Abstract: An aircraft tug assembly is provided for moving an aircraft on the ground. The tug assembly includes a self-propelled chassis responsive to operator control. A cradle assembly is pivotally attached to a front portion of the chassis. The cradle assembly has an adjustable nosewheel receiving apparatus comprising two lateral arms adjustably engaged with a rear gate to define a nosewheel receiving corral therebetween, with the corral sizable to accommodate varying sized aircraft nosewheels. The chassis has a winch for pulling an aircraft nosewheel onto the cradle assembly and into the corral. An optional front gate may be used to enclose the nosewheel within the corral. Hydraulic actuators lift the cradle assembly with the nosewheel thereon so the tug assembly may move the aircraft without starting the aircraft engine.

Abstract: A dolly or roll carriage which is utilized to serve as a traveling aid for a defective wheel of a motor vehicle. The dolly includes a traveling frame which is equipped with wheels, a ramp plate for the driving thereonto of the wheel, a well for the receipt and for the sideways fixing in position of the wheel and a front stop member for the wheel, whereby the stop member is generally constructed in the shape of a wheel rim.

Abstract: A dolly or roll carriage serving as a traveling aid for a defective wheel on a motor vehicle. The dolly includes an undercarriage equipped with rollers, a ramp plate for the driving ascent thereon of the defective wheel, a well for the receipt and for the lateral or sideways fixing of the wheel and a front stop member for the wheel whereby the stop member is generally configured in the shape of a wheel rim.

Abstract: A roller storage system for facilitating storage of wheeled vehicles such as automobiles, boat or snowmobile trailers, farm equipment, and the like in otherwise inaccessible locations. The storage system involves the use of a low ramp-like truck or dolly for each wheel of the vehicle. The ramp has side walls and an end backstop wall. It is supported on opposite sides by longitudinally extending rollers located so that their bottom edges extend below the bottom surface of the ramp to permit easy lateral movement on the rollers. The vehicle to be stored is driven adjacent to the otherwise inaccessible storage area. A truck or dolly is located forward of each wheel and the vehicle is driven or pushed onto them and moved laterally into the otherwise inaccessible storage area.

Abstract: A tolley for supporting a wheel of a vehicle so that the vehicle may be driven or moved without the wheel touching the ground. The trolley has a hinged frame equipped with three or more wheels, a drive-on part which tilts upward when a wheel is driven onto the trolley and which then supports the wheel from behind, and a front support member. The front support member may be locked in place after the wheel has come to rest on the trolley. The trolley may be folded for storage.

Abstract: A vehicle carrier which may be used to transport compact automobiles behind motorhomes or other suitable towing vehicles and consists of two primary substructures, a main frame and a trailer bed. The automobile which is to be transported can be loaded on to or unloaded from the carrier by a single person since it is not necessary for him to be inside or in close proximity to the vehicle, nor does he have to step down from the vehicle after it is loaded on to the vehicle carrier. The carrier can be easily moved or rolled by hand and also provides means to reduce the road shock and sway which may be transferred from a vehicle carrier to a towing vehicle.

Abstract: An aircraft towing vehicle has a frame with a rearwardly opening, U-shaped recess for receiving the nose wheel of an aircraft. A lifting and securing mechanism is disposed within the recess and includes a ramp and a stop plate carried by the frame, a lifter which pushes the nose wheel from behind up the ramp into abutment with the stop plate, and a pivotable hold-down mechanism mounted above the ramp. In its rest position the hold-down mechanism is set at a distance from the ground which is less than the diameter of the smallest nose wheel of the types of aircraft that can be towed. It contacts the periphery of the nose wheel being engaged at an upper forward guadrant of the wheel's periphery and passively moves in tandem with the nose wheel as it is being pushed up the ramp into its secured position. At the end of the engaging operation, the hold-down mechanism applied a downwardly directed force of a predetermined magnitude against the nose wheel, which is generated by a hydraulic actuator.

Abstract: An aircraft towing vehicle has a frame with a rearwardly open, U-shaped recess for receiving the nose wheel of an aircraft and a lifting and securing mechanism for raising the nose wheel off the ground and securing it to the towing vehicle in the raised position. The lifting and securing mechanism, in particular a hold-down mechanism and/or a lifter mechanism secure the nose wheel after it has been fully engaged by applying a wheel clamping force of a predetermined magnitude to the periphery of the wheel. The clamping force is selected to substantially prevent relative nose wheel movements while the aircraft is being towed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a trolley for supporting a tire of a vehicle so that the latter can be moved without the tire touching the ground. More specifically, the apparatus of the present invention comprises a foldable frame equipped with at least one front wheel and two rear wheels, self adjusting and locking front and rear support members haivng a plurality of parallel rows of rollers, the outermost rollers being bevelled to help center the vehicle tire on the tolley and to minimize the tendency of the vehicle tire to roll out of the trolley. The rear support member serves as a drive-on ramp for the vehicle tire, rotating about its axle under the pressure exerted by the tire being driven thereupon as the tire reaches a certain distance from the beginning of the part. When in a tilted position, the rear support member and the front support member automatically lock into position and support said vehicle tire.

Abstract: An aircraft towing vehicle is equipped with an aircraft nose wheel lifting and securing mechanism. The nose wheel is received in a U-shaped recess of the vehicle chassis, the lifting mechanism being constructed to grip the wheel from behind and underneath and to then push it up a ramp. The tilt angle of the lifting mechanism as it advances towards the wheel is controlled by a steering linkage such that the lower, freely movable segment of the lifting mechanism is tilted farther forward and beneath the nose wheel at the beginning of the nose wheel engaging operation, while conversely, a rigid upper segment is tilted farther forward as the engaging operation continues to completion.

