Patent ID: 6283696
Filing Date: 2001-09-04
Classification: B62D,B64F

Abstract:
An aircraft towing vehicle comprising:a chassis having a U-shaped section open to the rear; anda lifting and locking device carried in the U-shaped section of said chassis for engaging with nose wheels of an aircraft, said lifting and locking device comprisinga lifting and lowering platform for support of the nose wheels,two guiding rails carried by the lifting and lowering platform and extending in a longitudinal direction of said chassis, each guiding rail extending along a substantially straight line without slanting,a support element being movable along each guiding rail for reaching behind and locking the nose wheels, each support element including portions defining a guide track,a linear drive for moving each support element along a respective guiding rail, anda guiding pin located adjacent the rear of each guiding rail and cooperating with a respective guide track for causing rotation of each support element adjacent a rear of a respective guiding rail around an essentially vertical axis from an operational position, extending transverse to the longitudinal direction of the chassis, to a release position, approximately parallel to the longitudinal direction of said chasis, to permit entry of the nose wheels into the U-shaped section of said chasis,whereby as each support element approaches the rear end of a respective guiding rail, the respective guiding pin is engaged in the respective guiding track to control rotational movement of the support element.