Automated aircraft towing vehicle system
First Claim
1. A remote controlled aircraft towing vehicle system for use primarily with large multi-engine aircraft, comprising:
- a towing tractor vehicle for aircraft;
remote steering control means for said towing tractor vehicle; and
remote acceleration and braking control means for said towing tractor vehicle;
said towing tractor vehicle being steerable by said remote steering control means; and
being capable of being started, accelerated, decelerated, and stopped by said remote acceleration and braking control means;
a remote system controller being located in the aircraft being towed;
wherein said remote system controller at least includes a first remote acceleration and braking control means so as to control the starting and stopping of said towing tractor vehicle; and
wherein, after said towing tractor vehicle is started so as to cause movement of said towing tractor vehicle and concomitant movement of the aircraft being towed, steering of said towing tractor vehicle is under the control of said remote steering control means for said towing tractor vehicle;
whereby, when said towing tractor vehicle is coupled to the aircraft to be towed, movement of the aircraft to the desired location is effected under the control of said remote system controller in the aircraft being towed, and said remote steering control means;
wherein said towing tractor vehicle further includes remote decoupling control means for decoupling the towing tractor vehicle from the aircraft being towed when said desired location has been reached; and
wherein communication between said towing tractor vehicle and said remote system controller located in the aircraft being towed is by way of wireless communication at a distinct frequency, or using a distinct digital ID code, which is assigned to that towing tractor vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated aircraft towing vehicle system for use with aircraft is provided. When coupled to an aircraft the towing tractor vehicle facilitates the movement of the aircraft without the requirement for use of the aircraft'"'"'s jet engines. The towing vehicle system comprises a towing tractor vehicle having remotely controllable steering, braking, and acceleration. The remote system controller is located in the aircraft being towed such that the pilot of the aircraft being towed is capable of controlling the starting, stopping and steering of the towing tractor vehicle. The towing tractor vehicle further includes a remotely controllable de-coupling means. When the aircraft is towed to the desired location, the decoupling of the aircraft from the towing tractor vehicle is controllable by the remote system controller.
80 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A remote controlled aircraft towing vehicle system for use primarily with large multi-engine aircraft, comprising:
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a towing tractor vehicle for aircraft;
remote steering control means for said towing tractor vehicle; and
remote acceleration and braking control means for said towing tractor vehicle;
said towing tractor vehicle being steerable by said remote steering control means; and
being capable of being started, accelerated, decelerated, and stopped by said remote acceleration and braking control means;
a remote system controller being located in the aircraft being towed;
wherein said remote system controller at least includes a first remote acceleration and braking control means so as to control the starting and stopping of said towing tractor vehicle; and
wherein, after said towing tractor vehicle is started so as to cause movement of said towing tractor vehicle and concomitant movement of the aircraft being towed, steering of said towing tractor vehicle is under the control of said remote steering control means for said towing tractor vehicle;
whereby, when said towing tractor vehicle is coupled to the aircraft to be towed, movement of the aircraft to the desired location is effected under the control of said remote system controller in the aircraft being towed, and said remote steering control means;
wherein said towing tractor vehicle further includes remote decoupling control means for decoupling the towing tractor vehicle from the aircraft being towed when said desired location has been reached; and
wherein communication between said towing tractor vehicle and said remote system controller located in the aircraft being towed is by way of wireless communication at a distinct frequency, or using a distinct digital ID code, which is assigned to that towing tractor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of facilitating the reduction of fuel consumption by large multi-engine aircraft, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
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(a) coupling an aircraft to an automated aircraft towing system comprising;
a towing tractor vehicle for aircraft;
remote steering control means for said towing tractor vehicle; and
remote acceleration and braking control means for said towing tractor vehicle;
said towing tractor vehicle being steerable by said remote steering control means; and
being capable of being started, accelerated, decelerated, and stopped by said remote acceleration and braking control means;
a remote system controller being located in the aircraft being towed;
wherein said remote system controller at least includes a first remote acceleration and braking control means so as to control the starting and stopping of said towing tractor vehicle; and
wherein, after said towing tractor vehicle is started so as to cause movement of said rowing tractor vehicle and concomitant movement of the aircraft being towed, steering of said towing tractor vehicle is under the control of said remote steering control means for said towing tractor vehicle;
whereby, when said towing tractor vehicle is coupled to the aircraft co be towed, movement of the aircraft to the desired location is effected under the control of said remote system controller in the aircraft being towed, and said remote steering control means;
wherein said towing tractor vehicle further includes remote decoupling control means for decoupling the towing tractor vehicle from the aircraft being towed when said desired location has been reached; and
wherein communication between said towing tractor vehicle and said remote system controller located in the aircraft being towed is by way of wireless communication at a distinct frequency, or using a distinct digital ID code, which is assigned to that towing tractor vehicle;
(b) towing the aircraft by said aircraft towing vehicle to said desired location without starting the aircraft'"'"'s engines;
(c) starting the aircraft'"'"'s engines; and
(d) decoupling said towing tractor vehicle from the aircraft;
whereby the use of said rowing tractor vehicle eliminates a portion of the aircraft idling time such that the engines thereof may be started upon the aircraft'"'"'s arrival at said desired location, thereby conserving the fuel otherwise required for taxiing the aircraft. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification