Aircraft Landing Gear Assembly Support Apparatus
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for assembling aircraft landing gear assemblies to aircraft bodies are time-consuming and risk damage due to the need for precise axial alignment and careful maneuvering to avoid impacting aircraft body portions.
Innovation Solution
A support apparatus that passively assists the movement of heavy components, such as aircraft landing gear assemblies, along a vertical axis, reducing the external force required for alignment, and a method using a funnel device and tapered pin for self-alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If known methods are used to carefully maneuver the landing gear pintle orifices into the installation position, then accurate alignment is achieved, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming and risks damage to components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a funnel device as an intermediary tool that guides the landing gear assembly into the correct position. The funnel provides physical constraints and alignment features that automatically guide the pintle orifices into alignment, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual maneuvering while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical maneuvering process with a guided insertion system using the funnel device and tapered pin. This substitution automates the alignment process through mechanical guidance features rather than relying on operator skill and careful manual positioning.
2Ease of operation
If operators use machines such as hoists or hydraulically powered trolley lifts to actively drive adjustment of the landing gear assembly, then positioning capability is improved, but control difficulty increases and operator visibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel device and tapered pin system enable self-alignment through their geometric features. The tapered pin automatically guides the landing gear assembly into the correct position as it is inserted, without requiring complex active control systems. The system uses passive mechanical guidance rather than active powered adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex control functions from the positioning system and replaces them with simple geometric guidance features in the funnel and tapered pin. This removes the need for complex machine controls while maintaining positioning capability through inherent mechanical guidance.
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
Facilitates simpler, quicker, and more accurate assembly of heavy components by reducing the force needed for alignment and minimizing the risk of damage during assembly.
Implementation Method 1
The apparatus comprises a resilient arrangement to resiliently support the platform
Implementation Method 2
axially moving a pin, having a gradually tapering end portion, through the orifices such that the tapering surface of the pin brings the respective centre axes of the orifices into alignment with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A support apparatus to support a component such as an aircraft landing gear assembly in an installation location for assembly to a body. The apparatus is adapted to assist movement of the supported component in a direction of a vertical axis to reduce an external force necessary to reposition the component from an approximate alignment position into a desired final alignment position. A method of assembly comprising resiliently supporting a component on a platform to assist vertical movement of a mounting portion of the component to align with a mount portion of the body. A pin having a tapered end portion is inserted through an orifice of a pintle mounting and an orifice of a pintle mount to align an aircraft landing gear assembly with a body.