Abstract: A method for the automated docking of a passenger boarding bridge to an aircraft parked in a stand includes, determining a target position with respect to a door of the aircraft, to which target position a bridgehead of the passenger boarding bridge is to be moved, and moving the bridgehead to dock with the door of the aircraft based on the determined target position.

Abstract: A method predicts whether an approaching passenger intends to travel on a passenger moving system having at least one movable pallet. The method includes positioning at least one monitoring device in the vicinity of the passenger moving system such that it monitors a detection area wherein the detection area includes at least a first detection area. The monitoring system then detects the presence of a passenger in the at least first detection area and monitors a trajectory of the passenger. A response is triggered at a control unit of the passenger moving system when the monitored trajectory of the passenger provides a predicted trajectory that reaches the entrance to the passenger moving system.

Abstract: A passenger boarding bridge may include a tunnel having a first tunnel section and a second tunnel section. The first and second tunnel sections may be telescopic for adjusting a length of the tunnel along a sliding direction. The passenger boarding bridge may further include bearings configured to slidably support the first and second tunnel sections relative to one another. The bearings may include a bearing rail connected to the first tunnel section a bearing sledge connected to the second tunnel section. The bearing rail may comprise a planar first horizontal bearing surface, and the bearing sledge may comprise a planar second horizontal bearing surface that is configured to slide along the planar first horizontal bearing surface as the tunnel sections telescope.

Abstract: A transport device for conveying passengers between first and second landing areas in a conveying direction may include a skirt member and a balustrade, which may include lower and upper sides, extending between the landing areas. The skirt member may be secured to the lower side. An endless moving handrail may form a loop. A first section of the handrail moves along the upper side of the balustrade in the conveying direction, and a second section of the handrail moves within the skirt member opposite the conveying direction. Two turnaround sections are disposed between the first and second sections near the first and second landing areas, respectively. At least one of the turnaround sections includes a cover member that renders part of the turnaround section of the handrail inaccessible to passengers. The cover member may comprise a positioning mechanism for adjustably positioning the cover member relative to the balustrade.

Abstract: A passenger boarding bridge may include a tunnel having a first tunnel section and a second tunnel section. The first and second tunnel sections may be telescopic for adjusting a length of the tunnel along a sliding direction. The passenger boarding bridge may further include bearings configured to slidably support the first and second tunnel sections relative to one another. The bearings may include a bearing rail connected to the first tunnel section a bearing sledge connected to the second tunnel section. The bearing rail may comprise a planar first horizontal bearing surface, and the bearing sledge may comprise a planar second horizontal bearing surface that is configured to slide along the planar first horizontal bearing surface as the tunnel sections telescope.

Abstract: A method to control a transport device like a moving walkway or escalator with a control unit includes, generating visual images of a person traveling on the transport device, analyzing movement of the person based on the visual images, and transferring the control unit into a safety modus based on the analysis. The transport device includes a transport area for accommodating a person to be transported, a plurality of transport elements such as movable pallets or movable steps configured to convey the person located in the transport area in a standing manner, a drive adapted for driving the transport elements, and an image recording device for creating visual images of a sector of the transport area. Based on the recorded images a movement of the person within the transport area is analyzed. Based upon a result of the analysis the control unit is transferred into a safety modus.

Abstract: A method for positioning a boarding bridge at an airplane includes taking a picture of the parked airplane. A row of two adjacent side window rings is detected in the picture, wherein the side window ring is an extraction of a side window. A door polygon adjacent to the row of side window rings is searched for and a relative position of the door is calculated. The position is compared to a position of a distal end of the passenger boarding bridge or a camera taking the picture and the passenger boarding bridge is moved automatically based on the calculated relative position.

Abstract: A transport device for conveying passengers between first and second landing areas in a conveying direction may include a skirt member and a balustrade, which may include lower and upper sides, extending between the landing areas. The skirt member may be secured to the lower side. An endless moving handrail may form a loop. A first section of the handrail moves along the upper side of the balustrade in the conveying direction, and a second section of the handrail moves within the skirt member opposite the conveying direction. Two turnaround sections are disposed between the first and second sections near the first and second landing areas, respectively. At least one of the turnaround sections includes a cover member that renders part of the turnaround section of the handrail inaccessible to passengers. The cover member may comprise a positioning mechanism for adjustably positioning the cover member relative to the balustrade.

Abstract: A method may be employed to control a transport device such as a moving walkway or an escalator with a control unit. The transport device may include a transport area for accommodating a person to be transported, transport means such as movable pallets or movable steps adapted for conveying the person located in the transport area in a standing manner, drive means adapted for driving the transport means, and an image recording device for creating visual images of a sector of the transport area. Based on the recorded images a movement of the person within the transport area is analysed. Based upon a result of the analysis the control unit is transferred into a safety modus.

Abstract: An escalator/moving walkway modular truss is disclosed. Each module includes opposite sides including a lower profile and an upper profile, and vertical and diagonal beams placed between the lower profile and the upper profile. The lower profiles directly support an outer cladding of the escalator/moving walkway, and the upper profiles directly support balustrades and outer decking profiles of the escalator/moving walkway. Additionally, a method of assembling an escalator/moving walkway modular truss is disclosed, including the cold rolling of the profiles and the cold joining of vertical and diagonal beams between them.

