Eccentric Tool for Landing Gear Stay Length Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing landing gear adjustment tools lack efficient mechanisms for accurately adjusting the aft stay length during installation, and they fail to prevent unintended rotation of eccentric bushings during normal aircraft operation.
Innovation Solution
An adjustment tool comprising an input gear and an output gear in meshed engagement, with an eccentric bushing that, when rotated, displaces an aperture along its diameter, allowing for precise adjustment of stay length, and a locking key to constrain the bushing from rotation when not in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an adjustment tool is used to modify stay length during landing gear installation, then the adaptability of the landing gear configuration is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for additional adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment tool employs nested bushings where an inner bushing is positioned within an outer bushing. The inner bushing rotates within the outer bushing to adjust the effective length of the stay. This nesting approach allows the adjustment mechanism to be compact and integrated within the existing landing gear structure, minimizing additional complexity while maximizing configuration adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism uses a dynamic rotation system where the inner bushing can rotate relative to the outer bushing. This rotation changes the positional relationship between apertures in the two bushings, thereby dynamically adjusting the stay length. The dynamic nature of this mechanism allows for easy adjustment during installation while maintaining structural integrity during operation.
2Ease of operation
If the eccentric bushing is made rotatable for adjustment purposes, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to unintended rotation during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a locking mechanism that is engaged during normal operation to prevent unintended rotation of the inner bushing. This preliminary locking action ensures that once the adjustment is made, the bushing remains fixed and cannot rotate during normal landing gear operation, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving ease of adjustment during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bushing system is segmented into two distinct functional parts: the outer bushing that remains stationary during operation, and the inner bushing that rotates for adjustment. This segmentation allows the inner bushing to be easily rotated for adjustment purposes while the outer bushing and locking mechanism prevent unintended rotation during normal operation, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and accurate adjustment of landing gear stay length and prevents unintended rotation of the eccentric bushing, ensuring secure operation during both installation and typical aircraft use.
Implementation Method 1
an input gear having gear teeth and an output gear having gear teeth, wherein the input gear and the output gear are in meshed engagement
Implementation Method 2
an eccentric bushing having a plurality of circumferentially disposed gear teeth... rotation of the eccentric bushing causes rotation of the secondary bushing, wherein rotation of the secondary bushing causes the aperture to be displaced along a diameter of the eccentric bushing
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustment tool is disclosed herein. For example, an adjustment tool is provided comprising an input gear having gear teeth and an output gear having gear teeth, wherein the input gear and the output gear are in meshed engagement, an input shaft centrally coupled to the input gear, wherein the input gear is configured to rotate about the input shaft, and a housing supporting the input shaft for rotation and supporting a fastener, wherein a tooth of the output gear protrudes from the housing.