# US 11,299,291 B2 · System of driving channels for a carriage for transporting airplanes on an airport apron > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,291 B2 - Document ID: US11299291B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/674,518 - Filed: 2019-11-05 - Published: 2020-03-12 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-16 - Applicants: Slawomir Malicki - Inventors: Slawomir Malicki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299291B2 ## CPC - B64F 1/002: {Taxiing aids} - B64F 1/227: for direct connection to aircraft, e.g. tow tractors without towing bars - B64F 1/228: remotely controlled; operating autonomously - B64F 1/26: for reducing engine or jet noise; Protecting airports from jet erosion - B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The exemplary embodiments provide a system of selectively moving airplanes on an airport apron. Airplanes are selectively moved from selective parking locations to areas adjacent to take-off locations such as runways. Airplanes may also be selectively moved from an area of the apron adjacent to a landing location and/or to a parking location. This may include for example an unloading location, an airport terminal, a servicing location, a fueling location, storage location and/or other suitable location. The exemplary system includes driving channels through which a carriage is selectively moved. The carriage includes a basket for operatively engaging at least one front wheel of selected airplanes for purposes of transporting such airplanes to and between the desired locations. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method carried out using a carriage that moves relative to an airport apron in guided relation within at least one elongated driving channel that extends below the airport apron, comprising: (a) moving a basket in operative connection with the carriage upward relative to the carriage from a position at least partially below the airport apron to operatively engage at least one wheel of an aircraft; (b) moving the aircraft relative to the airport apron along the at least one driving channel through movement of the carriage in the at least one driving channel with the basket operatively engaged with the at least one wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein in (b) the aircraft is moved between a take off or landing location and a parking location. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2 and further comprising: (c) subsequent to (b) moving the basket downward relative to the carriage to enable the at least one wheel to move out of engagement with the basket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3 wherein in (a) the basket is moved upward by an actuator that is in operative connection with the carriage and the basket, wherein in (c) the basket is moved downward by the actuator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of segmented plates are movable in operative connection with the driving channel, and further comprising: prior to at least a portion of (a) moving a first group of segmented plates in operative connection with the driving channel between a plate closed position and a plate open position to open a selected portion of an elongated upper opening of the at least one driving channel, wherein in at least a portion of (a) the basket moves in the open selected portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5 and further comprising: prior to at least a portion of (b) moving at least some of the first group of segmented plates to the plate closed position wherein an elongated slot extends between the plates in the plate closed position, wherein in (b) the basket moves positioned above the plurality of segmented plates in the plate closed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1 wherein in (a) the basket is moved upward within the at least one driving channel. ### Claim 8 A method carried out using a carriage that moves relative to an airport apron within at least one elongated driving channel that extends below the airport apron, comprising: (a) moving a floor in operative connection with the carriage upward within the at least one driving channel to operatively engage the floor and at least one landing gear of an aircraft; (b) moving the aircraft relative to the airport apron along the at least one driving channel through movement of the carriage in the at least one driving channel with the floor operatively engaged with the at least one landing gear of the aircraft. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8 and further comprising: (c) subsequent to (b) moving the floor downward relative to the carriage to enable the landing gear of the aircraft to move out of engagement with the floor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8 wherein in (a) the floor moves upward relative to the carriage from below the airport apron. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8 wherein in (b) the aircraft is moved on the airport apron between a takeoff location or a landing location and a parking location. ### Claim 12 A method carried out using a carriage that moves relative to an airport apron in guided relation within at least one elongated driving channel that extends below the airport apron, wherein a plurality of segmented plates are in moveable operative connection with the at least one elongated driving channel, comprising: (a) moving a first group of segmented plates in operative connection with the at least one driving channel from a plate closed position to a plate open position to open a selected portion of an elongated upper opening of the at least one driving channel, (b) moving a basket in operative connection with the carriage upward relative to the carriage from a position at least partially below the airport apron to operatively engage at least one wheel of an aircraft, wherein during at least a portion of basket movement the basket extends in the open selected portion, (c) moving the aircraft relative to the airport apron along the at least one driving channel through movement of the carriage in the at least one driving channel with the basket operatively engaged with the at least one wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 and further comprising: prior to at least a portion of (c) moving the first group of segmented plates to the plate closed position with the basket positioned above the plurality of segmented plates. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13 wherein (c) further comprises moving the carriage within the at least one driving channel with the actuator extending in an elongated slot that extends between the plurality of segmented plates in the plate closed position, and with the basket positioned above the elongated slot. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14 and further comprising: (d) subsequent to (c) moving the basket downward relative to the carriage to enable the at least one wheel to move out of engagement with the basket, prior to at least a portion of (d) moving a second group of segmented plates from the plate closed position to the plate open position to open a further selected portion of the upper opening wherein in at least a portion of (d) at least a portion of the basket extends in the further selected portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 and further comprising: (e) subsequent to (d) moving the basket downward relative to the carriage into a retracted position in which the basket extends in the at least one driving channel below the plurality of segmented plates in the plate closed position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16 wherein (c) further comprises operating a drive in operative connection with the carriage to move the carriage in the driving channel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17 wherein the at least one driving channel comprises a plurality of channel segments, wherein in (c) the carriage moves through at least one curved channel segment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18 and further comprising: prior to at least a portion of (a) operating the drive to move the carriage into vertical underlying relation with the at least one wheel of the aircraft. ### Claim 20 A method carried out using a carriage that moves relative to an airport apron within at least one elongated driving channel that extends below the airport apron, wherein a plurality of segmented plates are in moveable operative connection with the driving channel, comprising: (a) moving a first group of segmented plates in operative connection with the driving channel from a plate closed position to a plate open position to open a selected portion of an elongated upper opening of the at least one driving channel, (b) moving a floor in operative connection with the carriage upward relative to the carriage within the at least one driving channel to operatively engage the floor and at least one landing gear of an aircraft, wherein during at least a portion of floor movement the floor extends in the open selected portion; (c) moving the aircraft relative to the airport apron along the at least one driving channel through movement of the carriage in the at least one driving channel with the floor operatively engaged with the at least one landing gear of the aircraft. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20 and further comprising: (d) subsequent to (c) moving the floor downward relative to the carriage to enable the landing gear of the aircraft to move out of engagement with the floor, prior to at least a portion of (d) moving a second group of segmented plates from the plate closed position to the plate open position to open a further selected portion of the upper opening, wherein during at least a portion of (d) the floor extends in the further open selected portion. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21 and further comprising: (e) subsequent to (d) moving the floor downward relative to the carriage into a retracted position in which the floor extends in the driving channel below the plurality of segmented plates in the plate closed position.