DESC:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a device used for maneuvering, ground handling and positioning of an aircraft at desired location.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, aircrafts are moved by human power manually, with automotive devices like tractors etc. Alternately, a tow bar device is used to move the aircraft which is easier compared to manual moving. Later, aircraft tugs without usage of tow bars are introduced which is used to ground handle aircrafts to any required position easily.

Tugs are developed with many designs and configurations to handle aircrafts of various weight ranges. Tugs carry rotating wheels which are used to position the tug below the nose wheel or tail wheel of the air craft. The design of a tug is generally complicated involving many mechanisms with different motion capabilities and requires skilled man power to operate. It also requires periodic maintenance due to the complications in design.

The present invention attempts to design a tug for air craft which is simple in design and easier to operate.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a device used for maneuvering, ground handling and positioning of an aircraft at desired location.

According to an aspect, a device for maneuvering an aircraft, said device comprising: a cradle and a back plate for locking the aircraft wheels; a plurality of wheels coupled on either side of the device by a plurality of electrical driving means, adapted for movement of the aircraft; a rotational platform adapted to mount said cradle and back plate, said rotational platform is adapted to change the direction of movement of aircraft; wherein said cradle has a guiding mechanism comprising at least one guide roller, positioned in front of the device, and adapted to push at least one aircraft wheel so as to make the at least one aircraft wheel climb over the cradle, wherein said aircraft wheels are operably placed on said rotational platform for towing.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be more apparent in the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a device for maneuvering an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 illustrates a cradle of a guiding mechanism pushed against aircraft wheels of an aircraft, making the aircraft wheels climb over the cradle through the guiding mechanism, in a device for maneuvering an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 3 illustrates aircraft wheels of an aircraft having completed the climbing action over a cradle and finally landing on a rotational platform of a device for maneuvering an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 illustrates aircraft wheels of an aircraft landed on the rotational platform of a device for maneuvering an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 illustrates an actuator connected to the back plate in a device for locking the aircraft wheels, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 6 illustrates a back plate of a device for maneuvering an aircraft, connected to the rotational platform, and the cradle operating separately to lock the aircraft wheels, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 illustrates a view where aircraft wheels of an aircraft are landed over a rotational platform of a device for maneuvering an aircraft and the corresponding working mechanism of the rotational platform, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 illustrates a view a device for maneuvering an aircraft, where a motor drives a plurality of bevel gears which finally drive the rotational platform, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 9 illustrates a locking mechanism which locks to the ground level of the device to avoid its movement during unstable conditions and environments in a device for maneuvering an aircraft, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary implementations of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.

Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one implementation may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other implementations and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other implementations.

In the embodiments as described below, the term “tug” has been alternatively used for “a device for maneuvering an aircraft”.

The tug is designed to handle one and / or plurality aircraft wheels. The tug can be operated in hangar or ship decks. The tug can handle both rotary and fixed wing type air crafts. The tug is capable of handling either front nose wheels or tail wheels of air craft. The tug is also capable of handling one or more wheels at a time.

The tug is power driven and the energy source can be either direct current supply or through batteries. The batteries can be one or plurality based on the end use requirements. The tug can be manually driven also.

The movement of the tug is achieved by means of a control unit which is connected to the tug as either wired or wireless technologies.

For towing the aircraft, the tug is made approached towards the aircraft. Especially, the tug approaches towards the front side of the one or more wheels of the aircraft.
The cradle of the tug is made to enter under the nose wheel or tail wheel of air craft. The aircraft wheels can be single or plurality. The cradle of the tug is specially designed which contains guiding rollers and / or guiding mechanism. Both sides of the guiding rollers and / or guiding mechanism are supported by the cradle bracket. When the guiding rollers and / or guiding mechanism of the cradle enter into the wheel of the aircraft, the guiding rollers and / or guiding mechanism of the cradle revolves against the rotation of aircraft wheel thereby assisting the aircraft wheel to climb all the guiding rollers and / or guiding mechanism of the cradle in succession. Once the aircraft wheel climbs all the guiding rollers and / or guiding mechanism of the cradle, the aircraft wheel / wheels finally land on a rotational platform.

On the rotational platform, a wheel / wheels locking mechanism is fitted. This locking mechanism consists of a back plate. Once the aircraft wheel enters, the wheel pushes the back plate further backwards thereby the back plate activates an actuator / moving mechanism. This makes the cradle to lift upwards. Thus the cradle and the back plate together act as a locking mechanism to lock the wheels of aircraft.
As an alternate embodiment, once the wheel is landed on the rotational platform, the back plate holds the front side of the aircraft wheel. The cradle can be manually actuated either electronically or mechanically to lock the back side of the aircraft wheel thus both sides of the aircraft wheel is locked to avoid further movement of the wheel.

