SHOCK ABSORBER ASSEMBLY

• US 20150203195A1
• Filed: 01/15/2015
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Landing Systems UK Limited
• Original Assignee: Messier-Dowty Limited (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Vatovec, Andraz, Schmidt, Robert Kyle
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 assembly arranged to be coupled to a vehicle, the shock absorber assembly comprising:

a wheel assembly including a first coupling point and a second coupling point;

a first shock absorber element, the first shock absorber element comprising;

a first housing portion defining a first bore having a first longitudinal axis; and

a first rod, slidably coupled within the first bore such that the length of the first shock absorber element can be varied along the first longitudinal axis, the first rod being coupled to the first coupling point of the wheel assembly; and

a second shock absorber element comprising;

a second housing portion defining a second bore having a second longitudinal axis; and

a second rod, slidably coupled within the second bore such that the length of the second shock absorber element can be varied along the second longitudinal axis, the second rod being coupled to the second coupling point of the wheel assembly,

wherein the shock absorber assembly is arranged to maintain the relative positions of the first housing portion and the second housing portion such that the first longitudinal axis has a generally fixed spatial relationship with respect to the second longitudinal axis.

2. The shock absorber assembly of claim 1 wherein the length of the first shock absorber element is different from the length of the second shock absorber element when the shock absorber assembly is in a first condition.

3. The shock absorber assembly of claim 1, wherein the wheel assembly includes a bogie beam.

4. The shock absorber assembly of claim 1, further comprising a housing defining the first housing portion and the second housing portion.

5. The shock absorber assembly of claim 1, wherein the first housing portion is rigidly coupled to the second housing portion by a mechanical coupling element.

6. The shock absorber assembly of claim 1, wherein the first housing portion and the first rod together define a first chamber for containing a first fluid.

7. The shock absorber assembly of claim 6 wherein the second housing portion and the second rod together define a second chamber for containing a second fluid.

8. The shock absorber assembly of claim 1, wherein one or more of the shock absorber elements are in fluid communication with a reservoir, the shock absorber assembly further comprising a control system operable to control fluid transfer between the one or more shock absorber elements and the reservoir such that the length of the one or more shock absorber elements may be controlled by controlling the amount of fluid in a respective chamber thereof.

9. The shock absorber assembly of claim 1, wherein the first shock absorber element and the second shock absorber element each comprise a respect chamber and the respective chambers are in fluid communication with each other, the shock absorber assembly further comprising a control system operable to control fluid transfer between the shock absorber elements such that the length of the one or more shock absorber elements may be controlled by controlling the amount of fluid exchanged between the respective chambers thereof.

10. The shock absorber assembly of claim 8, wherein the wheel assembly includes two or more wheels and wherein the control system is operable to lift at least one of the wheels off the ground when the vehicle is on the ground.

11. The shock absorber assembly of claim 10, wherein the wheel assembly includes two or more sets of wheels, each set coupled to an axle, and wherein the control system is operable to lift at least one of the sets of wheels off the ground when the vehicle is on the ground.

16. The shock absorber assembly of claim 7 wherein one or more of the shock absorber elements are in fluid communication with a reservoir, the shock absorber assembly further comprising a control system operable to control fluid transfer between the one or more shock absorber elements and the reservoir such that the length of the one or more shock absorber elements may be controlled by controlling the amount of fluid in the chambers thereof.

17. The shock absorber assembly of claim 9, wherein the wheel assembly includes two or more wheels and wherein the control system is operable to lift at least one of the wheels off the ground when the vehicle is on the ground.

18. The shock absorber assembly of claim 17, wherein the wheel assembly includes two or more sets of wheels, each set coupled to an axle, and wherein the control system is operable to lift at least one of the sets of wheels off the ground when the vehicle is on the ground.

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

a shock absorber element comprising;

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

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

13. A shock absorber assembly according to claim 12, wherein the bore and/or rod have an elliptical or rectangular profile.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

19. An aircraft landing gear comprising:

a housing;

a wheel assembly; and

shock absorber means for movably connecting the wheel assembly to the housing.

20. The aircraft landing gear of claim 19, wherein the shock absorber means comprises first and second adjacent and parallel shock absorbers separately connecting the wheel assembly to the housing and configured to inhibit rotation of the wheel assembly relative to the housing.

21. The aircraft landing gear of claim 20, wherein each of the first and second adjacent and parallel shock absorbers comprises a respective bore slidingly mated to a respective rod.

22. The aircraft landing gear of claim 19, wherein the shock absorber means comprises a housing portion defining a linear bore having a non-circular cross section, and an elongate rod slidably coupled within the bore to permit axial movement of the rod, the rod having a non-circular profile arranged to engage with the bore to inhibit rotation of the rod relative to the housing.