Patent ID: 6357989
Filing Date: 2002-03-19
Classification: B60P,B64F

Abstract:
A device for lifting an aircraft wheel assembly, which comprises first and second wheel-engaging supports connectable to a bearing structure and rotatable relative to one another between open and wheel-cradling, configurations, the device further comprising an actuator connected to the bearing structure to enable raising or lowering of the supports relative to the ground when in the wheel-cradling configuration, the first wheel support being attached to inner support arms which extend forwardly from a pivotable shaft carried by the bearing structure and the second wheel support being attached to outer support arms which also extend forwardly from the pivotable shaft, the second wheel support including two laterally spaced-apart supports carried on a common axis of rotation (Xâ€”Y) for rotational movement in unison from a first position forwardly of the wheel to a second position rearwardly of the wheel to respectively define the open and wheel cradling configurations, and further, the outer support arms defining a bifurcated twin-wheel receiving space and the first wheel support extending transversely over a substantial part of the distance between the outer support arms, whereby in use the first wheel support supports both wheels of a twin wheel unit and each support of the second wheel support supports a respective one of the twin wheels.