Systems and methods for switching gears in multiple-speed landing gear
AssigneeEz Winder, LLC
InventorTerry Roth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are various embodiments of an automated system for moving an input shaft associated with landing gear of a platform, for example, a trailer or ramp, along its longitudinal axis in order to switch gears. One such system, among others, has a controller that is electrically coupled to a gear shifter. The controller is capable of causing the gear shifter to move the landing gear input shaft in first and second opposing longitudinal directions in order to shift between the gears. The gear shifter may implement the longitudinal movement via a linear actuator, solenoid actuator, or other suitable device.
Claims17
A system for rotating and longitudinally moving an input shaft of landing gear associated with a movable platform, the landing gear having a telescoping jack leg for raising and lowering the platform when the input shaft is rotated, the landing gear having two speeds with high and low gears that are changed when the input shaft is moved along its longitudinal axis, the system comprising:
- a lift motor that rotates the landing gear input shaft;
- a gear shifter, the gear shifter having:
- a linear actuator, the linear actuator having a reciprocating piston, the piston having an elongated body with a movable working end and a driven end, the linear actuator is designed to move the driven end of the piston in a longitudinal direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the landing gear input shaft;
- and
- means for mechanically connecting the movable working end of the piston to the input shaft so that the input shaft is movable along the longitudinal axis as the linear actuator moves the piston;
- wherein the input shaft capture arm further comprises:
- a rotatable bushing having a cylindrical peripheral side, right and left sides, and a throughway extending between the right and left sides, the bushing situated about the landing gear input shaft so that the landing gear input shaft extends within the throughway;
- a screw extending through the cylindrical peripheral side into the landing gear input shaft that secures the bushing to the input shaft so that the bushing rotates when the input shaft rotates, the bushing permitting the input shaft to rotate as well as be moved along its longitudinal axis by the gear shifter;
- a nonrotating bushing support having left and right eyehole securing members at the left and right sides, respectively, of the bushing that permit rotation of the bushing and the input shaft while confining the bushing in the longitudinal direction;
- and
- wherein the connecting means comprises an input shaft capture arm that attaches the movable working end of the piston to the landing gear input shaft.
A system for longitudinally moving an input shaft associated with landing gear of a platform, the landing gear having a telescoping jack leg for raising and lowering a front of the platform when the input shaft is rotated, the landing gear having gears that are changed when the input shaft is moved along its longitudinal axis, the system comprising:
- gear shifter means for moving the input shaft along its longitudinal axis;
- and a controller that is electrically coupled to the gear shifter means, the controller capable of causing the gear shifter means to move the landing gear input shaft in first and second opposing longitudinal directions in order to shift between the gears;
- wherein the input shaft capture arm further comprises:
- a rotatable bushing having a cylindrical peripheral side, right and left sides, and a throughway extending between the right and left sides, the bushing situated about the landing gear input shaft so that the landing gear input shaft extends through the throughway;
- a screw extending through the cylindrical peripheral side into the landing gear input shaft that secures the bushing to the input shaft so that the bushing rotates when the input shaft rotates, the bushing permitting the input shaft to rotate as well as be moved along its longitudinal axis by the gear shifter;
- and
- a nonrotating bushing support having left and right eyehole securing members at the left and right sides, respectively of the bushing that permit rotation of the bushing and the input shaft while confining the bushing in the longitudinal direction;
- and
- wherein the gear shifter means comprises:
- a linear actuator, the linear actuator having a reciprocating piston, the piston having an elongated body with a movable working end and a driven end, the linear actuator is designed to move the driven end of the piston in a longitudinal direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the landing gear input shaft;
- and
- means for mechanically connecting the movable working end of the piston to the input shaft so that the input shaft is movable along the longitudinal axis as the solenoid moves the combination of the linear shifting piston and the input shaft capture arm, wherein the connecting means for mechanically connecting comprises an input shaft capture arm that attaches the movable working end of the piston to the landing gear input shaft.
A system for longitudinally moving an input shaft associated with landing gear of a platform, the landing gear having a telescoping jack leg for raising and lowering a front of the platform when the input shaft is rotated, the landing gear having gears that are changed when the input shaft is moved along its longitudinal axis, the system comprising:
- gear shifter means for moving the input shaft along its longitudinal axis;
- and a controller that is electrically coupled to the gear shifter means, the controller capable of causing the gear shifter means to move the landing gear input shaft in first and second opposing longitudinal directions in order to shift between the gears;
- wherein the gear shifter means comprises:
- a rotatable bushing having a cylindrical peripheral side, right and left sides, and a throughway extending between the right and left sides, the bushing situated about the landing gear input shaft so that the landing gear input shaft extends through the throughway;
- a screw extending through the cylindrical peripheral side into the landing gear input shaft that secures the bushing to the input shaft so that the bushing rotates when the input shaft rotates, the bushing permitting the input shaft to rotate as well as be moved along its longitudinal axis by the gear shifter;
- a solenoid actuator having a cylindrical throughway extending from a first side to a second side, the input shaft extending through and capable of rotation within the throughway, the solenoid actuator being mounted to a part of the landing gear and situated between a mounted location and the bushing;
- and
- wherein the input shaft is movable along its longitudinal axis by the solenoid actuator acting upon the input shaft within the throughway.
A system for longitudinally moving an input shaft associated with landing gear, the landing gear having a telescoping jack leg for raising and lowering a platform when the input shaft is rotated, the landing gear having gears that are changed when the input shaft is moved along its longitudinal axis, the system comprising:
- a rotatable bushing having a cylindrical peripheral side, right and left sides, and a throughway extending between the right and left sides, the bushing situated about the landing gear input shaft so that the landing gear input shaft extends through the throughway;
- a screw extending through the cylindrical peripheral side into the landing gear input shaft that secures the bushing to the input shaft so that the bushing rotates when the input shaft rotates, the bushing permitting the input shaft to rotate as well as be moved along its longitudinal axis by the gear shifter;
- a solenoid actuator having a cylindrical throughway extending from a first side to a second side, the input shaft extending through and capable of rotation within the throughway, the solenoid actuator being mounted to a part of the landing gear and situated between a mounted location and the bushing;
- and
- wherein the input shaft is movable along its longitudinal axis by the solenoid actuator acting upon the input shaft within the throughway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.