Patents by Inventor Dana W. Gross

Dana W. Gross has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Method and apparatus for connecting a passenger boarding bridge to a movable body
    Patent number: 5950266
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a movable body (114) to a passenger boarding bridge (110)is provided. The apparatus includes a cab (118) with a periphery (206) on one end of the passenger boarding bridge. A gangway (120) connects the cab (118) to the movable body (124). The gangway (120) has a bridge end (202) for engagement with the cab (118). The apparatus further includes an automatic gangway position detection system (203) for sensing the proximity of the bridge end (122) of the gangway to the periphery (206) of the cab.A method for connecting a passenger boarding bridge (110) to a movable body (124) having a cab (118) with a periphery (206) is provided. The method includes several steps. Those steps include providing a gangway (120), between the cab (118) and the movable body (124), the gangway (118)having a bridge end (122) and a body end (124). Further steps include engaging the bridge end (122) of the gangway with the cab (118) and engaging the body end (124) of the gangway with the moveable body (124).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Thyssen Stearns, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond K. Streeter, Dana W. Gross
  • Method and apparatus for reducing skidding of wheels on a passenger boarding bridge
    Patent number: 5855035
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing skidding of wheels on a passenger boarding bridge is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a travel direction (505), providing a skid compensation control signal (506) to an actuator (728) in response to the travel direction, and aligning by the actuator the wheel (214, 216) in response to the skid compensation control signal. A passenger boarding bridge (110) is provided that includes an extensible tunnel (114) with a fixed end (124) and a free end (116). A plurality of wheels (204, 206, 214, 216) are placed on the free end for moving the free end of the tunnel in a desired direction. The bridge includes a steering mechanism (502) for controlling the direction of movement of the free end and a control system (500) for aligning at least one of the wheels to reduce skidding. The control system includes a computing device (504) for generating a control signal and an actuator for rotating at least one of the wheels in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: Thyssen Stearns, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond K. Streeter, Dana W. Gross