US3683440A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic terminal bridge control system
Assignee: Unisys Corp
•
Filing: 1970-10-13
•
Granted: 1972-08-15
•
Expires: 1990-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for aligning one or more motorized terminal bridges to one or more doors in a vehicle enabling the loading and unloading of passengers and freight. The apparatus includes control circuits responsive to signals from a remotely located control panel which provides drive signals used in the initial positioning of each bridge. An electro-optical device in each bridge is locked onto a reflective type material affixed to the vehicle in the vicinity of each door. Transducers mounted in various sections of the bridges determine the spatial position of the bridges with respect to the terminal after initial positioning. The transducers cooperate with the electrooptical device to produce drive signals that steer and control the speed of each bridge until pressure contacts on each bridge indicate precise alignment with each door.
Inventors
- 👤 James A Xenakis
- 👤 Alvin L Zechnowitz
- 👤 Raymond L Strazzulla
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 14:52
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64F; B64F1/00; B64F1/30; B64F1/305; B64F1/3055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
In a motorized bridge which has one end rotatably fixed to a terminal, an extendable and retractable passageway connected between said terminal and its other end which is a rotatable cab, said passageway being supported by adjustable hydraulic cylinders on a truck, an improvement control apparatus for providing automated alignment of said bridge with a door on a parked vehicle comprising control signal means for providing initial control voltages to drive motors that maneuver said bridge to a preselected position in response to voltages applied from a remotely located control panel, marker means affixed to said vehicle in close proximity to said door, scanning means attached to said cab for remotely sighting said marker means from said cab, sensing means mounted in said fixed rotatable end, said cab, said passageway and said truck for producing positional voltages in accordance with the spatial position of said bridge relative to said terminal and said cab relative to said marker means, computing means responsive to said positional voltages for producing drive voltages that are coupled to said drive motors which rotate said bridge relative to said terminal, control the height and the length of said passageway, align said cab with said door and abut said cab against said vehicle, and contact switch means affixed to said cab producing an output control voltage in response to said cab contacting said vehicle, said control voltages being applied to said drive motors for rotating said cab until it is parallel to said vehicle, said contact switch means further cooperating with said sensing means and said drive motor means to achieve complete abutment of said cab against said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
272 words
In a motorized bridge which has one end rotatably fixed to a terminal, an extendable and retractable passageway connected between said terminal and its other end which is a rotatable cab, said passageway being supported by adjustable hydraulic cylinders on a truck, an improvement control apparatus for providing automated alignment of said bridge with a door on a parked vehicle comprising control signal means for providing initial control voltages to drive motors that maneuver said bridge to a preselected position in response to voltages applied from a remotely located control panel, marker means affixed to said vehicle in close proximity to said door, scanning means attached to said cab for remotely sighting said marker means from said cab, sensing means mounted in said fixed rotatable end, said cab, said passageway and said truck for producing positional voltages in accordance with the spatial position of said bridge relative to said terminal and said cab relative to said marker means, computing means responsive to said positional voltages for producing drive voltages that are coupled to said drive motors which rotate said bridge relative to said terminal, control the height and the length of said passageway, align said cab with said door and abut said cab against said vehicle, and contact switch means affixed to said cab producing an output control voltage in response to said cab contacting said vehicle, said control voltages being applied to said drive motors for rotating said cab until it is parallel to said vehicle, said contact switch means further cooperating with said sensing means and said drive motor means to achieve complete abutment of said cab against said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
Control apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said marker means includes an area that is non-reflective encompassing an area that is retro-reflective.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
Control apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said marker means is a plurality of areas painted with luminescent paint.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
Control apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said scanning means is a closed circuit television system having a television camera attached to said cab controllable from a remotely located control panel which includes a television monitor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Control apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said sensing means includes an electro-optical device and transducers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
Control apparatus as described in claim 5 in which said electro-optical device is essentially insensitive to ambient light conditions includes a collimated light beam transmitter and a receiver which produces signals indicative of vertical and horizontal misalignment between said marker means and said collimated light beam and signals indicative of the distance between said bridge and said marker means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
Control apparatus as described in claim 5 in which said transducers include shaft driven potentiometers coupled to positionable components located in said rotatable end of said bridge, said rotatable cab, said hydraulic cylinders and said truck thereby providing voltage signals that define the spatial position of said bridge as determined by said positionable components.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Control apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said sensing means includes a plurality of electro-optical devices and transducers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
Control apparatus as described in claim 8 in which said plurality of electro-optical devices include an ultraviolet light transmitter and a plurality of receivers which produce signals indicative of horizontal, angular and vertical misalignment between said marker means and said sensing means and signals indicative of distance between said bridge and said marker means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
Control apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said computing means includes logic circuits that process said positional voltages in accordance with a guidance equation producing control voltages that are applied to said truck for steering said bridge along a path that will bring said cab into alignment with said door and in contact with said vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
Control apparatus as described in claim 1 in which said contact switch means includes pressure switches disposed along the lower edge of said cab for sensing contact with said vehicle providing control signals that cause said cab to rotate and move forward until it is properly mated with said vehicle producing a park indicator signal that is coupled to said remotely located control panel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-15 | 1976-02-14 | 1976-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-15 | 1980-02-14 | 1980-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-15 | 1984-02-14 | 1984-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |