Patent ID: 8636461

Claim:
An aircraft transport dolly ( 100 ) for detachable connection with an omni-directional vehicle ( 8 ), said omni-directional vehicle ( 8 ) having first and second independently powered drive wheels ( 12 R, 12 L) rotatably disposed along a horizontal axis ( 18 ) and designed and arranged to revolve 360 degrees about a central vertical axis ( 16 ) which intersects said horizontal axis ( 18 ) between said first and second drive wheels ( 12 R, 12 L), said omni-directional vehicle ( 8 ) having a ring ( 9 ) encircling said omni-directional vehicle ( 8 ) and revolvably coupled thereto by a plurality of engaging elements ( 44 , 46 , 47 ), said omni-directional vehicle ( 8 ) having at least one attachment member ( 70 R, 70 L)) affixed to said ring ( 9 ), said 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 ); at least one complementary attachment member ( 74 R, 74 L) attachable to said at least one attachment member affixed to said ring of said omni-directional vehicle, said at least one complementary attachment member positioned at said frame ( 101 ) at said front end and adapted to contact said omni-directional vehicle ( 8 ) at two points separately and equally laterally distant from said frame longitudinal axis ( 105 ) of the dolly ( 100 ); 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) carried by said lift carriage ( 202 ); a second arm ( 210 L) carried by said lift carriage ( 202 ); a first chock ( 230 ) carried by said lift carriage ( 202 ); and a second chock ( 232 ) hingedly coupled to said first arm ( 210 R) and detachably coupled to said second arm ( 210 L); whereby said first chock ( 230 ) and said second chock ( 232 R) may be selectively disposed on opposite sides of an aircraft nose gear ( 900 ) and said lift carriage ( 202 ) may be raised, elevating said first and second chocks ( 230 , 232 R) and said nose gear ( 900 ).