A Tractor for Carrier-Based Aircraft with Direct Drive to the Front Wheels

CN114954990BActive Publication Date: 2025-07-29XIAMEN INST OF ARTS & CRAFTS FUZHOU UNIV
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202210629133.X
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2022-06-06
Publication Date
2025-07-29
Estimated Expiration
2042-06-06

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing carrier-based tractors have problems such as large size and weight, long operating time and low traction efficiency. Rodless tractors are expensive to build, complex structure and prone to failure.

Method used

The carrier-based tractor that directly drives the front wheel is connected to the carrier-based tractor wheel through an electric drive mechanism and the drive disk. It is powered by the APU of the carrier-based tractor. It has a simple structure and can be detached and fixed connection. The locking member is fixed with the front landing gear, and the external power cord is matched with the carrier-based tractor power interface.

Benefits of technology

It achieves a simple structure, low cost, small size and weight, and can be equipped with a large amount of equipment on the aircraft carrier, improves the efficiency of carrier-based aircraft transfer and deck scheduling error tolerance, and avoids the problems of battery carrying and replacement.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The present invention relates to the technical field of shipborne aircraft tractors, and particularly relates to a shipborne aircraft tractor directly driving the front wheels. The tractor includes a frame, an electric drive mechanism arranged inside the frame, a drive disk connected to the output end of the electric drive mechanism, an electronic controller electrically connected to the electric drive mechanism, and an external power supply line electrically connected to the electronic controller; a connection structure is provided on the drive disk, and it can be detachably and fixedly connected to the wheels of the shipborne aircraft through the connection structure, so that the electric drive mechanism drives the drive disk to rotate and drives the wheels to rotate; a locking member is provided on the frame, and it is detachably and fixedly connected to the front landing gear of the shipborne aircraft through the locking member; the input interface of the external power supply line matches the power interface on the shipborne aircraft, so that the APU on the shipborne aircraft and the tractor are electrically connected through the external power supply line. It has the advantages of simple structure, low cost, small volume and weight, enabling it to be equipped in large quantities, and solves the problems of long operation time and low towing efficiency of existing products.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of shipborne aircraft tractors, and particularly to a shipborne aircraft tractor directly driving the front wheels. Background Art

[0002] The launch and recovery of aircraft carriers are directly related to the combat capabilities of aircraft carriers. The dispatching of aircraft on the aircraft carrier deck is inseparable from the transfer of tractors. Shipborne aircraft tractors are an important special equipment for aviation ground support. Therefore, improving the working mode of shipborne aircraft tractors and enhancing the overall operation efficiency of the aircraft carrier deck meet the strategic needs of the "active defense" of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

[0003] For existing shipborne aircraft tractors, they can be divided into pole tractors and non-pole tractors in terms of the towing form. However, the pole tractors equipped on our military aircraft carriers at present have the defects of large volume and weight, and only 4-5 vehicles can be placed in a small amount on the precious flight deck, resulting in a long transfer time of aircraft and a low towing efficiency. Moreover, under high sea state conditions, the operating speed of the tractor needs to be reduced, and the dispatching efficiency and operation error tolerance are further reduced. Existing non-pole tractors can overcome the above problems, but they also have the disadvantages of high cost, complex structure and easy failure. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To solve the problems mentioned in the above background art: the defects of large volume and weight of the pole tractors equipped on aircraft carriers result in a long transfer time of aircraft and low towing efficiency; non-pole tractors have the disadvantages of high cost and complex structure. The shipborne aircraft tractor directly driving the front wheels provided by the present invention includes a frame, a power driving mechanism arranged in the frame, a driving disk connected to the output end of the power driving mechanism, an electronic controller electrically connected to the power driving mechanism, and an external power supply line electrically connected to the electronic controller;

[0005] A connecting structure is arranged on the driving disk, and it can be detachably and fixedly connected to the wheels of the aircraft through the connecting structure, so that the power driving mechanism drives the driving disk to rotate and drives the wheels to rotate; a locking member is arranged on the frame, and it is detachably and fixedly connected to the front landing gear of the aircraft through the locking member;

[0006] The input interface of the external power supply line matches the power interface on the aircraft, so that the APU on the aircraft and the tractor are electrically connected through the external power supply line.

