Up-lock device for leg, and landing apparatus

Abstract

An up-lock device (2) for holding an aircraft leg (11) in a stored position comprises: a slider (3) that is pushed by the leg moving between a deployed position and the stored position; and a latch (4) that is linked to the slider and engages with a striker (5) provided to the leg, that engages with the striker as a result of the slider being pushed by the leg and moving from an unlocked position to a locked position, and that releases the striker as a result of the slider being pushed by the leg and moving from the locked position to the unlocked position.

Description

Landing gear uplocks and landing gear

[0001] The technology disclosed herein relates to landing gear uplock systems and landing gear.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a conventional uplock device. The uplock device holds an aircraft landing gear leg in a storage compartment. The conventional uplock device includes a hook and an actuator. The hook engages with a capture pin attached to the landing gear to prevent the landing gear from descending. The actuator rotates the hook, which is engaged with the capture pin, to an open position. As the hook moves, the engagement between the hook and the capture pin is released, allowing the landing gear to descend from the storage compartment.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-512953

[0004] Conventional uplock devices are equipped with actuators. The actuators are hydraulic actuators or electric actuators. In addition to the actuators for the uplock devices, landing gears are equipped with actuators for raising and lowering the landing gear. The two actuators complicate the structure of the landing gear and increase costs.

[0005] The technology disclosed herein simplifies the construction of leg uplocking devices.

[0006] The technology disclosed herein relates to an uplock device that holds an aircraft landing gear in a stowed position. The uplock device includes: a slider that is pushed by the landing gear that moves between a deployed position and the stowed position; and a latch that is connected to the slider and engages with a striker that the landing gear has. The latch engages with the striker when the slider, which is located in the unlocked position, is pushed by the landing gear and moves to the locked position, and releases the striker when the slider, which is located in the locked position, is pushed by the landing gear and moves to the unlocked position.

[0007] The slider of the uplocking device is pushed by the legs as they move up and down. When the slider is pushed by the legs and positioned in the locked position, a latch connected to the slider engages with the striker. The legs with the striker are held by the uplocking device in the retracted position.

[0008] When the slider in the locked position is pushed again by the leg, the slider moves to the unlocked position, causing the latch to release the striker. The uplock device is released from its hold, allowing the leg to move from the retracted position to the extended position.

[0009] The latch of the uplock device switches between holding the leg and releasing the leg depending on the movement of the leg. The uplock device does not require an actuator, so the structure of the uplock device is simple.

[0010] The slider may move between the unlocked position, the locked position, and a third position on the opposite side of the locked position from the unlocked position, and the slider may move from the unlocked position to the locked position via the third position by being pushed by the leg moving in an upward direction from the deployed position to the stored position, and the latch may engage with the striker.

[0011] The slider may also move between the locked position, the unlocked position, and a fourth position on the opposite side of the locked position from the unlocked position, and when the leg moves from the stored position to the deployed position, the slider may be pushed by the leg moving in the upward direction, causing the slider to move from the locked position to the unlocked position via the fourth position, and the latch may release the striker.

[0012] The latch switches between holding and releasing the landing gear as the landing gear rises. The landing gear only needs to be able to move between the deployed position and the stowed position, and to move further upward from the stowed position. A conventional landing gear structure can be used. The landing gear may also move by rotating a landing gear strut supported on the aircraft fuselage.

[0013] The third position and the fourth position may be different positions or may be the same position.

[0014] The uplock device may further include a case that movably holds the slider, and the slider may have a follower that moves along an endless cam groove of the case while moving from the unlocked position via the third position to the locked position and from the locked position via the fourth position to the unlocked position.

[0015] As the follower moves along the cam groove, the slider moves stably between the unlocked position, the third position, and the locked position, and between the locked position, the fourth position, and the unlocked position, thereby stably switching between engagement and release of the striker by the latch.

[0016] The slider may have a first follower and a second follower facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the slider, and the case may have a first cam groove with which the first follower engages and a second cam groove with which the second follower engages.

[0017] The slider is supported movably relative to the case via two opposing floors, increasing the support rigidity of the slider.

[0018] The slider may move between the locked position, the unlocked position, and a fourth position opposite the unlocked position across the locked position, and when the leg moves from the stored position to the deployed position, the slider may be pushed by the leg moving once in an upward direction opposite to the direction from the stored position to the deployed position, causing the slider to move from the locked position to the unlocked position via the fourth position, and the latch may release the striker.

