Material or article handling – Wheel and wheel-type article handler and transporter – Vertically swinging article engager
Patent
1994-08-02
1996-04-30
Keenan, James W.
Material or article handling
Wheel and wheel-type article handler and transporter
Vertically swinging article engager
414426, 180904, B64F 122
Patent
active
055119263
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the ground movement of aircraft or of automobiles, heavy trailers and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The movement of aircraft, especially light aircraft, presents difficulties particularly for individuals and particularly in confined areas such as an aircraft hangar or parking area. Not only is the weight considerable but there is the problem of manouevring while avoiding other aircraft, walls, doors and so on. Larger aircraft, on the other hand, are generally moved by means of purpose-built towing tractors which have sufficient weight to afford enough traction to pull or push large loads without wheel-slip. Such tractors, even small ones, are impractical for light aircraft and a small tractor would have insufficient weight to avoid wheel-slip when exerting the required tractive force.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a self-propelled device for the ground movement of for example light aircraft, on a hard or grass surface, which avoids the disadvantages referred to above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a self-propelled dolly for the movement of aircraft comprises a chassis supported by wheel means carried on two longitudinally-spaced axles, the chassis including aircraft wheel support means between the axles, the wheel support means being movable between a lowered position for engagement and disengagement of an aircraft wheel and a raised position for supporting the aircraft wheel above the ground surface, at least one wheel means being motor-drivable.
In the use of a dolly according to the invention, the weight of the aircraft (or other load) provides the downward-acting force which enables sufficient friction to be developed between the driven wheel means and the ground to avoid wheel-slip.
Preferably, the wheel means are circular and equipped with pneumatic tyres although tracked wheels could be used on at least one axle. Desirably, the dolly is steerable, for example by constructing and arranging for one axle to be pivotable about a vertical axis with respect to the other axle.
The chassis may be constructed in two parts pivoted together about a horizontal axis between the axles and including releasable locking means to maintain the wheel support means, which is preferably integral with one part of the chassis, in the raised or load-carrying position except when required to be lowered for engagement and disengagement of an aircraft wheel, which will generally be a nose-wheel but may, depending on the wheel configuration of the aircraft, be a tail-wheel.
In a preferred arrangement, a dolly according to the invention comprises:
a pair of laterally spaced apart first ground-engaging wheels each mounted about a portion of a split first axle mounted in respective parallel members of a bifurcated chassis portion, the members defining therebetween a space to receive an aircraft wheel; one or more second ground-engaging wheels mounted on a second chassis portion pivotably connected to the bifurcated chassis portion about a substantially vertical axis to provide steering ability to the dolly, the second chassis portion including handle means extending therefrom for control of the dolly by an operator; and a motor and drive means operatively connected to at least one of said ground-engaging wheels; the bifurcated chassis portion being formed in two sections pivotably connected together about a lateral pivot axis at an intermediate location between said first and second wheels, whereby said sections are lowerable and raisable at their mutually connected ends with respect to the ground, means to support an aircraft wheel being mounted on one of said sections and including releasable locking means to maintain said sections in the raised position, in which an aircraft with a wheel thereof supported above ground level by the dolly may be manoeuvred.
Preferably, the bifurcated chassis portion includes load-bearing elements which are disposed inboard of the parallel members, and the support means comprises fixed and
REFERENCES:
patent: 2798729 (1957-07-01), Paul
patent: 3009711 (1961-11-01), White
patent: 3049253 (1962-08-01), Cabral
patent: 3662911 (1972-05-01), Harman
patent: 3946886 (1976-03-01), Robinson
patent: 4036384 (1977-07-01), Johnson
patent: 4130210 (1978-12-01), Purviance
patent: 5302074 (1994-04-01), Elfstrom
patent: 5308212 (1994-05-01), Pollner et al.
patent: 5314287 (1994-05-01), Wichert
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