Suspension for aircraft tail wheel
First Claim
1. In an aircraft having one of (1) an aluminum outer shell riveted to bulkheads and stringers and (2) an airframe made of tubular inner structure covered with fabric, said aircraft having a tail wheel assembly that includes a suspension system comprising one or more leaf springs and a tail wheel comprising a tire filled with pressurized air, an improvement comprising a replacement tail wheel assembly, comprising:
- a) a bracket fixedly connected to an underside of a fuselage of said aircraft;
b) an elongated arm having a first end pivotably connected to said bracket;
c) a reciprocating shock absorber having a first upper end pivotably mounted to said bracket at a location under said fuselage and a second lower end pivotably mounted at a second end of said elongated arm;
d) a tire sized to be attached at said second end of said elongated arm via an axle coupled to a fork mounted at said second end of said elongated arm, said axle spaced downward from a location where said second end of said reciprocating shock absorber is mounted at said second end of said elongated arm;
e) whereby when said tire of said replacement tail wheel assembly engages a ground surface when said aircraft is landing, said elongated arm pivots about said bracket and said shock absorber pivots about said bracket and compresses, thereby damping forces created by said tire engaging said ground surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reciprocating shock absorber combined with a coil spring are interposed between the fuselage of an aircraft and the tail wheel. When the tail wheel engages the runway, its attachment pivots, thereby compressing the shock absorber and the coil spring. This results in smooth transfer of forces from the tail wheel to the fuselage and to the pilot and passengers. If desired, one or more tension springs may counteract the forces imposed by the coil spring to restore the extended configuration of the coil spring and shock absorber.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. In an aircraft having one of (1) an aluminum outer shell riveted to bulkheads and stringers and (2) an airframe made of tubular inner structure covered with fabric, said aircraft having a tail wheel assembly that includes a suspension system comprising one or more leaf springs and a tail wheel comprising a tire filled with pressurized air, an improvement comprising a replacement tail wheel assembly, comprising:
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a) a bracket fixedly connected to an underside of a fuselage of said aircraft; b) an elongated arm having a first end pivotably connected to said bracket; c) a reciprocating shock absorber having a first upper end pivotably mounted to said bracket at a location under said fuselage and a second lower end pivotably mounted at a second end of said elongated arm; d) a tire sized to be attached at said second end of said elongated arm via an axle coupled to a fork mounted at said second end of said elongated arm, said axle spaced downward from a location where said second end of said reciprocating shock absorber is mounted at said second end of said elongated arm; e) whereby when said tire of said replacement tail wheel assembly engages a ground surface when said aircraft is landing, said elongated arm pivots about said bracket and said shock absorber pivots about said bracket and compresses, thereby damping forces created by said tire engaging said ground surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An improved suspension for an aircraft tail wheel, comprising:
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a) an L-shaped bracket fixedly connected to an underside of a fuselage of said aircraft; b) an elongated arm having a first end pivotably connected to said bracket; c) a reciprocating shock absorber having a first upper end pivotably mounted to said bracket at a location under said fuselage and a second lower end pivotably mounted at a second end of said elongated arm, and a compression spring surrounding said shock absorber and which compresses when said shock absorber compresses; d) a tire made of soft rubber attached at said second end of said elongated arm via an axle coupled to a fork mounted on said second end of said elongated arm, said axle spaced downward from a location where said second end of said reciprocating shock absorber is mounted at said second end of said elongated arm; e) whereby when said tire engages a ground surface when said aircraft is landing, said elongated arm pivots about said bracket and said shock absorber pivots about said bracket and compresses, thereby damping forces created by said tire engaging said ground surface. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification