Shock absorber assembly

• US 10,640,202 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2015
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Landing Systems UK Limited (Safran SA)
• Original Assignee: Safran Landing Systems UK Limited (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Vatovec, Andraz, Schmidt, Robert Kyle
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Hara, Brian M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dixon, Keith L
• Application Number:
  US14/597,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20150203195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,937 Days
• Field of Search: 244102 A
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4232 Sliding mounts
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/8304 using a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/16 Aeroplanes
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2500/30 Height or ground clearance
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/01 the wheel being mounted for sliding movement, e.g. in or on a vertical guide camber maintaining means B60G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 5/005 the wheels being fixed on a non-pivotal structure, e.g. a sliding mount
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2025/008 Comprising means for modifying their length, e.g. for kneeling, for jumping, or for leveling the aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/34 wheeled type, e.g. multi-wheeled bogies
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/58 Arrangements or adaptations of shock-absorbers or springs shimmy-dampers B64C25/50
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2234/00 Shape
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/28 with two parallel cylinders and with the two pistons or plungers connected together
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3221 of piston rods
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/3235 of cylinders F16F9/483 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/54 Arrangements for attachment grommet-type rubber mounting springs per se F16F1/3732; construction of cylinder ends F16F9/3242; attachments to vehicles B60G13/001, B60G15/00

Abstract

A shock absorber assembly having a wheel assembly including first and second coupling points, and first and second shock absorber elements. Each shock absorber element includes a housing portion defining a bore, and a rod slidably coupled within the bore such that the shock absorber element has a variable length. Each rod is coupled to a respective coupling point of the wheel assembly. The shock absorber assembly is arranged to maintain the relative positions of the first and second housing portions such that the longitudinal axis of the first bore has a generally fixed relationship with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second bore.

Claims

1. A shock absorber arranged to be coupled to a vehicle, the shock absorber comprising:

a shock absorber housing defining a linear bore having a non-circular cross section; and

an elongate shock absorber rod slidably coupled within the bore to permit axial movement of the shock absorber rod, the shock absorber rod having a non-circular profile arranged to engage with the bore to inhibit rotation of the rod relative to the housing;

wherein the shock absorber rod is arranged to slide in the bore such that the shock absorber rod can move between an extended condition and a contracted condition relative to the shock absorber housing.

2. A shock absorber assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bore and/or shock absorber rod have an elliptical or rectangular profile.

3. The shock absorber of claim 1, further comprising a non-circular seal disposed between the housing and the shock absorber rod.