Abstract:
A dolly for placement beneath a landing gear of an aircraft that enables transport of the aircraft without rolling the tire of the aircraft. The dolly includes a platform for a tire to rest on and a channel for positioning the tire. The dolly includes a winch for translating the dolly and aircraft tire relative to each other such that the landing gear is brought to rest on the platform, and one or more stops for securing the aircraft landing gear with respect to the dolly. Once positioned, the dolly can be used while transporting the aircraft, either by hand pushing, a hand towbar, a motorized tug with a towbar, or other mode. The dolly is useful for moving aircraft in tight spaces and is also useful for transporting aircraft with damaged landing gear or flat tires.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/953,773, filed Mar. 15, 2014, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to dollies for transporting large vehicles such as aircraft. More specifically, it relates to dollies for transporting aircraft wherein the aircraft&#39;s wheel or wheels must not or cannot roll, such as moving an aircraft with a flat tire or in tight spaces. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0003]    In aviation, certain circumstances arise wherein an aircraft must be moved without rolling on one or more of its tires. One common example is an aircraft disabled by a flat tire. Airplanes are susceptible to flat tires, like all wheeled vehicles. If an airplane tire goes flat while on a taxiway or, worse, on a runway, it can block that thoroughfare. This happens often enough to be, in the best case, a nuisance and, in the worst, a safety hazard. Towing with a flat tire can cause considerable damage to an airplane, which is clearly undesirable. Repairing the tire in-situ is inconvenient and potentially dangerous for the mechanics and for other airport traffic. Usually, part or all of the airport must be closed until the airplane can be cleared. Often, this is an intolerable length of time, especially if the failure must be repaired on an active runway or taxiway. Furthermore, an in situ repair might be impossible, or at least difficult, in inclement weather. 
         [0004]    Another example for which an aircraft is moved without rolling on one or more of its tires is when moving it in tight spaces such as a hangar. Hangar space is at a premium, and aircraft are typically tightly packed into hangars. Being able to move an aircraft in any direction, i.e., one not limited by the wheel rolling directions, can be an advantage when moving aircraft. 
         [0005]    Wheeled vehicles of all kinds are susceptible to flat tires and other breakdowns, and transport dollies of various designs to move them are known in the art. Representative examples are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,248,896 to Olson, U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,312 to Day, U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,723 to Nowell, et al, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,097,406 to Gang. 
         [0006]    Moving aircraft on airports is a common occurrence, with numerous commercially available devices being available for doing so. Motorized tugs, for example, are commonplace. These range from massive vehicles for airliners, to walk-along devices for small planes. Some of these attach to a wheel axle of an aircraft, directly or indirectly. Others provide for somehow lifting the subject wheel off the ground. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,475,108 to Hamman, and another in U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,886 to Robinson et al. Other dolly devices have been disclosed that may be used for elevating a normal aircraft tire off the ground, allow the wheels of the dolly to roll when moving the aircraft. One such device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,362,981 to Baum. Such devices are designed to move normally-operating aircraft, and are not suited for moving disabled aircraft or for application to main landing gear wheels. Hand- or tug-pulled towbars are also commonplace in the aviation field. Some of these include a lifting apparatus to raise the subject tire off the ground, secondary wheels for ease of transport, or both. An example is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,151 to Irwin. 
         [0007]    Some existing devices provide for transporting disabled aircraft that has a flat tire. One example is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0037409 to Winters. Another device for transporting disabled aircraft is the Towbar Model TY-TB-FTD, offered for sale by The Brackett Aircraft Company, Inc. of Kingman, Ariz., USA. The Model TY-TB-FTD can be used, according to the company, as a flat tire dolly on either main landing gear or nose gear wheels. 
         [0008]    There remains an unmet need for an aircraft transport dolly that can be quickly and safely applied to an aircraft tire and wheel, and can be applied and used by a single operator. A dolly that is simple and fast to apply to the aircraft tire and wheel, that stably secures to tires and wheels of various sizes and configurations, which may or may not be surrounded by fairings, and that can be used both with or without a towbar, including with or without a motorized tug, would be welcomed. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0009]    Various embodiments of the present disclosure include a dolly for use under the wheel of an aircraft. The dolly includes casters so that, once applied, the aircraft can be transported on the casters. The dolly is easily coupled beneath any landing gear tire by use of a winch or other translation method. In one embodiment, the dolly provides retaining features to stabilize a variety of wheel and tire assemblies without damage, including those with fairings. The dolly can be applied from the front or rear of any aircraft tire, and accepts a variety of towbars to allow tug or hand transport of the aircraft. In some embodiments, an aircraft dolly is provided that can be used to advantageously move an aircraft, including in directions other than what the landing gear wheels allow. Various embodiments include a low profile that enables coupling to a wheel that includes a fairing, even where the tire of the wheel is flat. 