[0019] The uplock device may further include a biasing member that biases the slider to be positioned at the unlocked position or the locked position, and the biasing force of the biasing member may be set to a magnitude that prevents the leg from moving the slider from the locked position to the fourth position due to an external force that may act on the leg during flight of the aircraft.

[0020] During flight, an external force may act on a landing gear held in the stowed position due to vibrations, turbulence, or the like, causing the landing gear to attempt to move. If the slider of the uplock device is pushed by the landing gear acting on the external force and moves from the locked position to the fourth position, it will move to the unlocked position as described above, causing the latch to release the striker.

[0021] In contrast, the biasing force of the biasing member is set to a magnitude that prevents the landing gear from moving the slider from the locked position to the fourth position due to an accidental external force that may act on the landing gear while the aircraft is in flight, thereby preventing the latch from releasing the striker while the aircraft is in flight.

[0022] The uplock device may further include an emergency cable connected to the slider, and in an emergency, the emergency cable may be pulled to move the slider from the locked position through the fourth position to the unlocked position, causing the latch to release the striker.

[0023] An emergency cable connected to the slider is laid to the cockpit. When the emergency cable is pulled, for example by the cockpit crew, the slider moves from the locked position to the fourth position and then to the unlocked position. The latch releases the striker, allowing the landing gear to lower from the retracted position to the extended position. In an emergency where the landing gear in the retracted position cannot push the slider to move from the locked position to the fourth position, for example because the landing gear lift actuator does not operate, the emergency cable makes it possible to position the landing gear in the extended position.

[0024] The latch may be supported by the slider and move with the slider.

[0025] The latch is supported by the slider and moves together with the slider, reducing the number of parts in the leg uplocking device.

[0026] The leg uplocking device may further include a case that movably holds the slider, and the latch may be pressed against an opening in the case as the slider moves from the unlocked position to the locked position, thereby engaging the striker, and may be moved away from the opening as the slider moves from the locked position to the unlocked position, thereby releasing the striker.

[0027] The engagement of the latch with the case switches the latch between engagement with the striker and release.

[0028] The slider may have a second biasing member that biases the latch in a direction that releases the striker.

[0029] When the latch moves away from the opening in the case, the bias of the second biasing member allows the latch to release the striker.

[0030] The latch may be supported on a part of the aircraft body that is different from the slider, and the landing gear uplock device may further include a link that connects the slider and the latch and converts movement of the slider into engagement and release movements of the latch with respect to the striker.

[0031] If the latch is supported on a part of the aircraft fuselage, when the latch engages with the striker, the weight of the landing gear is supported on the part of the aircraft fuselage via the latch. The slider does not need to support the weight of the landing gear. The structures of the slider and follower can be simplified. The part of the aircraft fuselage includes the case of the landing gear uplock device in addition to the aircraft fuselage.

[0032] The landing gear disclosed herein comprises: a landing gear of an aircraft; an actuator for raising and lowering the landing gear between a deployed position and a stowed position; and an uplock device for holding the landing gear in the stowed position, wherein the uplock device has a slider pushed by the landing gear, and a latch connected to the slider and engaging with a striker carried by the landing gear, wherein the slider is pushed by the landing gear moved to the stowed position by the actuator, and the slider, which is positioned in the unlocked position, moves to the locked position, thereby engaging the latch, and the slider, which is positioned in the locked position, is pushed by the landing gear moved by the actuator, thereby moving the slider to the unlocked position, thereby releasing the striker.

[0033] The latches of the uplock devices switch between holding and releasing the landing gear in response to the elevation and lowering of the landing gear. The landing gear has actuators for the landing gear but does not have actuators for the uplock devices. The structure of the landing gear is simple.

[0034] The above-mentioned landing gear uplock devices and landing gears have a simple structure.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows the landing gear. Fig. 2 shows the uplock device when the landing gear is in the deployed position. Fig. 3 shows the uplock device when the landing gear is in the retracted position. Fig. 4 shows the slider. Fig. 5 shows the follower. Fig. 6 shows a modified version of the slider and case. Fig. 7 shows a modified follower. Fig. 8 shows a modified version of the uplock device.

[0036]

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments of landing gear uplock devices and landing gear will be described with reference to the drawings. The landing gear uplock devices and landing gear described here are exemplary.

