LANDING GEAR AXLE STEERING WITHOUT WALKING BEAM

Abstract: Landing gear axle steering for an aircraft having a six wheel three axle truck. A set of wheels driven about a vertical shaft (2) utilizes a single actuator (3) alone without a walking beam.

Description: LANDING GEAR AXLE STEERING WITHOUT WALKING BEAM BaςKgrpi-nd Of The Invention A typical six wheel truck assembly is shown in U.S. Patent No 5.242, 131 to Watts issued Septembei 7, 1 93 and also assigned to the Boeing Company the details of which are incorporated herein by reference. My earlier filed U.S. Patent application titled "Landing Gear Axle Steering" also assigned to the Boeing Company, the details of which are incorporated herein by reference provides for a compact steering arrangement utilizing a center locking actuator and walking beam assistance. In contrast, the present herein after described invention may be utilized in those design conditions where more space is available above the truck beam due e.g to a wider truck or lepositioned toique links and accessories. Summary Of The Invention A steerable a.\le foi a sι\ wheel, thiee axle truck utilizing a single actuator without w lking beam assistance It is according an object of the present invention to provide single actuator power tor driving a wheel axle about the vertical shaft of the wheel axle Brief Description Of The Drawings The foregoing ob|ect and many of the attendant advantages of this invenuon will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken m conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein' Fig 1 is illustrative of an isometric view of the left hand gear of a six wheel truck assembly showing use of an actuator alone for providing power to drive the wheel axle about its vertical shaft: and. Fig. 2 is a section through the truck beam vertical plane illustrative of the manner of configuring the design of the truck beam to open up more space for the actuatoi Description Of The Preferred Embodiment Turning now to the Figure 1 of the drawings it will be seen that a set of wheels is driven about vertical shaft 2 using a single center locked actuator 3. The geometry layout including truck beam 4 configuration as shown in Figure 2 frees up more space for center locked actuator 3 which alone provides the power to drive wheel axle 1 about its veπical shaft 2. In addition to steering, the functional requirements of this mechanism include the necessity of locking the wheel axle when steering is not being used. This function is integrated within center - locked actuator 3 as described in my earlier filed copending U.S. patent application titled "Landing Gear Axle Steering". The steering arrangement disclosed in my earlier filed copending U.S. patent application titled "Landing Gear Axle Steering" provides for a more compact arrangement using a center locking actuator and walking beam assistance However, in those design conditions where more space is available in the region above the truck beam (due to a wider truck or e.g. repositioned torque links and accessories) then the present landing gear steering system without walking beam may be utilized to advantage. Of necessity, for a given axle turning moment required, the present single actuator without walking beam will have to exert a greater load and thus be larger in diametrical size than one with assistance. One inannei of inueasmg space available tor the actuator is to reconfigure design ot truck beam 4 as shown in Figure 2 thereby reducing weight and cost through use ot te ei components Elimination of mechanical assistance by the present steering system configuration and advantages thereof is permitted instead of the steering configuration disclosed in my earlier filed copending U.S. patent application titled "Landing Geai Axle teel ing ' only through installation lequirements w heie mm space is available in the region above ti uck beam 4. .-..

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. In combination in a six wheel three axle truck assembly having steerable forward and aft wheel axles, the improvement comprising in combination therewith: a single center-locked steering actuator providing total power required to drive one of said forward or aft wheel axles about the vertical shaft of said forward or aft wheel axles. 2. The mention according to claim 1 wherein said six wheel three axle truck assembly includes a truck beam configured to provide space for said single center- locked steerint- actuator.

Inventors: MENEGHETTI MICHAEL J, MENEGHETTI, MICHAEL, J.
Applicants: BOEING CO, THE BOEING COMPANY
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B64C25
IPC codes: B64C25