Patent · US Active

Towbarless airplane tug

US9022317B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
76References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 26, 2013
Grant dateMay 5, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 26, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB64F1/227
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A towbarless airplane tug comprising: a chassis mounted on a plurality of tug wheels, at least some of said plurality of tug wheels being steerable tug wheels; an airplane wheel support assembly, mounted on said chassis, for supporting rotatable wheels of a nose landing gear of an airplane; at least one tug wheel driver operative to drive said plurality of tug wheels in rotation to provide displacement of said chassis; and at least one tug controller operative to control speed of said tug, said at least one tug controller employing at least one feedback loop utilizing a mapping of speed limits along a travel path traversed by said tug and said airplane at said airport as well as an indication of the instantaneous location of said tug and said airplane along a travel path.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.