Aircraft Landing Gear Attachment System for Simplified Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The installation of aircraft landing gears into a landing gear bay is complex and time-consuming, requiring multiple operations for proper alignment and often involving reorientation and disassembly of components.

Innovation Solution

An attachment system comprising an attachment element and a receiving element, where the attachment element is configured to be attached to a pivot pin of the landing gear and is insertable into the receiving element in the installation direction, allowing for straightforward alignment and fastening without the need for reorientation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional landing gear installation methods are used, then proper alignment can be achieved, but the installation process becomes complex and time-consuming requiring multiple operations and reorientations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment precisionVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is divided into separate attachment elements and receiving elements that can be independently positioned and then connected. The attachment elements are pre-positioned on the landing gear, and the receiving elements are pre-positioned in the landing gear bay, allowing for modular assembly that reduces complex alignment operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment elements are pre-assembled on the landing gear before installation, and the receiving elements are pre-installed in the landing gear bay. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the landing gear is lifted into position, the components are already aligned and ready for connection, eliminating the need for complex on-site alignment operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If traditional attachment methods with perpendicular fasteners are used, then secure attachment can be achieved, but the installation process requires operator repositioning and component disassembly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment strengthVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using traditional perpendicular fasteners that require operators to approach from the side, the attachment system uses fasteners that approach from the installation direction (vertically from above). This inversion of the fastening approach allows operators to install fasteners while maintaining their position on the landing gear bay platform, eliminating the need for repositioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment elements are designed with multiple functions: they provide structural attachment points, guide the installation process, and accommodate fasteners from the installation direction. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate components and operations into a single integrated element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple installation operations are performed to ensure proper alignment, then installation reliability can be improved, but the number of operations increases leading to more potential for unwanted movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation reliabilityVSAvoidinstallation process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment elements and receiving elements are pre-positioned and pre-aligned during manufacturing or preliminary assembly. This preliminary action ensures that when the landing gear is installed, the components are already in their correct positions, reducing the need for multiple adjustment operations and minimizing the risk of unwanted movement during installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment system is designed to self-align during installation through its geometric features and tolerance design. The attachment elements and receiving elements are configured to naturally guide each other into proper alignment when brought together, reducing the need for operator intervention and multiple alignment operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4563468A1Attachment system for landing gear

Publication Date: 2025.06.04 AIRBUS OPERATIONS (SAS)

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AI summary

Disclosed is an attachment system for installing a landing gear into a landing gear bay of an aircraft. The attachment system comprises an attachment element configured to be attachable to the landing gear; and a receiving element configured to receive the attachment element and secure the landing gear within the landing gear bay. The receiving element is configured such that the attachment element is insertable into the receiving element from an installation direction, and the attachment element is configured to receive, in the installation direction, a fastener to fasten the attachment element to the receiving element.