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A wheel dolly for lifting and transporting a flat tire attached to an aircraft is comprised of a frame assembly having first and second laterally spaced frame members and a telescopic frame structure interposed between the laterally spaced frame members. A pair of tire scoops are pivotally coupled t

A wheel dolly for lifting and transporting a flat tire attached to an aircraft is comprised of a frame assembly having first and second laterally spaced frame members and a telescopic frame structure interposed between the laterally spaced frame members. A pair of tire scoops are pivotally coupled the frame assembly. An actuator is coupled between the tire scoops to pivot the tire scoops relative to the frame assembly in order to raise the tire scoops. A plurality of castors is coupled to the frame assembly to allow the frame assembly to roll in any direction.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A wheel dolly for lifting and transporting a flat tire attached to an aircraft, comprising: a frame assembly comprising a telescopic frame structure, a first frame member coupled proximate a first end of the telescopic frame structure, a second frame member coupled to proximate a second end of th

1. A wheel dolly for lifting and transporting a flat tire attached to an aircraft, comprising: a frame assembly comprising a telescopic frame structure, a first frame member coupled proximate a first end of the telescopic frame structure, a second frame member coupled to proximate a second end of the telescopic frame structure, the first and second frame members depending from a same side of the telescopic frame structure and being substantially parallel to one another, the telescopic frame structure interposed between the first frame member and the second frame member;a first tire support structure pivotally coupled to the first frame member having a leading edge that is positionable proximate a ground level when in a lowered position and that can be raised to a second position above the ground level, the first tire support structure configured and oriented to engage a first side of a tire;a second tire support structure pivotally coupled to the second frame member having a leading edge that is positionable proximate a ground level when in a lowered position and that can be raised to a second position above the ground level, the second tire support structure configured and oriented to engage a second side of the tire opposing the first side of the tire;an actuator coupled to the telescopic frame structure for selectively lengthening and shortening the telescopic frame member so as to selectively move the first and second frame members and thus the first and second tire support structures toward and away from one another;a ram having a first end portion pivotally coupled to an upper portion of the first tire support structure and on an opposing side of a fulcrum of the first tire support structure from the leading edge of the first tire support structure and a second end portion configured to be selectively coupled to an upper portion of the second tire support structure on an opposing side of a fulcrum of the second tire support structure from the leading edge of the first tire support structure, the ram capable of being lengthened to force the upper portion of the first tire support structure away from the upper portion of the second tire support structure to cause the leading edge of the first tire support structure to pivot toward the leading edge of the second tire support structure until the leading edge of the first tire support structure and the leading edge of the second tire support structure are sufficiently raised above the ground level to raise the tire being supported by the first tire support structure and the second tire support structure; anda plurality of wheels, each wheel downwardly depending from the frame assembly to allow the frame assembly to roll upon the ground when the first and second tire support structures and the supported tire are sufficiently raised above the ground level. 2. The wheel dolly of claim 1, wherein the first and second tire support structures comprise inwardly facing scoops, each scoop having a generally crescent shape. 3. The wheel dolly of claim 1, further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the ram for pressurizing the ram causing the ram to extend in length in order to pivot the first and second tire support structures relative to the first and second side frame members, respectively, so that the upper portions of the first and second tire support structures are outwardly pivoted away from each other. 4. The wheel dolly of claim 1, wherein the pump is attached to the frame assembly. 5. The wheel dolly of claim 1, wherein the telescopic frame structure comprises a first telescopic frame member and a second telescopic frame member at least partially inserted with in the first telescopic frame member, the second telescopic frame member being longitudinally movable relative to the first telescopic frame member in order to increase or decrease the length of the telescopic frame structure and thus a distance between the first and second frame members, and wherein the actuator comprises a threaded actuator assembly coupled to and between the first telescopic frame member and the second telescopic frame member such that rotation of the threaded actuator causes the telescopic frame structure to lengthen or shorten depending on the direction of rotation of the threaded actuator. 6. The wheel dolly of claim 1, wherein the ram comprises a cylinder portion pivotally coupled to the upper portion of the first tire support structure and a retaining member depending from a free end of the cylinder portion, the retaining member configured for selective coupling to the upper portion of the second tire support structure. 