Levered Landing Gear With Nested Shock Struts for Higher Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aircraft landing gear systems with single shock struts are limited in vertical axle travel, restricting takeoff height and rotation angle, and increasing weight and complexity with multi-axle solutions.
Innovation Solution
A levered landing gear system featuring two concentric shock struts and a truck lever, where the second shock strut is disposed within the first, allowing cumulative travel and increased rotation axis movement without increasing the size or stroke of the first shock strut, thereby enhancing takeoff height and rotation capability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If conventional shock struts are used with single axle landing gear, then the structure is simple, but the vertical axle travel is limited restricting takeoff height and rotation angle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested shock strut configuration where an inner shock strut is positioned within an outer shock strut. Both struts extend along a common extension axis and work together to provide cumulative vertical axle travel. The inner shock strut's piston rod connects to the truck lever, while the outer shock strut provides additional travel capability, effectively nesting one shock absorption mechanism within another to achieve greater total travel without proportionally increasing overall size.
2Length of moving object
If multi-axle landing gear is used to achieve taller takeoff height, then the takeoff height increases, but the weight and complexity of the landing gear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The nested shock strut arrangement allows the landing gear to achieve taller takeoff height by combining the travel of both inner and outer struts. This nested configuration is more weight-efficient than multi-axle solutions because it utilizes the vertical space within the existing shock strut structure rather than adding separate axles and supporting structures, thereby achieving the height increase with minimal additional weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the radial dimension by positioning the inner shock strut within the outer shock strut along a common extension axis. This three-dimensional arrangement allows cumulative vertical travel to be achieved without increasing the horizontal footprint or requiring additional axles, effectively using the internal volume of the outer strut to house the inner strut mechanism.
3Length of moving object
If the height of single axle landing gear is increased to achieve more ground clearance for rotation, then the takeoff rotation capability improves, but the shock strut stroke must be increased which increases size
Solution Approach 1:
The nested shock strut configuration provides cumulative stroke where the inner shock strut and outer shock strut both contribute to the total vertical travel. This allows the landing gear to achieve greater ground clearance and rotation capability without requiring a single excessively long shock strut stroke, as the total travel is the combination of both nested struts working together.
Data Source
AI summary
A levered landing gear including a first shock strut having a first end and a second end, a truck lever pivotally coupled to the second end of the first shock strut, and a second shock strut disposed between the second end of the first shock strut and the truck lever, where the second shock strut has a first end and a second end, the first end of the second shock strut being coupled to the second end of the first shock strut and the second end of the second shock strut being coupled to the truck lever.