A manual up-down locking mechanism for a helicopter front wheel lock

Abstract

A manual locking mechanism for a helicopter front wheel lock includes a manual pin assembly, a connecting cap, a manual lever, a screw, a guide rod, an end cap, a housing, and a piston. The piston and housing are coaxially arranged. An end cap is provided on the end face of the housing, and the housing and end cap are threadedly connected. The piston has a through hole in the axial direction. A connecting cap is provided at the end of the piston extending out of the end cap. The connecting cap has a through hole in the axial direction that communicates with the axial through hole of the piston. The manual lever is slidably installed in the axial through hole of the connecting cap and the piston. The manual lever has two pin holes in the radial direction. The connecting cap has a through hole in the radial direction corresponding to the pin holes. The manual pin assembly can axially limit the manual lever. A boss is provided on the side of the connecting cap. The boss has a mounting hole along the axial direction of the connecting cap. The housing has a blind hole corresponding to the position of the mounting hole. The guide rod passes through the mounting hole on the connecting cap and extends into the blind hole on the housing to limit the radial direction of the connecting cap. A screw is provided in the mounting hole to limit the guide rod.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of helicopter landing gear technology, and in particular to a manual locking mechanism for the front wheel lock of a helicopter. Background Technology

[0002] The helicopter nose wheel lock is an important component of the helicopter landing gear system. When unlocked, the wheel can steer freely; when locked, the wheel is locked in a neutral position. It prevents the wheel fork from rotating during flight and prevents shimmy during taxiing, ensuring safe taxiing. Patent document CN111532422B discloses a bidirectional hydraulic locking mechanism for the helicopter nose wheel. A manual lever and a locking lever are connected via a bearing housing. A hydraulic piston pushes the manual lever and locking lever to move, causing the locking lever to engage in the locking mechanism and lock. When the hydraulic pressure is released, the piston returns to its initial position under the action of an unlocking spring, but the manual lever does not move. In the locked state, when unlocking, the piston, under hydraulic pressure, pushes the manual lever and locking lever, causing the locking lever to disengage from the locking mechanism and unlock. At this point, the hydraulic pressure is released, the piston returns to its initial position, but the manual lever does not move, and the locking mechanism remains unlocked. When manually locking, pushing the connector moves the manual lever and locking lever to lock, and inserting the manual pin keeps the locking mechanism locked. In this state, the piston does not move. When manually unlocking, pulling out the manual pin and pulling the connector disengages the locking lever from the hole in the locking mechanism, then inserting the manual pin, the locking mechanism is unlocked. The manual pin is inserted into the radial holes of the connector and manual lever for limiting, ensuring the locking mechanism maintains its locking and unlocking effect. However, existing manual locking and unlocking mechanisms are not fixed in direction, are inconvenient to operate, and require considerable effort. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the problems mentioned in the background section, the present invention provides a manual locking mechanism for the front wheel lock of a helicopter.

[0004] This invention discloses the following technical solution: a manual locking mechanism for a helicopter front wheel lock, comprising a manual pin assembly, a connecting cap, a manual lever, a screw, a guide rod, an end cap, a housing, and a piston. The piston and housing are coaxially arranged, and the end cap is provided on the end face of the housing. The housing and the end cap are threadedly connected. The piston has a through hole in the axial direction, and a connecting cap is provided at one end of the piston extending out of the end cap. The connecting cap has a through hole in the axial direction that communicates with the axial through hole of the piston. The manual lever is slidably installed in the axial through hole of the connecting cap and the piston. The manual lever has two pin holes in the radial direction at the axial through hole of the connecting cap. The connecting cap has a through hole in the radial direction corresponding to the pin holes. The manual pin assembly can pass through the radial through hole of the connecting cap and one of the pin holes of the manual lever to axially limit the manual lever. The connecting cap has a boss on its side, and the boss has a mounting hole along the axial direction of the connecting cap. The housing has a blind hole corresponding to the mounting hole on the connecting cap. The guide rod passes through the mounting hole on the connecting cap and extends into the blind hole on the housing to limit the radial direction of the connecting cap. A screw is provided in the mounting hole to limit the guide rod.

[0005] Furthermore, the manual pin assembly includes a pull ring, a pin sleeve, a pin rod, a spring, a clip, and a steel ball. The pull rod is mounted on the pin rod, and the spring sleeve is mounted on the pin rod. The upper end face of the spring abuts against the lower end face of the step at the upper position of the pin rod. The clip has a slot along the diameter from the center. The clip is installed onto the pin rod shaft through the slot. The upper end face of the clip abuts against the lower end face of the spring. The lower end face at the middle position of the clip fits against the step end face at the lower position of the pin rod. The pin rod is installed into the inner cavity of the pin sleeve, so that the lower end face of the clip fits against the upper end face of the step in the inner cavity of the pin sleeve. The cylindrical pin passes through the through hole on the pin sleeve and the axial groove of the pin rod. The cylindrical pin and the through hole on the pin sleeve are interference-fitted. The pin rod can slide axially within the pin sleeve without coming out of the pin sleeve.