Movement of the aircraft is achieved by means of two or more wheels on both sides of the tug which are driven by means of an electrical motor connected to the wheels through driving gears directly or through a chain and sprocket mechanism or any other alternate driving methods.

In an embodiment, the wheels of the tug are attached to shock absorbing elements to reduce the vibration and shocks during movement.

In another embodiment, the drive motor is attached with electro-magnetic braking mechanism to stop / start the movement of the tug.

The rotational platform where the aircraft wheel is landed is rotational by means of another motor and driving mechanism connected to the axis of the platform. The two wheels on both sides of the tug are used for movement of aircraft whereas the Rotational platform is used to change the direction of movement of aircraft. The rotational platform drive from the motor can be through pulleys and belts, or using chain and sprocket mechanism, or it can be achieved through any direct gear drives like bevel gears.

As an alternate embodiment, the motors which are used for driving the tug can also be mechanically connected to achieve the rotational movement of the rotational platform.

The rotational platform is also movable vertically. The vertical movement is also achieved by means of a separate motor drive. The vertical movement is required to adjust the height of the aircraft wheel from the ground to achieve easy towing further.

In another embodiment, both the movement of the wheels of the tug and the movement of the rotational platform are synchronized to each other. This synchronization is required to maintain the stable position of the aircraft wheel during movement.

The power for the motors fitted in the tug is given either through direct electric supply or through one or more batteries. The console for operating the tug is connected to the tug either through wired or wireless technologies.

In one embodiment, the tug is equipped with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism can be mechanical or electrical or electro-magnetic or the combination of three. The locking mechanism is used to lock the movement of the tug in case of unstable conditions and environments like ship decks.

According to an embodiment, a device (1) for maneuvering an aircraft (6), said device comprising: a cradle (2) and a back plate (3) operably coupled to each other by connecting rod means (8a, 8b); a plurality of wheels (5a, 5b) coupled on either side of the device by a plurality of electrical driving means (14), adapted for movement of the aircraft (6); a rotational platform (4) adapted to mount said cradle (2) and back plate (3), said rotational platform (4) is adapted to change the direction of movement of aircraft (6); wherein said cradle (2) has a guiding mechanism comprising at least one guide roller (9), positioned in front of the device, and adapted to push at least one aircraft wheel (7) so as to make the at least one aircraft wheel (7) climb over the cradle (2), wherein said aircraft wheels (7) are operably placed on said rotational platform (4).

According to an embodiment, Fig. 1 shows the tug (1) containing a cradle (2) and a back plate (3). The cradle (2) contains a guiding mechanism (9). The cradle (2) and the back plate (3) are mounted on a rotational platform (4). The cradle (2) and the back plate (3) are connected to each other by means of a connecting rod (8a & 8b) on both sides. The tug (1) is driven using wheels (5a & 5b) which are connected to an electrical driving means (14). Alternately, a direct drive to the wheels (5a & 5b) can also be given. The cradle (2) is positioned in front of the aircraft wheels (7) of the aircraft (6).

Fig. 2 shows the cradle (2) of the guiding mechanism (9) pushed against the aircraft wheels (7) of the aircraft (6), making the aircraft wheels (7) climbing over the cradle (2) through the guiding mechanism (9).

Fig. 3 shows the aircraft wheels (7) of the aircraft (6) having completed the climbing action over the cradle (2) and landed on the rotational platform (4).

Fig. 4 shows the aircraft wheels (7) of the aircraft (6) landed on the rotational platform (4) and further pushes the back plate (3) thereby activating an actuator which enables the cradle (2) and back plate (3) to approach towards each other by means of connecting rods (8a & 8b) connected between the cradle (2) and back plate (3). This locks the aircraft wheels (7) in its position.

Fig. 5 shows an actuator (10) connected to the back plate (3). This actuator (10) actuates once the aircraft wheels (7) of the aircraft (6) pushes the back plate thereby enabling the cradle (2) and back plate (3) to approach towards each other by means of connecting rods (8a) and 8b (not shown in figure). The aircraft wheels (7) are locked over the rotational platform (4).

Fig. 6 shows the back plate (3) connected to the rotational platform (4). The cradle (2) operates separately to lock the aircraft wheels (7). The cradle (2) encloses the back side of the aircraft wheels (7) and the front side of the aircraft wheels (7) is supported by the back plate (3) thereby the aircraft wheels (7) are locked over the rotational platform (4).

