Control technology that
Control technology that moves aircrafts on the ground safely Continuously increasing air traffic volumes are a constant challenge for ground operations at the airports. The aircraft tow tractors from the company Goldhofer, fitted with STW’s control technology are a big help - providing safe, economical and flexible movement of the aircrafts on the ground. At “Inter Airport Europe 2015”, the world’s largest trade fair for airport equipment and technology, the company ‘Goldhofer’ presented the ‘AST-2P/X’, its new generation of high speed aircraft towing tractor. Using the AST-2P/X, a wide range of aircrafts from Embraer170 up to the Boeing B777-300ER and the Airbus A340 can be moved. The AST 2 of the fourth generation is characterized by a new, compact and modular vehicle concept. The hydrostatically driven steering mechanism and axle delivers optimum traction, even in case of low superimposed load. For airport management companies that require the towing tractors, they can choose between two engine powers for the vehicle which offers a 3-circuit braking system which optimally distributes the braking force for maximum stability and safety. The engines fulfill all required international emission stan- dards, Euro IIIa or IVf. The airplane power supply during towing operation is ensured via a Ground Power Unit (GPU), which can be retrofitted into each of these vehicles. Ground operations at airport entail a lot of waiting periods. The automatic start-stop function which is installed in the AST 2 provides a high cost savings potential. This function provides not only a substantial reduction in the diesel consumption but it also brings down the maintenance costs, as maintenance intervals depend directly on the operating hours. These factors help in reducing the “Total Cost of Ownership” (TCO). Drive Line Controller (DLC) The AST-2P/X has a diesel-hydraulic drive system as its central component. It is built on a pump and two hydraulic engines, which drive a differential steering axle via a summation gearbox. The pump and the engines are controlled with electrical proportional adjustment. The energy for the drive system is supplied by a 231 KW (optional: 283 KW) Cummins QSL9 diesel engine. The drive system is controlled by the DLC or the Drive Line Controller. The DLC is responsible for managing the entire drive and limiting the tensile forces depending on the type of the aircraft. During the towing process, only a limited tensile force may be applied to the nose wheel (Fig. 1). The tensile force limitation in the DLC is realized through a dynamic, high pressure regulation, which again varies from aircraft to aircraft. In addition, the DLC is also responsible for the automatic start-stop function. ESX-3XL – Freely programmable control unit by STW HANNOVER MESSE
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