Multifunctional Electromechanical Landing Gear Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft undercarriages require heavy and power-intensive actuators for raising and lowering, and additional weight from electric motors for independent taxiing, increasing inertia and forces during landing and takeoff.
Innovation Solution
A multifunction electromechanical device with a first shaft rotating on the aircraft, a telescopic second shaft near the wheels, transmission means, and motor units that perform functions such as braking, rotation, and energy recovery, allowing simultaneous raising/lowering and wheel rotation without additional motors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heavy actuators are installed for raising and lowering the undercarriage, then the raising/lowering function is reliable, but the device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the undercarriage raising/lowering actuator with the wheel drive motor into a single integrated electromechanical device. The motor serves dual functions: driving the wheels during taxiing and providing the torque necessary for raising and lowering the undercarriage, thereby eliminating the need for separate heavy actuators while maintaining operational reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The electromechanical device is designed with multi-functionality, where a single motor unit performs multiple tasks: wheel propulsion during ground movement, undercarriage raising after takeoff, and undercarriage lowering before landing. This universal device replaces what would traditionally require separate specialized actuators, significantly reducing overall system weight
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional electric motors are installed for independent taxiing, then taxiing capability is improved, but the device weight and wheel inertia increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the taxiing motor function with the undercarriage actuator function into a single integrated electromechanical unit. The same motor that provides torque for raising and lowering the undercarriage also drives the wheels during independent taxiing operations, eliminating the need for additional separate motors and reducing overall system weight
Solution Approach 2:
The electromechanical device achieves universality by enabling the aircraft to perform independent taxiing without jet thrust while simultaneously maintaining reliable undercarriage raising and lowering capabilities. This multi-functional design avoids adding dedicated taxiing motors, thereby preventing increases in device weight and wheel inertia
3Productivity
If motors are positioned near the wheels for wheel rotation, then wheel drive efficiency is improved, but the undercarriage inertia and landing forces increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the wheel drive mechanism with the undercarriage actuator mechanism into a single integrated system. The motor is positioned to efficiently drive the wheels through direct mechanical connection while simultaneously being coupled to the undercarriage raising/lowering mechanism, achieving both wheel drive efficiency and reduced landing forces through unified design
Solution Approach 2:
The electromechanical device achieves universality by using the same motor and transmission system for both wheel rotation during taxiing and undercarriage movement during raising/lowering operations. This multi-functional approach optimizes wheel drive efficiency while avoiding the penalty of increased undercarriage inertia that would result from adding separate heavy motors near the wheels
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 device reduces the weight and power requirements by performing multiple functions like raising/lowering, wheel rotation, and energy recovery, minimizing forces during landing and takeoff, and enabling independent taxiing without jet thrust.
Implementation Method 1
motor means for causing the first shaft to rotate
Implementation Method 2
The energy as recovered in this way can be stored in an electricity storage device
Data Source
AI summary
A multifunction electromechanical device for an aircraft undercarriage. The device comprises a first shaft (10) mounted to rotate on the aircraft about an axis of rotation (R) that is substantially parallel to a hinge axis (X) of the undercarriage relative to the aircraft and a telescopic second shaft (20) mounted to rotate on the undercarriage extending downwards to the proximity of the wheels carried thereby. The device also includes a transmission (19) for transmitting rotary motion from the first shaft to the second shaft and a transmission (21) for transmitting rotary motion from the second shaft to at least one wheel carried by the undercarriage. With this configuration, if the wheel is not fitted with a brake, there is a specific brake (30) for braking one of the shafts relative to the undercarriage, and a motor (11, 15) for causing the first shaft to rotate.