         [0010]    In various embodiments, an aircraft dolly of the present disclosure can be used to quickly and safely transport an aircraft disabled by a landing gear failure, such as a flat tire. Certain embodiments are suitable for manual use, as well as for implementation with motorized tugs. The towbars are optional, such that some units can be specified without. The detachability of the towbar further enables compact stowage of the dolly, frees up the towbar for other uses, including interchangeability among dollies. 
         [0011]    Existing devices do not offer the advantageous combination of features offered by the present disclosure. The device of Winters, for example, employs a split cradle that can be positioned in the front and rear of a deflated tire. The cradle is actuated by a hand-operated hydraulic pump, which action elevates the tire off the ground, enabling the aircraft to be rolled on the wheels of the device. The cradle design of the Winters device requires clear access to the bottom and much of the lower circumference of the tire, which are not be available on many aircraft that include wheel fairings, especially when the tire in question is flat. The device of Winters could either damage the fairing, or require its removal, which would unduly slow the transport operation. Furthermore, the Winters device uses a complicated mechanical and hydraulic system that is both clumsy and time consuming to use, and is expensive to manufacture. 
         [0012]    The Brackett Aircraft device features a wide “pan” for accepting the wheel does little to laterally stabilize the captured wheel. The Brackett Aircraft device also features an integral towbar, which makes it clumsy for quick and simple application and transport. Moreover, with its size and weight, the Brackett Aircraft device generally requires use with a motorized tug, both for placement and transport, and its use on main landing gear wheels requires a second operator to steer the device during transport. 
         [0013]    Structurally, for the present disclosure, a hand operated dolly is disclosed in one embodiment for positioning under a landing gear of an aircraft for transporting an aircraft, comprising a frame including a pair of beams that are substantially parallel to each other, the pair of beams being separated by a platform, the pair of beams including walls that extend upward from the platform, the platform and pair of beams defining a channel for insertion of an aircraft tire. A plurality of casters is attached to the pair of beams, and a detachable towbar can be selectively attachable to the frame. A winch can be attached to the frame, the winch including a strap, the strap being attachable to an aircraft or an aircraft tire for translation of the tire onto the channel of the dolly by actuation of the winch for transporting the wheels of the dolly without rolling the aircraft tire. The plurality of lateral beams can be integral with the platform. The platform can also include a lead-in. In one embodiment, the winch is a hand operated winch. The platform can include a fixed stop coupled to the frame, and can also include a plurality of locations for mounting an adjustable stop. The casters can be fixed casters, freely rotatable casters, or a mix thereof. The pair of beams can include structure for selectively mounting the detachable tow bar to a first end of the channel and a second end of the channel, the second end being opposite the first end. 
         [0014]    In one embodiment, each of the pair of beams is an angle structure, a first flange of each angle structure extending upward from the platform, a second flange of each angle structure extending laterally away from the platform. The casters are mounted to the second flange and are adjacent the first flange. 
         [0015]    In various embodiments, a method of transporting an aircraft is disclosed, the method comprising:
       providing a dolly including a frame and a winch attached to the frame, the winch including a strap, the frame defining a channel for insertion of an aircraft tire, the channel including primary flange portions that extend upward from a web portion, the primary flanges defining upper edges having secondary flanges that extend outward from the primary flanges of the channel, the channel being suspended by a plurality of casters coupled to the secondary flanges, the primary flanges including a plurality of apertures formed therein, the apertures defining a pattern, the pattern of a first of the primary flange portions being a mirror image of the pattern of a second of the primary flange portions, each aperture on the first of the primary flange portions being aligned with a corresponding aperture on the second of the primary flange portions to form a plurality of corresponding aperture pairs;   providing at least one adjustable stop configured for insertion through one of the corresponding aperture pairs;   providing instructions on a tangible medium, the instructions including:
           manually pushing the dolly so that the channel is in substantial alignment with a rolling direction of a tire on an aircraft;   coupling the strap to the aircraft;   pulling the tire into the channel with the strap using the winch; and   inserting the at least one adjustable stop through the one of the corresponding aperture pairs to capture the tire within the channel.
