Abstract:
A landing gear assembly that supports the front end of a truck trailer when the trailer is not being pulled by a truck has a gearing mechanism that provides a two-speed operation for raising and lowering the legs of the landing gear assembly, where the gearing mechanism is entirely contained inside the leg housings of the landing gear assembly and has a simplified, two shaft, five gear construction that reduces the manufacturing cost of the assembly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention pertains to a landing gear apparatus that supports the front end of a trailer when the trailer is not being pulled by a truck. In particular, the present invention pertains to a landing gear apparatus having a gearing transmission of a simplified, reduced cost construction that is entirely contained inside the leg housing enclosing the landing gear assembly. 
         [0003]    (2) Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Many of the different types of trailers that are towed by trucks are connected to the trucks by a releasable coupling such as a gooseneck coupling or a fifth-wheel coupling. When the trailer is released from the truck and is no longer supported by the truck at the forward end of the trailer, a landing gear apparatus is often used to support the trailer at the trailer forward end, maintaining a generally horizontal positioning of the trailer. 
         [0005]    The typical landing gear apparatus is attached to the underside of the trailer adjacent the truck coupling at the forward end of the trailer. The apparatus can have a single leg housing that is attached at a forward end of a trailer for example a goose neck trailer, but often includes a pair of vertically oriented leg housings positioned adjacent opposite sides of the trailer. A vertical leg column is mounted in each housing. A gear mechanism on each leg is selectively operated to lower the columns from the leg housings, or raise the columns on the leg housings. The gear mechanisms of the two leg housings are connected together by a shaft assembly that extends across the underside of the trailer between the two leg housings. A hand crank is connected to the shaft assembly at one side of the trailer. Selectively rotating the hand crank in opposite directions lowers the pair of leg columns until the columns contact the ground and support the trailer forward end when the trailer is being uncoupled from the truck, or raise the pair of columns when the trailer has been connected to a truck and is ready for towing. 
         [0006]    Many prior art landing gear assemblies have two-speed gear mechanisms that enable the columns of the landing gear assembly to be lowered and raised at different speeds or at different rates. The input shaft of the landing gear assembly is moved axially inwardly and outwardly relative to the trailer to shift the assembly between the two speeds. For example, the landing gear assembly input shaft can be pushed inwardly by the truck operator to shift to a high speed gear. Rotation of the input shaft by the hand crank will then cause the columns of the landing gear assembly legs to be lowered or raised at a faster rate. This enables the leg columns of the landing gear assembly to be lowered quickly until they come into engagement with the ground beneath the trailer when it is desired to uncouple the trailer from the truck. The gear mechanism of the landing gear assembly is then shifted to a low gear ratio by pushing axially on the crank, moving the input shaft axially inwardly toward the trailer assembly. When shifted to the low gear ratio, more power is transferred to the leg columns by the reduction gearing of the landing gear assembly gear mechanism. For each rotation of the crank, the leg columns are lowered at a slower rate, but more power is transferred to the columns enabling the landing gear assembly to lift the trailer from the truck when uncoupling the trailer from the truck. 
         [0007]    Prior art landing gear assemblies that include gear mechanisms that provide a high-speed, low-torque operation or a low-speed, high-torque operation typically include a separate casing or housing for the gear mechanism. The separate casing is needed to contain the many gears and clutching mechanisms typically employed in the prior art gear mechanisms. The gear mechanism housing is typically attached to a side of one of the leg housings of the landing gear assembly. In some prior art landing gear assemblies, gear mechanism housings are attached to the sides of both leg housings. 
         [0008]    The positioning of the gear mechanism housings on the sides of the leg housings at times makes it difficult to attach a landing gear assembly to a particular construction of a truck trailer. The need to provide a separate gear mechanism housing in addition to the leg housing increases the costs involved in manufacturing the landing gear assembly. Furthermore, positioning of the gear mechanism housing relative to the leg housing may limit the landing gear assembly for attachment only to the outsides of frame members of the trailer, or to the insides of frame members of the trailer. 
