Patent · US Active

Self-orienting aircraft landing gear

US9169003B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
16References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 17, 2014
Grant dateOct 27, 2015
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 17, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB64C25/50
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An aircraft landing gear self-orients so to align itself within a plane parallel to the plane defined by the aircraft's roll and yaw axis. A nose gear of a tricycle landing gear configuration includes the ability to not only caster 360 degrees but also self-orient itself to be aligned parallel with the plane defined by the aircraft's roll and yaw axis once removed from any interaction with the ground. A simple and efficient mechanical design provides the landing gear with a substantially constant centering torque that neither impedes nor impairs ground movement yet returns the nose gear to a proper alignment for retraction and stowage.

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