Latch assembly for shock strut

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10974819-B2
Application number	US-201816171048-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2018
Priority date	Dec 15, 2017
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

A latch assembly for a shock strut may comprise a first linkage coupled to a strut cylinder and a shrink piston of the shock strut. A second linkage may be coupled to the strut cylinder. The second linkage may be configured to rotate the first linkage in response to the shock strut translating between a landing gear up position and a landing gear down position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A latch assembly for a shock strut, comprising:
a first linkage coupled to a strut cylinder and to a shrink piston of the shock strut, the first linkage comprising a tang; and
a second linkage coupled to the strut cylinder, the second linkage comprising a clevis configured to engage the tang, wherein the second linkage is configured to rotate the clevis in response to the shock strut translating between a landing gear up position and a landing gear down position, and wherein the clevis is configured to block the first linkage from being in an in-line position.

2. The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clevis is configured to rotate in a first direction and translate the tang away from the strut cylinder, and wherein the tang is configured such that translation of the tang away from the strut cylinder translates the first linkage to an under-center position.

3. The latch assembly of claim 2 , wherein the clevis is further configured to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction and translate the tang toward the strut cylinder, and wherein the tang is configured such that translation of the tang toward the strut cylinder translates the first linkage to an over-center position.

4. The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clevis comprises an inboard lug proximate the strut cylinder and an outboard lug distal the strut cylinder.

5. The latch assembly of claim 4 , wherein the outboard lug is configured to limit a translation of the tang when the latch assembly is in a locked position.

6. The latch assembly of claim 5 , wherein the inboard lug is configured to limit translation of the tang toward the strut cylinder when the latch assembly is in an unlocked position.

7. The latch assembly of claim 1 , wherein the clevis is configured such that as the shock strut moves from the landing gear up position to the landing gear down position the clevis engages the tang and translates the first linkage from an over-center position to an under-center position.

8. The shock strut of claim 7 , wherein the clevis is configured such that as the shock strut moves from the landing gear down position to the landing gear up position the clevis engages the tang and translates the first linkage from the under-center position to the over-center position.

9. A shock strut, comprising:
a strut cylinder configured to rotate about a pivot joint;
a shrink piston operatively coupled to the strut cylinder; and
a latch assembly configured to regulate translation of the shrink piston, the latch assembly comprising:
a first linkage coupled to the shrink piston, and
a second linkage configured to manipulate the first linkage, wherein the second linkage is configured to rotate the first linkage in response to a rotation of the strut cylinder about the pivot joint, and wherein the second linkage is configured to block the first linkage from being in an in-line position, and
wherein at least one of the first linkage or the second linkage comprises a clevis, the clevis being configured to rotate in a first direction and translate the first linkage to an under-center position, and wherein the shrink piston is able to unshrink when the first linkage is in the under-center position.

10. The shock strut of claim 9 , wherein the first linkage comprises a tang, and the second linkage comprises the clevis, and wherein the clevis is configured such that as the shock strut translates from a landing gear up position to a landing gear down position the clevis engages the tang and translates the first linkage from an over-center position to the under-center position.

11. The shock strut of claim 10 , wherein the clevis is configured such that as the shock strut translates from the landing gear down position to the landing gear up position the clevis engages the tang and translates the first linkage from the under-center position to the over-center position.

12. The shock strut of claim 11 , wherein the first linkage is configured such that in the over-center position the shrink piston is prevented from translating away from the strut cylinder.

13. The shock strut of claim 12 , wherein the first linkage and the second linkage are configured such that when the first linkage is in the under-center position an inboard lug of the clevis prevents the first linkage from translating to the in-line position.

14. The shock strut of claim 9 , wherein the clevis is configured to rotate in a second direction opposite the first direction and translate the first linkage to an over-center position, and wherein the shrink piston is prevented from unshrinking when the first linkage is in the over-center position.

15. A shock strut, comprising:
a strut cylinder;
a shrink piston operatively coupled to the strut cylinder; and
a latch assembly configured to regulate translation of the shrink piston relative to the strut cylinder, the latch assembly comprising:
a first linkage coupled to the strut cylinder and the shrink piston, the first linkage comprising a tang; and
a second linkage coupled to the strut cylinder, the second linkage comprising a clevis, wherein the second linkage is configured to rotate the clevis in response to a rotation of the strut cylinder, and wherein the second linkage is configured to translate the first linkage between an over-center position and an under-center position as the shock strut rotates between a landing gear up position and a landing gear down position.

16. The shock strut of claim 15 wherein the second linkage is configured to rotate the clevis in a first direction and translate the tang away from the strut cylinder, and wherein the clevis and the tang are configured such that rotation of the clevis in the first direction forces the first linkage into the under-center position.

17. The shock strut of claim 16 , wherein the second linkage is configured to rotate the clevis in a second direction opposite the first direction and translate the tang toward the strut cylinder, and wherein the clevis and the tang are configured such that rotation of the clevis in the second direction forces the first linkage into the over-center position.

18. The shock strut of claim 15 , wherein when the first linkage is in the over-center position the shrink piston is prevented from translating away from the strut cylinder.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Luce William E

Classifications

• B64C2025/008

  Comprising means for modifying their length, e.g. for kneeling, for jumping, or for leveling the aircraft · CPC title

• B64C25/26 Primary

  Control or locking systems therefor · CPC title

• F16F9/56

  Means for adjusting the length of, or for locking, the spring or damper, e.g. at the end of the stroke {(F16F9/50 takes precedence; for telescopic gas springs or dampers F16F9/0245; vehicle suspension locking arrangements B60G17/005)} · CPC title

• B64C25/60

  Oleo legs · CPC title

• F16F2230/0041

  Locking; Fixing in position · CPC title