[0037] (Overall Structure of Landing Gear) Fig. 1 illustrates an example of an aircraft landing gear 1 to which the uplock device 2 disclosed herein is applied. The landing gear 1 stores landing gear 11 in a storage compartment 13 of an airframe 12, and deploys the landing gear 11 from the storage compartment 13. The ends of the landing gear struts are rotatably supported by the airframe 12. The landing gear 11 moves between a deployed position shown by a solid line in Fig. 1 and a stored position shown by a two-dot chain line in Fig. 1 (see the arrow in Fig. 1). The landing gear 1 is equipped with an actuator 14. The actuator 14 is a drive source that moves the landing gear 11 by extending and retracting.

[0038] The landing gear 1 includes an uplock device 2. The uplock device 2 holds the landing gear 11 in a retracted position. The uplock device 2 is fixed to an airframe 12.

[0039] For the sake of explanation, up, down, right, left, front, and rear are defined as follows. Up (Up) and down (Lw) correspond to the top and bottom of the aircraft and the top and bottom of the paper in each drawing. A landing gear 11 moving from the deployed position to the stowed position moves upward, and a landing gear 11 moving from the stowed position to the deployed position moves downward. Right (Rt) and left (Lt) correspond to the right and left of the aircraft and the right and left of the paper in Figures 1 and 8, and the right-hand drawings of Figures 2 to 4 and 6. The left-right direction is perpendicular to the up-down direction. Front (Fr) and rear (Rr) correspond to the front and back of the aircraft and the right and left of the paper in the left-hand drawings of Figures 2 to 4 and 6. The front-to-back direction is perpendicular to the left-right direction and the up-down direction. Note that the terms up, down, right, left, front, and rear used below are used for explanation purposes only and are not used to limit the structures of the landing gear 1 and uplock device 2 disclosed herein.

[0040] (Structure of Uplock Device) Figures 2 and 3 show the uplock device 2. The right figure in Figure 2 is a front view of the uplock device 2, and the left figure is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A. The right figure in Figure 3 is a partially broken cross-sectional view of the uplock device 2 as seen from the front, and the left figure is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B. Figure 2 shows the uplock device 2 when the landing gear is in the extended position, and Figure 3 shows the uplock device 2 when the landing gear is in the retracted position.

[0041] The uplock device 2 includes a slider 3. The slider 3 is held in a case 21. The case 21 holds the slider 3 so that it can move up and down. More specifically, the slider 3 moves between an unlocked position, a locked position, and a third position. The unlocked position is the lowest position, and is the position of the slider 3 shown in FIG. 2. The third position is the highest position. The locked position is a position between the unlocked position and the third position, and is the position of the slider 3 shown in FIG. 3. The slider 3 and the case 21 are connected to each other via a cam mechanism 6.

[0042] The case 21 is hollow and has an opening 211 at its bottom end. The slider 3 is inserted into the case 21 through the opening 211. The slider 3 switches between a state in which a portion of the slider 3 protrudes downward from the opening 211 and a state in which the slider 3 is entirely housed within the case 21.

[0043] The case 21 has a cam groove 22. The cam groove 22 is formed on the inner surface of the front wall 212 of the case 21. The cam groove 22 is endless. The cam groove 22 has a first groove 221, a second groove 222, a third groove 223, and a fourth groove 224. The first groove 221 is located on the lower side and is inclined obliquely from the lower left to the upper right. The second groove 222 is located on the upper side and extends left and right. A locking portion 225 is formed in the center of the second groove 222. The locking portion 225 is approximately U-shaped in a front view. The locking portion 225 locks with the pin 38 of the follower 34, which will be described later. The third groove 223 connects the right end of the first groove 221 and the right end of the second groove 222. The third groove 223 extends in the vertical direction. The fourth groove 224 connects the left end of the first groove 221 and the left end of the second groove 222. The fourth groove 224 extends in the up-down direction.

[0044] An elongated hole 23 is formed in the rear wall 213 of the case 21. The rear wall 213 faces the front wall 212. The elongated hole 23 extends in the vertical direction. A locking piece 310 of the slider 3 is positioned within the elongated hole 23.

[0045] A through hole 24 is formed in the upper wall 214 of the case 21. An emergency cable 7, which will be described later, passes through the through hole 24 and is drawn from the inside of the case 21 to the outside.

