GB737163A - Improvements in or relating to aircraft manoeuvring devices - Google Patents

Abstract

737,163. Vehicle movers. SHARP, J. R., and KAYE, E. May 5, 1952 [May 4, 1951 ; Oct. 26, 1951], Nos. 10538/51 and 25141/51. Classes 79(1), 79(3) and 79(5). [Also in Group XXX] Apparatus for manoeuvring aircraft comprises a cradle to be fitted onto the aircraft and a truck having a member engagable with the cradle and lifting means for the engaging member whereby the cradle and hence the part of the aircraft fitted thereto are lifted clear of the ground. As shown the truck comprises an electrically driven, steerable wheel 16 mounted in a turntable 17 having a tiller bar 18 carrying controls 19, 20, electric batteries being housed beneath a raised portion 22, 23 of the truck floor 21. The forward end of truck is supported on wheels 12, 13. Projecting from this end of the truck is a member 32 formed with a vertical flange 37, a horizontal flange 35, ramps 39 and conical rollers 40, 41 rotatable about vertical axes, the flange 37 being formed with guides 38. The member 32 is pivoted at 34 to bell crank levers 33 pivoted on a cross tube 31, arms 42 of the levers 33 being connected to piston rods 43 of double acting hydraulic jacks 44. The cylinders of the jacks 44 are connected to bell crank levers 46 having arms 47 interconnected by an axle 48. The axle 48 rotatably carries rollers 49, centring springs 53 being provided. The member 32 is further carried by a pivoted lever 50 so that the levers 33, 50 form a parallelogram linkage. The arrangement is such that when the jacks 44 are operated to lower the member 32 the rollers 49 are lowered to contact the ground and lift the wheels 12, 13 from the ground. In this position of the member 32 the truck is driven toward a cradle member 24 formed of pivoted halves locked together by a member 27 and engaging the tail wheel 30 of the aircraft. The member 24 is caused to ride up the ramps and fall into position in the member 32, the rollers 40, 41 engaging a complementary surface 29 on the member 24 and the springs 53 permitting lateral movement of the truck to accommodate inaccuracies of position between the members 32 and 24. Subsequently the jacks are operated to lift the member 32, and hence the tail of the aircraft which increases the ground adhesion of the wheel 16, raise the rollers 49 and bring the wheels 12, 13 back into ground contact. A limit switch on the truck brake mechanism is connected in circuit with the hydraulic jacks so that the member 32 cannot be lifted until the truck brake is released to accommodate relative horizontal movement between the aircraft and the truck during the lifting operation. After the lifting operation the aircraft can be manoeuvred by means of the truck. A shock absorber or weak link device may be provided between the front and rear portions of the truck to prevent the application of shock loads to the aircraft. The invention may be applied to the nose wheel of an aircraft. A removable adaptor, Fig. 6 (not shown), may be provided for insertion into the member 32 to accommodate a smaller version of the member 24 for use with aircraft with smaller wheels. Specification 736,586 is referred to in the Provisional Specification.