         [0009]    Furthermore, as stated earlier, the prior art gear mechanisms used on trailer landing gear assemblies typically included an elaborate arrangement of gears and clutches that enable the gear mechanism to shift between two speeds and two torques simply by axially moving the input shaft between two axially spaced positions. The increased numbers of gears, countershafts, and clutching mechanisms in the prior art gear mechanisms contribute to the overall cost of manufacturing the gear mechanisms. Thus, the greater number of gears, countershafts, and clutch mechanisms required by a gear mechanism, the greater the cost involved in manufacturing the gear mechanism. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The landing gear assembly of the present invention overcomes the above-discussed disadvantages of prior art landing gear assemblies by providing a landing gear assembly with a two-speed or two-torque gear mechanism that has a simplified, reduced cost construction and is entirely contained in a leg housing of the landing gear assembly. This enables the landing gear assembly of the present invention to be economically manufactured and to be readily used with various different types of trailer configurations. 
         [0011]    The landing gear assembly is provided in a master leg and slave leg arrangement, where the power for lifting and lowering the truck trailer is provided by the master leg, as is conventional. An input shaft enters one side of the leg housing of the master leg and an output shaft exits the opposite side of the leg housing. The output shaft extends across the landing gear assembly to drive a bevel gear mechanism in the slave leg. The bevel gear mechanism extends and retracts the length of the slave leg to match the extension and retraction of the master leg. The novel gearing mechanism of the invention is comprised of only an input shaft and an output shaft, and does not require any other additional shafts for supporting gearing of the mechanism. Reducing the number of shafts required by the gearing mechanism reduces the cost of manufacturing the gearing mechanism. 
         [0012]    Conventional actuator screw and nut assemblies are provided inside the leg housings. Each actuator includes an actuator input gear that drives a screw of the actuator that in turn extends the leg column from the leg housing and retracts the leg column into the leg housing, depending on the direction of rotation. The gear mechanism of the invention drives both the output shaft that is operatively connected to the slave leg and the actuator input gear at two different rates of rotation. The gear mechanism is shifted between the two different rates of rotation by manually moving the input shaft axially between first and second positions of the input shaft relative to the leg housing. The gear mechanism of the invention is entirely contained within the opposite side walls of the leg housing that contain the actuator assembly. 
         [0013]    The gear mechanism of the invention includes a first, high-speed input gear and a second, low-speed input gear that are both mounted on the input shaft. The first and second input gears are mounted for independent rotation on the input shaft. The input shaft is provided with a key that engages the first input gear to the input shaft in the first position of the input shaft, and engages the second input gear to the input shaft in the second position of the input shaft. When the first input gear is engaged to the input shaft, the second input gear is free to rotate relative to the first input gear and the input shaft. When a second input gear is engaged to the input shaft, the first input gear is free to rotate relative to the second input gear and the input shaft. 
         [0014]    The gear mechanism of the invention also includes an output gear that is secured stationary to the output shaft inside the leg housing, a first driven gear that is secured stationary to the output shaft inside the leg housing, and a second driven gear that is secured stationary to the output shaft inside the leg housing. In the preferred embodiment, the output gear, the first driven gear, and the second driven gear are all part of a one-piece gear element that is secured to the output shaft. This construction of the gear element further reduces the manufacturing cost of the landing gear apparatus. The output gear meshes directly with the actuator input gear. The first driven gear meshes directly with the first drive gear and has a fewer number of gear teeth than the first drive gear. Thus, each rotation of the first drive gear with the input shaft drives the first driven gear and the output shaft in more than one rotation. The second driven gear meshes directly with the second drive gear and has a greater number of gear teeth than the second drive gear. Thus, each rotation of the input shaft and the second drive gear rotates the second driven gear and the output shaft in less than one rotation. However, the second drive gear imparts more torque to the second driven gear than does the first drive gear to the first driven gear. 
         [0015]    A clutch mechanism in the form of a shear pin secured to the input shaft selectively secures the first drive gear or the second drive gear to the input shaft for rotation with the input shaft. When the first drive gear is secured to the input shaft, the second drive gear rotates freely on the input shaft. When the second drive gear is secured to the input shaft, the first drive gear rotates freely on the input shaft. 