7. The wheel dolly of claim 6, wherein the retaining member comprises a plurality of angled slots and the second tire support structure further comprises a transversely extending post coupled to the upper portion of the second tire support structure, the plurality of angled slots configured for engaging with the post to accommodate spacing between the upper portions of the first and second tire support structures. 8. The wheel dolly of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second tire support structures comprise an idle roller coupled to the leading edge thereof for engaging with a flat tire and guiding the respective tire support structure between the flat tire and the ground, as the leading edges of the first and second tire support structures are lifted. 9. The wheel dolly of claim 8, wherein the idle roller extends substantially a length of the leading edge. 10. The wheel dolly of claim 1, wherein the first and second tire support structures each define a back surface extending from the leading edge to a top edge and wherein the first and second tire support structures are each pivotally coupled to a respective side frame member proximate a midportion of the back surface. 11. A wheel dolly for lifting and transporting a flat tire attached to an aircraft, comprising: a frame assembly comprising first and second laterally spaced frame members and a telescopic frame structure interposed between the first and second laterally spaced frame members, the telescopic frame structure capable of selectively increasing or decreasing a distance between the first and second laterally spaced frame members;a first tire scoop and a second tire scoop, the first and second tire scoops oriented to face each other for engaging a tire interposed therein between, the first tire scoop pivotally coupled to the first frame member and the second tire scoop pivotally coupled to the second frame member;a first actuator coupled between the first and second tire scoops configured for selectively pivoting the first and second tire scoops relative to the frame assembly in order to raise or lower lower portions of the first and second tire scoops relative to the frame assembly; anda plurality of castors coupled to the frame assembly, the plurality of castors being freely rotatable relative to the frame assembly to allow the frame assembly to roll in any direction wherein the first actuator comprises a ram having a first end portion pivotally coupled to an upper portion of the first tire scoop and a second end portion configured to be selectively coupled to an upper portion of the second tire scoop, the ram capable of being lengthened to force the upper portion of the first tire scoop away from the upper portion of the second tire scoop to cause the first tire scoop to pivot relative to the first side frame member and the second tire scoop to pivot relative to the second side frame member until the lower portions of the first and second tire scoops are sufficiently raised above a ground level. 12. The wheel dolly of claim 11, further comprising a second actuator coupled to the telescopic frame structure for controlling a length of the telescopic frame structure in order to selectively separate or bring together the first and second tire scoops. 13. The wheel dolly of claim 11, further comprising a pump in fluid communication with the ram for causing the ram to extend in length in order to pivot the first and second tire support structures relative to the first and second laterally spaced frame members, respectively. 14. The wheel dolly of claim 13, wherein the pump is attached to the frame assembly. 15. The wheel dolly of claim 12, wherein the telescopic frame structure comprises a first telescopic frame member and a second telescopic frame member at least partially inserted with in the first telescopic frame member, the second telescopic frame member being longitudinally movable relative to the first telescopic frame member in order to increase or decrease the length of the telescopic frame structure and thus a distance between the first and second frame members, and wherein the second actuator comprises a threaded actuator assembly coupled to and between the first telescopic frame member and the second telescopic frame member such that rotation of the threaded actuator causes the telescopic frame structure to lengthen or shorten depending on the direction of rotation of the threaded actuator. 16. The wheel dolly of claim 11, wherein the ram comprises a cylinder portion pivotally coupled to the upper portion of the first tire scoop and a retaining member depending from and movable relative to a free end of the cylinder portion, the retaining member configured for selective coupling to the upper portion of the second tire scoop. 17. The wheel dolly of claim 16, wherein the retaining member comprises a plurality of angled slots and the second tire scoop further comprises a transversely extending post coupled to the upper portion of the second tire scoop, the plurality of angled slots configured for engaging with the post to accommodate spacing between the upper portions of the first and second tire support structures. 18. The wheel dolly of claim 11, wherein each of the first and second tire scoops comprise an idle roller coupled to a leading edge thereof for engaging with a tire and guiding the respective tire scoop between a flat tire and the ground. 19. The wheel dolly of claim 18, wherein the idle roller extends substantially a length of the leading edge. 20. The wheel dolly of claim 11, wherein the first and second tire scoops each define a back surface extending from the leading edge to a top edge and wherein the first and second tire support structures are each pivotally coupled to a respective side frame member proximate a midportion of the back surface.