Main landing gear with variable length drag brace
US4720063A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 30, 1985 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 30, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB64C25/14
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A hydraulic control cylinder (64) is used to swing the upper part (14) of a two part wheel strut (14, 16) about an axis of rotation (18) established at the upper end of the upper strut part (14) and at an upper central location within a stowage compartment (10). A folding drag brace assembly (102) is connected between the strut (16) and a lower rear portion of the stowage compartment (10). During use of the control cylinder (64) for swinging the upper strut part (14) rearwardly and upwardly, the drag brace (102) folds automatically in the manner of a pantographic device, and functions to fold the lower strut part (16) up against the upper strut part (14) within the stowage compartment (10). A mechanism is provided for rotating the wheel assembly (30) W, relative to the lower strut part (16), for the purpose of properly positioning the wheel assembly (30) W for movement into the stowage compartment (10). The invention makes it possible to retract the landing gear assembly (12) into a stowage compartment (10) which is considerably shorter than the in use length of the landing gear strut (14, 16) without the need for a second "down lock" member.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.