-end tunnel and the distal-end tunnel, a variable-length walkway of the distal-end tunnel located on the outside is configured to move between a passage position set at a predetermined height and an outside-of-passage position located lower than the passage position; and the longitudinal length of the passage portion is changed in accordance with a moving distance along with the movement relative to the proximal-end tunnel. | 08-20-2009 |
20090205146 | FORMED FRONT HEADER FOR A DOCK LEVELER - A dock leveler includes a pivotally extendable lip coupled to a pivotal deck by way of a front hinge, wherein the structure in the area of the front hinge optimizes the torsional flexibility of the deck; provides a well supported, durable crown (apex angle between an extended lip and the deck); and reduces the part count of the dock leveler. The front hinge includes a deck-hinge member that extends approximately the full width of the deck and is preferably formed from a single sheet of material. A particularly narrow front header or flange disposed along the front edge of the deck reinforces the relatively thin deck plate so that the plate's rigidity more closely matches that of the thicker lip, yet the flange is sufficiently small to allow the deck to twist so that the deck can place the tip of the lip squarely upon a sideways inclined truck bed. | 08-20-2009 |
20090271934 | FOLD OUT RAMP - A ramp assembly is suitable for use with a vehicle having a floor. The ramp assembly includes a ramp rotatably coupled within the vehicle, and a moving floor having an inboard panel and an outboard panel. The outboard panel has an outboard end hingedly coupled to the inboard end of the ramp to define an outboard hinge line that moves between a raised position when the ramp is in a stowed position and a lowered position when the ramp is in a deployed position. An outboard end of the inboard panel is hingedly coupled to an inboard end of the outboard panel. A reciprocating mechanism reciprocates an inboard end of the inboard panel between a lowered position and a raised position. | 11-05-2009 |
20100031457 | Loading dock leveler with lip extension mechanism - A dock leveler with a deck and an extendable lip that hangs pendant when the deck is in a stored position. A lip extension mechanism engages when the deck is raised to a raised or cocked position. As the deck is lowered to an intermediate transition position, the extension mechanism extends the lip to a fully extended position. At the transition position, the lip extension mechanism automatically disengages and a lip locking mechanism automatically and simultaneously locks and holds the lip in its fully extended position. When the deck is further lowered so that the lip comes to rest on a truck trailer, the locking mechanism automatically released or unlocked. The lip returns to its pendant position when the deck is raised from the truck bed. After the truck pulls away from the dock, the deck is lowered to its stored position. | 02-11-2010 |
20100115714 | Retractable ramp system - A retractable ramp system mounts a slideable ramp between lateral rail members which extend the length of a truck chassis and a container mounted thereon. The ramp is slideably suspended from a guide rail running parallel to the lateral rail members by means of a carriage component, itself slideably mounted within the guide rail. It is readily and easily extended and retracted by one person. When positioned directly on a truck chassis, the rail system is located above the hydraulic, electrical, and other mechanical systems positioned within the well of the truck chassis, such that the ramp is slideably moveable over these system components without interfering with them or any other part of the truck chassis. The ramp system is conveniently used for loading and off-loading containers which rest on the truck chassis or which are elevated above the chassis. | 05-13-2010 |
20100146719 | LIGHTING AND SIGNALING SYSTEMS FOR LOADING DOCKS - A safety system for a truck loading dock with an elevated platform provides an alarm that warns of a hazard at the loading dock such as a forklift operating inside the truck or a falling hazard that may exist due to the dock door being open while a truck is not present at the dock. In cases where a dock's open doorway is protected by a barrier that can be opened or closed, the alarm can be de-activated by closing the barrier. In some examples, the safety system includes a remote body sensor that detects when someone or something is near the doorway. In response to the body sensor, a second, more pronounced alarm can warn of more imminent danger where someone on the platform may be too close to an open doorway when a truck is not present. | 06-17-2010 |
