Hold-down system for an aircraft towing vehicle

US4917564A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• KraussMaffei GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Juergen Pollner · Munich, DE
• Gregor Trummer · Aschering, DE
• Peter Moelzer · Markt Indersdorf, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 28, 1988
• Grant date: Apr 17, 1990
• Expiry date: Sep 28, 2008

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B64F1/227
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An aircraft towing vehicle has a frame with a rearwardly opening, U-shaped recess for receiving the nose wheel of an aircraft. A lifting and securing mechanism is disposed within the recess and includes a ramp and a stop plate carried by the frame, a lifter which pushes the nose wheel from behind up the ramp into abutment with the stop plate, and a pivotable hold-down mechanism mounted above the ramp. In its rest position the hold-down mechanism is set at a distance from the ground which is less than the diameter of the smallest nose wheel of the types of aircraft that can be towed. It contacts the periphery of the nose wheel being engaged at an upper forward guadrant of the wheel's periphery and passively moves in tandem with the nose wheel as it is being pushed up the ramp into its secured position. At the end of the engaging operation, the hold-down mechanism applied a downwardly directed force of a predetermined magnitude against the nose wheel, which is generated by a hydraulic actuator. The pressure remains sealed in the hydraulic actuator so that the clamping force is applied to the nose wheel throughout the towing operation. A sensor is provided for detecting any pressure d…