Abstract:
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for retractable landing gear. A landing gear arrangement may comprise: a trailing arm; a shock strut; a link rotatably coupled to a first end of the shock strut and rotatably coupled to the trailing arm, the link including a pivot; a rotatable latch rotatably coupled to the link; and an actuator coupled between the rotatable latch and the trailing arm, the rotatable latch configured to rotate about the pivot, the pivot located between a first end and a second end of the rotatable latch, the rotatable latch configured to rotate in a first direction in response to the actuator extending and configured to rotate in a second direction in response to the actuator compressing.
Abstract:
A landing gear system includes a composite tube. The composite tube comprises at least one of (i) a filament wound composite tube, (ii) a filament braided tube, and (iii) a composite tube of laid up filament. The landing gear system further comprises a first lug cluster mounted to the composite tube and a second lug cluster mounted to the composite tube. The first lug cluster and the second lug cluster are oriented at an angle to one another.
Abstract:
A shock strut may comprise a strut cylinder, a strut piston operatively coupled to the strut cylinder, a shrink piston disposed at least partially within the strut cylinder, and a shrink chamber at least partially defined by the shrink piston. The shrink piston may comprise a shrink piston head, a sleeve extending from the shrink piston head, and a mechanical stop. A hydraulic fluid may be moved into the shrink chamber to compress the shrink piston and the strut piston into the strut cylinder to reduce an overall length of the shock strut.
Abstract:
A non-jamming shrink latch assembly for retractable aircraft landing gear is disclosed. The non-jamming shrink latch assembly may comprise a rod; a hook pivotally coupled to a first rod end of the rod; a lower link having a first lower link end and a second lower link end, wherein the first lower link end is pivotally coupled to the hook; and an upper link pivotally coupled to the second lower link end of the lower link. The hook may be configured to move from a locked position to an open position in response to receiving a mechanical load from the lower link. The hook may also be configured to move from the open position to the locked position in response to receiving a mechanical load from a roller.
Abstract:
The present disclosure describes lug clusters for composite tubes and methods for making such lug clusters. Lug clusters of the present disclosure may include a first side, a second side, and a saddle. The saddle may be placed in adjacent contact with a tube and a filament may be wound around the lug cluster and tube. The wound lug cluster and tube may be resin transfer molded. Machining may follow to remove material and finalize the shape of the lug cluster and/or tube. Thus, a lug cluster may be attached to a composite tube.
Abstract:
The present disclosure describes lug clusters for composite tubes and methods for making such lug clusters. Lug clusters of the present disclosure may include a first side, a second side, and a saddle. The saddle may be placed in adjacent contact with a tube and a filament may be wound around the lug cluster and tube. The wound lug cluster and tube may be resin transfer molded. Machining may follow to remove material and finalize the shape of the lug cluster and/or tube. Thus, a lug cluster may be attached to a composite tube.
Abstract:
Landing gear actuator systems and methods are disclosed. A landing gear actuator system may have an actuator body, an operating apparatus, a gas pressure adjustment apparatus, and a hydraulic fluid adjustment apparatus. The gas pressure adjustment apparatus may adjust at least one gas pressure in response to the operating apparatus. The hydraulic fluid adjustment apparatus may adjust at least one hydraulic fluid volume in response to the operating apparatus. The gas pressure and the hydraulic fluid volume may adjusted inversely. An isolation valve may be installed between the gas pressure adjustment apparatus and a strut gas chamber of a landing gear. In this manner, a landing gear strut may be shrunk without inducing high pressure in the strut, and stowed for flight, and a landing gear strut may be unshrunk and isolated by the valve to protect the actuator from high pressure and reaction forces during landing.
Abstract:
The landing gear systems, methods and apparatuses disclosed herein may comprise a shrink pump and an unshrink valve that are capable of shrinking a landing gear shock strut up to about 40% of its available stroke. The shrink pump may be configured to pump fluid (e.g., a hydraulic fluid) between an oil chamber, where hydraulic fluid is likely present and a shrink chamber to shrink the landing gear. Moreover, the shrink pump and unshrink valve may be part of a strut shrink system.
Abstract:
A landing gear system includes a composite tube. The composite tube comprises at least one of (i) a filament wound composite tube, (ii) a filament braided tube, and (iii) a composite tube of laid up filament. The landing gear system further comprises a first lug cluster mounted to the composite tube and a second lug cluster mounted to the composite tube. The first lug cluster and the second lug cluster are oriented at an angle to one another.
Abstract:
A latch assembly for a shock strut may comprise a first linkage coupled to a strut cylinder and a shrink piston of the shock strut. A second linkage may be coupled to the strut cylinder. The second linkage may be configured to rotate the first linkage in response to the shock strut translating between a landing gear up position and a landing gear down position.