20100242190 | SHOCK ABSORBING DEVICE FOR BOARDING BRIDGE - An exemplary shock-absorbing device for a boarding bridge is for use with lift columns that support the boarding bridge tunnel. The device comprises a first transverse support coupled to the bottom of said lift columns, having an extended length in the transverse direction. A second transverse support is installed separately below the first transverse support. An elastic member is coupled between the first and second transverse supports to elastically support said first transverse supports. Dampers are coupled between the first and second transverse supports to absorb residual vibration from said elastic member. First and second driveshafts are coupled to fixed positions on opposite sides of the second transverse support to be able to rotate. A drive mechanism generates a motive force to move said tunnel and is equipped with a plurality of wheels on opposite sides of said first driveshaft and a plurality of wheels on opposite sides of said second driveshaft. | 09-30-2010 |
20100269273 | DOCK LEVELER WITH CONTINUOUS POSITION SENSING - An example dock leveler for a loading dock includes a position sensor system that not only senses upper and lower travel limits of the dock leveler's deck and/or lip but can also sense a plurality of intermediate positions between the limits. In some examples, the system includes one or more cable-extension transducers that provide a feedback signal that varies as a function of the deck's position relative to a dock platform and/or varies as a function of the lip's position relative to the deck. Such a position sensor system makes it possible to operate the dock leveler automatically with little to no manual intervention. | 10-28-2010 |
20110047725 | DOCK LEVELERS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Dock levelers, such as mechanical dock levelers, are described herein. In one embodiment, a mechanical dock leveler includes a ramp having a lip pivotally attached to a forward edge. A ramp lifting system is configured to assist upward rotation of the ramp as it is manually raised. In this embodiment, a lip lifting system is operably coupled to the ramp lifting system so that the ramp is initially “downward biased” prior to being raised, and then becomes at least partially supported in a raised position by the lip lifting mechanism, once the lip lifting mechanism is engaged. | 03-03-2011 |
20110088179 | COUNTERBALANCE MECHANISM FOR FOLD OUT RAMP - A ramp assembly has a ramp portion configured for reciprocating movement between a stowed position, a deployed position, and a neutral position, and a counterbalance. The counterbalance includes a compression spring and an engagement fitting associated with a first end of the spring. A first bearing element is operably coupled to the ramp portion so that movement of the ramp portion from the neutral position toward the stowed position engages the first bearing element with the engagement fitting to move the first end of the spring toward a second end of the spring. A second bearing element is operably coupled to the ramp portions of that movement of the ramp portion from the neutral position toward the deployed position engages the second bearing element with the engagement fitting to move the first end of the spring toward the second end of the spring. | 04-21-2011 |
20110203059 | LOADING DOCK LIGHTING SYSTEMS HAVING WARNING FEATURES - Loading dock lighting systems having one or more colored lights for communicating information, such as loading dock equipment status information, to dock operators and/or other personnel working in or around a shipping trailer or other transport vehicle are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, a lighting system for illuminating the interior of a transport vehicle during loading/unloading can include a lighting feature that visually communicates information to a person or persons working in the vehicle. The lighting feature can include, for example, one or more lights of various colors and/or flashing lights. | 08-25-2011 |
20110225745 | VEHICULAR SLOPE APPARATUS - A vehicular slope apparatus ( | 09-22-2011 |
20110258788 | DOCK LEVELER FOR LOADING DOCK WITH INTEGRAL ON-DEMAND COMPRESSOR AND PNEUMATIC ACTUATOR - A loading dock leveler having: a base having an inward end; a deck with a top platform, the deck having an inward end hingedly mounted to the inward end of the base for movement between an upper position and a lower position; an on-demand air compressor with an electrically powered motor, the compressor having inlet in communication with a source of ambient air and a compressed air outlet; a pneumatic deck lift actuator pivotally connected to the base and to the deck for rotary movement between a raised position and a lowered position, the lift actuator having a lift chamber, and an inlet port in direct communication with the compressor outlet through an electric powered lift valve to the lift chamber, and having a vent valve in communication with the lift chamber; and an electric user control interface having: an electric up/down switch in communication with the motor to conduct electric power to the motor and open the lift valve in an up position, and to prevent conduction of electric power to the motor and open the vent valve in a down position; wherein the compressor, motor, lift valve; vent valve and lift actuator are disposed between the base and the deck. | 10-27-2011 |