[0046] Fig. 4 shows the slider 3. The right side of Fig. 4 is a front view of the slider 3, and the left side is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC.

[0047] The slider 3 has an abutment portion 31. The abutment portion 31 protrudes downward from the lower end of the slider 3. As will be described later, the tip of the striker 5 of the leg 11 abuts against the abutment portion 31.

[0048] The slider 3 has a first support hole 32. A shaft 36 of a follower 34 (see also the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 ), which will be described later, is inserted into the first support hole 32. The first support hole 32 is located at the lower end of the slider 3 and penetrates the slider 3 in the front-to-rear direction. A part of the inner circumferential surface of the first support hole 32 is a flat support surface 33. The support surface 33 is perpendicular to the up-down direction, which is the movement direction of the slider 3.

[0049] The slider 3 has a follower 34. Figure 5 shows the follower 34. The right diagram in Figure 5 is a front view of the follower 34. The middle diagram in Figure 5 is a side view of the follower 34. The left diagram in Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD.

[0050] The follower 34 has an arm 35. The arm 35 extends in the vertical direction. The follower 34 has a shaft 36. The shaft 36 is located at the lower end of the arm 35. The shaft 36 extends rearward from the rear surface of the arm 35. The shaft 36 has a substantially semicircular cross section. The shaft 36 has a flat surface 37. As will be described later, the flat surface 37 abuts against the support surface 33 of the slider 3. The flat surface 37 is inclined by an angle θ with respect to the direction in which the arm 35 extends. The angle θ is a predetermined angle less than 90°.

[0051] The follower 34 has a pin 38. The pin 38 is located at the upper end of the arm 35. The pin 38 is located on the opposite side of the arm 35 from the shaft 36. The pin 38 protrudes forward from the front surface of the arm 35. The pin 38 is located within the cam groove 22 and moves along the cam groove 22.

[0052] The shaft 36 of the follower 34 is inserted into the first support hole 32 of the slider 3, so that the follower 34 is supported so as to be able to swing relatively to the slider 3. The slider 3 has a recess 39 between the slider 3 and the case 21 that houses the arm 35 of the follower 34. The recess 39 has a shape that allows the follower 34 to swing (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 ).

[0053] The slider 3 has a second support hole 311. The second support hole 311 opens to the top surface of the slider 3 and extends in the vertical direction. The second support hole 311 and the first support hole 32 are connected. The second support hole 311 houses a compression spring 25 as a biasing member. The compression spring 25 extends in the vertical direction. The lower end of the compression spring 25 abuts against the shaft 36 of the follower 34 inserted into the first support hole 32. The upper end of the compression spring 25 is supported by a spring support 26 provided on the upper wall 214 of the case 21. The compression spring 25 biases the slider 3 downward. As shown in FIG. 2 , the locking piece 310 locks onto the lower edge of the elongated hole 23, preventing the slider 3 from slipping out of the case 21.

[0054] The uplock device 2 includes a latch 4. The latch 4 is attached to the slider 3. More specifically, the latch 4 has a first member 41 and a second member 42. As shown in FIG. 4 , the first member 41 is attached to the left end of the lower end of the slider 3. The second member 42 is attached to the right end of the lower end of the slider 3. A hinge 43, for example, is interposed between the slider 3 and each of the first member 41 and the second member 42. The first member 41 and the second member 42 swing left and right relative to the slider 3 independently of each other, as indicated by the arrows in the right diagram of FIG. 4 .

[0055] The first member 41 and the second member 42 have shapes symmetrical in the left-right direction. The first member 41 and the second member 42 extend downward from the hinge 43. The first member 41 and the second member 42 each have a hook at their lower end. When the first member 41 and the second member 42 approach each other, the latch 4 engages with the striker 5, as shown in FIG. 3 . When the first member 41 and the second member 42 move away from each other, the latch 4 releases the striker 5.

[0056] The hinge 43 has a biasing member 44. The biasing member 44 is, for example, a torsion coil spring. The biasing member 44 biases the first member 41 and the second member 42 in directions in which the first member 41 and the second member 42 move away from each other. The biasing member 44 is an example of a second biasing member.

[0057] (Operation of the Uplock Device) The slider 3 moves up and down relative to the case 21. As the slider 3 moves, the pin 38 of the follower 34 moves along the cam groove 22.

