TANK TOWING METHOD AND DEVICE Russian patent published in 1998 - IPC

FIELD: retrieval of damaged material whose mass exceeds that of tractor. SUBSTANCE: lifting device is driven under tank to lift its front or rear part, which is then fixed in lifted up position, and then tractor is coupled with road wheels or idler wheels and tank is towed. Device, according to proposed method, has towing rods made in form of side grips with drive and stop, Z-shaped lifting device with stop to be driven under tank at front or rear. Upper horizontal part of device is hinge connected to tractor, and lower one can be driven under tank. Housing of operating hydraulic cylinder is hinge connected to inclined part of lifting device, and rod of cylinder is hinge connected with tractor body. Pilot controlled check valve is installed in hydraulic cylinder. EFFECT: reduced towed mass of tank and increased mass of tractor, reduced force required for towing and increased maximum hook force as to crawler track road grip. 3 cl, 2 dwg