20120011664 | CURVED TRANSITION PLATES FOR PIVOTAL DOCK LEVELER DECKS - Example dock levelers at a truck-loading platform include a stationary curved transition plate extending between a rear edge of the leveler's pivotal deck and a rear edge of a pit at which the leveler is installed. The transition plate has a curved portion that extends underneath the deck's rear edge. The plate provides a smooth transition for forklifts traveling between the platform and the deck, thus reducing and/or minimizing the jarring of the forklift and its driver. To prevent debris and obstructions from getting trapped within the deck's rear hinge, the rear edge of the deck rises up and over the transition plate as the deck pivots upward, thereby providing a self-cleaning effect. With the rear edge of an inclined deck being above the transition plate, water runoff from the deck drains onto the transition plate rather than through the hinge gap to a generally inaccessible area underneath the deck. | 01-19-2012 |
20120030887 | Telescoping-Tube System For Crew Transfer - A system and method for transferring crew members between a first platform and a second platform, at least one of which platforms is subject to movement, is disclosed. The system includes a telescoping-tube assembly having at least three nestable tubes. The tubes are capable of being extended and retracted as well as being selectively locked to ensure that a crew member traversing the tube assembly always travels along a rigid connection between adjacent tubes. A sensor system is used to sense the location and direction of movement of a crew member within the tubes. | 02-09-2012 |
20120042458 | PIVOT BLOCK CONNECTION - A pivot block connection and assembly is disclosed. The pivot block assembly may include a pivot block connection and a gangway device having a stationary base and a pivotable access that is capable of being raised and lowered. The pivot block connection may include a first support body attached to a first side of the pivotable access, a first pivot bracket attached to the stationary base, and a first pivot rod spacer positioned between the first support body and the first pivot bracket. The pivot block connection may also include a second support body attached to a second side of the pivotable access, a second pivot bracket also attached to the stationary base, and a second pivot rod spacer positioned between the second support body and the second pivot bracket. A pivot rod may extend through the first pivot bracket, the first pivot rod spacer, the first support body, the pivotable access of the gangway device, the second support body, the second pivot rod spacer, and the second pivot bracket to secure and allow pivotable rotation of the pivotable access. | 02-23-2012 |
20120131755 | DOCK LEVELER FOR LOADING DOCK WITH INTEGRAL ON-DEMAND COMPRESSOR AND PNEUMATIC ACTUATOR - A loading dock leveler with: a base; and a deck with a top platform, the deck having an inward end hingedly mounted to the inward end of the base for movement between an upper position and a lower position; an air compressor having a compressor capacity defined as a predetermined volume of compressed air delivered at a predetermined pressure delivered during a predetermined time period; a pneumatic deck lift actuator, comprising a pneumatic cylinder pivotally connected to the base and to the deck for rotary movement wherein the direct communication between the lift actuator inlet port and the compressor outlet, without a compressed air storage receiver tank, delivers compressed air directly from the compressor to the lift chamber at the compressor capacity within a lift actuation time period, and wherein the lift chamber volume divided by the compressor capacity equals the lift actuation time period. | 05-31-2012 |
20120204362 | ARTICULATING CAGE - An articulating cage configured to raise and lower with respect to a fixed structure. The articulating cage comprises support structures affixed to the fixed structure and that include one or more springs. The articulating cage includes lifting arms that are pivotally connected to the support structures at one end and to a cage portion at the other end. A load chain connects to the springs at one end and to the lifting arm at the other near to the location where the lifting arm connects to the cage portion. | 08-16-2012 |
