HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR ROTUNDA OF BOARDING BRIDGE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a rotunda height adjusting device for a boarding bridge, and more particularly, to a rotunda height adjusting device for a boarding bridge for adjusting a height of a rotunda column and distribute a lateral weight.

Background Art

Because a vertical weight of a rotunda weight adjustable device for a boarding bridge is divided by an inner column and an outer column, only a vertical screw supports a weight of each of a rotunda, a fastened tunnel, and a boarding bridge.

Because the vertical screw may bear a wind pressure applied to a side surface of the rotunda and the boarding bridge, and a lateral weight caused by a movement and a stop of the boarding bridge, a size of the vertical screw may increase or a number of vertical screws may increase more than necessary.

Thus, development of a rotunda operable in a vertical direction that can endure the lateral weight is required.

US 5 084 936 A discloses a rotunda height adjusting device for a boarding bridge according to the preamble of claim 1.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Goals

A goal of the present invention is to provide rotunda height adjusting device for a boarding bridge distributing a lateral weight to an outer column and an inner column.

Another goal of the present invention is to provide a rotunda height adjusting device for a boarding bridge decreasing a size of a vertical screw by disposing rails on an outer column and an inner column according to claim 1.

Still another goal of the present invention is to provide a stable lubricating oil receiver to minimize a frictional force between a screw and a nut caused by a vertical movement of the screw.

Technical solutions

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a rotunda height adjusting device for a boarding bridge as defined by claim 1.

Further aspects of the invention are defined by the dependent claims 2-6.

By maintaining a gap in which an inner column and an outer column are connected and reducing bending of a vertical screw, a lateral weight of a rotunda height adjusting device of a boarding bridge may be distributed.

Effects

An effect of the present invention is to decrease a size of a vertical screw by disposing rails on an outer column and an inner column according to claim 1, such that a number of vertical screws may be minimized and a production cost may be reduced.

Other effects of the present invention are that a pressure on a vertical screw may be decreased and the column may ascend and descend in a safe manner.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a lubricating oil receiver to minimize a frictional force between a nut and a screw.

Brief Description of Drawings

• FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a movable boarding bridge including a rotunda height adjusting device according to an embodiment;
• FIG. 2 illustrates a rotunda height adjusting device according to an embodiment;
• FIG. 3 illustrates rails of an inner column or an outer column according to an embodiment;
• FIG. 4 illustrates an outer column that ascends and descends by an oil pressure according to an embodiment; and
• FIG. 5 illustrates a rotunda height adjusting device including a lubricating oil receiver according to an embodiment.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a movable boarding bridge 200 including a rotunda height adjusting device 100 according to an embodiment. Description is provided below.

The movable boarding bridge 200 includes a rotunda 30 to connect a fastened tunnel 10 and a boarding bridge 20 connected to a passenger terminal, and the rotunda height adjusting device 100 for enabling the rotunda to ascend and descend.

Here, the rotunda 30 is included in the rotunda height adjusting device such that the rotunda may rotate and a vertical position of the rotunda may be adjusted. Thus, a position and a height of a gate of an aircraft may correspond to a position and a height of a cabin of the boarding bridge 20, and the cabin of the boarding bridge 20 may be connected to or disconnected from the gate of the aircraft.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rotunda height adjusting device, and FIG. 3 illustrates rails of an inner column or an outer column. Description is provided below.

The rotunda height adjusting device 100 may be disposed on a lower end of the rotunda 30. The rotunda height adjusting device 100 includes an outer column 50, an inner column 40, a nut 42, a vertical screw 72, convex rails 41, concave rails 51 and may include a motor 71, and a reducer 70.

The outer column 50 may be disposed on the lower portion of the rotunda to fasten the rotunda, and the outer column 40 may be fastened to a ground surface. The outer column may be connected to an upper portion of the fastened inner column 40 such that the outer column may ascend and descend.

The convex rails 41 are disposed on an outer surface of the inner column 40 in a longitudinal direction, and the concave rails 51 are disposed inside of the outer column 50 in a predetermined longitudinal direction. Rails of the outer column 50 may be correspondingly formed on each of the upper portion and the lower portion of the fastened inner column 40 such that the outer column may stably move in a vertical direction.

The rails included in the outer column 50 and the inner column 40 are correspondingly engaged to each other. The inner column 40 may be cylindrical, and the convex rails 41 are disposed on the outer surface of the inner column 40, and a through hole may be formed in a center portion of the inner column and the nut 42 is disposed in the center portion of the inner column. The concave rails 51 are included inside of the outer column 50 such that the inner column 40 is inserted. A size and a shape of the nut 42 may correspond to a size and a shape of the vertical screw 72.

Not according to claim 1, convex rails and concave rails may be conversely disposed on an inner column and an outer column.

Also, an outer column connected to a rotunda and an inner column connected to a ground surface may be conversely disposed based on a site condition.

Due to rails of the inner column 40 and the outer column 50 disposed in a predetermined longitudinal direction and the nut 42 disposed in the center portion, the outer column 50 including the vertical screw that rotates by the motor 71 and the reducer 70 may ascend and descend to adjust a position of the rotunda.

The vertical screw may be disposed on the upper portion of the outer column 50 under the rotunda so that the vertical screw may rotate by a connection of the nut 42 and the vertical screw.

