Force analysis of towbarless aircraft tractor's clamping and lifting mechanism based on Adams simulation

Limited research has been conducted on the interaction forces between the clamping and lifting mechanism and the front landing gear wheel during the overall turning of towbarless aircraft tractors and the aircraft. To address this issue, Adams software was utilized to model the clamping and lifting mechanism along with the front landing gear for dynamic simulation. Subsequently, an analysis of the simulation results was conducted. The results indicate that during turning, shifts in the aircraft's center of gravity result in fluctuating horizontal forces acting on the clamping mechanism. Furthermore, the angle between the clamping mechanism and the horizontal plane is much more significantly influenced by the turning radius than the turning speed. To ensure that the angle remains within a safe range, it is necessary to utilize the angle-adjusting function of the front landing gear and keep the clamping device as stable as possible. Through this analysis and research, a foundation is provided for the design and improvement of the clamping and lifting mechanism for towbarless aircraft tractors.