20120204363 | Length Changeable Ship Ramp - The invention relates to a device ( | 08-16-2012 |
20130097787 | DOCK LEVELERS WITH THERMALLY BALANCED TRACTION DECKS - Example dock levelers installed at a vehicle loading dock include pivotal or otherwise vertically adjustable deck plates with special coatings on the deck's upper surface. In some examples, the coating improves traction and addresses various thermal issues, such as condensation and thermal strain between a polymeric coating and a steel deck plate. In some examples, when indoor and outdoor air create a temperature differential across opposite faces of the deck, the coating is designed such that a median temperature of the temperature differential occurs near an interface where the coating bonds to the steel plate's upper surface. In some examples, the coating includes particles of different sizes and colors embedded within and covered by a polymeric base material. As traffic abrades the coating, the different colored particles become exposed at different levels of wear, thereby providing a visual signal indicating when the coating needs to be touched up or replaced. | 04-25-2013 |
20130198979 | TRANSFER APPARATUS FOR VESSELS | 08-08-2013 |
20130312204 | ACCESS APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING FROM VESSELS TO FIXED STRUCTURES - An access apparatus for enabling transfer of personnel between a seaborne vessel and an offshore installation is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a body adapted to be mounted to a deck of a seaborne vessel, clamping members adapted to grip a buffer tube, mounted to a support of an offshore installation, therebetween, to limit vertical movement of the buffer tube relative to the clamping members, wherein the clamping members can pivot relative to the body about a respective single pivot axis extending in at least two mutually perpendicular directions. | 11-28-2013 |
20130312205 | Loading Bay Safety Device and Process for Operating the Device - The invention relates to a bay loading safety device including —an articulated platform ( | 11-28-2013 |
20140123410 | MECHANISM FOR LIFTING A WHEELCHAIR - A lift mechanism for lifting a wheelchair compartment from a non-horizontal ramp position to a horizontal safe position comprises an elevator structure, a wheelchair compartment configured to hold a wheelchair and rotatable from the ramp position to the safe position, a cam connected to the compartment and comprising a cam contact surface, a cam arm connected to the elevator structure and rotatable about a pivot pin, the cam arm having a first side and a second side opposite the first side relative to the pivot pin, an actuator connected to the elevator structure and the first side of the cam arm and configured to rotate the cam arm relative to the pivot pin, and a cam arm bearing pin connected to the second side of the cam arm and configured to press against the cam contact surface of the cam. | 05-08-2014 |
20140123411 | MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR LIFTING A WHEELCHAIR - A method of raising a wheelchair compartment from a non-horizontal ramp position to an approximately horizontal safe position comprises providing a lift mechanism comprising an elevator structure, a wheelchair compartment configured to hold a wheelchair and rotatable from the ramp position to the safe position, a cam connected to the compartment and comprising a cam contact surface, a cam arm connected to the elevator structure and rotatable about a pivot pin, an actuator connected between the elevator structure and the cam arm and configured to rotate the cam arm relative to the pivot pin, and a cam arm bearing connected to the cam arm and configured to press against the cam contact surface of the cam. The method includes operating the actuator when the wheelchair compartment is in the ramp position so as to cause the wheelchair compartment to rise to the safe position. | 05-08-2014 |
20140245548 | RAMP ASSEMBLY WITH TILT SENSOR - A ramp assembly for providing a transition surface between a vehicle floor and an alighting surface is disclosed. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion that is rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A sensor senses an angle of the ramp portion relative to a horizontal plane and provides a sensor output that corresponds to the angle of the ramp portion relative to the horizontal plane. The ramp assembly further includes a controller that receives the sensor output and an alert device. The controller controls the alert device to provide an alert when the angle of the ramp portion relative to the horizontal plane reaches a predetermined value. | 09-04-2014 |
