Landing gear system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorJustin Duane Cottet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for changing a length of a landing gear system. A first cylinder and a second cylinder are moved relative to each other along an axis extending centrally through the first cylinder and the second cylinder such that the first cylinder and the second cylinder are in an extended position. In response to the first cylinder and the second cylinder being in the extended position, a flow of a fluid is substantially prevented between a first chamber formed between the first cylinder and the second cylinder and a second chamber within the first cylinder and the second cylinder. In response to a pressure applied to the first chamber, the first cylinder and the second cylinder are moved relative to each other along the axis such that a length of the first cylinder and the second cylinder is reduced.
Claims15
An apparatus comprising:
- a shock absorber system comprising an inner cylinder located within an outer cylinder such that the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder move relative to each other along an axis extending centrally through the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder;
- a first chamber in the shock absorber system;
- a second chamber in the shock absorber system;
- and
- a length reduction system located between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder and between the first chamber and the second chamber, the length reduction system comprising:
- a seal carrier located between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder;
- a first seal and a second seal in the seal carrier, such that the first seal engages an inner wall of the outer cylinder and forms a partial separation between the first chamber and the second chamber, and the second seal avoids contact with an outer wall of the inner cylinder and allows a fluid flow between the first chamber and the second chamber when the length reduction system is in a first configuration, and such that with the inner cylinder extended from the outer cylinder, a tube inside the outer cylinder contacts the seal carrier and moves the length reduction system to a second configuration such that the second seal engages the outer wall of the inner cylinder and separates the first chamber from the second chamber and substantially prevents a flow of a fluid between the first chamber and the second chamber such that a length of the shock absorber system reduces in response to a pressure in the first chamber when the flow of the fluid is substantially prevented.
An apparatus comprising:
- a ring placed between an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder;
- a seal carrier placed between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, such that the seal carrier and the ring move relative to each other between a first configuration and a second configuration along an axis extending centrally through the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder;
- and
- a first seal and a second seal associated with the seal carrier, wherein, in the second configuration, the first seal engages an inner wall of the outer cylinder and the second seal engages an outer wall of the inner cylinder when the inner cylinder extends out of the outer cylinder and a tube inside the outer cylinder contacts the seal carrier with a force that overcomes a biasing system that distances the seal carrier from the ring, such that the first seal and the second seal separate a first chamber, between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, from a second chamber such that an increase of pressure in the first chamber drives the inner cylinder into the outer cylinder along the axis such that a length of the inner cylinder extended out from the outer cylinder reduces.
A method for changing a length of a landing gear system, the method comprising:
- moving a first cylinder and a second cylinder relative to each other along an axis extending centrally through the first cylinder and the second cylinder such that the first cylinder and the second cylinder are in an extended position;
- responsive to the first cylinder and the second cylinder being in the extended position, a tube in the first cylinder contacting a seal carrier and moving a length reduction system comprising a ring and the seal carrier distanced from each other by a biasing system, and the seal carrier is located between the first cylinder and the second cylinder, such that a first seal contacts an inner wall of the first cylinder and a second seal contacts an outer wall of the second cylinder substantially preventing a flow of a fluid between a first chamber formed between the first cylinder and the second cylinder and a second chamber within the first cylinder and the second cylinder;
- and
- responsive to a pressure applied to the first chamber, moving the first cylinder and the second cylinder relative to each other along the axis such that a length of the first cylinder and the second cylinder is reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.