SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING AIRPLANES

• US 20120119018A1
• Filed: 01/26/2012
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Israel Aerospace Industries Limited (Government of Israel)
• Original Assignee: Israel Aerospace Industries Limited (Government of Israel)
• Inventors: PERRY, Arie, BRAIER, Ran
• Granted Patent: US 9,090,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/50
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/227 for direct connection to aircraft, e.g. tow tractors without towing bars
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/228 remotely controlled; operating autonomously
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/80 Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management

Abstract

An unmanned airplane transfer system, comprising: a transfer module adapted to transfer an airplane; a landing gear holder, adapted to firmly grip a landing gear of the airplane; wherein the landing gear holder is pivotally coupled to a structural element of the unmanned transfer system; and a controller, coupled to the transfer module, adapted to control the transfer module in response to a steering induced movement of the landing gear holder.

Claims

1. An unmanned airplane transfer system, comprising:

a transfer module adapted to transfer an airplane;

a landing gear holder, adapted to firmly grip a landing gear of the airplane;

wherein the landing gear holder is pivotally coupled to a structural element of the unmanned transfer system; and

a controller, coupled to the transfer module, adapted to control the transfer module in response to a steering induced movement of the landing gear holder.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a sensor, adapted to sense the steering induced movements of the landing gear holder.

3. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a shock absorber, connected to the structural element.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the structural element is coupled to the transfer module via movable elements.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the structural element is coupled to the transfer module via shock absorbers connected to movable elements.

6. A method for transferring an airplane, the method comprises:

receiving a transfer signal responsive of a steering induced movement of landing gear holder;

wherein the landing gear holder firmly grips a landing gear of the airplane, and is pivotally coupled to a structural element of an unmanned airplane transfer system; and

transferring an airplane, by the unmanned airplane transfer system, in response to the transfer signal.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising sensing the steering induced movement of the landing gear holder.

8. The system according to claim 6 further comprising dumping energy resulting from a fast change in a velocity of the airplane.