20150013082 | REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE RAMP - A ramp assembly includes a ramp movable between a deployed position, a stowed position, and an intermediate position and a drive mechanism comprising a motor configured to move the ramp between the deployed position and the stowed position. The motor has a shunted mode and a non-shunted mode. The assembly further includes a first detecting arrangement configured to detect a position of the ramp and a second detecting arrangement configured to detect a direction of movement of the ramp, with the motor being placed in one of the shunted mode and the non-shunted mode based on the position and the direction of movement of the ramp. | 01-15-2015 |
20150013083 | Centralized Air Supply Loading Dock Leveling System - A dock leveler includes an inflatable bellows to which pressurized air is selectively coupled. The inflatable bellows is arranged to raise and lower a distal portion of a loading dock ramp in response to the degree to which the inflatable bellows is inflated with compressed air. A control valve is coupled to the inflatable bellows, where the control valve is arranged to selectively release compressed air from the inflatable bellows in response to an operator action that is (for example) intended to lower the ramp. An exhaust manifold is arranged to receive the selectively released air from the control valve and to directionally exhaust a focused stream of compressed air underneath the ramp so that the compressed air is directed to move debris towards the distal portion of the ramp to facilitate cleaning of the loading dock pit that lies underneath the ramp. A solar power subsystem stores solar energy to power a compressor that provides the compressed air. | 01-15-2015 |
20150040329 | Centralized Air Supply Loading Dock Leveling System - A dock leveler includes an inflatable bellows to which pressurized air is selectively coupled. The inflatable bellows is arranged to raise and lower a distal portion of a hinged ramp in response to the degree to which the inflatable bellows is inflated with compressed air. A relief valve is coupled to the inflatable bellows, where the relief valve is arranged to selectively release compressed air from the inflatable bellows in response to an operator action that is (for example) intended to lower the ramp. An exhaust manifold is arranged to receive the selectively released air from the relief valve and to directionally exhaust a focused stream of compressed air underneath the hinged ramp so that the compressed air is directed to move debris towards the distal portion of the hinged ramp to facilitate cleaning of the loading dock pit that lies underneath the hinged ramp. | 02-12-2015 |
014710500 | Attached to fixed structure at first end and with cover and provision to fit vehicle at second end | 13 |
20080229525 | System and method for guiding an aircraft to a stopping position - A method for guiding an aircraft toward a stopping position within an aircraft stand of an airport includes receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal from a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is carried by the aircraft. The RF signal comprises aircraft-type data that is retrievably stored in an integrated circuit of the RFID tag, the aircraft-type data being indicative of a type of the aircraft. A current location of the aircraft is sensed, and based on the aircraft-type data and the sensed current location of the aircraft, instructions are determined for guiding the aircraft from the current location thereof to a predetermined stopping position for the type of the aircraft. Using a visual docking guidance system (VDGS) associated with the aircraft stand, the instructions are displayed in human-intelligible form for being viewed by a user aboard the aircraft. | 09-25-2008 |
20090119854 | AIRCRAFT DOOR DETECTOR/WARNING DEVICE - 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. | 05-14-2009 |
20090126130 | WEATHER SHIELD FOR UNDERNEATH A DOCK LEVELER WITH A TRANSLATING LIP - A dock leveler with a vertically adjustable deck and horizontally translating lip includes a weather shield that helps shelter a pit area underneath the lip and the deck. The dock leveler and shield system is particularly suited for serving trucks that include a rear liftgate. An upper edge of the weather shield seals against and moves with the lip of the dock leveler, and a lower edge of the shield can be attached to a lower dividing panel. The lower dividing panel (sometimes known as an ISO panel) isolates the deck of the dock leveler from a liftgate-receiving receptacle within the pit area. The weather shield accommodates the lip's horizontal movement and the deck's vertical movement. The shield is such that it further accommodates a vertically moving door panel that can close in front of both the deck and the lip. | 05-21-2009 |
