Ground support service cart apparatus and methods

1. An equipment service cart, comprising:

a support frame;

at least two axles mounted to the support frame;

at least one pair of wheels mounted to each axle;

a tow bar connected at one end of the support frame and configured for attachment to a powered vehicle to tow the equipment service cart;

a fuel tank;

a pump system configured to add fuel to and remove fuel from the fuel tank, the pump system including a fueling nozzle, a fueling hose, a defueling nozzle, and a defueling hose;

a fuel valve assembly operable to control fuel flow into and out of the fuel tank and including fuel valve controls;

a container storage portion configured to retain a plurality of removable fluid storage containers;

at least one DC power source;

a power control system operable to control power from the at least one DC power source as a sole source of power to operate at least the pump system and the fuel valve assembly;

wherein the container storage portion, the power control system, the fuel valve controls, and the fueling and defueling nozzles are consolidated at one end of the equipment service cart at a centralized control location;

said centralized control location being spaced rearward of the wheels for access by an operator at the centralized control location on the equipment service cart to provide efficiencies of time for the operator and to facilitate servicing activities by the operator in close proximity to the equipment being serviced using the equipment service cart.

2. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , wherein the fuel valve assembly is operable to either permit fuel flow into or permit fuel flow out of the fuel tank at a given time.

3. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , wherein the pump system includes at least one fuel filter member.

4. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , wherein the container storage portion is configured to retain at least one removable storage container comprising one of motor oil, hydraulic oil, and engine coolant.

5. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , wherein the at least one power source includes a rechargeable battery.

6. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , further comprising a lighting system comprising at least one light member arranged to illuminate portions of the equipment service cart, wherein controls for the at least one light member are positioned at the control location on the equipment service cart.

7. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , wherein the tow bar is adjustable between a lowered substantially horizontal operating position and a raised substantially vertical rest position.

8. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , further comprising a brake system operable to apply a brake force to at least one of the pairs of wheels.

9. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , further comprising a fuel dispensing assembly comprising the fueling hose and the fueling nozzle, the spool dispensing assembly being connected in flow communication with the fuel valve assembly.

10. The equipment service cart of claim 9 , further comprising a spill containment kit.

11. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , further comprising a source of fire suppressant.

12. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , further comprising:

a source of compressed air;

a compressed air dispenser connected in flow communication with the source of compressed air;

wherein the compressed air dispenser is positioned at the control location on the equipment service cart.

13. The equipment service cart of claim 12 , wherein the source of compressed air includes a compressed air storage tank.

14. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , wherein the pump system, fuel valve assembly, container storage portion, and power control system are positioned outside of the at least two axles.

15. The equipment service cart of claim 1 , wherein the pump system, fuel valve assembly, container storage portion, and power control system are positioned on the equipment service cart axially spaced apart from the fuel tank.