Patent ID: 7416156
Filing Date: 2008-08-26
Classification: B64C

Abstract:
1. An airplane main landing gear assembly moveable between a retracted stowed position and a down and locked position, said landing gear assembly having four mounting members for attaching the landing gear assembly to the airplane, each of said mounting means being attached to the airplane by an associated attachment fixture, said main landing gear assembly comprising: a shock strut having a first end and a second end, said shock strut extending in a substantially vertical direction when said landing gear is down and locked, said first end of said shock strut being pivotally attachable to a landing gear wheel and tire assembly; a foldable drag strut for forming the first mounting member of said four mounting members, said foldable drag strut having first and second ends, the first end of said drag strut being pivotally attached to said shock strut, said second end of said foldable drag strut being adapted for pivotal attachment to said attachment fixture that is associated with said first mounting member; a foldable side strut for forming the second one of said four mounting members for attachment of the landing gear assembly to the airplane, said foldable side strut having first and second ends, the first end of said foldable side strut being pivotally attached to said shock strut, said second end of said side strut being adapted for pivotal connection to said attachment fixture that is associated with said second mounting member; a mounting lug extending longitudinally from the second end of said shock strut, said mounting lug being dimensioned and arranged for trunnion mounting one side of said second end of said shock strut to said airplane, said shock strut and said lug transferring vertical and torsional forces to said airplane when the airplane touches down during a landing procedure and when the airplane is on the ground; a trunnion link, said trunnion link having first and second ends, the first end of said trunnion link being pivotally mounted to the second end of said shock strut at a position that is oppositely disposed to the location of said mounting lug, said second end of said trunnion link being dimensioned and arranged for trunnion mounting to the airplane, the stiffness and rigidity of said trunnion link being insufficient for transferring vertical loads to the airplane at landing touchdown and when the airplane is on the ground, but being sufficient to transfer torsional forces to the airplane; and an actuator operatively interconnected with said trunnion link, said actuator operable to increase the stiffness and rigidity of said trunnion link when said landing gear assembly is not down and locked to thereby provide structural stabilization of said landing gear assembly during extension, retraction and stowage.