[0007] In an embodiment, it further includes a remote control antenna arranged on the frame; the remote control antenna is electrically connected to the electronic controller.

[0008] In one embodiment, one end of the driving disc is connected to the output end of the electric driving mechanism, and the other end is provided with a connection structure; the connection structure is a sleeve, and the inner wall of the inner hole of the sleeve is provided with threads matching the studs of the wheel hub, and the studs of the wheel hub are fitted with the threads on the sleeve, so that the driving disc and the wheel are detachably and fixedly connected.

[0009] In one embodiment, the driving disc is a multi-spoke structure composed of a plurality of spokes, and each spoke end is provided with the sleeve.

[0010] In one embodiment, the locking member is a lock ring structure, which includes a collar and a bolt; the collar is composed of two openable and closable arc-shaped members, and the ends of the two arc-shaped members are both provided with sockets, and the bolt is inserted into the sockets so that the two arc-shaped members enclose to form the collar of a closed ring structure; and the inner ring of the closed collar is adapted to the inner cylinder of the shock absorber strut of the front landing gear of the carrier-based aircraft, and the collar is enclosed on the outer wall of the shock absorber strut inner cylinder, so that the frame is detachably and fixedly connected to the front landing gear of the carrier-based aircraft through the locking member.

[0011] In one embodiment, the locking member is detachably connected to the frame.

[0012] In one embodiment, an elastic buffer pad is provided on the inner hole wall of the collar.

[0013] In one embodiment, a rear support wheel assembly is provided at one end of the frame away from the driving disc, and front support wheel assemblies are respectively provided on both sides of the frame.

[0014] In one embodiment, the rear support wheel assembly includes a first wheel frame and a rear roller mounted on the first wheel frame, and the front support wheel assembly includes a second wheel frame and a front roller mounted on the second wheel frame; the first wheel frame and the second wheel frame are rotatably connected to the frame, and the first wheel frame and the second wheel frame can rotate to lift the rear roller and the front roller off the ground, and the first wheel frame and the second wheel frame are fixedly connected to the frame through a fixing member.

[0015] In one embodiment, a handle is provided on the frame.

[0016] Based on the above, compared with the prior art, a tractor for a carrier-based aircraft directly driving the front wheels provided by the present invention has the following technical effects:

[0017] The tractor has the advantages of simple structure, reliable technology, low cost, small volume and weight, so that it can be equipped in large quantities, and solves the problems of long operation time and low traction efficiency of existing products.

[0018] Other features and beneficial effects of the present invention will be described in the subsequent specification, and in part will be obvious from the specification, or will be understood by implementing the present invention. The objectives and other beneficial effects of the present invention can be achieved and obtained through the structures specifically pointed out in the specification, claims, and drawings. Description of the Drawings

[0019] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings; in the positional relationships described in the following drawings, unless otherwise specified, the directions shown by the components in the drawings are used as the reference.

[0020] Figure 1 Top view of the locking member in the open state in an embodiment provided by the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 Front view of the locking member in the open state in an embodiment provided by the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 Stereogram of the locking member in the open state in an embodiment provided by the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 Top view of the locking member in the closed state in an embodiment provided by the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 Front view of the locking member in the closed state in an embodiment provided by the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 Stereogram of the locking member in the closed state in an embodiment provided by the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the connection process between the tractor and the nose landing gear of the carrier-based aircraft provided by an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0027] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of the connection process between the tractor and the nose landing gear of the carrier-based aircraft provided by an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0028] Figure 9 Schematic diagram of the connection process between the tractor and the nose landing gear of the carrier-based aircraft provided by an embodiment of the present invention Figure 3 ;

[0029] Figure 10Schematic diagram of the structure of a tractor and a carrier-based aircraft nose landing gear in a connected state provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 11 Schematic diagram of the installation process of a locking member in an embodiment provided by the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0031] Figure 12 Schematic diagram of the installation process of a locking member in an embodiment provided by the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0032] Figure 13 Schematic diagram of the installation process of a locking member in an embodiment provided by the present invention Figure 3 。

[0033] Reference numerals:

[0034] 100 Frame, 200 Electric drive mechanism, 300 Drive disc

[0035] 400 Electric controller, 500 External power supply line, 600 Locking member

[0036] 700 Remote control antenna, 800 Rear support wheel assembly, 900 Front support wheel assembly

