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 - 4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . An aircraft system for loading and/or unloading an aircraft, comprising:
 an aircraft loading device having an upwardly-facing floor surface, the loading device being movable relative to an aircraft door;   a loading device controller operatively coupled to the loading device to control motion of the loading device, the loading device controller having an operate mode in which motion of the loading device is enabled, and an off mode in which motion of the loading device is disabled;   a door detecting device positioned proximate to the floor surface, the door detecting device being changeable between a first state in which the aircraft door is detected and a second state in which the aircraft door is not detected; and   a detecting device controller operatively coupled to the door detecting device and the loading device controller to direct motion of the loading device based at least in part upon a signal from the door detector, independent of whether the loading device controller is in the operate mode or the off mode.   
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein:
 the door detecting device includes a pressure-sensitive pad fixedly attached relative to the floor surface;   the detecting device controller is operatively coupled to the door detecting device and the loading device controller to direct downward motion of the loading device when the door detecting device is in the second state; and   at least a portion of the pressure-sensitive pad is positioned on the floor to be at least partially between the floor surface and an open aircraft door.   
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the door detecting device controller is hardwired to the door detecting device and the loading device controller. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the door detecting device is releasably attached to the floor surface. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the door detecting device includes two conductive sheets separated by a compressible material. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the door detecting device includes two conductive sheets separated by a compressible foam. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising an alarm operatively coupled to the door detecting device and carried by the aircraft loading device. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the aircraft loading device includes a passenger loading bridge. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the passenger loading bridge is connected to an airport terminal, and wherein the system further comprises an alarm operatively coupled to the detecting device and positioned in the terminal. 
   
   
       14 . An aircraft system for loading and/or unloading aircraft passengers, comprising:
 a passenger loading bridge having a movable section that is positionable relative to an aircraft door;   a bridge controller carried by the loading bridge and operatively coupled to the loading bridge to control motion of the loading bridge, the bridge controller having an operate mode in which motion of the passenger loading bridge is enabled, an off mode in which motion of the passenger loading bridge is disabled, and an autolevel mode in which the motion of the passenger loading bridge automatically adjusts to vertical motion of the aircraft;   a door detecting device carried by the loading bridge, the door detecting device having a first state in which the aircraft door is detected and a second state in which the aircraft door is not detected; and   a detecting device controller operatively coupled to the door detecting device and the bridge controller to direct motion of the bridge based at least in part upon a signal from the door detecting device, the device controller having instructions directing the motion of the bridge whether the bridge is in the operate mode, the off mode or the autolevel mode.   
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the detecting device controller is hardwired to the door detecting device and the bridge controller. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the door detecting device includes two conductive sheets separated by a compressible foam. 
   
   
       17 . A method for installing an aircraft door detecting device, comprising:
 positioning a door detecting device at an upwardly-facing floor surface of an aircraft loading device, the aircraft loading device being movable relative to an aircraft door and being controlled by a loading device controller having an operate mode in which motion of the loading device is enabled, and an off mode in which motion of the loading device is disabled, wherein door detection by the door detecting device is communicated to a detecting device controller; and   connecting the detecting device controller to the loading device controller to enable the detecting device controller to control motion of the loading device based at least in part upon a signal from the door detecting device, independent of whether the loading device controller is in the operate mode or the off mode.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising fixedly attaching the door detecting device relative to the floor surface. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising releasably attaching the door detecting device relative to the floor surface. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein positioning a door detecting device at an upwardly-facing floor surface of an aircraft loading device includes positioning the door detecting device at an upwardly-facing surface of a passenger loading bridge, and wherein connecting the detecting device controller includes hardwiring the detecting device controller. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the loading device controller has an autolevel mode in which the motion of the passenger loading bridge automatically adjusts to vertical motion of the aircraft door, and wherein connecting the detecting device controller to the loading device controller includes enabling the detecting device controller to control motion of the passenger loading bridge when the loading device controller is in the autolevel mode. 
   
   
       22 . A method for detecting motion of an aircraft door, comprising:
 directing motion of an aircraft loading device relative to an aircraft with a loading device controller having an operate mode in which motion of the loading device is enabled, and an off mode in which motion of the loading device is disabled, the loading device having an upwardly-facing floor surface;   opening an aircraft door so that the door extends over the floor surface;   detecting proximity between the aircraft door and the floor surface with a door detecting device; and   automatically directing motion of the loading device in response a signal from the door detecting device, independent of whether the loading device controller is in the operate mode or the off mode.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein automatically directing motion of the loading device includes automatically directing motion of the loading device via a detecting device controller connected between the door detecting device and the loading device controller. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein directing motion of an aircraft loading device includes directing motion of a passenger loading bridge.