 
The method can further comprise providing a detachable towbar selectively attachable to the frame, wherein the instructions further comprise attaching the detachable towbar to one of the pair of corresponding apertures after the step of pulling. In one embodiment, the step in the instructions of coupling the strap to the aircraft includes wrapping the strap tangentially around a portion of the tire. In one embodiment, the one of the corresponding aperture pairs utilized in the step of inserting is selected for low clearance to accommodate a fairing.
   
               
 
         [0023]    Embodiments of the invention can be used with a variety of aircraft and vehicle types and can be formed of various sizes and materials. Various changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill upon reading this disclosure, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, this summary, the drawings, and the detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view from the front side in an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view from the rear side in an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view depicting a webbing band and webbing strap in an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view from the rear side showing the bottom in an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view depicting a towbar attached in an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view depicting an aircraft wheel in position to be winched into place in an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view depicting an alternate rigging method for winching an aircraft wheel into place in an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view from the rear side depicting an aircraft wheel in proper position for transport in an embodiment of the disclosure; 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view from the front side depicting an aircraft wheel in proper position for transport in an embodiment of the disclosure. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment according to the disclosure; 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  is an end view of the  FIG. 9  embodiment; 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the  FIG. 9  embodiment; 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is a partial perspective view similar to  FIG. 9  but with certain features omitted for illustration purposes; 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  is a partial end view corresponding to  FIG. 12 ; and 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  is a partial side view corresponding to  FIG. 12 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a dolly  100  is depicted in an embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, dolly  100  includes a frame  102  comprised of formed and welded metal plate. Frame  102  includes a platform  104  with a lead-in  106 . Frame  102  can also include a right beam  108  and a left beam  110 , which can be mirror images of each other. Beams  108  and  110  include right wall  112  and left wall  114 , respectively. Right and left walls,  112  and  114 , together with platform  104  form a channel  116 . Caster wheels  118  are attached to beams  108  and  110 . In this embodiment six caster wheels  118  are shown, but any number suitable for stability and load carrying capability may be used. Also in this embodiment, caster wheels  118  are swivel-type casters, allowing dolly  100  to roll in any direction on wheels  118 . Alternate embodiments wherein certain wheels  118  are of fixed-direction can also be utilized. 
         [0040]    In one embodiment, frame  102  includes a winch bracket  120 , onto which a winch  122  is mounted. Winch  122  can be, as shown in this embodiment, a hand crank-operated, geared and ratcheting version with a webbing strap wound on its drum. Other types of winches, such as cable winches, motorized winches, lever winches, and so on can be used in other embodiments. Winch  122  has a handle  124  for winding up a webbing strap  126  onto the drum of winch  122 . Webbing strap  126  terminates with a hook  128 . Hook  128  can be metal and can optionally include a spring-loaded retaining clip. 
         [0041]    Platform  104  can optionally include an upstanding fence, fixed stop  130 . While fixed stop  130  can be integral with platform  104 , any structure creating a blocking fence or stop or other structure performing the stop function of preventing a tire from overshooting its position can be employed. Right wall  112  and left wall  114  can include a plurality of holes  132 . These holes  132  provide for a variety of locations for one or more adjustable stops  134 . Adjustable stops  134  are depicted, in this embodiment, as bars having a circular cross-section to align with and fit through pairs of holes  132 . Alternate cross-sections, methods of construction, attachment, and adjustment can be used to create suitable tire stops in the forward, reverse, or both directions. 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a rear view of the dolly  100  is depicted in an embodiment of the disclosure. (“Front” and “rear” are used throughout this disclosure for convenience of orientation only, and do not constitute structural or functional definitions or restrictions.) Winch bracket  120  includes a flange  202 , which in turn includes mounting holes  204 . Winch  122  is affixed to flange  202 , and thus to winch bracket  120  and to frame  102 , with any suitable fastening method, this embodiment showing threaded fasteners assembled through mounting holes  204 . Dolly  100  may include webbing band  204 , which includes D-rings  206  affixed to each end. Webbing band  204  removably attaches to hook  128  of webbing strap  126  by hooking D-rings  206  onto hook  128  ( FIG. 2A ). Adjustable stop  134  is affixed into holes  132  on either end by lock pins  208 . Alternate methods of holding adjustable stops  134  in place may be employed, examples including but not limited to quick-release buttons, c-rings, shaft collars, and spring pins. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , lock pin  208 , holes  132 , and right wall  112  of frame  102  are depicted from beneath dolly  100  in an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , towbar  402  is depicted as removably attached in an embodiment of the disclosure. In this embodiment, towbar  402  is removably attached to right and left walls,  112  and  114 , of frame  102  by insertion into a pair of front towbar holes  404 . Towbar  402  can be of conventional design, and may be suitable for either hand or tug operations. These towbars are commonly attached to aircraft in the same manner as that with which towbar  402  is depicted as attached to dolly  100 . Alternately, towbar  402  can be attached to the rear of dolly  100  via rear towbar holes  406  (only one shown), which are part of right and left walls,  112  and  114 . 
