Aircraft moving device

Abstract

A tow apparatus for moving an aircraft comprising a frame, a drive member, a contact wheel configured to engage with a nosewheel tire of an aircraft, a transmission portion, a shaft engageable with a nosewheel tire of an aircraft, and a torque arm rotatably supported by the frame. The transmission portion can be configured such that the drive wheels transfer and increase a rotational force produced by the drive member to the contact wheel. The shaft can be movable between a first position and a second position relative to the contact wheel so as to bring the contact wheel into contact with the nosewheel of the aircraft. The torque arm can substantially prevent the rotation of the tow apparatus relative to the nosewheel assembly of the aircraft when the torque arm is engaged with the nosewheel assembly of the aircraft. The drive member can have a portable power source.

1 . A portable tow apparatus for moving an aircraft, comprising:
 a frame being configured to receive a drive member;   a contact wheel supported by the frame and configured to be engageable with a nosewheel tire of an aircraft;   a transmission portion comprising one or more drive wheels supported by the frame, the drive wheels being rotatable relative to the frame, the transmission portion being configured such that the drive wheels transfer and increase a rotational force produced by the drive member to the contact wheel;   a shaft supported by the frame and configured to be insertable into an opening in a nosewheel assembly of an aircraft, the shaft being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the contact wheel, the shaft being closer to the contact wheel in the second position than in the first position; and   a torque arm supported by the frame and configured to be engageable with the nosewheel assembly of the aircraft, the torque arm being configured to substantially prevent vertical rotation of the tow apparatus relative to the nosewheel assembly of the aircraft when the torque arm is engaged with the nosewheel assembly of the aircraft.   
     
     
         2 . The tow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drive wheels are gears. 
     
     
         3 . The tow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the drive wheels are pulleys. 
     
     
         4 . The tow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission portion comprises four gears supported by the frame. 
     
     
         5 . The tow apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the transmission portion further comprises a first chain supported by a first gear and a second gear, and a second chain supported by a third gear and a fourth gear. 
     
     
         6 . The tow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tow apparatus is configured so that the drive member can securably rotate between a compact position and an extended position relative to the frame, wherein the overall length of tow apparatus is significantly reduced in the compact position as compared to the extended position. 
     
     
         7 . The tow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission portion can increase the torque generated by the drive member by a ratio of 4:1. 
     
     
         8 . The tow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the transmission portion can increase the torque generated by the drive member by between approximately 2:1 and approximately 8:1. 
     
     
         9 . The tow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the tow apparatus is configured so that the shaft is securable in the second position after the tow apparatus has been engaged with the nosewheel assembly of an aircraft. 
     
     
         10 . The tow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is moved between the first position and the second position relative to the contact wheel by rotating a lever arm linked to the shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The tow apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is configured to be insertable into an opening in a nosewheel assembly so that the centerline of the shaft is approximately collinear with the axis of rotation of the nosewheel of the aircraft. 
     
     
         12 . A portable tow apparatus for moving an aircraft, comprising:
 a frame being configured to receive a drive member;   a contact wheel supported by the frame and configured to be engageable with a nosewheel tire of an aircraft;   a transmission portion comprising one or more drive wheels supported by the frame;   a shaft supported by the frame and configured to be insertable into an opening in a nosewheel assembly of an aircraft, the shaft being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the contact wheel, the shaft being closer to the contact wheel in the second position than in the first position; and   a torque arm supported by the frame and configured to be engageable with the nosewheel assembly of the aircraft, the torque arm being configured to substantially prevent vertical rotation of the tow apparatus relative to the nosewheel assembly of the aircraft when the torque arm is engaged with the nosewheel assembly of the aircraft.   
     
     
         13 . The tow apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the drive wheels are rotatable relative to the frame, and wherein the transmission portion is configured such that the drive wheels transfer and increase a rotational force produced by the drive member to the contact wheel 
     
     
         14 . The tow apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the transmission portion comprises two or more gears supported by the frame. 
     
     
         15 . The tow apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the torque arm is rotatably supported by the frame. 
     
     
         16 . The tow apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the shaft is configured to attach to the nosewheel assembly at a first location and the torque arm is configured to attach to the nosewheel assembly at a second location that is different than the first location. 
     
     
         17 . The tow apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a centerline axis of the shaft is closer to a centerline axis of the contact wheel when the shaft is in the second position than in the first position. 
     
     
         18 . A method of moving an airplane with a tow apparatus, comprising:
 securing the tow apparatus to a nosewheel assembly of the aircraft so that the tow apparatus is radially secured to the nosewheel assembly, the tow apparatus comprising:
 a contact wheel configured to be engageable with a nosewheel tire of an aircraft; 
 a drive member configured to generate a rotational force; and 
 a transmission portion configured to transfer the rotational force from the drive member to the contact wheel; 
 securing the tow apparatus to the nosewheel assembly of the aircraft so that the tow apparatus is rotationally secured to the nosewheel assembly so as to substantially prevent the tow apparatus from vertically rotating relative to an axis of rotation of the nosewheel of the aircraft; 
 activating the drive member so as to cause the nosewheel of the aircraft to rotate; and 
 maneuvering the aircraft to a desired position or orientation. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of moving an airplane with a tow apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising rotating a lever arm so as to bring the contact wheel in contact with the nosewheel of the aircraft. 
     
     
         20 . The method of moving an airplane with a tow apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising rotating a portion of the tow apparatus from a compact position to an extended position, wherein the overall length of the tow apparatus is significantly reduced in the compact position as compared to the extended position.