Towbarless airplane tug
US8774983B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T50/80
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In an embodiment, a towbarless airplane tug configured for receiving a landing gear of an airplane and towing the airplane thereby at an actual speed is disclosed. The towbarless airplane tug includes a chassis configured for receiving thereon at least a portion of the landing gear, and a propulsion arrangement configured to move the towbarless airplane tug in a direction along a trajectory. The towbarless airplane tug further includes a controller configured to compare between the actual speed of the towbarless airplane tug, when towing the airplane, and a predetermined desired speed thereof, and to direct the propulsion arrangement to maintain the actual speed of the towbarless airplane tug if: the actual speed is lower than the desired speed, and the actual speed was maintained within a predefined speed range during a predefined period that preceded the comparing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.