AIR-GROUND DETECTION SYSTEM FOR SEMI-LEVERED LANDING GEAR

• US 20150266592A1
• Filed: 09/07/2014
• Published: 09/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mellor, Mitchell Loren Ray
• Granted Patent: US 9,499,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2025/345 Multi-wheel bogies having one or more steering axes
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/00 Alighting gear air-cushion alighting gear B60V3/08
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/36 Arrangements or adaptations of wheels, tyres or axles in general
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/62 Spring shock-absorbers; Springs
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/06 mechanical

Abstract

A method and apparatus for air-ground detection. A truck beam of a semi-levered landing gear is mounted on a pivot pin. The truck beam is configured to rotate about the pivot pin between a toes down position and a toes up position. A positioning mechanism is connected to a locking mechanism that secures an angle of the truck beam in the toes up position. The locking mechanism is secured in a steady state and configured to change from the steady state to a locked state in response to an initial ground contact. A sensor is connected to the locking mechanism. The sensor is configured to detect a change from the steady state to the locked state.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A method for air-ground detection in a semi-levered landing gear, the method comprising:

monitoring an orientation of a number of links of a semi-levered linkage assembly using a sensor connected to the semi-levered linkage assembly, wherein the sensor is configured to detect a change from the steady state to the locked state without requiring a change in shock strut compression; and

responsive to detecting a change in the orientation of the semi-levered linkage assembly from a steady state to a locked state, indicating an initial ground contact position of the semi-levered landing gear.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

sending sensor data indicating the change in the orientation of the semi-levered landing gear assembly to a data processing system of an aircraft to indicate the initial ground contact position.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

identifying, by a data processing system of an aircraft, a sequence of indicated semi-levered linkage assembly un-commanded movements associated with the change in the orientation from the steady state to the locked state; and

comparing the sequence of indicated semi-levered linkage assembly un-commanded movements to a number of sensed flight phase indications to positively identify the initial ground contact position.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

holding the semi-levered linkage assembly in the steady state under a tension load less than a pre-determined tension load value; and

responsive to the semi-levered linkage assembly coming under the tension load exceeding the pre-determined tension load value, moving the semi-levered linkage assembly into the locked state.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

holding the semi-levered linkage assembly in the steady state under a compression load less than a pre-determined compression load value; and

responsive to the semi-levered linkage assembly coming under the compression load exceeding the pre-determined compression load value, folding closed the semi-levered linkage assembly.

21. The method of claim 10, wherein the semi-levered linkage assembly comprises a truck beam mounted on a pivot pin, and wherein the method further comprises:

rotating the truck beam between a toes up position prior to landing a toes down position after an initial ground contact.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the semi-levered linkage assembly further comprises a locking mechanism configured to secure an angle of the truck beam in the toes-up position, and wherein the method further comprises:

changing the locking mechanism from a steady state to a locked state in response to an initial ground contact.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a compression spring, and wherein the method further comprises:

holding the locking mechanism in the steady state under a tension load less than a pre-determined tension load value.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a first link and a second link, wherein the semi-levered landing gear further comprises a positioning mechanism connected to a locking mechanism that secures an angle of the truck beam in the toes up position, wherein a compression spring of the positioning mechanism is connected to the first link, wherein the compression spring is restrained in a pre-loaded position, and wherein the method further comprises:

compressing the locking mechanism beyond the steady state; and

the compression spring of the locking mechanism preventing force from being applied to the second link.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising a stop connected to the locking mechanism and wherein the method further comprises:

The stop preventing rotation of the truck beam at a pre-determined degree of rotation in response to a change from the steady state to the locked state.

15-20. -20. (canceled)