Main landing gear compact axle steering

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9290265-B2
Application number	US-201313774218-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 22, 2013
Priority date	Feb 22, 2013
Publication date	Mar 22, 2016
Grant date	Mar 22, 2016

Abstract

A landing gear system comprises a bogie beam, a landing gear axle pivotally mounted to the bogie beam, a steering rack, a linear actuator assembly, and a steering control link. The steering rack is secured transversely to the bogie beam and is longitudinally spaced apart from the landing gear axle. The linear actuator assembly is operable to laterally translate the steering rack. The steering control link is longitudinally extendable and has an actuator end secured to the steering rack, and an axle end of the steering control link engaged with the landing gear axle. The steering control link and the landing gear axle are pivotable relative to the bogie beam about a common axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A landing gear system comprising:
a bogie beam;
a landing gear axle pivotally mounted to the bogie beam;
a steering rack secured transversely to the bogie beam and longitudinally spaced apart from the landing gear axle;
a linear actuator assembly mounted to the steering rack including at least one transversely oriented actuator operable to laterally translate the steering rack transversely to the bogie beam; and
a variable length steering control link operatively connecting the steering rack to the pivotally mounted landing gear axle, the steering control link having an actuator end secured to the steering rack, and an axle end engaged with the landing gear axle, the steering control link and the landing gear axle pivotable relative to the bogie beam about a common axis;
wherein the steering control link is longitudinally extendable and retractable in response to transverse movement of the steering rack to maintain the connection between the steering rack and the landing gear axle.

2. The landing gear assembly of claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal dimension of the steering control link ranges between a first retracted length and a second extended length through a steering range of the pivotable landing gear axle.

3. The landing gear assembly of claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal dimension of the steering control link is approximately equal to the first retracted length when the landing gear axle is oriented in a neutral steering position.

4. The landing gear assembly of claim 2 , wherein the longitudinal dimension of the steering control link is approximately equal to the second extended length when the landing gear axle is oriented in at least one of: a maximum clockwise steering position, and a maximum counterclockwise steering position.

5. The landing gear assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a pivot pin extending through the steering control link, the landing gear axle, and the bogie beam at the common axis.

6. The landing gear assembly of claim 1 : further comprising:
at least one trail arm; and
a pivot pin extending through the steering control link, the at least one trail arm, and the bogie beam at the common axis;
wherein the pivot pin is at a location longitudinally spaced apart from an axle diameter center line.

7. The landing gear assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a locking mechanism operable to engage one or more of: the landing gear axle, the steering rack, the linear actuator assembly, and the steering control link, and lock the landing gear axle against inadvertent steering movements.

8. The landing gear assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of fixed landing gear axles mounted to the bogie beam;
wherein the pivotally mounted landing gear axle is disposed aft of the plurality of fixed landing gear axles.

9. The landing gear assembly of claim 1 , wherein the steering control link is a telescoping control link comprising an arm segment coaxially engaged with a body segment.

10. The landing gear assembly of claim 9 , wherein the arm segment is pivotably engaged with the steering rack, and the body segment is pivotably engaged with the landing gear axle and the bogie beam about the common axis.

11. A steering arrangement for a pivotable landing gear axle, the steering arrangement comprising:
a steering rack;
a linear actuator assembly including at least one actuator mounted to, and operable to laterally translate the steering rack; and
a variable length steering control link including an actuator end having at least one location for securement to the steering rack, and an axle end opposite the actuator end, the axle end having at least one location securing the landing gear axle such that the axle end is pivotable about a control link pivot point in response to linear movement of the steering rack.

12. The steering arrangement of claim 11 , further comprising:
a pivot pin received by the control link axle end proximate the control link pivot point.

13. The steering arrangement of claim 11 , wherein a longitudinal dimension of the steering control link ranges between a first retracted length and a second extended length.

14. The steering arrangement of claim 13 , wherein the longitudinal dimension of the steering control link is approximately equal to the first retracted length when the steering rack is positioned at a midpoint of an actuation range.

15. The steering arrangement of claim 13 , wherein the longitudinal dimension of the steering control link is approximately equal to the second extended length when the steering rack is positioned at a maximum steering input.

16. The steering arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the steering control link is a telescoping control link comprising an arm segment coaxially engaged with a body segment.

17. The steering arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the arm segment is pivotably engaged with the steering rack.

18. The steering arrangement of claim 16 , wherein the arm segment includes a piston portion movable longitudinally within a chamber disposed in the body segment.

19. The steering arrangement of claim 11 , further comprising:
a locking mechanism attached to an actuator housing, the locking mechanism including at least one pin operable to engage and maintain a lateral position of the steering rack.

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Martin Dennis W
• Acks James

Classifications

• B64C2025/345

  Multi-wheel bogies having one or more steering axes · CPC title

• B64C25/50 Primary

  Steerable undercarriages; Shimmy-damping · CPC title

• B64C25/34

  wheeled type, e.g. multi-wheeled bogies · CPC title