Softcapture cradle

Abstract

This soft capture cradle is useful for moving an aircraft having a nose-wheel without contacting the strut, oleo or landing gear, only contacting the nose landing gear tire or wheel. The cradle comprises a front left capture gate; a front right capture gate; a forward motion safety bar; and a rear capture plate. A forward motion safety switch is connected to the forward motion safety bar. The switch is configured to disengage the throttle of an aircraft tug porter when the forward motion safety bar contacts the aircraft nose-wheel. The cradle also includes a means for moving the front left capture gate and front right capture gate between a cradle open position and a cradle closed position. The cradle further includes a means for moving the cradle between a cradle up position and a cradle down position. Still further, the cradle also has a gate lock and cradle locator safety switch configured to locate the cradle, configure to stop the “cradle down” movement when the cradle is lowered to the ground, and configured to prevent “cradle open” movement when the cradle is in the up position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.