Dissociated Landing Gear Casing for Volume Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aircraft landing gear compartments are bulky and massive due to the need to withstand ground forces and pressurization, with prior art designs using reinforcement frames that extend fuselage elements and result in increased volume and mass.

Innovation Solution

A landing gear compartment design featuring a frame to secure and absorb ground forces, combined with an envelope structure to manage pressurization forces, utilizing a trellis structure with side members and polygons to distribute loads efficiently, eliminating the need for additional hangers and maintaining a reduced volume and mass.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If reinforcement frames extending fuselage elements are used to withstand ground forces and pressurization, then structural strength is improved, but the volume and mass of the landing gear compartment increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidlanding gear compartment volume
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the structural system into two separate components: a frame structure dedicated to withstanding ground forces and an envelope structure dedicated to withstanding pressurization forces. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, preventing the need for an oversized combined structure and thereby reducing the overall volume of the landing gear compartment while maintaining structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame structure is specifically designed with side members and polygons to efficiently resist ground forces, while the envelope structure is designed to contain and distribute pressurization forces. This local optimization of structural properties for different force types allows the compartment to achieve necessary strength without excessive volume.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If reinforcement frames extending fuselage elements are used to withstand ground forces and pressurization, then structural strength is improved, but the mass of the landing gear compartment increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidlanding gear compartment mass
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the frame structure for ground forces and the envelope structure for pressurization forces, each component can be minimized in mass while performing its specific function. This avoids the need for a massive combined structure, thereby reducing the overall mass of the landing gear compartment while maintaining the required structural strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame structure uses side members and polygons optimized for ground force resistance, while the envelope structure is optimized for pressurization containment. This localized optimization allows each component to achieve necessary strength with minimal mass, reducing the total mass of the compartment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of stationary object

If a dissociated structure with frame and envelope is used, then the volume and mass are reduced, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelanding gear compartment volumeVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

While segmentation into frame and envelope structures requires coordinating two components, it eliminates the need for complex extensions of fuselage frames. The frame structure uses standardized side members and polygons, and the envelope structure is a self-contained pressure-resistant shell, resulting in overall simplified structural complexity despite the dissociated architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP1960264B1Landing gear casing provided with a dissociated structure
Publication Date: 2009.07.29 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)
  • EP1960264B1 patent drawingFigure 1~7
  • EP1960264B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP1960264B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a reduced-volume casing for a landing gear comprising a chassis (2, 3, 4, 5) for fixing and taking up loads, to which said landing gear is exposed and an envelop-type structure (6) arranged on the chassis for taking up pressurisation forces. Said chassis can comprise, in particular, a frame (2, 3, 4, 5) which is event to the output opening of the landing gear and is provided with beams (3, 3', 5) used for receiving means for maintaining the fastening bearings (10, 11) of the gear and also comprising polygons (7, 8, 9) which are used for receiving the fastening bearings of the gear manoeuvring strut and are fixed to the beams, wherein said beams and polygons form a lattice structure.