Shrink strut landing gear system, method, and apparatus

摘要

The landing gear systems, methods and apparatuses disclosed herein may comprise a shrink pump and an unshrink valve that are capable of shrinking a landing gear shock strut up to about 40% of its available stroke. The shrink pump may be configured to pump fluid (e.g., a hydraulic fluid) between an oil chamber, where hydraulic fluid is likely present and a shrink chamber to shrink the landing gear. Moreover, the shrink pump and unshrink valve may be part of a strut shrink system.

主权项

1. A shock strut, comprising:
a strut piston defining an oil chamber and comprising an exterior wall; a strut cylinder configured to at least partially receive the strut piston and comprising an interior wall; an upper strut bearing disposed on an end of the strut piston and configured to guide the strut piston within the strut cylinder; a lower strut bearing disposed on a portion of the strut piston and configured to guide the strut piston within the strut cylinder; a shrink chamber defined by the upper strut bearing, the interior wall, the exterior wall and the lower strut bearing, the shrink chamber in fluid communication with the oil chamber; and a strut shrink system configured to conduct a fluid between the shrink chamber and the oil chamber, the strut shrink system comprising a shrink pump in parallel with a valve and in-line with a check valve, the shrink pump configured to pump the fluid from the oil chamber into the shrink chamber.