Abstract: A safety chain for conveyor pallets may comprise bent links arranged in alternating fashion with straight links. Each of the bent links may have two ends with a wheel disposed at each end. Each consecutive bent link and straight link may be joined at an articulation point. The safety chain may also comprise arms extending from each articulation point, wherein a conveyor pallet may be coupled to each arm. Further, roller guides that follow a trajectory of the safety chain may be arranged on one of two sides of the safety chain. The roller guides may rotate the wheels of the bent links. The articulation points enable rotation and position change of the bent links and the straight links so as to increase or decrease a distance between consecutive conveyor pallets according to a change of speed of a conveyor.

Abstract: A set of pallets for transportation systems for transporting passengers and/or goods may include a pulling pallet that pulls a pulled pallet. The pulled and pulling pallets may articulate relative to one another about an axis substantially perpendicular to a direction of displacement of a continuous belt formed by such sets of pallets. The set of pallets may have a support surface for supporting passengers and/or goods, as well as a functional surface opposite the support surface. The functional surface may include a balance having a first end articulated to the functional surface according to an axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of displacement and a second end opposite the first end that has a one or more coupling devices that form a coupling joint between one or more devices that pull the pulling pallet along a trajectory followed by the continuous belt.

Abstract: A conveyor system for displacing passenger/goods formed by a moving endless belt comprising a plurality of pallet assemblies and drive means to transmit a drive movement to the pallet belt. The pallets have a functional surface opposite to the support surface and having first meshing means. The drive means comprise second meshing means designed to interact with the first meshing means, so that the drive pallets, are driven by the drive means by means of a meshing between the first meshing means and the second meshing means and to drive said pallet belt in the movement direction D. The drive means have a linear motor aligned with the movement direction D.

Abstract: A turning system for a belt transport system, wherein the belt of the same is formed by a plurality of pallets and the transport system has a turn input stretch and a turn output stretch, arranged on the same horizontal plane. The turning system has a curved stretch, which connects the turn input and output, the curved stretch being arranged on the same horizontal plane as the turn input and output.

Abstract: An example drive system for a transportation system may include an actuator for transmitting an actuation motion from a motor, a first pulling device configured to transmit a pulling motion from the actuator to moving parts of the transportation system in a transition speed section situated between an embarking/disembarking zone and a middle zone, a second pulling device configured to transmit a pulling motion from the first pulling device to the moving parts of the transportation system in a high-speed section in a middle zone of the transportation system. In some examples, the first pulling device may be a carriage.

Abstract: Example drive systems for handrails of walkways and moving stairs may comprise a plurality of carriages. In some examples, each carriage may comprise a body with several leading rollers that roll along a guide that defines a handrail path. The carriage may further comprise a locking/release mechanism for selectively coupling the carriage to a drive chain of the handrail. The locking/release mechanism may comprise a hook configured to move between an engagement position wherein the carriage is coupled to the drive chain and a disengagement position wherein the carriage is uncoupled from the drive chain. In some cases, a position of the hook may be controlled by a wheel that travels along a cam profile.

Abstract: An example set of palettes for transportation systems for transporting passengers and/or goods may include a pulling palette that pulls a pulled palette. The pulled and pulling palettes may articulate relative to one another about an axis substantially perpendicular to a direction of displacement of a continuous belt formed by such sets of palettes. The set of palettes may have a support surface for supporting passengers and/or goods, as well as a functional surface opposite the support surface. The functional surface may include a balance having a first end articulated to the functional surface according to an axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of displacement and a second end opposite the first end that has a one or more coupling devices that form a coupling joint between one or more devices that pull the pulling palette along a trajectory followed by the continuous belt.

Abstract: Example drive systems for handrails of walkways and moving stairs may comprise a plurality of carriages. In some examples, each carriage may comprise a body with several leading rollers that roll along a guide that defines a handrail path. The carriage may further comprise a locking/release mechanism for selectively coupling the carriage to a drive chain of the handrail. The locking/release mechanism may comprise a hook configured to move between an engagement position wherein the carriage is coupled to the drive chain and a disengagement position wherein the carriage is uncoupled from the drive chain. In some cases, a position of the hook may be controlled by a wheel that travels along a cam profile.

Abstract: An example drive system for a transportation system may include an actuator for transmitting an actuation motion from a motor, a first pulling device configured to transmit a pulling motion from the actuator to moving parts of the transportation system in a transition speed section situated between an embarking/disembarking zone and a middle zone, a second pulling device configured to transmit a pulling motion from the first pulling device to the moving parts of the transportation system in a high-speed section in a middle zone of the transportation system. In some examples, the first pulling device may be a carriage.

Abstract: A safety chain for conveyor pallets may comprise bent links arranged in alternating fashion with straight links. Each of the bent links may have two ends with a wheel disposed at each end. Each consecutive bent link and straight link may be joined at an articulation point. The safety chain may also comprise arms extending from each articulation point, wherein a conveyor pallet may be coupled to each arm. Further, roller guides that follow a trajectory of the safety chain may be arranged on one of two sides of the safety chain. The roller guides may rotate the wheels of the bent links. The articulation points enable rotation and position change of the bent links and the straight links so as to increase or decrease a distance between consecutive conveyor pallets according to a change of speed of a conveyor.