         [0016]    Moving the input shaft axially inwardly into the leg housing secures the first drive gear to the input shaft. Rotation of the input shaft with the first drive gear secured to the input shaft drives the first driven gear on the output shaft in rotation and in turn causes the actuator assembly to lower and raise the leg column relative to the leg housing at a faster rate, depending on which direction the input shaft is turned by the manual crank connected to the input shaft. Pulling the input shaft axially outwardly secures the second drive gear to the input shaft. Rotating the input shaft with the second drive gear secured to the input shaft causes the second drive gear to drive the second driven gear on the output shaft, which in turn drives the actuator assembly to raise and lower the leg column relative to the leg housing at a slower rate, depending on the direction of rotation of the input shaft by the manual crank. The gearing ratio of the second drive gear and the second driven gear, although moving the leg column more slowly relative to the leg housing, imparts greater torque to the output shaft and the actuator assembly, and thereby makes it easier to lift the weight of the trailer. 
         [0017]    If so desired, the landing gear apparatus can be used as a single lifting apparatus for a trailer, for example a goose neck trailer. The landing gear apparatus can also be connected to a second slave leg by connecting the output shaft of the apparatus to an input shaft of the second leg. 
         [0018]    The novel gearing arrangement of the invention allows the landing gear apparatus to be constructed more compactly in a single leg housing, and more cost efficiently. The simplified gearing mechanism enables the input shaft, the output shaft, and a screw shaft of the actuator assembly to be positioned in a single plane, with these shafts being the only shafts contained in the leg housing. The reduced number of gears required by the gearing mechanism also reduces the cost of manufacturing the apparatus. Furthermore, the novel gear mechanism of the invention provides a landing gear apparatus with a two-speed operation where the gear mechanism is entirely contained in the landing gear assembly leg housing, removing the need for separate casing or housing for the gear mechanism. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Further features of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, and in the drawing figures. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a pair of landing gear assembly legs prepared for a conventional mounting to the front of a trailer, the legs being viewed from the perspective at the front of the trailer. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the pair of legs shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the pair of legs of  FIG. 1  from the right side of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation cross-section view of the pair of legs of  FIG. 1  in the plane of line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 5  is a partial, enlarged cross-section view of the gearing mechanism shown in  FIG. 4  with the gearing mechanism shifted to the first, high speed, low torque gear ratio. 
           [0025]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5 , but with the gearing mechanism shifted to the second, low speed, high torque gear ratio. 
           [0026]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the gears of the gearing mechanism removed from the leg housing. 
           [0027]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the leg housing of the slave leg shown to the left in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section view of the slave leg of  FIG. 8  in the plane of line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0029]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a pair of landing gear assembly legs removed from a trailer. The legs are shown prepared for attachment by the conventional mount method to the trailer. Each of the legs is contained in a leg enclosure or housing  12 ,  14 . Each leg has a column  16 ,  18  that is received in a bottom opening of the respective leg housing  12 ,  14  for telescoping, vertical movement. Manual cranking a hand crank  20  in opposite directions raises and lowers the leg columns  16 ,  18 . An input shaft  22  enters the leg housing  12  commonly referred to as the master leg housing. The input shaft  22  is connected to the hand crank  20 . An output shaft  24  extends out of the master leg housing  12  on an opposite side of the housing from the input shaft  22 . The input shaft  22  and output shaft  24  are parallel and spaced vertically from each other. A second input shaft  26  extends into the leg housing  14  commonly referred to as the slave leg housing. A cross bar or cross tube  28  connects the master leg output shaft  24  to the slave leg input shaft  26  for rotation of the slave leg input shaft with the master leg output shaft  24 . Thus, manual rotation of the master leg input shaft  22  by the hand crank selectively extends the leg columns  16 ,  18  from their respective leg housings  12 ,  14  to raise the trailer, or retracts the leg columns  16 ,  18  into their respective leg housings  12 ,  14  to lower the trailer. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-section view of the master leg gear transmission and slave leg gear transmission of the present invention. The gear transmissions of the invention are designed to provide two gear ratios for adjusting the rates at which the leg columns  16 ,  18  are extended and retracted relative to their respective leg housings  12 ,  14 . One novel feature of the invention is that the particular gearing configurations of the gear transmission of the invention enables all of the gears of the transmission to be contained inside opposing side walls of the leg housings  12 ,  14  of the landing gear assembly. Although  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  4  show the combination of a master leg to the right and a slave leg to the left, the master leg of the invention is designed to be used alone, for example on a goose neck trailer. In such applications the slave leg is not needed. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , each of the leg housings  12 ,  14  and their respective leg columns  16 ,  18  contain a conventional screw and nut actuator assembly  32  operatively connected between each leg housing  12 ,  14  and its associated leg column  16 ,  18 . The screw and nut actuator assembly  32  comprises an actuator input gear  34 . In the embodiment of the actuator shown in the drawing figures, the actuator input gear  34  is a bevel gear having 22 teeth. The actuator input gear  34  is rotated in opposite directions about a center rotation axis  36  to selectively move the leg columns  16 ,  18  between first, retracted positions and second, extended positions relative to their associated leg housings  12 ,  14 . The leg housings  12 ,  14  and their respective leg columns  16 ,  18  together define a length or vertical height of the leg assemblies. The leg columns  16 ,  18  when moved to their first, retracted positions relative to their associated leg housings  12 ,  14  define a first, retracted length of the leg assemblies. The leg columns  16 ,  18  moved to their second, extended positions relative to their associated leg housings  12 ,  14  define a second, extended length of the leg assemblies. Rotation of the actuator input gear  34  in opposite first and second directions about the gear center axis  36  causes the leg columns  16 ,  18  to move to their respective first, retracted and second, extended positions relative to their associated leg housings  12 ,  14 . Although a screw and nut actuator assembly  32  is shown in the drawing figures, other types of actuator assemblies that can selectively move the leg columns  16 ,  18  relative to their associated leg housings  12 ,  14  may be employed instead of the actuator shown. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , the details of the gearing mechanism of the invention can be seen. The gearing mechanism is entirely contained between a pair of first  38  and second  42  opposing sidewalls of the leg housing  12 . In the embodiment of the leg assemblies shown in the drawing figures, the leg housing has four sidewalls arranged in a rectangular cross-section configuration. Other configurations of leg housings could be employed with the gearing mechanism of the invention. For example, the first and second sidewalls  38 ,  42  could each have a half circle configuration. Regardless of the configuration of the leg housing sidewalls, the first  38  and second  42  sidewalls shown in the drawing figures are positioned on opposite sides of the leg housing interior volume  44  enclosing the interior volume and separating the interior volume from the exterior environment of the apparatus. 
         [0033]    The gear mechanism input shaft  22  has an interior portion  46  that is mounted in the interior volume  44  of the leg housing, and an exterior portion  48  that is positioned outside the leg housing interior volume in the exterior environment of the apparatus. The input shaft interior portion  46  is mounted by a pair of bushings  52  to the first sidewall  38  and second sidewall  42 . The bushings  52  allow the input shaft  22  to rotate about a center axis  54  of the input shaft, and move axially along the center axis  54 . The input shaft  22  is movable between first and second axially spaced positions relative to the leg housing  12 .  FIG. 5  shows the input shaft  22  in the first position of the input shaft relative to the leg housing  12 , and  FIG. 6  shows the input shaft  22  in the second position of the input shaft relative to the leg housing  12 . The exterior portion of the input shaft  48  is provided with a means of connecting the input shaft to the manual hand crank  20  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The means  56  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  is a through hole that receives a connecting pin that attaches the input shaft  22  to the hand crank  20 . 
         [0034]    A clutch mechanism in the form of a shear pin  58  is provided on the interior portion of the input shaft  46 . The shear pin  58  is secured to the input shaft interior portion  46  and rotates and moves axially with the input shaft. The pin  58  is mounted in a transverse bore through the input shaft interior portion  46 . The pin  58  functions as a key that selectively secures input gears to the input shaft by the axial movement of the input shaft between its first and second positions relative to the leg housing  12 , as will be explained. 
