Segmented Landing Gear Strut for Damping and Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current landing gear struts in air and space vehicles are produced as single pieces, leading to high production costs, potential for entire strut scrapping due to production errors, and complex maintenance processes, as surface treatments are applied to the entire strut for effective damping.
Innovation Solution
The landing gear is designed with two separate struts, where the damping occurs only in one strut, allowing for reduced production costs and easier maintenance by separating the damping part, and using surface treatments only on the damping strut, enabling removability and efficient assembly/disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the strut is produced as a single piece with surface treatments applied along the opening, then the damping effectiveness is improved, but the production cost increases and the risk of entire strut scrapping due to production errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strut is divided into two separate parts: a first strut and a second strut. The opening is provided only in the second strut, which is the removable part. This segmentation allows surface treatments to be applied only to the second strut where the opening exists, reducing production costs and allowing the first strut to be reused even if the second strut has production errors.
2Reliability
If the strut is produced as a single piece with surface treatments applied along the opening, then the damping effectiveness is improved, but the maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strut is divided into a first strut and a second strut that can be removably connected. The opening and damper are located in the second strut, which can be independently removed and replaced. This allows maintenance to be performed on only the second strut without affecting the first strut, significantly reducing maintenance complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The second strut containing the opening and damper is extracted as a separate removable component from the first strut. This extraction allows the damping components to be serviced, inspected, or replaced independently, simplifying maintenance procedures while maintaining damping effectiveness.
3Reliability
If the entire strut is scrapped due to production errors, then the quality control is maintained, but the production cost increases and waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strut is segmented into a first strut and a second strut. Production errors affecting the second strut do not necessitate scrapping the first strut, which can be reused. This reduces material waste while maintaining quality control through selective replacement of only the affected component.
4Reliability
If surface treatments are applied to the entire strut, then the damping effectiveness is improved, but the production time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Surface treatments are applied locally only to the second strut where the opening is provided, rather than to the entire strut assembly. This localized treatment maintains damping effectiveness at the critical location while significantly reducing production time and cost by avoiding unnecessary treatment of the first strut.
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
This design reduces production costs, minimizes waste, and simplifies maintenance by allowing only the relevant parts to be repaired or replaced, enhancing the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of strut production and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a damper provided between the strut and the wheel to move within the opening, which compresses the fluid to damp the shock effects
Implementation Method 2
a fluid provided in the opening, which is compressed to provide damping against the shock effects
Data Source
AI summary
A landing gear for an air and/or space vehicle has a body (G); at least one wheel (T) which enables the body (G) to move on the ground; at least one strut (2) located on the body (G); at least one opening (3) forming a space in cylindrical form substantially along the strut (2); a fluid (A) which is located in the opening (3) to provide damping; at least one damper (4) located between the strut (2) and the wheel (T) to move within the opening (3) and which compresses the fluid (A) to provide damping.