Abstract: Apparatus for wheel lift towing vehicles for supporting the tires of a vehicle to be lifted and towed. The apparatus includes a pair of tire support cradles having front and rear members for respectively engaging the front and rear surfaces of a tire of the vehicle to be towed. The rear member has a bar which mounts a moveable support member in the form of a foldable plate. The plate may be raised above the bar to provide a retaining surface for engaging and supporting the rear surface portion of the tire, and may be lowered to provide clearance for entry beneath the vehicle and behind the tire. The plate in its lowered position is also adapted to be positioned on the ground so as to provide a ramp over which the tire may be drawn into the cradle when, for example, the tire is flat.

Abstract: Wheel lift towing apparatus has tire support cradles including front and rear support members for respectively engaging the front and rear surface portions of the vehicle tire. The front support member includes a fixed ramp for engaging a lower front surface portion of the tire and a moveable ramp in the form of a pivotable plate disposed above the fixed ramp to provide an extension thereof for engaging an additional front surface portion of the tire above the surface engaged by the fixed ramp. The pivotable plate may be rotated downwardly to a stow or inoperative position, and in such position permits the cradle to enter beneath the front of a low ground clearance vehicle to be towed. Once under the front of the vehicle and adjacent the front tire it may be rotated to the operative position and a support member pivotably journalled to the opposite surface of the plate may be positioned against stop members to hold the plate at an upstanding inclination in the operative position.

Abstract: A shunting vehicle for maneuvering aircraft on the ground equipped with an ascent and arresting device for the aircraft front undercarriages which overcomes the problem of the stepping out of the undercarriage in the upward direction and tilting off of the rear and, secondly, the problem of accepting front undercarriages equipped with stone guards. A pivoting ramp with automatically pivoting cams which pivot as a function of the pivoting motion of the ram is provided. Additional stationary and mobile elements of the arresting device prevent escape of the bow wheels in the upward or rearward directions. The ramp, and thus the cams, are actuated by a piston-cylinder unit, two toggle lever systems, and a sliding link guide.

Abstract: The device comprises a body which is adapted to receive and hold the disabled vehicle tire. Wheels or other rolling devices enable the body to ride on a hard surface. A ramp is provided to enable to drive the disabled vehicle tire onto the body to rest thereon. Two braking systems are provided to prevent any movement of the body while mounting and dismounting the disabled vehicle tire onto and from the body. Finally, the body can be connected to the automobile by means of an attachment, such as a chain after having mounted the disabled tire onto the body. In this manner, the driver of the automobile will be able to drive his car while pulling the body while the disabled vehicle tire is carried by it.

Abstract: A device for handling and moving generally cylindrical loads, such as cable reels, rolls of paper, sheet metal, and the like, comprising a frame supported by wheels or the like and provided with vertically pivotable, laterally movable telescoping arms for retentive engagement with the load to move said load toward and away from a load-supporting surface of said frame.

Abstract: A stores handling apparatus for moving and positioning stores relative a parked aircraft to facilitate loading thereof comprises a beam member (21) having releasable coupling means (22) near each end for attachment of at least one stores carrying trolley (23) and so that each trolley projects substantially parallel to the beam member. Means such as rollers (24) or wheels (33) provide for movement of the beam member along a surface, and guide means (25) are adapted in operation for engagement with guide means (39) formed in a trackway (38) on the surface.In operation, the stores handling apparatus is used in combination with an aircraft moving apparatus operable to align an aircraft on the trackway and, preferably, of a type comprising a trolley (50) movable along the same trackway.The apparatus and system of this invention is particularly suited for use in the moving and positioning of stores relative an aircraft parked on the deck of a ship.

Abstract: A small, compact, collapsible three-wheeled truck which can be used to support a flat or damaged tire of a vehicle while the latter is being driven to a repair location. The truck has a foldable ramp which rests flat on the ground while the rear wheels are in slightly raised position, so as to prevent movement of the truck while the flat tire is being driven onto it. As the ramp pivots upwardly into retaining position behind the tire, the rear wheels are lowered into ground contacting position. Simultaneously, an extension attached to the ramp causes a retaining member near the front of the truck to pivot upwardly out of the way of the tire into front retaining position. The tire after mounting rests in a cradle and is prevented from moving forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the truck.

Abstract: A small, compact, collapsible three-wheeled truck which can be used to support a flat or damaged tire of a vehicle while the latter is being driven to a repair location. The truck has a foldable ramp which rests flat on the ground while the rear wheels are in slightly raised position, so as to prevent movement of the truck while the flat tire is being driven onto it. As the ramp pivots upwardly into retaining position behind the tire, the rear wheels are lowered into ground contacting position. Simultaneously, an extension attached to the ramp causes a retaining member near the front of the truck to pivot upwardly out of the way of the tire into front retaining position. The tire after mounting rests in a cradle and is prevented from moving forwardly or rearwardly with respect to the truck.

Abstract: The present invention relates to airport towing vehicles capable of handling large transport aircrafts. The vehicle has a movable chassis on which a platform for receiving the nose wheel unit of an aircraft is mounted. An access ramp, pivotally connected to an edge of the platform is engaged under the nose wheel unit of the aircraft to bring the nose wheel unit upwards onto the platform and a lifting device is supplied at controlled pressure to exert a lifting force on the access ramp which is a function of the load of the nose wheel unit taken over by the access ramp. Rollers on the upper surface of the access ramp reduce frictional resistance between the tires of the nose wheel unit and the upper surface of the access ramp.