An example apparatus is configured to couple to a trailer and a tow vehicle. The apparatus includes a frame; one or more clamps mounted to the frame and configured to couple the frame to an underplate of the trailer; and a shaft having a first end rotatably coupled to the frame and a second end configured to couple to at least one replicated element of a towed vehicle. The at least one replicated element is configured to engage the tow vehicle.

A pivoting cradle apparatus for capturing an aircraft wheel on an aircraft tug includes a cradle sized for holding the wheel, mounted on at least one pivot block and configured to pivot between a wheel loading position and a wheel retaining position. A latch mechanism is disposed under the cradle, biased to swing into an upright position wherein it seats in a notch on the cradle, locking the cradle in the wheel retaining position. A latch release mechanism is configured to urge the latch out of the upright position, and when it does so, the latch slides along the underside of the cradle as the cradle pivots down. into the wheel loading position.

An aircraft tow vehicle and methods of towing an aircraft are disclosed. An aircraft tow vehicle comprises an aircraft structural interface configured to couple to a wheel assembly of a main landing gear of an aircraft; and an aircraft towing propulsive force system configured to propel the aircraft forward when the aircraft structural interface is coupled to the wheel assembly.

Aircraft handlers include a plurality of undercarriage support assemblies. Each undercarriage support assembly includes a body, a translation assembly operably attached to the body, and a support member operably coupled to and extending from the body. The support member comprises a support region configured to engage and operably support at least a portion of an undercarriage of an aircraft. The translation assembly is configured to support the undercarriage support assembly on a ground surface and permit the undercarriage support assembly to translate along the ground surface. The aircraft handlers further include one or more drive assemblies configured to move the aircraft handler along the ground surface, in which each drive assembly comprises the translation assembly of an undercarriage support assembly. Methods comprise supporting the undercarriage of the aircraft with the aircraft handler and moving the aircraft along the ground surface with the aircraft handler.

Systems and methods for transferring aircraft within a landing area of an aerial transport are provided. A system includes a plurality of robotic devices configured to move aircraft within the landing area. The system obtains facility data to dynamically determine accessible and prohibited areas of the landing area. The system determines a robotic device to transfer an aircraft based on map data representing the prohibited/accessible areas of the landing area and robotic data representing attributes of each robotic device. The system determines a number of routes for the selected robotic device to transfer the aircraft within the landing area while avoiding prohibited areas of the landing area. The system generates command instructions for the selected robotic device and provides the command instructions to the selected robotic device to travel in accordance with the number of routes.

The invention relates to a towing vehicle (100) for maneuvering aeroplanes without using tow bars, comprising a braking device (130) having a first fluidically actuable braking circuit (148) which acts on the front wheels (106) and a second fluidically actuable braking circuit (150) which acts on the rear wheels (110). According to the invention, the braking device (130) further comprises a third fluidically actuable braking circuit (152), which likewise acts on the front wheels (106).

The exemplary arrangements provide a system of selectively moving airplanes on an airport apron. Airplanes are selectively moved from selected parking locations to areas adjacent to take-off locations such as runways. Airplanes may also be selectively moved from an area of the apron adjacent to a landing location to a parking location. This may include for example an unloading location, an airport terminal, a servicing location, a fueling location, storage location and/or other suitable location. The exemplary systems include driving channels through which a carriage is selectively moved. The carriage is in operative connection with a basket for operatively engaging at least one front wheel of selected airplanes for purposes of transporting such airplanes to and between the desired locations.

The exemplary embodiments provide a system of selectively moving airplanes on an airport apron. Airplanes are selectively moved from selective parking locations to areas adjacent to take-off locations such as runways. Airplanes may also be selectively moved from an area of the apron adjacent to a landing location and/or to a parking location. This may include for example an unloading location, an airport terminal, a servicing location, a fueling location, storage location and/or other suitable location. The exemplary system includes driving channels through which a carriage is selectively moved. The carriage includes a basket for operatively engaging at least one front wheel of selected airplanes for purposes of transporting such airplanes to and between the desired locations.

A vehicle engagement structure for towing transport devices is disclosed, wherein a carrier is configured with respectively an engagement towage mechanism and a drive mechanism; more specifically, the engagement towage mechanism includes an external spiral transmission component and an internal spiral transmission component, the internal spiral transmission component is further mutually in spiral engagement with a spiral rod, and the top end of the spiral rod is sequentially installed with an up-and-down pedestal, a rotation seat, an engagement base and an engagement end applied to connect to a transport device; in addition, the drive mechanism is configured to control the up-and-down pedestal to vertically ascend or descend on the spiral rod, thereby facilitating the engagement end to adapt to the height of the transport device or topographic fluctuations and variations during movement.

The invention relates to a towing vehicle (100) for manoeuvring aeroplanes without using tow bars, the towing vehicle (100) comprising a coupling device (122/124) for gripping and lifting the nose wheel of the aeroplane to be manoeuvred. According to the invention, the towing vehicle (100) comprises a pressure store (176), in which operating fluid is stored under pressure, a release initiation device (178), which can be actuated manually by an operator and which in a release initiation position connects the pressure store (176) to a release device (180), and the release device (180), which is configured and intended, upon manual transfer of the release initiation means (178) into the release initiation position by the operator, initially to lower the nose wheel of the aeroplane automatically until it stands on the travel surface, simply by means of the pressure energy stored in the pressure store (176) and the potential energy of the nose wheel load, and only subsequently to release the nose wheel.