20090205147 | EXTENDABLE COVER FOR WALKWAYS FOR ACCESSING AIRCRAFT - The invention relates to an extendable cover for walkways for accessing aircraft, especially for the connection between the rotunda and the tunnel of a walkway, which is formed by at least two telescopically coupled casings ( | 08-20-2009 |
20090217468 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATED DOCKING OF A PASSENGER BRIDGE OR A GOODS HANDLING BRIDGE TO A DOOR OF AN AIRCRAFT - Method for automatically docking a passenger bridge ( | 09-03-2009 |
20100325818 | CONNECTING PORTION FOR BOARDING BRIDGE AND BOARDING BRIDGE - It is provided a connecting portion for a boarding bridge that eliminates the level difference between the doorway portion of the aircraft and the passage, reduces the anxiety of the passengers, and can be raised and lowered smoothly. A passage ( | 12-30-2010 |
20120204364 | MOVABLE PASSENGER BRIDGE FOR A SHIP - A movable passenger bridge for embarking and disembarking a ship includes sections, each pair of adjacent sections connected at respective ends by shorter transfer sections, arranged so that passengers can walk from section to section. The sections and the transfer sections are supported by a framework of steel beams. The sections are displaceably arranged relative to the framework, forming an angle relative to the horizontal plane, accommodating a height difference between first and second ports. The framework is supported by wheel arrangements that abut against a quay. An entry module by the first port, on the one hand is connectable to a first of the sections, on the other hand is connected to the transfer section which is located closest to and lying in the same vertical plane as the entry module, whereby a connection can be established from the entry module directly into the second transfer section. | 08-16-2012 |
20140338138 | PIVOTABLE CANOPY ROOF OF AN AIR PASSENGER STAIR OR AN AIR PASSENGER BRIDGE - A pivotable canopy roof ( | 11-20-2014 |
20140345068 | MICROBRIDGES FOR REGIONAL AIRCRAFT AND METHODS OF USING SAME - 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. | 11-27-2014 |
20150047133 | SAFETY SYSTEMS FOR VERTICALLY STORING DOCK LEVELERS - Dock leveler safety systems for vertically storing dock levelers are disclosed herein. An example method for sensing a body present within an area of a pit at a loading dock includes monitoring the area of the pit via a sensor system by capturing an image of the area, comparing the captured image to a reference image to determine whether a body is present in the area of the pit, and commanding a deck of a dock leveler to not lower relative to the pit if the body is present. | 02-19-2015 |
20150298823 | AIRCRAFT PASSENGER BOARDING SYSTEM - An aircraft passenger boarding system is provided for aircraft equipped for pilot-controllable engines-off taxi that enables a pilot to drive the aircraft without engines in a forward direction into and out of an optimum parallel or angled gate parking orientation that permits terminal connections to both forward and aft doors on a terminal-facing side of the aircraft. Selected defined classes of passengers board the aircraft separately, through a designated loading bridge connected to a forward door or through a designated loading bridge connected to an aft door, to be seated in a designated front or rear aircraft section. An airline may flexibly allocate variably sized sections of the aircraft interior for each defined class, depending on the relative numbers of passengers in each class. Airport terminal interior gate space may be used to separate passenger classes as required for separate boarding through a forward door or an aft door. | 10-22-2015 |
20160009414 | MICROBRIDGES FOR REGIONAL AIRCRAFT AND METHODS OF USING SAME | 01-14-2016 |
20160083114 | Height-Adjustable Rotunda-Type Boarding Bridge - Provided is a boarding bridge. The boarding bridge includes: a fixed tunnel of which one end is connected to a terminal or an extended fixed tunnel; and a rotunda of which one end is connected to the other end of the fixed tunnel and which is supported by a rotunda column. The rotunda column is driven to raise or lower the rotunda. | 03-24-2016 |
014710700 | Hydraulic powered | 8 |
20090025154 | Vehicle And Equipment Hauler Attachment For Pickup Trucks - The invention is a vehicle and equipment hauler attachment for pickup trucks. It allows a standard pickup truck to haul vehicles and other equipment such as zero turn radius lawn mowers and ATVs above the bed of the pickup truck while preserving storage and other towing options. The invention comprises a framing system to support the apparatus and to attach it to the bed of the pickup truck; a ramping system to aid in moving the vehicles and equipment; a decking system to support the vehicles and equipment; and a lifting system utilizing hydraulics and a winch. | 01-29-2009 |