[0058] As described above, Figure 2 shows the uplock device 2 when the leg 11 is in the extended position. Because the compression spring 25 urges the slider 3 and follower 34 downward, the abutment portion 31 of the slider 3 protrudes downward from the opening 211 of the case 21. The latch 4 is positioned by the urging member 44 in such a way that the first member 41 and the second member 42 are spaced apart from each other. The slider 3 in this state is in the unlocked position.

[0059] Since the biasing force of the compression spring 25 is applied to the follower 34, the entire inclined flat surface 37 of the follower 34 abuts against the support surface 33. Since the arm 35 is inclined to the left, the pin 38 is located at the left end of the first groove 221.

[0060] When the leg 11 is moved from the deployed position to the retracted position by the actuator 14, the striker 5 of the leg 11 enters between the first member 41 and the second member 42, and the tip of the striker 5 comes into contact with the abutment portion 31. The leg 11 rises further, and the striker 5 pushes the abutment portion 31 upward. The slider 3 and follower 34 are pushed upward by the striker 5.

[0061] As the slider 3 and follower 34 move upward, the pin 38 of the follower 34 moves in the cam groove 22. In detail, the pin 38, which is located at the left end of the first groove 221, moves upward to the right along the first groove 221, as shown by the dashed arrow in FIG. 2. When the pin 38 reaches the right end of the first groove 221, the pin 38 moves upward along the third groove 223. When the pin 38 reaches the upper end of the third groove 223, the slider 3 and follower 34 do not move upward any further. The upward movement of the slider 3 is completed. The position of the slider 3 in this state is the third position. The third position is a position higher than the unlocked position.

[0062] When the slider 3 reaches the third position, the actuator 14 stops raising the leg 11, and the leg 11 moves slightly downward. As the leg 11 moves downward, the slider 3 and follower 34, which are biased by the compression spring 25, also move downward. As the slider 3 and follower 34 move downward, the pin 38 moves leftward along the second groove 222 from the right end of the second groove 222. When the pin 38 reaches the locking portion 225, the pin 38 is locked by the locking portion 225, and the downward movement of the slider 3 and follower 34 stops.

[0063] As the slider 3 moves upward from the unlocked position, parts of the first member 41 and the second member 42 of the latch 4 pass through the opening 211 and enter the case 21. The first member 41 and the second member 42 come into contact with the edge of the opening 211 and are pushed toward each other.

[0064] FIG. 3 shows a state in which the slider 3 and follower 34 have stopped moving downward. The hooks at the lower ends of the first member 41 and the second member 42, which have approached each other, laterally sandwich the striker 5. The latch 4 engages with the striker 5. The leg 11 is held by the uplock device 2 in the storage position within the storage chamber 13 (see also the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). The slider 3 is in the locked position. The locked position is between the unlocked position and the third position. When the slider 3 is in the locked position, the arm 35 of the follower 34 extends substantially vertically. In this state, a wedge-shaped gap is provided between the flat surface 37 of the follower 34 and the support surface 33 of the slider 3, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0065] When the leg 11 moves from the retracted position to the extended position, the leg 11 is first moved upward by the actuator 14. The slider 3 is pushed by the striker 5 and moves again to the third position. At this time, the arm 35 of the follower 34 tilts leftward, and the pin 38 moves upward and leftward from the engaging portion 225 of the second groove 222, as shown by the dashed arrow in Figure 3. This is because a wedge-shaped gap is provided between the flat surface 37 of the follower 34 and the support surface 33 of the slider 3.

[0066] When the slider 3 reaches the third position, the leg 11 stops rising and starts moving downward. The pin 38 moves downward and left along the second groove 222 and reaches the left end of the second groove 222. The pin 38 then moves downward along the fourth groove 224. Meanwhile, the slider 3 and follower 34 move downward. As the slider 3 moves downward, the first member 41 and the second member 42 of the latch 4 exit the case 21 through the opening 211, and the first member 41 and the second member 42 move away from each other due to the biasing force of the biasing member 44. As shown in FIG. 2 , the latch 4 releases the striker 5. The leg 11 then moves to the deployed position.

[0067] Unlike conventional uplock devices, the uplock device 2 does not have an actuator. The slider 3 of the uplock device 2 is pushed by the legs 11 that move up and down. When the slider 3 is pushed by the legs 11 and positioned at the locked position, the latch 4 engages with the striker 5. The uplock device 2 can hold the legs 11 in the stored position.

