Landing Gear Linkage With Electromagnetic Downlock for Fail-Secure Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retractable landing gear systems face issues with locking mechanism failures, jamming, and added weight, complexity, and cost, which can lead to catastrophic events such as gear-up landings during deployment or unintended unfolding.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of electromagnetic downlocks with reversible polarity electromagnets and permanent magnets that provide attractive and repelling forces to secure and retract the landing gear, ensuring fail-secure operation and reducing the need for additional locking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional mechanical locking link assemblies are used to secure the landing gear in the extended position, then the landing gear can be reliably locked during deployment, but the system adds undesirable weight, complexity, and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical locking link assembly with an electromagnetic downlock system that uses electromagnets to provide locking and unlocking forces. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical linkages, springs, and actuators while maintaining reliable locking functionality through electromagnetic attraction and repulsion forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the unnecessary mechanical locking link assembly from the landing gear system. By eliminating this redundant mechanical component and replacing it with a simpler electromagnetic system, the patent reduces overall device complexity, weight, and cost while preserving the essential locking function.
2Reliability
If traditional mechanical locking link assemblies are used to prevent unintended unfolding, then the landing gear can be secured in the extended position, but the system adds undesirable weight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy mechanical locking link assemblies with lightweight electromagnetic downlocks. The electromagnets generate sufficient holding forces to prevent unintended unfolding without requiring substantial mechanical structures, springs, or actuators, thereby significantly reducing the weight of the landing gear system.
3Reliability
If fail-safe electromagnetic downlocks with reversible polarity are used, then the locked state is maintained during power failures, but additional electromagnetic components are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs fail-secure electromagnetic downlocks with reversible polarity that invert the traditional fail-safe approach. Instead of requiring continuous power to maintain the locked state, the system is designed so that loss of power automatically maintains locking through permanent magnet attraction. The reversible polarity allows the electromagnet to switch between attracting and repelling the armature, enabling both locking and unlocking functions with a single component.
4Force
If electromagnetic downlocks with reversible polarity are used to provide attractive and repelling forces, then supplemental forces for extension and retraction are achieved, but the electromagnetic system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses reversible polarity electromagnets that can switch between attracting and repelling forces. By reversing the polarity of the electromagnetic field, the same electromagnet can provide attractive force to assist landing gear extension and repelling force to assist retraction, eliminating the need for separate electromagnets or mechanical reversal mechanisms for each force direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic downlock system performs multiple functions: it provides fail-secure locking, generates supplemental attractive force during extension, generates supplemental repelling force during retraction, and enables controlled unlocking. This multi-functionality is achieved through the reversible polarity capability of the electromagnet, allowing a single component to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate systems.
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
The electromagnetic downlocks enhance the reliability and safety of the landing gear by maintaining the locked state during power failures and reducing the weight and complexity of the system, while providing supplemental forces for extension and retraction, allowing for a more compact and lightweight design.
Implementation Method 1
a first electromagnet including a first solenoid configured to generate a first electromagnetic field with a reversible polarity and a first permanent magnet
Implementation Method 2
the first permanent magnet being attracted to the second permanent magnet
Implementation Method 3
the first solenoid being attracted to the second solenoid when the downlock is in the locked state, the first solenoid being repelled by the second solenoid when the downlock is in the unlocked state
Data Source
AI summary
A landing gear system for a vehicle includes a landing gear configured for reciprocating motion between a stowed position and a deployed position. The landing gear has a linkage with a first link rotatably coupled to a second link. The linkage reciprocates between folded and extended states when the landing gear reciprocates between the stowed and deployed positions, respectively. A fail-secure downlock includes first and second electromagnets fixedly positioned relative to the first and second links, respectively. The first electromagnet is proximate to the second electromagnet when the landing gear is in the stowed position. The first electromagnet is attracted to the second electromagnet when the downlock is in the locked state. The first electromagnet is repelled by the second electromagnet when the downlock is in the unlocked state.