Folding front wheel turning mechanism

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of aircraft landing gears, and discloses a folding type front wheel turning mechanism which comprises a turning actuator, an upper rocker arm, a deflector rod, a lug ring, a lower rocker arm and a lower connector, the turning actuator is fixedly connected to one side of a landing gear supporting column, and an output shaft of the turning actuator is perpendicular to the landing gear supporting column; the deflector rod is rotatably mounted on the other side of the undercarriage strut, the top of the lower connector is rotatably connected with the undercarriage strut through a circular ring structure, and the bottom of the lower connector is connected with an airplane wheel of an airplane; the shifting rod is parallel to the undercarriage strut, an output shaft of the turning actuator drives the shifting rod to rotate through the upper rocker arm, rotation of the shifting rod drives the lug ring connected to the bottom of the shifting rod to rotate, the lug ring is connected with the lower connector through the lower rocker arm, and the lug ring pushes the lower rocker arm to move when rotating so as to drive the lower connector to rotate around the undercarriage strut. Front wheel turning motion is achieved through the two rocker arms, the mechanism is compact and reliable, the requirement for small-space storage of the nose landing gear can be met, and the maximum turning angle can reach + / -40 degrees.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of aircraft landing gear technology, and relates to the turning mechanism of the nose landing gear wheel of an aircraft, specifically a folding nose wheel turning mechanism. Background Technology

[0002] The nose wheel steering mechanism is a crucial component of an aircraft's nose landing gear, its primary function being to enable the nose wheels to turn. Due to design limitations in the fuselage structure of some small aircraft, the internal space of the nose landing gear bay is insufficient to accommodate existing nose wheel steering mechanisms. While existing small-space nose wheel steering mechanisms can meet the storage requirements of the limited nose landing gear space, their maximum turning angle does not meet design specifications. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a folding front wheel steering mechanism that, under hydraulic drive, converts the linear reciprocating motion of the steering actuator into the left and right yaw motion of the front wheel. The steering mechanism has a compact structure, is suitable for aircraft with limited space in the front landing gear bay, and significantly increases the maximum turning angle of the aircraft's front wheel. The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: A folding nose wheel steering mechanism includes a steering actuator, an upper rocker arm, a lever, an clevis, a lower rocker arm, and a lower connector. The steering actuator is fixedly connected to one side of the landing gear strut, and the output shaft of the steering actuator is perpendicular to the landing gear strut. The lever is rotatably mounted on the other side of the landing gear strut. The top of the lower connector is rotatably connected to the landing gear strut via a ring structure, and the bottom of the lower connector is connected to the aircraft's wheel. The lever is parallel to the landing gear strut. The output shaft of the steering actuator drives the lever to rotate via the upper rocker arm. The rotation of the lever drives the clevis connected to the bottom of the lever to rotate. The clevis is connected to the lower connector via the lower rocker arm. When the clevis rotates, it pushes the lower rocker arm to move, thereby causing the lower connector to rotate around the landing gear strut.

[0004] Furthermore, the landing gear struts are fitted with outer tubes, and the front wheel steering mechanism is mounted below the outer tubes.

[0005] Furthermore, it also includes an upper connector, which is fixedly installed on the landing gear strut. The upper connector has two pairs of protruding lug structures, and the turning actuator and lever are respectively installed on the two pairs of lug structures of the upper connector.

[0006] Furthermore, the two lugs of the upper connector are spaced 90° apart from the main shaft of the landing gear strut.

[0007] Furthermore, one end of the upper rocker arm is rotatably connected to the pull rod at the end of the output shaft of the turning actuator, and the other end of the upper rocker arm is fixedly connected to the lever.

[0008] Furthermore, a pivot is provided radially at the bottom of the lever, and the earring is rotatably connected to the pivot at the bottom of the lever.

[0009] Furthermore, the earring includes a disc body, a shaft hole, and a round shaft. The shaft hole and the round shaft are respectively located on both sides of the central axis of the disc body. The rotating shaft at the bottom of the lever is rotatably connected to the shaft hole of the earring, and the round shaft of the earring is rotatably connected to the lower rocker arm.

[0010] Furthermore, one end of the lower rocker arm is connected to the round shaft of the ear ring via a pull ring structure, and the other end of the lower rocker arm is connected to the lower connector via an ear plate connection structure. The pivot of the ear plate connection structure is perpendicular to the round shaft of the ear ring and parallel to the landing gear strut.

