US 12,460,728 B2
Expandable seal for passenger loading bridges
Bret Pica, Denver, CO (US)
Filed by Bret Pica, Denver, CO (US)
Filed on Jun. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/847,177.
Prior Publication US 2023/0417327 A1, Dec. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. B64F 1/305 (2006.01); F16J 15/46 (2006.01)
CPC F16J 15/46 (2013.01) [B64F 1/305 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An expandable joint seal in a passenger loading bridge which connects a building to a vehicle, comprising:
a joint comprising overlapping structures;
an expandable seal for filling a void between said overlapping structures, said expandable seal comprising:
at least one inflatable bladder adapted to be situated in a deflated state within the void, said at least one inflatable bladder having an air inlet;
an air inlet valve for controlling flow of air through the air inlet;
a compressed air source;
at least one compressed air line interposed between the compressed air source and the air inlet; and
a motorized air relief valve associated with said expandable joint seal, wherein:
closing said motorized air relief valve and opening said air inlet valve allows said compressed air source to feed air into said inflatable bladder through said compressed air line to inflate said bladder and provide a substantially airtight seal between the overlapping structures.