Patents by Inventor Daniel J. McElroy

Daniel J. McElroy has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Aircraft towbar with rapid wheel deployment and method for efficiently moving aircraft therewith
    Patent number: 8985613
    Abstract: A towbar includes a body and a carriage assembly mounted to the body for movement between a retracted position in which wheels on the carriage assembly are elevated above the ground and a support position in which the wheels support the towbar on the ground, wherein the towbar is configured for rapid deployment of the carriage assembly from the retracted position to the support position. Rapid deployment is provided by a hydraulic actuator and an accumulator that can store fluid pressure, such that controllably discharging the accumulator drives the actuator to move the carriage assembly. A method is disclosed using the towbar to move an aircraft such that the accumulator is charged with pressure before the towbar is decoupled from nose gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Inventor: Daniel J. McElroy
  • AIRCRAFT TOWBAR WITH RAPID WHEEL DEPLOYMENT AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENTLY MOVING AIRCRAFT THEREWITH
    Publication number: 20140161579
    Abstract: A towbar includes a body and a carriage assembly mounted to the body for movement between a retracted position in which wheels on the carriage assembly are elevated above the ground and a support position in which the wheels support the towbar on the ground, wherein the towbar is configured for rapid deployment of the carriage assembly from the retracted position to the support position. Rapid deployment is provided by a hydraulic actuator and an accumulator that can store fluid pressure, such that controllably discharging the accumulator drives the actuator to move the carriage assembly. A method is disclosed using the towbar to move an aircraft such that the accumulator is charged with pressure before the towbar is decoupled from nose gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Daniel J. McElroy