Patent ID: 8066467

Claim:
An aircraft transport dolly ( 100 ) comprising: a frame ( 101 ) having front and rear ends ( 102 , 104 ) and defining a frame longitudinal axis ( 105 ) intersecting said front and rear ends ( 102 , 104 ); at least one wheel ( 110 R, 110 L) rotatively coupled to said frame ( 101 ) for supporting at least a portion of the weight of said frame ( 101 ); two hitch assemblies ( 74 R, 74 L) connected to a front portion of said frame ( 101 ) for coupling said frame ( 101 ) to a tractor ( 8 ) at two points separately and equally laterally distant from said frame longitudinal axis; a lift carriage ( 202 ) vertically movably connected to a rear portion of said frame ( 101 ); a lift actuator ( 208 R) coupled between said lift carriage ( 202 ) and said frame ( 101 ) for selectively raising and lowering the elevation of said lift carriage ( 202 ) with respect to said frame ( 101 ); a first arm ( 210 R) horizontally movably carried by said lift carriage ( 202 ), said first arm ( 210 R) defining a first arm longitudinal axis and disposed such that said first arm longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to said frame longitudinal axis ( 105 ), said first arm ( 210 R) moveable substantially transversely to said frame longitudinal axis ( 105 ) with respect to said lift carriage ( 202 ); a second arm ( 210 L) horizontally movably carried by said lift carriage ( 202 ), said second arm ( 210 L) defining a second arm longitudinal axis and disposed such that said second arm longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to said frame longitudinal axis ( 105 ), said second arm ( 210 L) moveable substantially transversely to said frame longitudinal axis ( 105 ) with respect to said lift carriage ( 202 ); a first chock ( 230 ) carried by said lift carriage ( 202 ); and a second chock ( 232 R) movably carried by said first arm ( 210 R); and a third chock ( 232 L) movably carried by said second arm ( 210 L); whereby said first chock ( 230 ) may be disposed on one side of an aircraft nose gear ( 900 ) and said second and third chocks ( 232 R, 232 L) may be selectively disposed on the opposite side of said aircraft nose gear ( 900 ) to cradle said aircraft nose gear ( 900 ) between said first chock ( 230 ) and said second and third chocks ( 232 R, 232 L), and said lift carriage ( 202 ) may be raised, elevating said first, second and third chocks ( 230 , 232 R, 232 L) and said nose gear ( 900 ).