[0037] 110 Handle, 310 Sleeve, 320 Spoke

[0038] 610 Collar, 611 Arc-shaped member, 612 Socket

[0039] 620 Bolt, 630 Elastic buffer pad, 810 First wheel frame

[0040] 820 Rear roller, 910 Second wheel frame, 920 Front roller

[0041] 20 Nose landing gear, 22 Wheel, 21 Inner cylinder of shock absorber strut

[0042] 10 Tractor Detailed implementation manners

[0043] To make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. The technical features designed in different implementation manners of the present invention described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0044] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that all terms used in the present invention (including technical terms and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention pertains, and should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention; it should be further understood that the terms used in the present invention should be understood to have a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant field, and should not be understood in an idealized or overly formal sense, unless otherwise clearly defined in the present invention.

[0045] The present invention provides a tractor 10 for a carrier-based aircraft that directly drives the front wheels as shown in Figures 1-13 the embodiments. The tractor 10 includes a frame 100, a power drive mechanism 200 disposed within the frame 100, a drive disk 300 connected to the output end of the power drive mechanism 200, an electronic controller 400 electrically connected to the power drive mechanism 200, and an external power cord 500 electrically connected to the electronic controller 400.

[0046] A connection structure is provided on the drive disk 300, and it can be detachably and fixedly connected to the wheel 22 of the carrier-based aircraft through the connection structure, so that the power drive mechanism 200 drives the drive disk 300 to rotate, thereby driving the wheel 22 to rotate; a locking member 600 is provided on the frame 100, and it is detachably and fixedly connected to the front landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft through the locking member 600.

[0047] The input interface of the external power cord 500 is matched with the power interface on the carrier-based aircraft, so that the APU on the carrier-based aircraft is electrically connected to the tractor 10 through the external power cord 500. Among them, the power drive mechanism 200 can be a motor; preferably, it further includes a remote control antenna 700 disposed on the frame 100; the remote control antenna 700 is electrically connected to the electronic controller 400.

[0048] As Figures 1-13 shown, the tractor 10 provided by the present invention is a structure integrally attached to the front landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft. It is detachably and fixedly connected to the wheel 22 through the drive disk 300, and the power drive mechanism 200 drives the drive disk 300 to rotate, thereby directly driving the front wheels of the carrier-based aircraft to rotate forward or backward, so that the carrier-based aircraft can slide forward and backward or turn autonomously on the deck.

[0049] Specifically, the tractor 10 is provided with an external power cord 500. The input interface of the external power cord 500 is matched with the power interface on the carrier-based aircraft and can be connected to the power interface on the carrier-based aircraft. The power provided by the APU for driving the wheels 22 of the nose landing gear 20 is transmitted through the external power cord 500. At the same time, it can also send control signals to the fuselage of the carrier-based aircraft in the remote control driving mode used by ground crew to adjust the steering angle of the landing gear. The electronic controller 400 of the tractor 10 is electrically connected to the external power cord 500 and the electric drive mechanism 200 (wherein, in this embodiment, the electronic controller 400 and the electric drive mechanism 200 are connected by motor wires to transmit power). The electronic controller 400 can control the input power of strong electricity and has protection functions such as overload, underload, leakage, and locked-rotor. It also has functions such as parsing weak electricity control signal output, alternating current data, and receiving instructions. The operation state of the electric drive mechanism 200 can be controlled through the electronic controller 400, so as to control the operation of the drive disc 300 to drive the wheels 22 of the carrier-based aircraft to rotate. In addition, the tractor 10 is preferably further provided with a remote control antenna 700, which is electrically connected to the electronic controller 400. The remote control antenna 700 is used to receive radio remote control signals from the remote controller of the ground crew and the tower, so that the tractor 10 receives the radio remote control signals and adjusts the operation state of the electric drive mechanism 200 according to the signal information.

[0050] During use, as Figures 7-9 shown, the connection operation process of the tractor 10 and the nose landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft is as follows:

[0051] First, the ground crew pushes the tractor 10 to one side of the nose landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft and fixedly connects the drive disc 300 to the wheels 22 on the nose landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft. Then, the locking member 600 is detachably and fixedly connected to the nose landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft. Finally, the external power cord 500 is connected to the power interface on the carrier-based aircraft, and then the tractor can start following driving or inform the pilot to start autonomous driving. Similarly, the disconnection operation is the reverse order of the above steps.

