Patent ID: 6128951
Filing Date: 2000-10-10
Classification: B64D,G01G,G01M

Abstract:
A method of obtaining information about an aircraft, said aircraft being supported by plural pressurized landing gear struts, said landing gear struts experiencing friction, often referred to as stiction, said stiction distorting internal strut pressures as they relate to weights supported by said landing gear struts, said landing gear struts comprising a fluid, said method comprising the steps of:a) changing the amount of said fluid in each of said landing gear struts so as to move said respective landing gear strut in a first direction;b) detecting said movement of each of said landing gear struts;c) upon said detection of said movement of said respective landing gear strut, ceasing to change the amount of said fluid in said respective landing gear strut so as to keep said respective landing gear strut movement to a minimum, so as to minimize aircraft movement and to minimize temperature changes and said pressure distortions caused by said temperature changes of said respective landing gear strut fluid;d) repeating steps a) through c) so as to move each of said respective landing gear strut in a second direction that is opposite to said first direction;e) during steps a) through d) determining the pressure within each of said respective landing gear struts;f) compensating said pressure determinations of said landing gear struts for said distortions caused by said strut stiction.