[0006] Furthermore, the side wall at the lower part of the pin sleeve is provided with a through hole in the radial direction for installing steel balls. The two steel balls are located on both sides of the pin rod to prevent the pin rod from coming out. The pin rod is provided with annular clearance grooves on both sides of the steel balls.

[0007] Furthermore, the pull ring has an elastic structure.

[0008] Furthermore, the connecting cap is connected to the piston via threads.

[0009] Furthermore, a stop washer and a nut are installed between the piston and the end cap.

[0010] Beneficial effects: Compared with the prior art, the manual locking mechanism for the helicopter front wheel lock of the present invention ensures that the connecting cap will not rotate through the guide rod on the connecting cap, the stop washer on the piston, and the nut. The manual pin assembly always maintains a fixed direction. The manual pin assembly is equipped with a spring, a clip, and a fixing pin, which allows the pin to slide a certain distance within the pin sleeve. This makes it convenient and effortless to insert and remove the manual pin assembly through the pull ring on the pin. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0012] Figure 2 This is a partial cross-sectional schematic diagram of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the left side of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of section AA;

[0015] Figure 5 for Figure 3 Schematic diagram of cross-section at BB;

[0016] In the diagram: 1-Manual pin assembly, 2-Connecting cap, 3-Manual lever, 4-Screw, 5-Guide rod, 6-Stop washer, 7-Nut, 8-End cap, 9-Housing, 101-Pull ring, 102-Pin sleeve, 103-Pin rod, 104-Spring, 105-Card, 106-Steel ball, 107-Cylindrical pin. Detailed Implementation

[0017] like Figures 1 to 5As shown, a manual locking mechanism for a helicopter front wheel lock includes a manual pin assembly 1, a connecting cap 2, a manual lever 3, a screw 4, a guide rod 5, an end cap 8, a housing 9, and a piston. The piston and housing 9 are coaxially arranged. The end cap 8 is provided on the end face of the housing 9, and the housing 9 and the end cap 8 are threadedly connected. The piston has a through hole in the axial direction. The end of the piston extending out of the end cap 8 is provided with a connecting cap 2. The connecting cap 2 has a through hole in the axial direction that communicates with the axial through hole of the piston. The manual lever 3 is slidably installed in the axial through hole of the connecting cap 2 and the piston. The manual lever 3 has two radial pin holes located at the axial through hole of the connecting cap 2. The connecting cap 2 has radial pin holes. A through hole corresponding to the pin hole allows the manual pin assembly 1 to pass through the radial through hole of the connecting cap 2 and one of the pin holes of the manual lever 3, thus axially limiting the manual lever 3 and keeping the front wheel lock in an locked or unlocked state. The connecting cap 2 has a boss on its side, and the boss has a mounting hole along the axial direction of the connecting cap 2. The housing 9 has a blind hole corresponding to the position of the mounting hole on the connecting cap 2. The guide rod 5 passes through the mounting hole on the connecting cap 2 and extends into the blind hole on the housing 9 to limit the connecting cap 2 in the radial direction and prevent the connecting cap 2 from rotating. A screw 4 is provided in the mounting hole to limit the guide rod 5 and prevent the guide rod 5 from sliding.

[0018] The manual pin assembly 1 includes a pull ring 101, a pin sleeve 102, a pin rod 103, a spring 104, a clip 105, and a steel ball 106. The pull rod is mounted on the pin rod 103, and the spring 104 is fitted onto the pin rod 103. The upper end face of the spring 104 abuts against the lower end face of the step at the upper position of the pin rod 103. The clip 105 has a slot along the diameter from the center. The clip 105 is installed onto the pin rod 103 shaft through the slot. The upper end face of the clip 105 abuts against the lower end face of the spring 104, and the lower end face at the middle position of the clip 105 abuts against the pin rod 106. 3. The lower step end face fits, and the pin 103 is installed in the inner cavity of the pin sleeve 102, so that the lower end face of the card 105 fits with the upper end face of the step in the inner cavity of the pin sleeve 102. The cylindrical pin 107 passes through the through hole on the pin sleeve 102 and the axial groove of the pin 103. The cylindrical pin 107 is interference-fitted with the through hole on the pin sleeve 102. The pin 103 can slide axially in the pin sleeve 102 and does not come out of the pin sleeve 102. In the natural state, due to the elastic force of the spring 104, the outer circle of the cylindrical pin 107 is tangent to the bottom end face of the groove on the pin 103.

[0019] The lower part of the pin sleeve 102 has a radial through hole for installing steel balls 106 on its side wall. The two steel balls 106 are located on both sides of the pin rod 103 to prevent the pin rod 103 from coming out. After installing the steel balls 106, punching the through hole of the pin sleeve 102 to prevent the steel balls 106 from coming out of the pin rod 103 can prevent the steel balls 106 from coming out of the pin rod 103. The pin rod 103 has an annular relief groove on both sides of the steel balls 106. When the pull ring 101 is manually pushed and pulled, the pin rod 103 slides up and down in the pin sleeve 102. When the relief groove slides to the position of the steel balls 106, the steel balls 106 can enter the relief groove, and the pin rod 103 can be inserted into or pulled out of the manual rod 3 and the connecting cap 2.