[0011] The advantages of this invention are as follows: 1. The folding front wheel turning mechanism of the present invention has a simple structure. It realizes the front wheel turning motion through two sets of rocker arms. The mechanism is compact and reliable and can meet the needs of small space storage of the front landing gear.

[0012] 2. Conventional single-rocker front wheel turning mechanisms struggle to achieve large-angle turns under the same spatial constraints. The folding turning mechanism designed in this invention converts the linear motion of the turning actuator into front wheel rotation through two sets of rocker arms, resulting in a larger turning angle compared to conventional mechanisms, with a maximum turning angle of ±40°. Attached Figure Description

[0013] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. The drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the folding front wheel turning mechanism of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the folding front wheel turning mechanism of the present invention.

[0016] Among them, 1—turning actuator, 2—outer cylinder, 3—upper connector, 4—upper rocker arm, 5—lever, 6—earring, 7—lower rocker arm, 8—lower connector. Detailed Implementation

[0017] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0018] The features and illustrative embodiments of various aspects of the present invention will now be described in detail. Numerous specific details are set forth in the following detailed description to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be practiced without requiring some of these specific details. The following description of embodiments is merely intended to provide a better understanding of the invention by illustrating examples of the invention. The invention is by no means limited to any specific setups and methods set forth below, but covers any improvements, substitutions, and modifications to structures, methods, and devices without departing from the spirit of the invention. Well-known structures and techniques are not shown in the drawings and the following description to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the directions or positional relationships indicated by terms such as "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer" are based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing and simplifying the invention, and should not be construed as limiting the invention. Furthermore, the use of ordinal numbers (e.g., "first and second," etc.) is for distinguishing objects and is not limited to this order, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly, encompassing both direct connection and indirect connection via an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0021] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments of the present invention and the features thereof can be combined with each other, and the various embodiments can be referenced and cited in each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0022] Example 1: A folding nose wheel steering mechanism includes a steering actuator 1, an upper rocker arm 4, a lever 5, an ear loop 6, a lower rocker arm 7, and a lower connector 8. The steering actuator 1 is fixedly connected to one side of the landing gear strut, and the output shaft of the steering actuator 1 is perpendicular to the landing gear strut. The lever 5 is rotatably mounted on the other side of the landing gear strut. The top of the lower connector 8 is rotatably connected to the landing gear strut via a ring structure, and the bottom of the lower connector 8 is connected to the aircraft's wheel. The lever 5 is parallel to the landing gear strut. The output shaft of the steering actuator 1 drives the lever 5 to rotate via the upper rocker arm 4. The rotation of the lever 5 drives the ear loop 6 connected to the bottom of the lever 5 to rotate. The ear loop 6 is connected to the lower connector 8 via the lower rocker arm 7. When the ear loop 6 rotates, it pushes the lower rocker arm 7 to move, thereby causing the lower connector 8 to rotate around the landing gear strut.

[0023] The landing gear strut is equipped with an outer tube 2, and the front wheel steering mechanism is installed below the outer tube 2.

[0024] It also includes an upper connector 3, which is fixedly installed on the landing gear strut. The upper connector 3 has two pairs of protruding lug structures, and the turning actuator 1 and the lever 5 are respectively installed on the two pairs of lug structures of the upper connector 3.

[0025] The two lugs of the upper connector 3 are spaced 90° apart from the main shaft of the landing gear strut.

[0026] One end of the upper rocker arm 4 is rotatably connected to the pull tube at the end of the output shaft of the turning actuator 1, and the other end of the upper rocker arm 4 is fixedly connected to the lever 5.

[0027] A pivot is provided radially at the bottom of the lever 5, and the earring 6 is rotatably connected to the pivot at the bottom of the lever 5.

[0028] The earring 6 includes a disc body, a shaft hole, and a round shaft. The shaft hole and the round shaft are respectively located on both sides of the central axis of the disc body. The rotating shaft at the bottom of the lever 5 is rotatably connected to the shaft hole of the earring 6, and the round shaft of the earring 6 is rotatably connected to the lower rocker arm 7.

[0029] One end of the lower rocker arm 7 is connected to the round shaft of the ear ring 6 via a pull ring structure, and the other end of the lower rocker arm 7 is connected to the lower connector 8 via an ear plate connection structure. The rotation axis of the ear plate connection structure is perpendicular to the round shaft of the ear ring 6 and parallel to the landing gear strut.