[0052] In the present invention, the tractor 10 has only one electric drive mechanism 200 for driving the front wheels of the carrier-based aircraft, does not carry its own power supply, and does not have the ability to drive itself. And the power used comes from the APU of the carrier-based aircraft itself, and the tractor 10 is powered through the external power cord 500.

[0053] Compared with the tractor 10 with a tow bar, the tractor 10 without a tow bar has a more compact structure, a smaller turning radius, and a higher speed. Moreover, when the tractor 10 without a tow bar picks up the front wheels of the carrier-based aircraft, the rear axle approximately bears 10% of the total mass of the carrier-based aircraft. Therefore, sufficient ground adhesion can be provided without a large self-weight, which is of great significance to the carrier-based facilities. Compared with the existing tractor 10 without a tow bar, the innovation points and beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0054] 1. The power transmission method provided by the tractor 10 of the present invention directly drives the front wheels of the carrier-based aircraft using an electric drive mechanism: This method has a simpler structure, lighter self-weight, and avoids the disadvantages of the complex structure and high cost of the non-towed tractor 10's wheel-holding mechanism;

[0055] 2. The tractor 10 provided by the present invention is powered by the APU of the carrier-based aircraft, avoiding the need to carry heavy batteries and eliminating the problems of battery life and battery replacement;

[0056] 3. The docking procedure of the tractor 10 provided by the present invention with the carrier-based aircraft is simple (docking procedure: the drive disk 300 of the electric drive mechanism is directly fixedly connected to the wheels 22 of the carrier-based aircraft, the external power cord 500 is connected to the power interface of the carrier-based aircraft, and the locking member 600 is fixedly connected to the front landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft). Moreover, its structure is simple, and both its volume and weight are small. It can be widely equipped on aircraft carriers, ensuring that the front wheels of each aircraft on the ship are connected to a tractor 10. As long as the aircraft starts the APU, it can be transferred, which is flexible to use and improves the fault tolerance rate of deck scheduling;

[0057] 4. The tractor 10 is small in both volume and weight. When it is detached from the carrier-based aircraft, it can be pushed by a single person for transfer.

[0058] 5. The tractor 10 can be controlled by the pilot to slide forward autonomously. The steering of the wheels 22 is controlled by the pilot, and it can also reverse into the parking position. At the same time, it also allows remote control by ground support personnel, with good compatibility.

[0059] It should be noted that: The APU mentioned in this article is Auxiliary Power Unit, which means auxiliary power unit; its core is a small turbine engine, which is a power unit in addition to the main engine of the aircraft. Its function is to independently provide power and compressed air to the aircraft. There are also some APUs that can provide additional thrust. When the tractor 10 provided by the present invention is used, certain modifications need to be made to some existing carrier-based aircraft: reserve a power interface in the area near the front landing gear 20; adjust the power distribution system of the APU so that it can supply power to the tractor 10 through the external power cord 500.

[0060] The electronic controller 400, electric drive mechanism 200, remote control antenna 700, etc. in the present invention are existing devices, and their structures and working principles will not be elaborated here. According to the above design concept, those skilled in the art can make appropriate selections according to needs.

[0061] Preferably, one end of the driving disk 300 is connected to the output end of the electric driving mechanism 200, and the other end is provided with a connecting structure; the connecting structure is a sleeve 310, and the inner wall of the inner hole of the sleeve 310 is provided with threads matching the studs of the hub of the machine wheel 22. By fitting the threads on the sleeve 310 with the studs of the hub of the machine wheel 22, the driving disk 300 and the machine wheel 22 are detachably and fixedly connected. Preferably, the driving disk 300 is a multi-spoke structure composed of a plurality of spokes 320, and each spoke 320 is provided with the sleeve 310 at its end.

[0062] As Figures 7-9 shown, the driving disk 300 adopted is a multi-spoke structure connected to the output shaft of the electric driving mechanism 200. There is a sleeve 310 that can be screwed forward at the end of each spoke 320. By fitting the threads on the inner wall of the sleeve 310 with the studs of the hub of the machine wheel 22, a fixed connection between the driving disk 300 and the machine wheel 22 is formed. After the driving disk 300 of the tractor 10 is connected to the machine wheel 22, the output shaft of the electric driving mechanism 200 drives the driving disk 300 to rotate, which can directly drive the machine wheel 22 to rotate.

