Compact Aircraft Landing Gear Module for Independent Preassembly Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing landing gear systems for aircraft are dependent on the center wing box, requiring assembly with the wing during final assembly stages, limiting the ability to operate and test the landing gear independently.

Innovation Solution

A compact landing gear module comprising two main landing gears, a landing gear bay with independent walls forming a pressurization barrier, and a door system, allowing modular assembly and testing before installation on the aircraft.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the landing gear bay is integrated with the center wing box, then the structural integrity and pressurization barrier are ensured, but the landing gear cannot be tested independently before final assembly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveIndependent testing capabilityVSAvoidAssembly integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The landing gear bay is separated from the center wing box to form an independent module with its own front wall, allowing the landing gear to be tested independently before final integration into the aircraft structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The landing gear bay is assembled and tested as a complete independent module before being integrated with the center wing box and wing, enabling preliminary operation and testing of the landing gear during intermediate assembly stages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the landing gear bay is made independent of the center wing box, then modular assembly and independent testing are enabled, but the pressurization barrier integrity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveModular assemblyVSAvoidPressurization barrier integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The landing gear bay is designed as a segmented module with its own front wall that can be assembled independently while maintaining the pressurization barrier function when integrated with the center wing box

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The independent landing gear bay module is designed to merge with the center wing box structure, combining the modular benefits of independent assembly with the structural integrity of the integrated pressurization barrier

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3988447B1Compact aircraft main landing gear module allowing modular assembly

Publication Date: 2025.09.03 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

- Compact aircraft main landing gear module allowing for modular assembly. - The module (1) comprises two main landing gears (2), a landing gear bay (3) containing the landing gears (2). The bay (3) has two side walls (40), a roof wall (41), a front wall (42), and a rear wall (43). The roof wall (41), front wall (42), and rear wall (43) together form a pressurization barrier between the bay (3) and a pressurized compartment. Thanks to the landing gear module (1), it is now possible to assemble and test the main landing gears (2), as well as the door(s) and fairing, before their installation on the aircraft.