Novel contactless snap ring inner lock actuating cylinder

Abstract

A novel contactless retaining ring internal locking actuator includes an outer cylinder, a retaining ring, a piston, a piston rod, and an internal locking mechanism. One end of the outer cylinder has a groove for accommodating the retaining ring, and the other end has a piston rod capable of driving the retaining ring. A steel ball, matching the piston, is mounted on the piston rod, and a groove on the piston is provided for limiting the movement of the steel ball. An internal locking mechanism providing spring force is located within the piston rod, and a gap is maintained between the retaining ring and the inner wall of the outer cylinder. This invention utilizes the spring force of the spring and the groove on the piston to effectively prevent friction between the retaining ring and the inner wall of the outer cylinder during the free extension and retraction of the piston rod, reducing unnecessary wear, improving product lifespan, and demonstrating a reasonable and reliable structure.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of aircraft structural technology, and in particular to a novel contactless snap ring internal locking actuator. Background Technology

[0002] The landing gear is used to bear ground loads during aircraft landing, taxiing, and parking. It typically uses struts as load-bearing components, forming a stable support structure with the landing gear struts. When the landing gear is lowered, the struts are in an extended state, and self-locking is achieved through eccentric linkage. During folding, an actuator cylinder drives the unlocking. The locking principle of the actuator cylinder with an internal locking circlip is that the circlip deforms and embeds into a corresponding groove, locking the actuator cylinder piston rod to the outer cylinder. In traditional circlips, the circlip contracts during actuator cylinder extension and retraction, resulting in continuous friction with the outer cylinder. Over time, this wears down the outer ring of the circlip or the inner wall of the outer cylinder, affecting the normal operation of the actuator cylinder. Therefore, designing a contactless circlip internal locking actuator cylinder is a problem urgently needing to be solved by those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The technical problem solved by this invention is to provide a novel contactless snap ring internal locking actuator to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0004] The technical problem solved by this invention is achieved by the following technical solution:

[0005] A novel contactless retaining ring internal locking actuator includes an outer cylinder, a retaining ring, a piston, a piston rod, and an internal locking mechanism. One end of the outer cylinder has a groove for accommodating the retaining ring, and the other end has a piston rod capable of moving the retaining ring. A steel ball, matching the piston, is mounted on the piston rod, and a groove on the piston is provided for limiting the movement of the steel ball. An internal locking mechanism providing spring force is located within the piston rod, and a gap is maintained between the retaining ring and the inner wall of the outer cylinder.

[0006] In this invention, the inner locking mechanism includes an elastic outer cylinder, an elastic inner cylinder, a spring, and a support member. The elastic outer cylinder and the elastic inner cylinder are disposed inside the piston rod. The spring is nested on the support member. One end of the support member is fixed to the elastic outer cylinder, and the other end of the support member is placed inside the elastic inner cylinder.

[0007] In this invention, the support member includes bolts.

[0008] In this invention, the piston is provided with three grooves, namely groove No. 1, groove No. 2 and groove No. 3.

[0009] In this invention, a gap is left between the retaining ring and the outer cylinder groove.

[0010] In this invention, a gap is left between the retaining ring and the piston.

[0011] In this invention, when hydraulic pressure is supplied from the left side of the piston, the piston squeezes the steel ball, and after overcoming the spring force, passes over the steel ball. The steel ball changes from engaging with the piston's third groove to engaging with the piston's second groove. At this time, the piston disengages from the retaining ring, the retaining ring retracts to its natural state, and the retaining ring disengages from the outer cylinder groove. The actuating cylinder unlocks, and the piston rod drives the retaining ring to move to the right. Since the steel ball engages with the piston's second groove after the actuating cylinder unlocks, and the hydraulic pressure is insufficient to overcome the spring force, the piston and piston rod are relatively fixed in position, exerting no squeezing effect on the retaining ring. The retaining ring is in its natural state, with a gap between it and the inner wall of the outer cylinder, without contact. When locking, the steel ball fixes the piston inside the retaining ring, causing the retaining ring to expand and engage with the outer cylinder groove, thus achieving locking.

[0012] Beneficial effects: The contactless retaining ring inner locking actuator of this invention utilizes the spring force of the spring and the groove set on the piston to effectively prevent mutual friction between the retaining ring and the inner wall of the outer cylinder when the piston rod extends and retracts freely, reducing unnecessary wear, improving product life, and having a reasonable and reliable structure. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the actuator cylinder in the unlocked state in a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0015] To make the technical means, creative features, objectives and effects of this invention easier to understand, the invention will be further described below with reference to specific illustrations.