[0063] It should be noted that: in this embodiment, the driving disk 300 adopts a five-spoke structure, and there are also 5 sleeves 310; according to the above design concept, those skilled in the art can make applicable adjustments to the number of spokes 320 according to the actual situation, including but not limited to the embodiment scheme; when the driving disk 300 of the above structure is used, certain modifications need to be made to some existing carrier-based aircraft: replace the screws of the hub of the front machine wheel 22 so that it has studs that can be connected to the driving disk 300 of the tractor 10.

[0064] Preferably, the locking member 600 is a lock ring structure, which includes a collar 610 and a bolt 620; the collar 610 is composed of two openable and closable arc-shaped members 611, and sockets 612 are provided at the ends of the two arc-shaped members 611. By inserting the bolt 620 into the socket 612, the two arc-shaped members 611 are surrounded to form the collar 610 of a closed ring structure; and the inner circle of the closed collar 610 is adapted to the inner cylinder 21 of the shock absorber strut of the front landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft. By surrounding the collar 610 on the outer wall of the shock absorber strut inner cylinder 21, the frame 100 is detachably and fixedly connected to the front landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft through the locking member 600. Preferably, the bolt 620 is a U-shaped structure.

[0065] As Figures 1-13As shown, the locking member 600 is a lock ring structure, and the collar 610 thereof is composed of two arc-shaped members 611 that can be opened and closed. They can be closed to encircle the inner cylinder 21 of the shock absorber strut of the nose landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft. The locking member 600 becomes a fixed point between the frame 100 of the tractor 10 and the landing gear of the carrier-based aircraft, resisting the reverse torque generated when the drive wheel 22 rotates. When the two arc-shaped members 611 are closed, the bolt 620 is inserted into the socket 612 of the arc-shaped member 611 to close the two arc-shaped members 611; when the bolt 620 is pulled out, the two arc-shaped members 611 can be opened to both sides. With this arrangement, the frame 100 is detachably and fixedly connected to the nose landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft through the locking member 600.

[0066] Preferably, the locking member 600 is detachably connected to the frame 100.

[0067] The landing gear structures of different aircraft models are different. The locking member 600 has an adapted shape for the landing gears of different aircraft models. By setting the locking member 600 to be detachably connected to the frame 100, the locking member 600 can be replaceably installed on the frame 100 of the tractor 10, which is convenient for use (this embodiment is an adapted version for the J-15).

[0068] Preferably, an elastic buffer pad 630 is provided on the inner hole wall of the collar 610. More preferably, the elastic buffer pad 630 can be made of a rubber pad.

[0069] As Figures 11-13 shown, a rubber pad is provided on the inner hole wall of the collar 610 to protect the metal surface of the shock absorber strut inner cylinder 21 from being knocked and scratched.

[0070] Preferably, a rear support wheel assembly 800 is provided at one end of the frame 100 away from the drive disk 300, and front support wheel assemblies 900 are respectively provided on both sides of the frame 100.

[0071] Preferably, the rear support wheel assembly 800 includes a first wheel frame 810 and a rear roller 820 mounted on the first wheel frame 810, and the front support wheel assembly 900 includes a second wheel frame 910 and a front roller 920 provided on the second wheel frame 910; the first wheel frame 810 and the second wheel frame 910 are rotatably connected to the frame 100, and the first wheel frame 810 and the second wheel frame 910 can be rotated to lift the rear roller 820 and the front roller 920 off the ground, and the first wheel frame 810 and the second wheel frame 910 are fixedly connected to the frame 100 through fixing members. Among them, the fixing member is a bolt member.