[0068] When the uplock device 2 holds the leg 11, the weight of the leg 11 acts as a load at all times on the uplock device 2. The uplock device 2 has sufficient strength to stably hold the leg 11. In the uplock device 2, the first member 41 and second member 42 of the latch 4, the hinge 43, the engaging portion 225, and the pin 38 of the follower 34 in particular have sufficient strength because the weight of the leg 11 acts directly on them.

[0069] When the slider 3 in the locked position is pushed again by the leg 11, the slider 3 moves to the unlocked position, causing the latch 4 to release the striker 5. Since the uplock device 2 is released from its hold, the leg 11 can move from the stored position to the deployed position.

[0070] The uplock device 2, which switches between holding the legs 11 and releasing the legs 11 as the legs 11 move, has a simple structure.

[0071] The legs 11 only need to be able to move between the deployed position and the retracted position and further move upward from the retracted position in order to operate the uplock device 2. The structure of the legs 11 can be a conventional structure.

[0072] The uplock device 2 includes a cam mechanism 6. The pin 38 of the follower 34 moves along the cam groove 22, allowing the slider 3 to stably move between the unlocked position, the third position, and the locked position. The latch 4 stably switches between engagement and release of the striker 5.

[0073] Here, during flight of the aircraft, an external force may act on the landing gear 11 held in the retracted position due to vibrations, turbulence, or the like, causing the landing gear 11 to attempt to move. The biasing force of the compression spring 25 is set to a magnitude that prevents the landing gear 11 from moving the slider 3 from the locked position to the third position due to an accidental external force that may act on the landing gear 11 during flight of the aircraft. This prevents the latch 4 from releasing the striker 5 during flight of the aircraft.

[0074] If the landing gear 11 cannot be raised to push up the slider 3 of the uplock device 2 while the landing gear 11 is in the retracted position, the latch 4 of the uplock device 2 cannot release the striker 5. The landing gear 11 cannot move from the retracted position to the lowered position. To release the striker 5 in such an emergency, the uplock device 2 is equipped with an emergency cable 7. A first end of the emergency cable 7 is connected to the slider 3. A second end of the emergency cable 7 is laid to the aircraft cockpit. A cockpit crew member can move the slider 3 from the locked position to the third position by pulling the emergency cable. The slider 3 is then moved to the unlocked position by the biasing force of the compression spring 25, and the latch 4 releases the striker 5. In an emergency, for example, when the actuator 14 does not operate, the landing gear 11 can be lowered from the retracted position to the deployed position. Note that the emergency cable 7 may be omitted if the aircraft is unmanned and emergency landing gear extension is not required.

[0075] (First Modification) Fig. 6 shows an uplock device 20 according to a first modification. The right diagram of Fig. 6 is a front view of the uplock device 20, and the left diagram is a cross-sectional view taken along line E-E. The first modification relates to the slider 30 and the case 210. Fig. 7 shows a follower 340 according to the first modification.

[0076] The follower 340 integrates a first follower 341 and a second follower 342. The first follower 341 and the second follower 342 face each other in the front-to-rear direction. The first follower 341 has an arm 35 and a pin 38. The pin 38 of the first follower 341 protrudes forward from the front surface of the arm 35. The second follower 342 also has an arm 35 and a pin 38. The pin 38 of the second follower 342 protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the arm 35. The first follower 341 and the second follower 342 share the shaft 36 and flat surface 37.

[0077] As shown in the left diagram of Fig. 6, the slider 30 has a recess on its front surface that houses the arm 35 of the first follower 341, and a recess on its rear surface that houses the arm 35 of the second follower 342. The first follower 341 and the second follower 342 swing relative to the slider 30. A locking piece 310 for preventing the slider 30 from coming off is provided on the left side of the slider 30, as shown by the dashed line in the right diagram of Fig. 6. The locking piece 310 may also be provided on the right side of the slider 30.

[0078] The case 210 has a first cam groove 27 and a second cam groove 28. The first cam groove 27 is formed on the inner surface of the front wall 212. The pin 38 of the first follower 341 engages with the first cam groove 27. The second cam groove 28 is formed on the inner surface of the rear wall 213. The pin 38 of the second follower 342 engages with the second cam groove 28. The elongated hole 23 into which the locking piece 310 of the slider engages is provided on the left side of the case 210.