Fig. 7 shows the view where the aircraft wheels (7) of aircraft (6) are landed over the rotational platform (4). The rotational platform (4) is made rotated by means of a motor (11) which is driving the rotational platform (4) through the motor pulley (12) and driven pulley (13). The actuator (10) connected to the back plate (3) is also shown.

Fig. 8 shows the view where the motor (11) drives the bevel gears (14 and 15) which finally drive the rotational platform (4).

Fig. 9 shows a locking mechanism (16) which locks to the ground level of the tug (1) to avoid its movement during unstable conditions and environments.

Some of the non-limiting advantages of a device used for maneuvering an aircraft are:

1. Designed to handle one and / or plurality aircraft wheels. The tug can be operated in hangar or ship decks. The tug can handle both rotary and fixed wing type air crafts. The tug is capable of handling either front nose wheels or tail wheels of air craft. The tug is also capable of handling one or more wheels at a time.
2. Power driven and the energy source can be either direct current supply or through batteries. The batteries can be one or plurality based on the end use requirements. The tug can be manually driven also.
3. Guiding mechanism of the cradle helps to lift the aircraft wheels and assist for climbing over the cradle.
4. Economical, easy to operate device with lesser mechanical and electrical components which helps in maneuvering an aircraft.

Although a device used for maneuvering aircraft, it is to be understood that the implementations disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or devices described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of a device used for maneuvering aircraft.
,CLAIMS:
1. A device (1) for maneuvering an aircraft (6), said device comprising:
a cradle (2) and a back plate (3);
a plurality of wheels (5a, 5b) coupled on either side of the device by a plurality of electrical driving means (14), adapted for movement of the aircraft (6);
a rotational platform (4) adapted to mount said cradle (2) and back plate (3), said rotational platform (4) is adapted to change the direction of movement of aircraft (6);
wherein said cradle (2) has a guiding mechanism comprising at least one guide roller (9), and adapted to push at least one aircraft wheel (7) so as to make the at least one aircraft wheel (7) climb over the cradle (2), wherein said aircraft wheels (7) are operably placed on said rotational platform (4) for towing.

2. The device for maneuvering an aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one aircraft wheel (7) operably placed on the rotational platform (4) is adapted to push the back plate (3) so as to activate an actuator (10) coupled to said back plate (3), to enable a locking position of the at least one aircraft wheel (7) on the rotational platform (4), by moving the cradle (2) and the back plate (3) towards each other by connecting rod means (8a, 8b).

3. The device (1) for maneuvering an aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradle (2) is adapted to separately lock the at least one aircraft wheel (7) on the rotational platform (4), by enclosing the backside of the at least one aircraft wheel (7).

4. The device (1) for maneuvering an aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotational platform (4) is operably coupled to a motor (11) adapted to rotate the rotational platform (4), and the motor (11) adapted to rotate the rotational platform (4) is coupled to a motor pulley (12), a driven pulley (13), and a plurality of bevel gears (14, 15).

5. The device (1) for maneuvering an aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical driving means (14) are coupled to the wheels (5a, 5b) through a plurality of driving gears directly or through a chain and sprocket mechanism or any other alternate driving methods,
wherein the wheels (5a, 5b) are coupled to shock absorbing elements to reduce the vibration and shocks during movement,
wherein a drive motor is attached with an electro-magnetic braking mechanism to stop / start the movement of the device.

6. The device (1) for maneuvering an aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a locking mechanism (16) for locking the movement of the device in case of unstable conditions and environments, wherein the locking mechanism is mechanical or electrical or electro-magnetic or the combination of three.

7. The device (1) for maneuvering an aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein a direct drive is given to the plurality of wheels (5a, 5b), wherein the device is power driven and the energy source is either a direct current supply or at least one battery based on the end use requirements, or the device is manually driven.

8. The device (1) for maneuvering an aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is adapted to lock and manoeuvre a plurality of aircraft wheels (7) of both rotary and fixed wing type aircrafts (6) at a time, said aircraft wheels (7) are either front nose wheels or tail wheels of aircraft.

9. The device (1) for maneuvering an aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device comprises a control unit communicably coupled either by wired or wireless technology, and configured to control the movement of said device.

10. The device (1) for maneuvering an aircraft as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotational platform comprises a separate motor drive to enable vertical movement to adjust the height of the aircraft wheel (7) from the ground to achieve easy towing.