         [0035]    The output shaft  24  has an interior portion  62  that is also mounted between the first  38  and second  42  sidewalls of the leg housing  12  and an exterior portion  64 . A pair of bushings  66  mount the output shaft  24  to the leg housing sidewalls  38 ,  42  for rotation of the output shaft relative to the leg housing. The output shaft  24  has a center axis  68  that is parallel to the input shaft center axis  54 , but is spaced vertically from the input shaft axis. The output shaft  24  does not move axially relative to the leg housing  12  and is held against axial movement by the constructions of the particular bushings  66 . The output shaft exterior portion  64  is provided with means for connecting the output shaft to the input shaft  26  of the second, separate landing gear apparatus, such as the slave leg shown to the left in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The means for connecting the output shaft exterior portion  64  to the input shaft  26  of the slave leg is a through bore  70  provided in the output shaft exterior portion. The through bore  70  can be used to receive a pin or a threaded fastener that connects the output shaft exterior portion  64  to the cross bar  28  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0036]    A gear element  72  is secured stationary on the output shaft  24  for rotation with the output shaft. The gear element  72  is shown secured to the output shaft  24  by a pin  74  inserted through the gear element and through the shaft. Other means of securing the gear element  72  to the output shaft  24  could be employed. The gear element  72  is comprised of three different gears that are formed as one monolithic piece on the gear element  72 . 
         [0037]    An output gear  76  is formed on the gear element  72 . The output gear  76  is a bevel gear that meshes directly with the actuator input gear  34 . In the preferred embodiment, the bevel output gear  76  has 20 teeth. 
         [0038]    A first driven gear  78  is also formed on the gear element  72 . The first driven gear  78  is a spur gear. In the preferred embodiment, the first driven gear  78  has 11 teeth. 
         [0039]    A second driven gear  82  is also formed on the gear element  72 . The second driven gear  82  is also a spur gear. In the preferred embodiment, the second driven gear  82  has 29 teeth. Each of the output gear  76 , the first driven gear  78 , and the second driven gear  82  are formed as one piece on the gear element  72  and are all secured stationary to the output shaft  24  inside the leg housing interior volume  44  for rotation of the gears with the output shaft. 
         [0040]    A first drive gear  84  is mounted for rotation on the input shaft  22  inside the leg housing interior volume  44 . The first drive gear  84  is a spur gear that meshes directly with the first driven gear  78  on the output shaft  24 . In the preferred embodiment, the first drive gear  84  has 29 teeth. The first drive gear  84  is provided with one or more interior slots  86  in an end face of the gear. The slots  86  are dimensioned to receive the key clutch member  58  on the input shaft  22  when the input shaft is moved to its first position relative to the leg housing  12 . This position of the clutch mechanism  58  is shown in  FIG. 5 . With the clutch mechanism key  58  inserted into the first drive gear slot  86 , the first drive gear  84  is secured to the input shaft  22  for rotation of the drive gear with the input shaft. When the input shaft  22  is moved to its second axial position relative to the leg housing  12 , the clutch mechanism pin  58  is withdrawn out of the first drive gear slot  86  and the first drive gear  84  is free to rotate relative to the input shaft  22 . 
         [0041]    A second drive gear  88  is mounted on the input shaft  22  for rotation of the second drive gear relative to the input shaft. The second drive gear  88  is a spur gear that meshes directly with the second driven gear  82 . In the preferred embodiment, the second drive gear  88  has 11 teeth. The second drive gear  88  is also provided with one or more slots  92  that extend axially into an end face of the gear. The slots  92  are in an end face of the second drive gear  88  that opposes the end face of the first drive gear  84  having the slots  86 . The slots  92  in the second drive gear  88  are also dimensioned to receive the clutch mechanism pin  58  when the input shaft  22  is moved to its second axial position relative to the leg housing  12 . Receipt of the clutch mechanism pin  58  in the second drive gear slot  92  secures the second drive gear  88  to the input shaft  22  for rotation of the gear with the shaft. When the input shaft  22  is moved to its first axial position relative to the leg housing  12 , the clutch mechanism pin  58  is withdrawn out of the second drive gear slot  92  and the second drive gear  88  is free to rotate on the input shaft  22 . 
         [0042]    The second input shaft  26  of the second leg housing  14  is mounted by a pair of bushings  96  between a first sidewall  98  and a second sidewall  102  of the housing. The bushings  96  mount the second input shaft  26  for rotation in the second leg housing  14 , and hold the input shaft against axial movement. The second input shaft  26  is operatively connected to the output shaft  24  by the cross bar  28 . Thus, the second input shaft  26  rotates with the output shaft  24 . 
         [0043]    An additional drive gear  102  is secured to the second input shaft  26  for rotation with the second input shaft. The additional drive gear  102  is a bevel gear that meshes directly with the actuator input gear  34  in the second leg housing  14 . The additional drive gear  102  has the same number of teeth as the output gear  76 . Thus, rotation of the output shaft  24  causes the screw and nut actuator assemblies  32  in each of the leg housings  12 ,  14  to simultaneously move their respective leg columns  16 ,  18  between their retracted and extended positions relative to the leg housings, depending on the direction of rotation of the input shaft  22 . 
         [0044]    In operation of the gear transmission of the invention, with the input shaft  22  of the master leg housing  12  in the first, high speed position shown in  FIG. 5 , rotation of the input shaft  22  by a manual crank  20  causes rotation of the first, high speed drive gear  84 . The constant mesh of the first drive gear  84  with the first driven gear  78  causes the high speed rotation of the output bevel gear  76 . Rotation of the output bevel gear  76  causes the bevel actuator input gear  34  of the screw and nut linear actuator assembly  32  to rotate. This causes the vertical reciprocating movement of the leg column  16  in the leg housing  12 . In addition, the rotation of the first driven gear  78  and output bevel gear  76  is transferred through the output shaft  24  of the master leg housing  12  to the input shaft  26  of the slave leg housing  14 . The rotation of the input shaft  26  of the slave leg housing is transferred by the bevel additional gear  102  on the input shaft  26  to the bevel actuator input gear  34  of the screw and nut linear actuator assembly  32  in the slave leg housing  14 . This causes the vertical reciprocating movement of the leg column  18  in the leg housing  14 . 
         [0045]    In the high speed position of the input shaft  22  described above, the vertical adjustments of the leg columns  16 ,  18  in their respective leg housing  12 ,  14  occur more quickly. 
         [0046]    To shift the gear transmission to low speed operation, the input shaft  22  of the master leg housing  12  is pulled outwardly, causing the shear pin  58  to move out of the slots  86  of the first drive gear, and into the slots  92  of the second drive gear  88 . This couples the second, low speed drive gear  88  to the input shaft  22  for rotation with the input shaft. The rotation of the low speed second drive gear  88  is transferred through the second driven gear  82  to the output gear  76 . Rotation of the output gear  76  causes the vertical reciprocating movements of the leg columns  16 ,  18  in their respective leg housings  12 ,  14  in the same manner discussed above. However, because the second drive gear  88  has fewer teeth than the first drive gear  84 , the vertical adjusting movements of the leg columns  16 ,  18  in their respective leg housings  12 ,  14  do not occur as quickly as when the transmission is operated in high speed, but greater torque is provided for lifting the trailer. 
         [0047]    The novel design of the landing gear assembly gear transmission described above allows all of the gearing of the transmission to be contained in the same master leg housing  12  that contains the screw and nut vertical actuator for the leg. As seen in  FIG. 5 , all of the gearing of the transmission is contained in the leg housing  12  positioned directly above the screw and nut actuator assembly  32 . All of the shaft center axes  36 ,  54 ,  68  are positioned in the same plane. This provides the landing gear assembly of the invention with a more compact construction than prior art landing gear assemblies which required a separate gear box on the exterior of the leg housing, or a separate bolt-on shaft support housing on the exterior of the leg housing. Thus, the gear transmission of the present invention provides a simplified constant mesh design of a two-speed landing gear transmission that does not require a separate gear box or separate shaft housing, and is contained in the same leg housing as the screw and nut actuator assembly of the landing gear assembly leg. 
         [0048]    Although only one embodiment of the landing gear assembly has been described above, it should be understood that other modifications and variations could be made to the landing gear assembly without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims.