1. Title of the invention
Foldable Manual Tow Bar for Aircraft
2. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to mechanical engineering in general and particularly relates to aircraft equipment and manual tow bar for aircraft.
3. Background of invention
Towing is the movement of the aircraft with external force without starting engine. The aircraft is towed in order to position it for lineup, servicing or for ground run-up at a specified bay or for parking in hangar. The towing point of the aircraft is installed at nose landing gear only.
In some circumstances, Aircraft needs to be towed in a very tight space or to push it backwards in maneuvering the aircraft into tight storage position or closely packed hanger or perform different tests on Aircraft in open space with limited and repeated movements. For example, during calibration of Aircraft compass, aircraft has to be moved frequently to various angular positions. In such situations, frequent engagement and disengagement of powered vehicle from tow bar may be very cumbersome.
As per US patent 2012/0292885 A1 — A tow bar for aircraft comprising right and left aircraft engaging units horizontally spaced from each and two arms of the Tow bar to be engaged and locked to the axial rod from left and right sides of the tyre. Due to this the axel housing assembly may get damage while towing of the aircraft. The collapsible tubular metallic structure may acquire abate strength due to expand or retrenchment of the tow bar while towing of the aircraft. One operator cannot handle the tow bar alone in shop floor due to its structural complexity and bulkiness of the tow bar.
4. Summary of the present invention
This invention provides a tow bar for the ground handling of light aircraft, whereby a person can maneuver ah aircraft over pavement or ground terrain. Ground handling of light aircraft by any single or multiple persons, is quite necessary in order to move the plane without operating its engine.

5. Brief description of drawings
Figure 1 is a Broken view of the foldable manual tow bar connected to nose
landing gear strut Figure 2 is a Broken view of the foldable manual tow bar with inserted two lock pins Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the aircraft nose landing gear axle housing
Assembly Figure 4 is a perspective view of the foldable manual tow bar according to a first
embodiment of the present invention taken along the line 1-1 of Fig-2 Figure 5 is a exploded view of the towing setup
Figure 6 is a coupled view of foldable manual tow bar and nose landing gear strut Figure 7 is a plan view of the tow bar Fig-2 after being folded to acquire folded
configuration of the tow bar according to second embodiment of the
present invention Figure 8 is a top view of the tow bar foldable square channel taken along the line 2-2
of Fig-2 Figure 9 is a side view of the tow bar foldable square channel Figure 10 is a perspective view of the tow bar according to third embodiment of the present invention taken along the line 3-3 of Fig-2
6. Detailed description of invention
This invention provides a tow bar for the ground handling of light aircraft, whereby a person can maneuver an aircraft over pavement or ground terrain. Ground handling of light aircraft by any single or multiple persons, is quite necessary in order to move the plane without operating its engine.

Figs. 1 through 10 represent three embodiments of foldable manual tow bar that can be the towing arm is connected to tow point(Figs. 4,5 and 6) of the aircraft with two inserted lock pins, extended by fasteners to a deployed configuration (Figs 1 and 2) that is sufficiently rigid and long to maneuver the aircraft and folded to a foldable configuration (Fig. 7) that has the ability of the tow bar to be folded for enables easy handle, storage and transportation and tow bar housed with two wheels (Fig. 10) for effortless towing of aircraft.
An angle tube 11 is welded with wheel assembly 15. Angle 32 is provided to make it economically suitable for the handler. A coupler joint 17 may be permanently welded with wheel side of the angle tube 11. Two holes adapter 16 has to be coupled with coupler joint 17 with hinge pin 33, washer 30 and bolt 31. The adapter 16 is connected to the aircraft tow point 27 with two inserted lock pins 26a and 26b. The tow point of the Aircraft is lying on the nose landing gear strut.
The other end of the angle tube 11 and one end of the foldable square channel 23 to be joined by weld with coupling disc 13. The foldable square channel 23 made in two halves connected with a hinge 22. Foldable square channel 23 have holes to accommodate flange bushes 20. Bushes 20 are press fitted to foldable square channel. The other end of the square channel 23 and handle 12 of the tow bar to be joined by weld with another couple disc 25.
Now arrester channel 18 can be assembled to foldable square channel 23 with nut 19 and bolt 21 so that it covers equal number of holes on both halves of foldable square channel 23. Arrester channel 18 and foldable square channel 23 are to be clearance fit type. When tow bar not in operation or during storage or transportation arrester channel 18 may be slides to cover only one or two holes of one side of square channel 23. Thus the arm may be folded.