Reinforced universal aircraft mule
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A universal aircraft mule, comprising:
- a rollable and steerable frame including at least one pair of wheels;
a set of interchangeable carriages, wherein a first interchangeable carriage of the set of interchangeable carriages differs in one or more dimensions than a second interchangeable carriage of the set of interchangeable carriages;
a cradle configured to receive the set of interchangeable carriages; and
a lift assembly, comprising;
a first hydraulic system configured to provide hydraulic system pressure to a first hydraulic cylinder, wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is configured to pivotably drive a lifting bar from a side of the frame, wherein the lifting bar is coupled to the side of the frame at a first coupling point and a side of the cradle at a second coupling point; and
a second hydraulic system configured to provide hydraulic system pressure to a second hydraulic cylinder coupled to the side of the frame, wherein the second hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the side of the frame at a third coupling point and the side of the cradle at a fourth coupling point, wherein the second hydraulic cylinder is configured to directly and pivotably drive and tilt the side of the cradle,wherein the second coupling point and the fourth coupling point are vertically separated on the side of the cradle,wherein the lifting bar and the second hydraulic cylinder at least partially overlap.
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Abstract
A universal aircraft mule having a rollable and steerable frame and an interchangeable, load-carrying cradle configured for removably supporting and carrying an auxiliary. The frame tiltably and liftably supports the cradle with a lift assembly. The lift assembly raises and lowers the cradle in relation to the frame and tilts the cradle in relation to the frame. The cradle also allows an auxiliary to be skewed within the cradle to facilitate loading and unloading of the auxiliary.
58 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A universal aircraft mule, comprising:
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a rollable and steerable frame including at least one pair of wheels; a set of interchangeable carriages, wherein a first interchangeable carriage of the set of interchangeable carriages differs in one or more dimensions than a second interchangeable carriage of the set of interchangeable carriages; a cradle configured to receive the set of interchangeable carriages; and a lift assembly, comprising; a first hydraulic system configured to provide hydraulic system pressure to a first hydraulic cylinder, wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is configured to pivotably drive a lifting bar from a side of the frame, wherein the lifting bar is coupled to the side of the frame at a first coupling point and a side of the cradle at a second coupling point; and a second hydraulic system configured to provide hydraulic system pressure to a second hydraulic cylinder coupled to the side of the frame, wherein the second hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the side of the frame at a third coupling point and the side of the cradle at a fourth coupling point, wherein the second hydraulic cylinder is configured to directly and pivotably drive and tilt the side of the cradle, wherein the second coupling point and the fourth coupling point are vertically separated on the side of the cradle, wherein the lifting bar and the second hydraulic cylinder at least partially overlap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A universal aircraft mule, comprising:
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a rollable and steerable frame including at least one pair of wheels; a set of interchangeable carriages; a cradle configured to receive the set of interchangeable carriages, wherein the frame and the cradle are configured to allow the cradle to lower to a position a select distance from a transport surface while an interchangeable carriage of the set of interchangeable carriages is coupled to the cradle, wherein the distance is equal to a central axis through the at least one pair of wheels; and a lift assembly, comprising; a first hydraulic system configured to provide hydraulic system pressure to a first hydraulic cylinder, wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is configured to pivotably drive a lifting bar from a side of the frame, wherein the lifting bar is coupled to the side of the frame at a first coupling point and a side of the cradle at a second coupling point; and a second hydraulic system configured to provide hydraulic system pressure to a second hydraulic cylinder coupled to the side of the frame, wherein the second hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the side of the frame at a third coupling point and the side of the cradle at a fourth coupling point, wherein the second hydraulic cylinder is configured to directly and pivotably drive and tilt the side of the cradle, wherein the second coupling point and the fourth coupling point are vertically separated on the side of the cradle, wherein the lifting bar and the second hydraulic cylinder at least partially overlap. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A universal aircraft mule, comprising:
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a rollable and steerable frame; a set of interchangeable carriages; a cradle configured to receive the set of interchangeable carriages, wherein the frame and the cradle are configured to allow the cradle to lower to within 1.0 inches from a transport surface while an interchangeable carriage of the set of interchangeable carriages is coupled to the cradle; and a lift assembly, comprising; a first hydraulic system configured to provide hydraulic system pressure to a first hydraulic cylinder, wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is configured to pivotably drive a lifting bar from a side of the frame, wherein the lifting bar is coupled to the side of the frame at a first coupling point and a side of the cradle at a second coupling point; and a second hydraulic system configured to provide hydraulic system pressure to a second hydraulic cylinder coupled to the side of the frame, wherein the second hydraulic cylinder is coupled to the side of the frame at a third coupling point and the side of the cradle at a fourth coupling point, wherein the second hydraulic cylinder is configured to directly and pivotably drive and tilt the side of the cradle, wherein the second coupling point and the fourth coupling point are vertically separated on the side of the cradle, wherein the lifting bar and the second hydraulic cylinder at least partially overlap. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification