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US 7,114,681 B2Granted
Landing assist apparatus with offset landing probe
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsNeal W. Muylaert, Darrin Tebon, Rolland E. Lahaie, William E. Lindsay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An aircraft landing assist apparatus is designed to be retrofit to existing aircraft having internal constructions that have been modified to support the apparatus. The apparatus is designed so that on rough landings of the aircraft on a ship deck, the apparatus will collapse in a controlled manner to avoid any damage to ammunition and/or fuel storage areas of the aircraft.
Claims22
An aircraft landing assist apparatus comprising:
- a landing probe having a length with a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions, the probe having axially opposite proximal and distal ends;
- and
- a connector assembly connected to the probe proximal end and being adapted for connecting the probe proximal end to an aircraft with the probe projecting from the aircraft to the probe distal end, the connector assembly having a first pivot shaft that is connected to the probe proximal end for pivoting movement of the probe length in a radial direction about the first pivot shaft, the first pivot shaft having a center axis that is perpendicular to the probe center axis and does not intersect the probe center axis.
An aircraft landing assist apparatus comprising:
- a landing probe having a length with a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions, the probe having axially opposite proximal and distal ends;
- and,
- a connector assembly connected to the probe proximal end and being adapted for connecting the probe proximal end to an aircraft with the probe length projecting from the aircraft to the probe distal end and for radial pivoting movement of the probe length relative to the aircraft about a first pivot axis, the first pivot axis being perpendicular to the probe center axis and being offset from and not intersecting the probe center axis.
An aircraft landing assist apparatus comprising:
- a landing probe having a length with a center axis that defines mutually perpendicular axial and radial directions, the probe having axially opposite proximal and distal ends;
- a connector assembly connected to the probe proximal end and being adapted for connecting the probe proximal end to an aircraft with the probe projecting from the aircraft to the probe distal end, the connector assembly having a pivot shaft that is connected to the probe proximal end for radial pivoting movement of the probe length about the pivot shaft, the pivot shaft having opposite first and second end portions with the first end portion having a smaller cross section diameter that the second end portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.