B64C25/20

Landing support assembly for aerial vehicles

A landing support assembly to at least partially support an aerial vehicle on a surface may include a strut extendable to a deployed state and retractable to a stowed state during flight. The strut may be configured to pivot with respect to a bracket coupled to the aerial vehicle between the deployed state and the stowed state. The landing support assembly further may include a strut actuator coupled to the strut via a linkage to cause the strut to pivot relative to the bracket. The landing support assembly also may include a foot coupled to an end of the strut remote from the bracket. The foot may be configured to change between a retracted state during flight having a first cross-sectional area and an at least partially splayed state for at least partially supporting the aerial vehicle and having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area.

Landing support assembly for aerial vehicles

A landing support assembly to at least partially support an aerial vehicle on a surface may include a strut extendable to a deployed state and retractable to a stowed state during flight. The strut may be configured to pivot with respect to a bracket coupled to the aerial vehicle between the deployed state and the stowed state. The landing support assembly further may include a strut actuator coupled to the strut via a linkage to cause the strut to pivot relative to the bracket. The landing support assembly also may include a foot coupled to an end of the strut remote from the bracket. The foot may be configured to change between a retracted state during flight having a first cross-sectional area and an at least partially splayed state for at least partially supporting the aerial vehicle and having a second cross-sectional area greater than the first cross-sectional area.

Electromechanical actuator disconnect
11820494 · 2023-11-21 · ·

A method of operating an electromechanical actuator includes coupling an inner portion of a split ball screw with an outer portion of the split ball screw, rotating the split ball screw about an axis to drive a ball nut in a first axial direction, in response to a failure mode of the electromechanical actuator, decoupling the outer portion of the split ball screw from the inner portion of the split ball screw, and translating the outer portion of the split ball screw and the ball nut in a second axial direction.

Electromechanical actuator disconnect
11820494 · 2023-11-21 · ·

A method of operating an electromechanical actuator includes coupling an inner portion of a split ball screw with an outer portion of the split ball screw, rotating the split ball screw about an axis to drive a ball nut in a first axial direction, in response to a failure mode of the electromechanical actuator, decoupling the outer portion of the split ball screw from the inner portion of the split ball screw, and translating the outer portion of the split ball screw and the ball nut in a second axial direction.

Semi-levered shrink landing gear
11827342 · 2023-11-28 · ·

A landing gear for use on an aircraft, the landing gear including a shock strut and an anti-rotation linkage. The shock strut is positioned at least partially within and guided in movement by a guide member coupled to a frame of the aircraft. The shock strut including an outer cylinder that is shaped and sized to engage the guide member where the guide member guides sliding movement of the outer cylinder, and where the outer cylinder is configured so as to be driven in the sliding movement relative to the guide member, and an inner cylinder disposed at least partly within the outer cylinder. The anti-rotation linkage including a connector plate coupled to the outer cylinder of the shock strut, and an anti-rotation link assembly coupled to both the guide member and the connector plate, the anti-rotation link assembly being configured to maintain the shock strut in a fixed rotational orientation relative to the guide member.

Semi-levered shrink landing gear
11827342 · 2023-11-28 · ·

A landing gear for use on an aircraft, the landing gear including a shock strut and an anti-rotation linkage. The shock strut is positioned at least partially within and guided in movement by a guide member coupled to a frame of the aircraft. The shock strut including an outer cylinder that is shaped and sized to engage the guide member where the guide member guides sliding movement of the outer cylinder, and where the outer cylinder is configured so as to be driven in the sliding movement relative to the guide member, and an inner cylinder disposed at least partly within the outer cylinder. The anti-rotation linkage including a connector plate coupled to the outer cylinder of the shock strut, and an anti-rotation link assembly coupled to both the guide member and the connector plate, the anti-rotation link assembly being configured to maintain the shock strut in a fixed rotational orientation relative to the guide member.

Thin-skin side stay beams and landing gear assemblies
11827341 · 2023-11-28 · ·

A thin-skin side-stay beam may include an upper arm with thin skin and a mating flange extending longitudinally from the thin skin. A lower arm may also have a thin skin and a mating flange extending longitudinally from the lower arm. A joint may include a pin and/or a bushing extending through the mating flanges to pivotally couple the upper arm to the lower arm. The upper arm and/or the lower arm may include one or more internal walls defining one or more internal cavities.

Thin-skin side stay beams and landing gear assemblies
11827341 · 2023-11-28 · ·

A thin-skin side-stay beam may include an upper arm with thin skin and a mating flange extending longitudinally from the thin skin. A lower arm may also have a thin skin and a mating flange extending longitudinally from the lower arm. A joint may include a pin and/or a bushing extending through the mating flanges to pivotally couple the upper arm to the lower arm. The upper arm and/or the lower arm may include one or more internal walls defining one or more internal cavities.

AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY
20220281589 · 2022-09-08 · ·

An aircraft landing gear assembly having a reinstating geometry in which a lock link can be moved to assume a first locking condition to inhibit movement of a stay when a main strut is in a deployed condition and a second locking condition to inhibit movement of the main strut when in a stowed condition. An unlock actuator is coupled between a first element of the stay and the lock link such that the actuator can break the lock link from the first locking condition and force it to assume the second locking condition by operational force in a single direction.

AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY
20220281589 · 2022-09-08 · ·

An aircraft landing gear assembly having a reinstating geometry in which a lock link can be moved to assume a first locking condition to inhibit movement of a stay when a main strut is in a deployed condition and a second locking condition to inhibit movement of the main strut when in a stowed condition. An unlock actuator is coupled between a first element of the stay and the lock link such that the actuator can break the lock link from the first locking condition and force it to assume the second locking condition by operational force in a single direction.