Importance

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Abstract

A mobile access bridge provides access to the doors and the exterior surface of an aircraft fuselage in the final stages of construction, assembly, and outfitting. The access bridge includes catwalks preferably arranged at several levels, in pairs on opposite sides of the aircraft. The bridge further includes bridge supports that each have an arched inverted U-shape. The bridge supports are connected to and carry the catwalks, and respectively arch over the top of the aircraft fuselage. The bridge may be made up of a number of bridge segments that are coupled together as needed by coupling units. The entire bridge or each individual bridge segment is lifted at a lifting fixture by an overhead crane or lifting cable, is then moved into position, and then lowered onto the aircraft fuselage. The bridge is entirely supported on or at least partly braced against the aircraft fuselage by padding elements or spacer elements that are provided on the inner arch of each bridge support and that rest in contact on the exterior of the fuselage.

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First Claim