Importance

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Abstract

Passenger boarding bridges have adjustable walkways that are elevated high above the ground when servicing aircraft doorways. Passenger safety is improved by automatically stabilizing the passenger boarding bridge when it is in an aligned condition. A method for automatically stabilizing the passenger boarding bridge includes moving the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge into an aligned relationship relative to the doorway of an aircraft. The aligned relationship between the aircraft-engaging end of the passenger boarding bridge and the doorway of the aircraft is detected automatically. Adjustable jacks, which are fixedly mounted to the passenger boarding bridge wheel carriage, are actuated between a retracted condition and an extended condition. In the extended condition, the adjustable jacks engage a ground surface below the passenger boarding bridge, thereby increasing the stability of the passenger boarding bridge.

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First Claim