Pintle Support for Landing Gear Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of aircraft landing gear assemblies is slow, complex, and inefficient due to the need for precise alignment and preparation of pintle pins before attachment to the airframe.
Innovation Solution
A removable pintle support is used to engage with the landing gear assembly, holding pintle pins in a predetermined position for alignment with orifices, facilitating secure and efficient installation by reducing the need for on-site preparation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional manual alignment and preparation methods are used for pintle pins, then installation flexibility is maintained, but installation time increases and precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assembling the pintle pin with the support structure in a controlled environment before installation. The support structure includes alignment features and positioning mechanisms that are prepared in advance, allowing the pintle pin to be pre-aligned with the bearing orifice. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site alignment adjustments, directly reducing installation time while maintaining high precision through factory-controlled assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure serves as an intermediary device between the pintle pin and the bearing orifice. It includes alignment pins, positioning blocks, and guiding features that mediate the alignment process. These intermediary elements automatically guide the pintle pin into correct alignment with the orifice, eliminating the need for manual measurement and adjustment. The intermediary support structure ensures precise alignment while accelerating installation by providing self-aligning features.
2Ease of operation
If manual preparation and alignment of pintle pins is performed, then adaptability to different configurations is maintained, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The installation system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the support structure with alignment features, the pintle pin, and the bearing assembly. Each module is independently designed and prepared, then easily assembled together during installation. The support structure can be segmented into reusable components that can be prepared in advance and stored, reducing on-site complexity. This modular segmentation makes the overall process easier to operate while maintaining adaptability to different configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The support structure incorporates self-aligning features such as tapered guides, self-centering mechanisms, and automatic positioning elements that eliminate the need for complex manual alignment procedures. The system serves itself by automatically establishing correct geometric relationships between components during assembly. This self-service capability simplifies the operation significantly, allowing installers to simply assemble components rather than perform complex measurement and adjustment tasks, while maintaining full adaptability to different landing gear configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A temporary pintle support which can attach between upper prongs of a landing gear, and which is arranged to hold pintle pins prior to installation of the landing gear assembly at an aircraft. The pintle support is attached at the landing gear to align the pintle pins with their respective attachment bearings on each of the prongs. The pintle support may be removed once the pintle pins are fully inserted.