Aircraft Landing Gear Motorization Mechanism With Declutchable Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft landing gear motorization systems are inefficient due to unwieldy clutch mechanisms and poor integration with the landing gear apparatus, leading to delays, acoustic disruption, and inefficient fuel consumption during ground movements, and early wear of brake parts.
Innovation Solution
A motorized mechanism for aircraft landing gear wheels featuring a declutchable interface with a motor-reducer unit, input gear, cog wheel, pendulum element, and adjustable stops, allowing for efficient directional control and torque transmission without the need for a traditional clutch, enabling independent control of speed and torque for each wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional clutch mechanism is used for motorization, then directional control is achieved, but the device complexity increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the traditional clutch mechanism from the motorization system. Instead of using a clutch to engage/disengage power transmission, the invention uses a declutchable interface that directly couples the motor-reducer unit to the wheel through gear engagement, removing the need for complex clutch components while maintaining directional control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by using a declutchable interface that engages through gear meshing rather than disengaging through clutch separation. The blocking mechanism prevents reverse rotation by design rather than requiring active clutch engagement, simplifying the control system architecture
2Extent of automation
If motorization system is integrated with landing gear, then autonomous movement is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the motor-reducer unit directly with the wheel assembly through a compact declutchable interface. The motorization system is integrated into the landing gear structure by combining power transmission, directional control, and wheel mounting functions into a unified assembly, reducing overall system complexity while enabling autonomous ground movement
Solution Approach 2:
The declutchable interface serves multiple functions simultaneously: it transmits torque from the motor, enables directional control through gear engagement, provides mechanical coupling between motor and wheel, and allows for easy assembly/disassembly. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the integrated system
3Speed
If ground movement assistance is used, then aircraft can move on ground, but loss of time increases due to delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the aircraft to move autonomously on the ground using its own motorized landing gear wheels. The aircraft can taxi from the landing strip to parking location and back without requiring external tractor assistance, eliminating turnaround delays and improving ground movement efficiency
4Speed
If jet engines are used for ground circulation, then aircraft can move, but use of energy increases due to inefficient fuel consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the aircraft to use its own motorized landing gear for ground movement instead of relying on jet engines. The electric motor-reducer units provide efficient torque for taxiing, eliminating the need to run jet engines during ground circulation and significantly reducing fuel consumption
5Speed
If jet engines are used for ground circulation, then aircraft can move, but loss of substance increases due to acoustic disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables silent electric propulsion for ground movement using motorized landing gear wheels. The electric motors produce minimal acoustic noise compared to jet engines, eliminating acoustic disruption to the surrounding environment while maintaining the aircraft's ability to move autonomously on the ground
6Extent of automation
If motorization system is used, then autonomous movement is enabled, but reliability decreases due to early wear of brake parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic declutchable interface that can disengage the motor-reducer unit from the wheel when not in use. This dynamic engagement/disengagement mechanism prevents continuous friction and wear on brake components, extending their service life while maintaining autonomous ground movement capability when needed
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 solution enables autonomous aircraft movement on the ground, reducing delays and fuel consumption, minimizing wear on brake parts, and providing efficient torque transmission with low impact on the landing gear design, while automatically disengaging at excessive speeds to prevent damage.
Implementation Method 1
A pendulum element, joined to the rotating shaft of the input gear and set in the neutral position, carrying an intermediate gear arrayed alongside the input gear on the XZ plane, driven in rotation around an axis parallel to the lateral axis Y by the rotation of the cog wheel. The angular path of the pendulum element around its rotation axis is limited by an adjustable stop.
Implementation Method 2
An input gear fitted so as to be directly driven by the motor-reducer unit and joined to a rotating shaft along a lateral axis Y. A cog wheel which axis is parallel to lateral axis Y capable of driving the rim of the said wheel rotationally. The intermediate gear wheel contains a rotation blocking mechanism.
Implementation Method 3
The intermediate gear wheel contains a rotation blocking mechanism. The adjustable stop is set so that when the pendulum element comes into contact with the stop, the blocking mechanism of the intermediate gear is released, whereas it is engaged when the pendulum element is in a neutral position.
Data Source
AI summary
A motorization mechanism for a wheel of a landing gear assembly, including an input gear driven by a motor-reducer unit; a pendulum element, carrying two intermediate gear wheels driven in rotation by this element, with the intermediate gear wheels having synchronized rotation blocking mechanisms such that the two intermediate gear wheels can be simultaneously engaged or simultaneously released. The angular displacement of the pendulum element around its rotation axis is limited by a first and a second adjustable stop. These adjustable stops are set so that when the pendulum element comes into contact with an adjustable stop, the blocking mechanism of the intermediate gear wheels is freed, whereas it is engaged when the pendulum element is in the neutral position. This pendulum assembly faces a cog wheel that is capable of driving the hub of the said wheel.