[0020] The pull ring 101 is an elastic structure and is installed into the blind holes at both ends of the pin 103 in the diameter direction by tension, which is convenient for installation;

[0021] The connecting cap 2 is connected to the piston via a thread, which facilitates the adjustment of the angle of the connecting cap 2;

[0022] The piston is located between the end cap 8 and the connecting cap 2, where a stop washer 6 and a nut 7 are installed to limit and prevent loosening of the connecting cap 2, thus fixing the angle of the connecting cap 2.

[0023] In use, the manual pin assembly 1 is inserted into the left pin hole of the connecting cap 2 and the manual lever 3 to keep the helicopter front wheel lock in the locked state. The manual pin assembly 1 is pulled out manually, and the manual lever 3 is pushed to the left so that the right pin hole of the manual lever 3 is aligned with the radial through hole of the connecting cap 2. The manual pin assembly 1 is then inserted into the right pin hole of the manual lever 3 to keep the helicopter front wheel lock in the unlocked state. The guide rod 5 on the connecting cap 2, the stop washer 6 on the piston, and the nut 7 ensure that the connecting cap 2 will not rotate and the manual pin assembly 1 will always maintain a fixed direction. The manual pin assembly 1 is equipped with a spring 104, a clip 105, and a fixing pin, which allows the pin 103 to slide a certain distance in the pin sleeve 102, making it convenient and effortless to insert and pull out the manual pin assembly 1 through the pull ring 101 on the pin 103.

[0024] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in the present invention, based on the technical solution and inventive concept of the present invention, should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A manual locking mechanism for a helicopter front wheel lock, comprising a manual pin assembly (1), a connecting cap (2), a manual lever (3), a screw (4), a guide rod (5), an end cap (8), a housing (9), and a piston. The piston and the housing (9) are coaxially arranged. The end cap (8) is provided on the end face of the housing (9). The housing (9) and the end cap (8) are threadedly connected. The piston has a through hole in the axial direction. The end of the piston extending out of the end cap (8) is provided with a connecting cap (2). The connecting cap (2) has a through hole in the axial direction that communicates with the axial through hole of the piston. The manual lever (3) is slidably installed in the axial through hole of the connecting cap (2) and the piston. The manual lever (3) is located at the axial through hole of the connecting cap (2). There are two pin holes in the radial direction. The connecting cap (2) has a through hole in the radial direction corresponding to the pin hole. The manual pin assembly (1) can pass through the radial through hole of the connecting cap (2) and one of the pin holes of the manual rod (3) to axially limit the manual rod (3). The connecting cap (2) has a boss on its side. The boss has a mounting hole in the axial direction of the connecting cap (2). The housing (9) has a blind hole corresponding to the mounting hole on the connecting cap (2). The guide rod (5) passes through the mounting hole on the connecting cap (2) and extends into the blind hole on the housing (9) to limit the connecting cap (2) in the radial direction. The mounting hole has a screw (4) to limit the guide rod (5). The manual pin assembly (1) includes a pull ring (101), a pin sleeve (102), a pin rod (103), a spring (104), a clip (105), and a steel ball (106). The pull rod is mounted on the pin rod (103), and the spring (104) is fitted onto the pin rod (103). The upper end face of the spring (104) abuts against the lower end face of the step at the upper position of the pin rod (103). The clip (105) has a slot along the diameter from the center. The clip (105) is installed onto the pin rod (103) shaft through the slot. 05) The upper end face abuts against the lower end face of the spring (104), the lower end face of the middle position of the card (105) fits against the step end face of the lower position of the pin (103), the pin (103) is installed into the inner cavity of the pin sleeve (102), so that the lower end face of the card (105) fits against the upper end face of the step in the inner cavity of the pin sleeve (102), the cylindrical pin (107) passes through the through hole on the pin sleeve (102) and the axial groove of the pin (103), the pin (103) can slide axially in the pin sleeve (102) and does not come out of the pin sleeve (102).

2. The manual locking / unlocking mechanism for the helicopter front wheel lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower part of the pin sleeve (102) has a through hole in the radial direction on the side wall for installing steel balls (106). The two steel balls (106) are located on both sides of the pin rod (103) to prevent the pin rod (103) from coming out. The pin rod (103) is provided with annular clearance grooves on both sides of the steel balls (106).

3. The manual locking / unlocking mechanism for the helicopter front wheel lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pull ring (101) is an elastic structure.

4. The manual locking / unlocking mechanism for the helicopter front wheel lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cylindrical pin (107) is interference-fitted with the through hole on the pin sleeve (102).

5. The manual locking / unlocking mechanism for the helicopter front wheel lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The connecting cap (2) is connected to the piston via threads.

6. The manual locking / unlocking mechanism for the helicopter front wheel lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The piston is located between the end cap (8) and the connecting cap (2) and is fitted with a stop washer (6) and a nut (7).

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