[0079] The uplock device 20 according to the first modification includes two followers: a first follower 341 and a second follower 342. The pin 38 of the first follower 341 is engaged with the engaging portion 225 of the first cam groove 27, and the pin 38 of the second follower 342 is engaged with the engaging portion 225 of the second cam groove 28. The slider 30 is supported at both ends by the case 21 via the first follower 341 and the second follower 342. This increases the support rigidity of the slider 30. When the slider 30 is in the locked position, the weight of the leg 11 can be supported by the two opposing followers 341, 342, so the uplock device 20 according to the first modification can stably hold the leg 11.

[0080] (Second Modification) Figure 8 shows an uplock device 200 according to a second modification. The right diagram in Figure 8 shows the slider 3 in the locked position, and the left diagram shows the slider 3 in the unlocked position. The uplock device 200 according to the second modification is a modification related to the mechanism that moves the latch 4.

[0081] The first member 41 and the second member 42 of the latch 4 in the uplock device 200 are supported by the machine body 12 without being supported by the slider 3. A base end 411 of the first member 41 is pivotally supported by the machine body 12, and the first member 41 swings relative to the machine body 12. A base end 421 of the second member 42 is also pivotally supported by the machine body 12, and the second member 42 also swings relative to the machine body 12. The first member 41 and the second member 42 may be supported by the case 21 of the uplock device 200.

[0082] The uplock device 200 includes a first link 45 and a second link 46. The first link 45 connects the slider 3 and the first member 41. A base end of the first link 45 is supported by the slider 3. A hinge 43 is interposed between the first link 45 and the slider 3. In the second modified example, the biasing member 44 of the hinge 43 is omitted. In addition, a tip end of the first link 45 is rotatably connected to the first member 41.

[0083] The second link 46 connects the slider 3 and the second member 42. The base end of the second link 46 is supported by the slider 3. A hinge 43 is interposed between the second link 46 and the slider 3. In the second modified example, the biasing member 44 of the hinge 43 is omitted. In addition, the tip of the second link 46 is rotatably connected to the second member 42.

[0084] The first link 45 and the second link 46 convert the movement of the slider 3 into an engagement action and a release action of the latch 4 with the striker 5. Specifically, when the slider 3 moves upward from the unlocked position shown on the left side of FIG. 8 to the locked position shown on the right side, the first link 45 and the second link 46 move upward together with the slider 3, while moving the first member 41 and the second member 42 of the latch 4 in directions toward each other. As a result, the latch 4 engages with the striker 5.

[0085] 8 , when the slider 3 moves downward from the locked position shown on the right to the unlocked position shown on the left, the first link 45 and the second link 46 move downward together with the slider 3, causing the first member 41 and the second member 42 of the latch 4 to move in directions away from each other. As a result, the latch 4 releases the striker 5.

[0086] In the uplock device 200 according to the second modification, the first member 41 and the second member 42 are supported by the airframe 12, so when the latch 4 engages with the striker 5, the weight of the leg 11 acts on the airframe 12 through the first member 41 and the second member 42. The slider 3 does not need to support the weight of the leg 11. The structures of the slider 3 and the follower 34 can be simplified.

[0087] Note that the slider 3 moves to a third position higher than the locked position while moving from the unlocked position to the locked position. The first link 45 and the second link 46 may each have a structure in which the link extends while the slider 3 moves from a position corresponding to the locked position to the third position. If the first link 45 and the second link 46 extend, the gap between the first member 41 and the second member 42 can be prevented from becoming too narrow. Furthermore, if the first link 45 and the second link 46 extend while the slider 3 moves from a position corresponding to the locked position to the third position higher than the locked position, the gap between the first member 41 and the second member 42 can be prevented from becoming too narrow.

[0088] The first and second modified examples can be combined.

[0089] The uplock device disclosed herein is not limited to the structure shown in Figures 2, 3, 6, or 8. For example, various shapes can be appropriately adopted for the cam grooves 22, 27, and 28. Furthermore, various structures other than those shown in the figures can also be adopted for the sliders 3, 30 and followers 34, 340.

[0090] When the sliders 3, 30 move from the unlocked position to the locked position, the uplock device may move to a third position on the opposite side of the unlocked position, sandwiching the locked position, and when the sliders 3, 30 move from the locked position to the unlocked position, the uplock device may move to a fourth position on the opposite side of the unlocked position, sandwiching the locked position (however, the fourth position is a position different from the third position).

