Method and apparatus for removing an aircraft strut from an aircraft having retractable landing gear

Abstract

An apparatus for removing struts from pivoting landing gear supports of a plane having retractable landing gear includes a stiffening anchor attached to a distal end of the strut wherein the distal end is the end at which the wheel is attached. The apparatus further includes a press collar that slidingly contains the strut within it. In between the press collar and the stiffening anchor is a hydraulic ram that provides up to twenty thousand pounds of urging pressure. The urging pressure provided by the hydraulic ram is axially translated into the aircraft pivoting landing gear support and into the landing gear strut in an opposite axial direction to remove the strut. The stiffening anchor is formed to fit the strut and to distribute the urging pressure in a way that does not damage the strut. A method of removing a strut seized to a pivotal landing gear support of a plane having retractable landing gear includes placing the hydraulic strut removing tool against the strut, securing it to the strut, and applying hydraulic pressure until the strut is urged free.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.