Aircraft Landing Gear Drive Wheel Identification System

摘要

An identification system and method are provided for aircraft equipped with electric taxi systems for autonomous ground movement that enables airport ground personnel and others outside the aircraft to safely and easily identify the aircraft moving on ground surfaces at an airport as equipped with a pilot-controlled electric taxi system and to distinguish these aircraft from aircraft not moved by electric taxi systems. The identification system may be mounted with nose or main landing gear drive wheels supporting the electric taxi system. The identification system includes an identifying lighting system with lighting elements of a selected number, shape, color, or arrangement positioned on at least a visible face of one or more landing gear wheels. Automatic or manual controls may actuate the identification system to identify electric taxi system-equipped aircraft when the aircraft are moved with the electric taxi system or are stopped.

主权项

1. A system for identifying an aircraft equipped with an electric taxi system for autonomous ground movement without reliance on aircraft engines or tow vehicles, comprising:
a. an electric taxi system with system components mounted within one or more nose or main landing gear wheels of an aircraft, wherein said electric taxi system components comprise at least an electric drive motor, an activatable drive system, and a source of electric power for said electric taxi system; b. an identifying lighting system mounted on a clearly visible outboard face of each of the one or more aircraft landing gear wheels with electric taxi system components mounted within said landing gear wheels, comprising lighting elements of a selected number and type arranged to clearly and easily identify said aircraft to persons outside the aircraft as an aircraft equipped with said electric taxi system and a source of electric power to provide electric power to illuminate said identifying lighting system; and c. an automatic or manual control system connected with said electric taxi system and said identifying lighting system activatable to direct electric power from at least one of said electric taxi system source of electric power or said identifying lighting system source of electric power to said identifying lighting system to illuminate the identifying lighting system when said electric taxi system is operating to drive the aircraft during ground movement and when an aircraft equipped with said electric taxi is stopped.