[0091] Furthermore, the landing gear to which the uplock device disclosed herein can be applied is not limited to the structure shown in Fig. 1. The uplock device disclosed herein can be applied to landing gears of various known structures.

[0092] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Landing gear 2 Uplock device 20 Uplock device 200 Uplock device 3 Slider 30 Slider 4 Latch 5 Striker 11 Leg 14 Actuator 21 Case 210 Case 22 Cam groove 25 Compression spring (biasing member) 27 First cam groove 28 Second cam groove 34 Follower 340 Follower 44 Biasing member (second biasing member) 45 First link 46 Second link

Claims

1. An uplocking device for holding an aircraft landing gear in a stowed position, comprising: a slider that is pushed by the landing gear moving between a deployed position and the stowed position; and a latch that is connected to the slider and engages with a striker that the landing gear has, wherein the latch engages with the striker when the slider is pushed by the landing gear and moves from its unlocked position to its locked position, and the latch releases the striker when the slider is pushed by the landing gear and moves from its locked position to its unlocked position.

2. A leg uplocking device according to claim 1, wherein the slider moves between the unlocked position, the locked position, and a third position on the opposite side of the locked position from the unlocked position, and the slider moves from the unlocked position to the locked position via the third position by being pushed by the leg moving upward from the deployed position to the stored position, and the latch engages with the striker.

3. A leg uplocking device according to claim 2, wherein the slider moves between the locked position, the unlocked position, and a fourth position on the opposite side of the locked position from the unlocked position, and when the leg moves from the stored position to the deployed position, the slider is pushed by the leg moving in the upward direction once, and moves from the locked position to the unlocked position via the fourth position, and the latch releases the striker.

4. A leg uplocking device according to claim 3, further comprising a case for movably holding the slider, wherein the slider has a follower that moves along an endless cam groove in the case while moving from the unlocked position via the third position to the locked position and from the locked position via the fourth position to the unlocked position.

5. A leg uplocking device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the slider has a first follower and a second follower that face each other in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the slider, and the case has a first cam groove with which the first follower engages and a second cam groove with which the second follower engages.

6. A leg uplocking device according to claim 1, wherein the slider moves between the locked position, the unlocked position, and a fourth position on the opposite side of the locked position from the unlocked position, and when the leg moves from the stored position to the deployed position, the slider is pushed by the leg once moving in an upward direction opposite to the direction from the stored position to the deployed position, causing the slider to move from the locked position via the fourth position to the unlocked position, and the latch releases the striker.

7. A landing gear uplocking device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, further comprising a biasing member that biases the slider so as to position it in the unlocked position or the locked position, and the biasing force of the biasing member is set to a magnitude that prevents the landing gear from moving the slider from the locked position to the fourth position due to an external force that may act on the landing gear while the aircraft is in flight.

8. A leg uplocking device according to any one of claims 3 to 7, further comprising an emergency cable connected to the slider, wherein in an emergency, the emergency cable is pulled, causing the slider to move from the locked position, via the fourth position, to the unlocked position, and the latch to release the striker.

9. A leg uplocking device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the latch is supported by the slider and moves together with the slider.

10. A leg uplocking device according to claim 9, further comprising a case that movably holds the slider, wherein the latch engages with the striker by being pressed against an opening in the case as the slider moves from the unlocked position to the locked position, and disengages the striker by moving away from the opening as the slider moves from the locked position to the unlocked position.

11. A leg uplocking device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the slider has a second biasing member that biases the latch in a direction that releases the striker.

12. A landing gear uplocking device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the latch is supported on a part of the aircraft body that is different from the slider, and further comprising a link that connects the slider and the latch and converts movement of the slider into engagement and release movements of the latch with respect to the striker.

13. A landing gear comprising: a landing gear for an aircraft; an actuator for raising and lowering the landing gear between a deployed position and a stowed position; and an uplock device for holding the landing gear in the stowed position, wherein the uplock device has a slider pushed by the landing gear, and a latch connected to the slider and engaging with a striker carried by the landing gear, wherein the slider is pushed by the landing gear moved to the stowed position by the actuator, and the slider, which is located in the unlocked position, moves to the locked position, thereby engaging the latch, and the slider, which is located in the locked position, is pushed by the landing gear moved by the actuator, and thereby the slider moves to the unlocked position, thereby releasing the striker.

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