The motor may be connected to the reducer and the motor may rotate by an electrical energy and thus, the vertical screw 72 may rotate to adjust the position of the rotunda.

The vertical screw is connected to the nut 42 disposed in the inner column and thus, the vertical screw may ascend and descend. A length of the vertical screw may be formed to reach the nut 42 and the length of the vertical screw may be sufficient to allow the rotunda to ascend and descend. An internal diameter of the nut 42 corresponds to the outer surface of the vertical screw 72.

Hereinafter, detailed description of a movement structure of an inner column and an outer column will be provided.

Not according to claim 1, at least three vertical convex rails may be disposed on the outer surface of each of the inner column 40 and the inner column 40, and a vertical concave rail corresponding to the inner column 40 may be disposed in the outer column 50. A vertical rail that endures a lateral buckling force caused by a vertical movement of the rotunda may be disposed, and a movement length of a rail may correspond to a stroke of the vertical movement.

Also, when a gap is maintained between rails of the inner column 40 and the outer column 50 in which the inner column is connected to the outer column and the vertical screw is bent due to a lateral weight of the boarding bridge, the gap may be maintained to be less than an allowable width of the bent vertical screw.

When the lateral weight is applied, a lateral supporting force may be supported by the buckling force of a screw and the rails of the inner column and the outer column, and a motion caused by the gap may support and distribute the lateral weight by fastening the vertical screw and the nut 42.

FIG. 4 illustrates an outer column that ascends and descends by an oil pressure according to an embodiment.

Besides a configuration of the vertical screw 72 that rotates by the motor 71, a hydraulic power unit 80 that allows an oil pressure of a hydraulic cylinder 81 to vertically move in a hydraulic pipe 82 may be used in order to allow an outer column to ascend and descend such that a height of the rotunda may be adjusted.

A structure of a rail may be identical to that of FIGS. 2 and 3. The outer column may be disposed on a lower end of the rotunda to fasten the rotunda, and an inner column may be fastened to a ground surface.

The outer column may be connected to an upper portion of the fastened inner column such that the outer column may ascend and descend.

Convex rails are disposed on an outer surface of the outer column in a longitudinal direction, and concave rails are disposed inside of the outer column in a predetermined longitudinal direction. Rails of the outer column may be correspondingly formed on each of the upper portion and the lower portion of the fastened inner column such that the outer column may stably move in a vertical direction.

The rails included in the outer column and the inner column are correspondingly engaged to each other. The convex rails are disposed on the outer surface of the inner column and the concave rails are disposed inside of the outer column such that the inner column is inserted. In addition, a hydraulic pipe may be included in the inner column or the outer column such that the outer column may ascend and descend by an oil pressure.

The rotunda height adjusting apparatus may dispose the convex rail and the concave rail in the outer column and the inner column such that an accurate vertical movement is possible, and the outer column and the inner column may distribute a wind pressure and a lateral weight caused when a boarding bridge is stopped such that a column may ascend and descend in a safe manner.

FIG. 5 illustrates a rotunda height adjusting device including a lubricating oil receiver according to an embodiment. A structure of a rail may be identical to that of FIGS. 2 and 3. An outer column may be disposed on a lower end of a rotunda to fasten the rotunda, and an outer column may be fastened to a ground surface. The outer column may be connected to an upper portion of the fastened inner column such that the outer column may ascend and descend.

Convex rails are disposed on an outer surface of the outer column in a longitudinal direction, and concave rails are disposed inside of the outer column in a predetermined longitudinal direction. Rails of the outer column may be correspondingly formed on each of the upper portion and the lower portion of the fastened inner column such that the outer column may stably move in a vertical direction.

The rails included in the outer column and the inner column are correspondingly engaged to each other. The convex rails are disposed on the outer surface of the inner column and the concave rails are disposed inside of the outer column such that the inner column is inserted. In addition, a vertical screw fastened to the outer column to allow the outer column to ascend and descend may ascend and descend by a nut disposed in the outer column.

Here, a lubricating oil receiver 60 may be disposed to cover an outer surface of the nut.

The lubricating oil receiver 60 may be disposed to cover an upper end portion, the outer surface, and a lower end portion of the nut 42 in a longitudinal direction, and the lubricating oil receiver 60 may contain lubricating oil.

The lubricating oil receiver 60 may decrease a frictional force between a vertical bolt and the nut such that the lubricating oil flows.

The lubricating oil receiver 60 may include a lubricating oil container 62 and a lubricating oil cover 61. A lubricating oil container may be fastened to a lower center of the outer column in a longitudinal direction.

The nut 42 may be fastened to the upper end portion of the lubricating oil container 62 and the lubricating oil cover 61 may be disposed on the upper end portion of the nut. At least one hole 63 may be formed inside of the nut 42 in a longitudinal direction such that the lubricating oil flows vertically. For example, two holes may be formed one on each side of the nut 42.

The hole 63 may allow the lubricating oil to flow through the hole 63 by a pressure caused when the vertical bolt 72 descends.

The lubricating oil container 62 and the lubricating oil cover 61 may be completely sealed such that the lubricating oil is protected from leaking out. When the vertical screw descends, the lubricating oil may flow to the lubricating oil cover by the hole. When the vertical screw ascends, the lubricating oil may flow to an inside where the lubricating oil container is disposed.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Rather, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope defined by the appended claims.