Plane tractor
First Claim
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1. A method for gripping a nose gear of an airplane using an airplane tractor, the airplane tractor including:
- a chassis;
wheel modules connected to the chassis, each of the wheel modules including at least one actuator for inducing vertical movement thereof in relation to the chassis;
a gripping platform for gripping the nose gear of the airplane, the gripping platform being moveable in a substantially pendular movement in relation to the chassis, the platform gripping going from a retracted position to a gripping position by way of an equilibrium position; and
a damping and an actuating means connecting the gripping platform and the chassis;
the method comprising;
actuating the damping means and the actuating means to place the gripping platform in the retracted position;
lowering the chassis;
moving the tractor so as to place the retracted gripping platform in contact with at least one wheel of the nose gear of the airplane;
actuating the damping means and the actuating means to move the gripping platform from the refracted position toward the gripping position, while adjusting a height of the chassis by controlling the actuators of at least two of the wheel modules so as to slide the gripping platform under the at least one wheel;
raising the chassis;
bringing the platform back to the equilibrium position.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a plane tractor which grips the nose gear of a plane, including: a chassis; wheel modules connected to the chassis, each wheel module including at least one actuator for inducing a vertical movement of the module in relation to the chassis; a gripping platform for gripping the nose gear of a plane, the platform together with the chassis having freedom of movement substantially in circular translation; and a damping and actuating means connecting the platform and the chassis.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for gripping a nose gear of an airplane using an airplane tractor, the airplane tractor including:
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a chassis; wheel modules connected to the chassis, each of the wheel modules including at least one actuator for inducing vertical movement thereof in relation to the chassis; a gripping platform for gripping the nose gear of the airplane, the gripping platform being moveable in a substantially pendular movement in relation to the chassis, the platform gripping going from a retracted position to a gripping position by way of an equilibrium position; and a damping and an actuating means connecting the gripping platform and the chassis; the method comprising; actuating the damping means and the actuating means to place the gripping platform in the retracted position; lowering the chassis; moving the tractor so as to place the retracted gripping platform in contact with at least one wheel of the nose gear of the airplane; actuating the damping means and the actuating means to move the gripping platform from the refracted position toward the gripping position, while adjusting a height of the chassis by controlling the actuators of at least two of the wheel modules so as to slide the gripping platform under the at least one wheel; raising the chassis; bringing the platform back to the equilibrium position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification