Patent · US Active

Ground sensing system

US8079548B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
8References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 2, 2009
Grant dateDec 20, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB64D2045/008
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A ground sensing system for an aircraft attaches to the aircraft's landing gear to provide a ground touch indication. The ground sensing system includes a bracket, an upper arm, a lower arm, a roller and a sensor. The bracket is mounted to the landing gear while the upper arm is pivotally and biasly coupled to the bracket. The lower arm is pivotally and biasly coupled to the upper arm. The roller mounts to the lower arm and extends just slightly beneath a lowermost surface of the tire when the aircraft is airborne. The sensor is triggered once a portion of the upper arm has sufficiently entered the sensor's field of view, which occurs when the roller is urged upward by the ground during landing.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.