[0016] See Figures 1-2 A novel contactless retaining ring inner locking actuator includes an outer cylinder 1, a retaining ring 2, a piston 3, a steel ball 4, a piston rod 5, an elastic outer cylinder 6, an elastic inner cylinder 7, a spring 8, a bolt 9, a first groove 10, a second groove 11, and a third groove 12. One end of the outer cylinder 1 has an outer cylinder groove for accommodating the retaining ring 2, and the other end of the outer cylinder 1 has a piston rod 5 capable of driving the retaining ring 2. The piston rod 5 has a steel ball 4 used in conjunction with the piston 3. The piston 3 has a first groove 10, a second groove 11, and a third groove 12 for limiting the movement of the steel ball 4. The piston rod 5 contains the elastic outer cylinder 6 and the elastic inner cylinder 7. The spring 8 is nested on the bolt 9, one end of which is fixed to the elastic outer cylinder 6, and the other end of which is placed inside the elastic inner cylinder 7.

[0017] In this embodiment, a gap is left between the retaining ring 2 and the outer cylinder groove.

[0018] In this embodiment, a gap is left between the retaining ring 2 and the piston 3.

[0019] In this embodiment, a gap is left between the retaining ring 2 and the inner wall of the outer cylinder 1.

[0020] In this embodiment, when hydraulic pressure is supplied from the left side of piston 3, piston 3 squeezes steel ball 4, and after overcoming the spring force of spring 8, passes over steel ball 4. Steel ball 4 changes from engaging with the third groove 12 of piston 3 to engaging with the second groove 11 of piston 3, as shown. Figure 2 As shown, piston 3 disengages from retaining ring 2, retaining ring 2 retracts to its natural state, retaining ring 2 disengages from the outer cylinder groove, the actuating cylinder unlocks, and piston rod 5 drives retaining ring 2 to move to the right; since after the actuating cylinder unlocks, steel ball 4 engages with the second groove 11 of piston 3, and the hydraulic pressure is insufficient to overcome the spring force of spring 8, the positions of piston 3 and piston rod 5 are relatively fixed, and there is no squeezing effect on retaining ring 2. Retaining ring 2 is in its natural state, with a gap between it and the inner wall of outer cylinder 1, without contact, to prevent retaining ring 2 and the inner wall of outer cylinder 1 from wearing each other; when locking, steel ball 4 fixes piston 3 inside retaining ring 2, causing retaining ring 2 to expand and engage with the outer cylinder groove to achieve locking.

[0021] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed. The scope of protection of this invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A novel contactless retaining ring internal locking actuator, comprising an outer cylinder, a retaining ring, a piston, a piston rod, and an internal locking mechanism, characterized in that, One end of the outer cylinder is provided with an outer cylinder groove for accommodating the retaining ring, and the other end of the outer cylinder is provided with a piston rod that can drive the retaining ring to move. The piston rod is provided with a steel ball that is used in conjunction with the piston, and the piston is provided with a groove for limiting the position of the steel ball. An inner locking mechanism that can provide spring force is provided inside the piston rod, and a gap is left between the retaining ring and the inner wall of the outer cylinder. When hydraulic pressure is supplied from the left side of the piston, the piston squeezes the steel ball, overcoming the spring force and passing over the steel ball. The steel ball changes from engaging with the piston's third groove to engaging with the piston's second groove. At this point, the piston disengages from the retaining ring, and the retaining ring retracts to its natural state. The retaining ring disengages from the outer cylinder groove, the actuating cylinder unlocks, and the piston rod drives the retaining ring to move to the right. Because the steel ball engages with the piston's second groove after the actuating cylinder unlocks, and the hydraulic pressure is insufficient to overcome the spring force, the piston and piston rod are relatively fixed in position, exerting no squeezing effect on the retaining ring. The retaining ring is in its natural state, with a gap between it and the inner wall of the outer cylinder, without contact. When locking, the steel ball fixes the piston inside the retaining ring, causing the retaining ring to expand and engage with the outer cylinder groove, thus achieving locking.

2. The novel contactless retaining ring internal locking actuator cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner locking mechanism includes an elastic outer cylinder, an elastic inner cylinder, a spring, and a support member. The elastic outer cylinder and the elastic inner cylinder are disposed inside the piston rod. The spring is nested on the support member. One end of the support member is fixed to the elastic outer cylinder, and the other end of the support member is placed inside the elastic inner cylinder.

3. A novel contactless retaining ring internal locking actuator cylinder according to claim 2, characterized in that, The support component includes bolts.

4. The novel contactless retaining ring internal locking actuator cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that, The piston has three grooves, namely groove number one, groove number two, and groove number three.

5. A novel contactless retaining ring internal locking actuator cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that, A gap is left between the retaining ring and the groove of the outer cylinder.

6. A novel contactless retaining ring internal locking actuator cylinder according to claim 1, characterized in that, A gap is left between the retaining ring and the piston.

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