         [0045]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , operation of dolly  100  is depicted in an embodiment of the disclosure. In the depiction, dolly  100  has been positioned adjacent to and in line with an aircraft gear tire such that lead-in  106  of platform  104  abuts or nearly abuts the tire of the aircraft. The tire can be normally inflated, flat, or anywhere in between. Although one intended purpose for dolly  100  is for dealing with flat tires, an inflated tire is depicted for illustrative convenience (as in other figures). Furthermore, for convenience and clarity, the tire and wheel are depicted sans fairing (as in other figures). Dolly  100  is configured to accommodate aircraft either with fairings, as are many fixed-gear aircraft, or without fairings, as are many retractable-gear aircraft. 
         [0046]    Webbing strap  126  is suitably extended by an operator by unwinding winch  122 . The operator wraps webbing band  204  around the strut of the aircraft landing gear, then connects webbing band  204  to webbing strap  126  by mating D-rings  206  to hook  128 . The rigging is snugged up during this attachment operation by rotating handle  124  of winch  122 . If necessary, the operator will have positioned one adjustable stop  134  in a suitable rear location for that particular aircraft and gear. The plurality of holes  132  allow for a wide accommodation of aircraft types, including those with or without fairings. For example, with a flat tire on a faired aircraft, a lower pair of holes  132  may be selected. In this case stability is not sacrificed because the wheel, being flat, is disinclined to roll over any applied stops. In one embodiment, the operator also will have temporarily removed the front adjustable stop (not shown) to facilitate access to platform  104 . The operator may then rotate winch handle  124 , which action draws dolly  100  and the aircraft tire together, allowing the tire to mount platform  104  over lead-in  106  and, further, entering channel  116 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , an alternate method of use is depicted in an embodiment of the disclosure. In this method, webbing strap  126  is wrapped onto the circumference of the aircraft tire during the rigging process. Hook  128  is attached either to fixed stop  130  or adjustable stop  134 . This configuration converts the aircraft wheel into a movable pulley, which offers a mechanical advantage to the winching operation. This method is useful for heavier loads, such as with larger aircraft. Additionally, embodiments of the invention contemplate wrapping the strap transversely to the circumference of the tire and around the sides of the wheel. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , dolly  100  is positioned under an aircraft tire after having been winched into place. The tire is positioned and retained in channel  116 . If needed, the operator can attach adjustable stop  134  in a suitable place (by choosing a pair of holes  132 ) to securely lock dolly  100  under the aircraft tire. The aircraft may now be transported in any desirable way suitable for the prevailing conditions and intended purpose. If desired, towbar  402  ( FIG. 4 ) can be attached to dolly  100  as previously described, with which the aircraft can be towed manually or by tug. Towbar  402  most typically would be employed if dolly  100  is applied to the nose or tail gear of an aircraft. If applied to an aircraft&#39;s main gear, a suitable towbar can be attached to the nose or tail gear, in which case dolly  100  will freewheel. Regardless of location of dolly  100 , including in multiple locations on one aircraft, the aircraft can be transported by hand pushing as well. 
         [0049]    Dolly  100  can be removed from beneath the aircraft tire by removing the winch rigging and the front adjustable stop, then simply rolling the airplane back onto the ground. Alternatively, the aircraft can be jacked up to allow dolly  100  to be rolled out from under the tire. 
         [0050]      FIGS. 9-14  illustrate an embodiment useable with heavier aircraft. Many of the features of this embodiment are similar or identical in structure or function to those of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-8 , and to simplify the disclosure their description will not be repeated. Dolly  500  includes a frame having two longitudinally extending beams  502 ,  504  and platform  506  extending laterally between them. To increase the amount of weight that can be supported by dolly  500 , platform  506  includes two layers or plates  508 ,  510 , disposed one over the other. Lead-in ramp  512  is disposed to guide an aircraft tire from the underlying surface up onto upper plate  508 . At the opposite end of ramp  512 , support  513  is provided to support a winch bracket for a winch in the manner described previously, and/or to provide a towbar attachment point shown as an aperture at the righthand side of  FIG. 11 . 
