Aircraft towbar apparatus

• US 6,450,756 B1
• Filed: 01/23/2001
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jack L. Stahancyk, Timothy E. Trapp
• Original Assignee: Jack L. Stahancyk, Timothy E. Trapp
• Inventors: Stahancyk, Jack L., Trapp, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keenan, James W.
• Application Number:
  US09/767,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20020098069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 414/427, 414/428, 414/429, 414/482, 414/483, 280/503, 280/515, 280/656, 244/50, 809/04
• US Class Current: 414/426
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/224 Towing bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/904 Traction dollies for aircraft

Abstract

An aircraft towbar apparatus comprises a pair of tubular members having proximal ends coupled to a hitch assembly for attachment to a towing vehicle. Each tubular member includes a gripping member at a distal end for gripping an aircraft wheel assembly. The apparatus includes a wheel assembly intermediate proximal and distal ends which serves as a fulcrum for vertical positioning of the gripping members relative to an aircraft wheel assembly. A support handle extends from the distal end of one tubular member to enable a user to vertically position the gripping members. A scissor jack is connected to the tubular members and extends therebetween at a position spaced from the distal ends. An elongate handle bar is coupled to the scissor jack and extends to a crank handle adjacent the hitch assembly such that a user may rotatably actuate the scissor jack to vary the spacing between the tubular members.

Claims

1. An aircraft towbar apparatus, comprising:

first and second tubular members, each tubular member having a proximal end and an opposed distal end;

a hitch assembly adapted to be releasably coupled to a towing vehicle, said hitch assembly comprising;

first and second insert portions having cylindrical configurations adapted for releasable insertion into respective proximal ends of said first and second tubular members;

a sleeve configured to mate with a hitch of a towing vehicle;

a first crescent-shaped plate coupled to said first insert portion and defining a first circular aperture pivotally coupled to said sleeve;

a second crescent-shaped plate coupled to said second insert portion and defining a second circular aperture pivotally coupled to said sleeve in overlapping relation to said first plate;

a wheel assembly having a pair of wheels connected to one another with m axle, said axle being rotatably coupled to said first and second tubular members at a position spaced from said respective distal ends thereof, said wheel assembly serving as a fulcrum for leverage movement of said first and second tubular members;

first and second head assemblies releasably coupled to respective distal ends of said first and second tubular members, each bead assembly having an inwardly protruding gripping member with a rounded tip adapted to grip an aircraft wheel assembly;

a handle member having one end fixedly attached to said first tubular member, said handle member extending upwardly from said first tubular member to a free end disposed a distance above said hitch assembly and serving to enable a user to manipulate said first and second tubular members in upward or downward directions relative to said wheel assembly for positioning said first and second gripping members about an

aircraft wheel assembly, wherein said handle member includes;

a base portion normal to said first tubular member and fixedly attached thereto adjacent said proximal end of said first tubular member,

a lifting portion extending upwardly from said base portion at about a 45°

angle, said lifting portion extending over said hitch assembly to enable a user to manipulate said first and second tubular members in upward or downward directions relative to said wheel assembly for positioning said first and second head assemblies about an aircraft wheel assembly;

a scissor jack comprising;

a first plate fixedly attached to said first tubular member and a second plate attached to said second tubular member;

opposed pairs of scissor arm mechanisms aligned with and pivotally coupled at respective ends to said first and second plates and pivotally coupled together at respective opposed ends to form first and second pivot points;

a threaded rod extending between said first and second pivot points;

an elongate handle bar having one end coupled to said threaded rod and an opposed end supported above said hitch assembly, said opposed end being coupled to a crank handle for user rotation of said elongate handle bar, wherein rotation of said threaded rod serves to open or close said pairs of scissor arm mechanisms whereby to vary the lateral spacing between said distal ends of said first and second tubular members! and

wherein said crank handle is situated adjacent said lifting portion of said handle member such that said distal ends of said first and second tubular members may be simultaneously manipulated vertically and laterally by a single user upon simultaneous operation of said lifting portion of said handle member and said crank handle, respectively.