[0072] As Figures 1-13As shown, with such a setting, the rear support wheel assembly 800 can rotate through the first wheel frame 810 to be lifted upward and fixed to the frame 100 by a fixing member, so that the rear roller 820 is lifted off the ground; similarly, the front support wheel assembly 900 can rotate through the second wheel frame 910 to be lifted upward and fixed to the frame 100 by a fixing member, so that the front roller 920 is lifted off the ground;

[0073] When the tractor 10 is working, it is attached to the front landing gear 20, retracts the rear support wheel assembly 800 and the front support wheel assembly 900, and the whole is suspended without contacting the ground (that is, the rear roller 820 and the front roller 920 are lifted off the ground), and deflects together with the landing gear wheel 22 when turning; while when the tractor 10 detaches from the carrier-based aircraft, it is necessary to lower the rear support wheel assembly 800 and the front support wheel assembly 900, so that the rear roller 820 and the front roller 920 land on the ground, and the ground crew pushes it for transfer.

[0074] Preferably, a handle 110 is provided on the frame 100. The provided handle 110 is used for the ground crew to push the tractor 10 manually for transfer when the tractor 10 is not connected to the landing gear of the carrier-based aircraft.

[0075] In summary, as Figures 6-9 shown, the operation process of connecting the tractor 10 in this embodiment to the front landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft is as follows:

[0076] 1. The ground crew pushes the tractor 10 to one side of the front landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft, aligns the drive disk 300 with the wheel 22 on the front landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft (aligns the center of the wheel 22 hub and advances forward until the positioning center of the drive disk 300 contacts the hub center) and fixedly connects them;

[0077] 2. The sleeves 310 on the drive disk 300 are aligned one by one with the studs on the front hub of the wheel 22, and manually screw the sleeves 310 on the drive disk 300 with the studs on the front hub of the wheel 22 of the carrier-based aircraft to make the drive disk 300 fixedly connected to the wheel 22;

[0078] 3. Close the two arc-shaped members 611 of the locking member 600 (that is, close the collar 610), tightly fasten the inner cylinder 21 of the shock absorber strut of the front landing gear 20, and insert the bolt 620 into the socket 612 of the arc-shaped member 611 to lock it, so that the frame 100 is fixedly connected to the front landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft through the locking member 600;

[0079] 4. Lift and fix the front support wheel assembly 900 and the rear support wheel assembly 800 of the tractor 10, connect the external power cord 500 to the power interface on the carrier-based aircraft, and then you can start following driving or inform the pilot to start autonomous driving. Similarly, the operation of disconnecting is the reverse of the above steps.

[0080] Preferably, the frame 100 is made of aluminum alloy and formed by sand casting in combination with machining; the above design is adopted to make the frame 100 have a stable structure and reduced weight. In this embodiment, its overall weight is about 27 kg.

[0081] In this embodiment, the electric drive mechanism 200 uses a motor with a rated power of 30 kW, a peak power of 60 kW, a rated torque of 143 N·m, a peak torque of 400 N·m, and a weight of 68 kg. According to the above design concept, those skilled in the art can make a suitable selection for the electric drive mechanism 200, including but not limited to the embodiment solution.

[0082] In summary, compared with the prior art, the tractor 10 for carrier-based aircraft with direct drive of the front wheels provided by the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0083] 1. The power transmission method of the tractor 10 provided by the present invention uses an electric drive mechanism to directly drive the front wheels of the carrier-based aircraft: This method has a simpler structure and smaller self-weight, and avoids the disadvantages of the complex structure and high cost of the wheel-holding mechanism of the towbarless tractor.

[0084] 2. The tractor 10 provided by the present invention is powered by the APU of the carrier-based aircraft, avoiding the need to carry heavy batteries and having no problems with battery life and battery replacement.

[0085] 3. The docking procedure of the tractor 10 provided by the present invention with the carrier-based aircraft is simple (docking procedure: the drive disk 300 of the electric drive mechanism is directly fixedly connected to the wheels 22 of the carrier-based aircraft, the external power cord 500 is connected to the power interface of the carrier-based aircraft, and the locking member 600 is fixedly connected to the front landing gear 20 of the carrier-based aircraft), and its structure is simple, and its volume and weight are both small. It can be widely equipped on aircraft carriers, so that the front wheels of each shipboard aircraft are connected to a tractor 10. As long as the aircraft starts the APU, it can be transferred, which is flexible to use and improves the fault tolerance rate of deck scheduling.

[0086] 4. The volume and weight of the tractor 10 are both small (the total weight of the tractor 10 provided in this embodiment is 100 kg, and the overall dimensions are 1190 mm * 676 mm * 832 mm). When it is separated from the carrier-based aircraft, it can be pushed by a single person for transfer.