20110078864 | EXTENDED SAFETY CAGE FOR RETRACTABLE GANGWAY - An extended safety cage provides access to a plurality of hatches on the top of a mobile container. The cage is rotatably attached to the end of a gangway, which extends from and is rotatably attached to a platform. The platform carries a pair of braces that extend out in opposite directions and support the cage through spring-loaded lifting arms. The apparatus can include actuators, such as hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, that urge the gangway and cage downward when activated. Secondary braces ensure that the lifting arms and safety cage move in unison. | 04-07-2011 |
20120180233 | STOP AND LOCK FOR A VERTICALLY STORING DOCK LEVELER - A dock leveler with a pivotal deck includes a stop mechanism that provides the deck with a positive stop at the deck's vertically stored position without the deck's actuator having to be fully extended. With the actuator being less than fully extended, the stop mechanism and actuator can exert opposing forces that help prevent the deck from rocking back and forth as the deck settles to its stationary, upright position. In some cases, the stop mechanism is part of a combination stop-and-lock mechanism that includes a locking device for temporary providing a redundant or alternate lock that prevents the deck from descending unexpectedly while the dock leveler is being serviced or repaired. | 07-19-2012 |
20130185875 | Loading Ramp With Lift Assist - A lift assist for a loading ramp includes two biasing mechanisms that cooperate to bias the loading ramp from a stored position under a truck to a working position that engages the truck bed. One biasing mechanism is a mechanical bias, such as a coiled spring. The other biasing mechanism is a hydraulic bias, such as a gas spring. | 07-25-2013 |
20130212812 | VESSEL, A MOTION PLATFORM, A CONTROL SYSTEM, A METHOD FOR COMPENSATING MOTIONS OF A VESSEL AND A COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - The invention relates to a vessel including a motion compensation platform. The platform comprises at least one carrier for bearing, moving and/or transferring a load, and a gangway provided with a first end pivotably connected to the carrier and a second end for contacting a target area. Further, the platform comprises a multiple number of first actuators for moving the carrier relative to the vessel, and at least a second actuator for moving the gangway relative to the carrier. The platform also comprises a control system arranged for driving the multiple number of first actuators, and motion sensors for measuring motions relative to at least one element in a target area, which measurements are used as input for the control system. The control system is also arranged for driving the at least one second actuator. | 08-22-2013 |
20130276247 | ENERGY DAMPER-STORAGE DEVICE FOR LOW FLOOR VEHICLE ACCESS RAMP - A ramp assembly includes a frame assembly, a ramp connected to the frame assembly, a drive member having first and second engagements, and a counterbalance mechanism cooperating with the drive member. The ramp is pivotable relative to the frame assembly and has a deployed position and a stowed position. The drive member is configured to move the ramp between the deployed position and the stowed position. The counterbalance mechanism includes a gas strut having a first end and a second end. The first end of the gas strut is secured to the frame assembly and the second end of the gas strut is movable relative to the frame assembly. The first and second engagements of the drive member are configured to engage the second end of the gas strut. | 10-24-2013 |
20150360889 | Vertically Stored Telescoping Lip Leveler - The present invention is a vertically stored dock leveler with a telescoping lip that selectively extends and retracts through a range positions relative to the deck. The lip is held and guided by a deck frame carriage. When the deck is raised and lowered, the lip is extended and retracted by an electro-hydraulic control system. When the deck reaches a preselected incline position, the lip is fully extended. Sensors on the underside of the deck determine the incline position of the deck and when the lip is retracted. The leveler is then lowered until the lip engages and rests on the bed of the trailer. Similarly, when the deck is raised for storage and reaches the preselected incline position, the lip is fully retracted prior to returning to its stored position. The telescoping lip is selectively moveable to a range of partially extended position to facilitate end loading a trailer. | 12-17-2015 |
20180023262 | Walkway Installation, as well as a Vessel with Such a Walkway Installation | 01-25-2018 |