Aircraft Shock Strut Titanium Cylinder and Composite Bearings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft shock struts used in landing gear require lighter materials to reduce weight, but these materials often suffer from premature wear, leading to increased maintenance costs due to frequent replacements.
Innovation Solution
The use of a titanium cylinder with non-metallic composite bearings, such as polyimide resin or polyketone thermoplastic materials, for sliding engagement between the piston and cylinder, which reduces wear and extends the lifespan of the shock strut.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If lighter weight materials are used in shock struts, then the weight of aircraft landing gear is reduced, but the components suffer from premature wear requiring frequent replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining titanium cylinder with non-metallic composite bearings (such as polyimide resin or polyketone thermoplastic materials). This composite approach allows the structure to achieve both weight reduction from the titanium material and wear resistance from the specialized bearing materials, directly resolving the contradiction between lightweight design and durability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by selecting specific non-metallic composite materials (polyimide resin, polyketone thermoplastic) with optimized physical and chemical properties for the bearing components. These parameter changes enable the bearings to withstand wear while maintaining compatibility with titanium, thus improving reliability without sacrificing the weight benefits
2Duration of action of stationary object
If non-metallic composite bearings are used with titanium cylinder, then wear is minimized and lifespan is extended, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using non-metallic composite bearings specifically at the sliding engagement interfaces between the piston and cylinder, while maintaining titanium for the structural cylinder body. This localized application of specialized materials extends lifespan at critical wear points without requiring the entire shock strut to be manufactured with complex composite structures, thus balancing durability with manufacturability
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 configuration effectively reduces the weight of aircraft landing gear while minimizing wear on the titanium components, thereby decreasing maintenance costs and improving the durability of the shock struts.
Implementation Method 1
non-metallic composite bearings, such as polyimide resin or polyketone thermoplastic materials, for sliding engagement between the piston and cylinder, which reduces wear
Implementation Method 2
minimizing wear on the titanium components, thereby decreasing maintenance costs and improving the durability of the shock struts
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
An aircraft shock strut (12) includes a titanium cylinder (32) and a piston (30) telescopically movable within the titanium cylinder (32). A first bearing (40) is mounted to the piston (30), and includes a non-metallic bearing surface (50) for providing sliding engagement with the titanium cylinder (32). The aircraft shock strut (12) provides weight savings along with durability.