[0087] 5. The tractor 10 can be controlled by the pilot to slide forward independently, and the steering of the wheels 22 is controlled by the pilot, and it can also reverse into the parking position; at the same time, it also allows remote control by ground support personnel, with good compatibility.

[0088] In addition, those skilled in the art should understand that although there are many problems in the prior art, each embodiment or technical solution of the present invention can be improved in only one or several aspects, and it is not necessary to solve all the technical problems listed in the prior art or the background art at the same time. Those skilled in the art should understand that the content not mentioned in a claim should not be regarded as a limitation to that claim.

[0089] Although terms such as drive disk, electronic controller, frame, external power cord, etc. are used more frequently herein, the possibility of using other terms is not excluded. These terms are used only to more conveniently describe and explain the essence of the present invention; interpreting them as any additional limitation is contrary to the spirit of the present invention; the terms "first", "second", etc. (if any) in the specification, claims and the above-mentioned drawings of the embodiments of the present invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0090] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tractor for carrier-based aircraft that directly drives the front wheels, characterized in that: It includes a frame, an electric drive mechanism arranged in the frame, a drive disk connected to the output end of the electric drive mechanism, an electric controller electrically connected to the electric drive mechanism, and an external power line electrically connected to the electric controller; The drive plate is provided with a connection structure, which can be detachably fixedly connected to the wheel of the carrier aircraft through the connection structure, so that the electric drive mechanism drives the drive plate to rotate, thereby driving the wheel to rotate; the frame is provided with a locking member, which is detachably fixedly connected to the front landing gear of the carrier aircraft through the locking member; The input interface of the external power cable matches the power interface on the carrier aircraft, so that the APU on the carrier aircraft is electrically connected to the tractor via the external power cable; the electronic controller is capable of controlling the input power of high-voltage electricity, and has overload protection, underload protection, leakage protection, and stall protection functions. It also has the functions of analyzing weak-current control signal output, communicating data, and receiving instructions; the electronic controller can control the operating state of the electric drive mechanism, thereby controlling the operation of the drive disk to drive the wheels of the carrier aircraft to rotate; The invention also includes a remote control antenna mounted on the frame; the remote control antenna is electrically connected to the electric controller; one end of the drive disc is connected to the output end of the electric drive mechanism, and the other end of the drive disc is provided with a connecting structure; the connecting structure is a sleeve, and the inner wall of the inner hole of the sleeve is provided with a thread matching the stud of the wheel hub. The thread on the sleeve engages with the stud of the wheel hub to removably and fixedly connect the drive disc to the wheel; wherein the driving disc is a multi-spoke structure composed of a plurality of spokes, the sleeve being provided at the end of each of the spokes; the locking member is a locking ring structure, comprising a collar and a plug; the collar is composed of two openable and closable arc-shaped members, the ends of the two arc-shaped members are provided with sockets, and the plug is inserted into the sockets so that the two arc-shaped members surround the collar to form a closed ring structure; and the inner ring of the closed collar is adapted to the inner tube of the shock absorber strut of the front landing gear of the carrier-based aircraft, and the collar is engaged on the outer wall of the inner tube of the shock absorber strut so that the frame is detachably fixedly connected to the front landing gear of the carrier-based aircraft through the locking member; the locking member is detachably connected to the frame; an elastic buffer pad is provided on the inner hole wall of the collar; the plug is a U-shaped structure; and the locking member is an adaptable shape for different types of landing gears; A rear supporting wheel assembly is provided on one end of the frame away from the driving disc, and front supporting wheel assemblies are provided on both sides of the frame respectively; the rear supporting wheel assembly includes a first wheel frame and a rear roller mounted on the first wheel frame, and the front supporting wheel assembly includes a second wheel frame and a front roller mounted on the second wheel frame; the first wheel frame and the second wheel frame are rotatably connected to the frame, the first wheel frame and the second wheel frame can be rotated to lift the rear roller and the front roller off the ground, and the first wheel frame and the second wheel frame are fixedly connected to the frame by a fixing member; wherein, the fixing member is a latch member.

2. The shipborne aircraft tractor directly driving the front wheels according to claim 1, wherein: A handle is provided on the frame.

Citation Information

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