Aircraft Landing Gear Load Indicator with Cantilevered Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load monitoring systems in aircraft landing gear fail to effectively indicate overload conditions, which is crucial for maintenance and repair purposes.
Innovation Solution
A load indicator system comprising a cantilevered beam or probe that deflects laterally within a guide, and an impressionable member to record overload impacts, allowing for visual or tactile inspection to determine if an overload has occurred, utilizing a first load bearing member that flexes and transfers additional load to a second member when exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a load bearing connector pin is adapted to give an indication of overload conditions, then the reliability of overload detection is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The indicator assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: a probe that detects overload conditions, a cantilevered beam that amplifies the detection signal through lateral deflection, and a display member that provides visual indication. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while keeping the overall system manageable in complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The cantilevered beam acts as an intermediary mechanism between the probe and the display member. It converts the axial movement or force detected by the probe into lateral deflection, which then actuates the display member. This intermediary amplifies the signal and makes the overload condition more reliably visible without requiring complex direct coupling
2Measurement precision
If a probe is made responsive to load conditions and deflects a beam laterally, then the measurement precision of load conditions is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The display member incorporates visual indicators such as color changes or positional shifts that are easily distinguishable during inspection. When the probe detects an overload condition and deflects the cantilevered beam, the display member changes its visual state (e.g., a flag moves to a different position or a colored indicator becomes visible), providing clear and immediate precision in load condition measurement while maintaining ease of operation through simple visual inspection
3Reliability
If an impressionable member is used to record overload impacts, then the reliability of overload recording is improved, but the ease of repair increases due to required inspection procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The impressionable member is designed to be extractable from the connector pin assembly. After recording an overload impact, the member can be removed for detailed inspection of the impressed markings, which reliably indicate the overload event. This extraction capability allows for thorough verification of overload conditions while facilitating replacement or reset of the recording mechanism, balancing reliability with maintenance ease
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
Provides a clear and reliable indication of overload conditions through visual or tactile inspection, ensuring appropriate maintenance and repair actions can be taken.
Implementation Method 1
a cantilevered beam adapted to be engaged laterally by a probe that is responsive to a load condition and deflects the beam to give an indication of the load condition
Implementation Method 2
a probe adapted to be responsive to a load condition and to slide axially within a guide
Implementation Method 3
an impressionable member which is located to be impacted by the probe when it slides axially so as to record the impact as an impression in its surface for subsequent inspection
Implementation Method 4
the first load bearing member has a yield point set below the load limit and takes a permanent deflected set once the yield point has been exceeded
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3~5
AI summary
An overload detecting assembly comprising a lateral probe (18) which cooperates with a first load bearing member (10) as it moves towards a second load bearing member (11) and in turn deflects an indicator member (20) which may take a permanent set when a yield point is exceeded. Ready inspection of the indicator member reveals whether or not it has been bent. The indicator member may comprise a cantilevered beam (24) formed in a sleeve (20) coaxial with the load bearing members (10, 11). Alternatively, an extension (25) of the probe (18) may deflect laterally at a midpoint under overload conditions. Alternatively, the probe (18) may form an impression in an indicator member (30) under overload conditions.