[0030] Example 2: The folding front wheel steering mechanism of the present invention, as shown in the figure Figure 1 As shown, the folding front wheel turning mechanism mainly consists of a turning actuator 1, an outer cylinder 2, an upper connector 3, an upper rocker arm 4, a lever 5, an ear ring 6, a lower rocker arm 7, a lower connector 8, and a connecting shaft.

[0031] The upper connector 3 is fixedly connected to the outer cylinder 2 via a keyway; the housing of the turning actuator cylinder 1 is connected to the upper connector 3 via two shafts and nuts; the piston rod of the turning actuator 1 is connected to the upper rocker arm 4 via a shaft and nuts; the upper rocker arm 4 is connected between the two ears of the upper connector 3 via a lever 5 and nuts; the upper rocker arm 4 and the lever 5 are fixedly connected together via a spline fit; the ear ring 6 is connected to the lever 5 and the lower rocker arm 7 via two shafts and nuts; the lower rocker arm 7 is connected to the lower connector 8 via a shaft and nuts.

[0032] Driven by the hydraulic system, the piston rod of the turning actuator cylinder 1 performs linear reciprocating motion; the piston rod drives the lever 5 to rotate around its own axis via the upper rocker arm 4; the lever 5 drives the lower connector 8 to rotate around the axis of the outer cylinder 2 via the lug 6 and the lower rocker arm 7. The rotation direction of the lower connector is opposite to that of the lever. The main function of the lug 6 is to compensate for the change in distance between the connection point during the relative movement of the lever 5 and the lower connector 8; the lower connector 8 then drives the front wheel through the torque arm to achieve the turning function.

Claims

1. A folding front wheel turning mechanism, characterized in that, The device includes a turning actuator (1), an upper rocker arm (4), a lever (5), an ear loop (6), a lower rocker arm (7), and a lower connector (8). The turning actuator (1) is fixedly connected to one side of the landing gear strut, and the output shaft of the turning actuator (1) is perpendicular to the landing gear strut. The lever (5) is rotatably mounted on the other side of the landing gear strut. The top of the lower connector (8) is rotatably connected to the landing gear strut through a ring structure, and the bottom of the lower connector (8) is connected to the aircraft's wheels. The lever (5) is parallel to the landing gear strut. The output shaft of the turning actuator (1) drives the lever (5) to rotate through the upper rocker arm (4). The rotation of the lever (5) drives the ear loop (6) connected to the bottom of the lever (5) to rotate. The ear loop (6) is connected to the lower connector (8) through the lower rocker arm (7). When the ear loop (6) rotates, it pushes the lower rocker arm (7) to move, thereby driving the lower connector (8) to rotate around the landing gear strut.

2. The folding front wheel turning mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The landing gear strut is equipped with an outer tube (2), and the front wheel steering mechanism is installed below the outer tube (2).

3. A folding front wheel turning mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes an upper connector (3), which is fixedly installed on the landing gear strut. The upper connector (3) has two pairs of protruding lug structures. The turning actuator (1) and the lever (5) are respectively installed on the two pairs of lug structures of the upper connector (3).

4. A folding front wheel turning mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that, The two lugs of the upper connector (3) are spaced 90° apart from the main shaft of the landing gear strut.

5. A folding front wheel turning mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, One end of the upper rocker arm (4) is rotatably connected to the pull rod at the end of the output shaft of the turning actuator (1), and the other end of the upper rocker arm (4) is fixedly connected to the lever (5).

6. A folding front wheel turning mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the lever (5) is radially provided with a pivot, and the earring (6) is rotatably connected to the pivot at the bottom of the lever (5).

7. A folding front wheel turning mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that, The earring (6) includes a disc body, a shaft hole and a round shaft. The shaft hole and the round shaft are respectively located on both sides of the central axis of the disc body. The rotating shaft at the bottom of the lever (5) is connected to the shaft hole of the earring (6) for rotation. The round shaft of the earring (6) is connected to the lower rocker arm (7) for rotation.

8. A folding front wheel turning mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that, One end of the lower rocker arm (7) is connected to the round shaft of the ear ring (6) through a pull ring structure, and the other end of the lower rocker arm (7) is connected to the lower connector (8) through an ear plate connection structure. The pivot of the ear plate connection structure is perpendicular to the round shaft of the ear ring (6) and parallel to the landing gear strut.

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