         [0051]    Dolly  500  additionally includes a plurality of angled brackets  514  extending on opposite lateral sides of platform  506  to support plates  508 ,  510  one above the other. Portions  516  of brackets  514  are visible in the partial perspective view of  FIG. 12 , which for purposes of illustration eliminates beam  502  and support  513 . Each beam  502 ,  504  includes substantially vertical portion  520  extending upwardly from platform  506 , angled portion  522  extending from portion  520  over to top portion  524 , and outer portion  525 . Portions  522  can be provided with apertures for receiving adjustable stops, in the manner of the previous embodiment. End plates  526  substantially close off the ends of beams  502 ,  504 . 
         [0052]    Dolly  500  includes a plurality of wheels  530  or casters disposed at each side of the platform for rolling dolly  500  on an underlying surface. Angled brackets  514  are disposed at each side of platform  506  between wheels  530 . Outer portion  525  includes slots for accommodating wheel flanges  532  for attaching wheels  530  to beams  502 ,  504 . As shown, dolly  500  includes an increased number of wheels or casters relative to dolly  100 ; in this case dolly  500  includes eight wheels, four on each side. The wheels can be pivoting wheels (about a vertical axis, for example) or fixed wheels as may be desired for particular applications. 
         [0053]    Embodiments of the invention are sturdy and durable, being constructed for example of 5/16 inch or ⅝ inch or greater steel, welded solidly together. In the case of pivoting wheels or casters, it can be desirable to ensure that all casters disposed at the corners of the dolly, at least, are pointed in the direction of the tow before towing begins, to avoid binding or undue stress on the casters. It also can be desirable for enhanced stability to leave the towbar attached to the dolly during winching or other movement of the aircraft tire onto the dolly. It will also be appreciated that during such winching or other movement, the aircraft tire may roll with respect to the dolly, the dolly may roll with respect to the tire, or both movements may occur. In any case, relative movement between the dolly and the aircraft tire occurs to move the aircraft tire into the channel and secure the tire on the platform of the dolly, for towing. 
         [0054]    The following references are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, except for express definitions and patent claims contained therein: U.S. Pat. No. 1,248,896 to Olson; U.S. Pat. No. 2,362,981 to Baum; U.S. Pat. No. 2,392,409 to Ray; U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,312 to Day; U.S. Pat. No. 3,583,723 to Nowell, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,586,187 to Wright; U.S. Pat. No. 3,598,259 to Wright; U.S. Pat. No. 3,720,422 to Nelson; U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,886 to Robinson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,605 to Coccaro; U.S. Pat. No. 4,854,803 to Coccaro; U.S. Pat. No. 5,071,151 to Irwin; U.S. Pat. No. 7,097,406 to Gang; U.S. Pat. No. 8,475,108 to Hamman; U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0037409 to Winters; “Towbar Model TY-TB-FTD”, The Brackett Aircraft Company, Inc., Kingman, Ariz., USA; and “NFE-4 Aircraft Tug”, AIRTUG®, Avon, Ohio, USA. 
         [0055]    Any incorporation by reference of documents above is limited such that no subject matter is incorporated that is contrary to the explicit disclosure herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is further limited such that no claims included in the documents are incorporated by reference herein. Any incorporation by reference of documents above is yet further limited such that any definitions provided in the documents are not incorporated by reference herein unless expressly included herein. 
         [0056]    The above disclosure is related to the detailed technical contents and inventive features thereof. People skilled in this field may proceed with a variety of modifications and replacements based on the disclosures and suggestions of the invention as described without departing from the characteristics thereof. For example, although a plurality of adjustable stops as shown are useable with each of the embodiments, it is additionally or alternatively contemplated to leave the aircraft tightly secured in place with the winch and strap during towing if needed. Although many such modifications and replacements are not fully disclosed in the above description, they have substantially been covered by the spirit and technical theory of the subject invention. 
         [0057]    References to “embodiment(s)”, “disclosure”, “present disclosure”, “embodiment(s) of the disclosure”, “disclosed embodiment(s)”, and the like contained herein refer to the specification (text, including the claims, and figures) of this patent application that are not admitted prior art. 
         [0058]    For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in the respective claim.