CN115196000A

CN115196000A - Undercarriage with steering device and aircraft with undercarriage

Info

Publication number: CN115196000A
Application number: CN202210830843.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 方威; 王义权; 戚兴江; 于秀伟; 刘文斌
Original assignee: Comac Shanghai Aircraft Design & Research Institute; Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd
Current assignee: Comac Shanghai Aircraft Design & Research Institute; Commercial Aircraft Corp of China Ltd
Priority date: 2022-07-15
Filing date: 2022-07-15
Publication date: 2022-10-18

Abstract

The present invention relates to an undercarriage with steering gear and an aircraft with the undercarriage. The landing gear includes a frame and at least two axles, and the axles are each connected to a pair of wheels, wherein the first axle is pivotally connected to the frame by an axle-frame pivot. The steering device includes: a rocker arm assembly, the rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly is pivotally connected to the frame; a jack assembly, the first end of the jack of the jack assembly is pivotally connected to the free end of the rocker arm, The second end is pivotally connected to the first axle position of the first axle; and the pull rod assembly, the first end of the pull rod of the pull rod assembly is pivotally connected to the intermediate position of the rocker arm, and the second end is pivotally connected to the first axle The second axle position of the axle. When the actuating cylinder drives the first axle at the first axle position to rotate around the axle-frame pivot in the first steering direction, the pull rod simultaneously drives the first axle around the axle-car at the second axle position The frame pivot portion rotates in the first steering direction.

Description

Undercarriage with steering device and aircraft with undercarriage

Technical Field

The invention relates to an undercarriage with a steering device, and belongs to the field of design of a movement mechanism of an aircraft undercarriage. The invention also relates to an aircraft with a steering device for a landing gear.

Background

In order to prevent the tires from rubbing against the ground and to reduce tire wear and damage to airport runways when the aircraft is taxiing on the ground, and in order for the aircraft to make ground turns more efficient, it is common to provide the main landing gear with a steering device that allows the main landing gear to be steered in conjunction with the nose landing gear.

In order to realize efficient turning control, a steering device can selectively deflect a first row or a last row of wheel shafts on the main landing gear to assist front wheels to finish turning operation of the airplane in a small space, so that the airport applicability of the airplane is increased.

CN103038131B, landing gear with bogie and its operation method, discloses a steering device for the main rear wheel of a large aircraft, and proposes a lockable steering mechanism without a locking device, which uses a sleeve type pressure lever.

US5242131a Steering Landing Gear (a Steering Gear) discloses a Steering device for the main hoisting wheel of a large aircraft, wherein a six-wheel frame is provided with a Steering device for active actuation of the wheel axle of the front or rear pair of wheels, so as to realize synchronous Steering of the front and main hoisting wheels.

However, the present inventors have recognized several disadvantages of the steering devices described above, as well as other steering devices. Because the size of the tires of the wheels of the main landing gear is large, the weight is heavy, the bearing is high, the resistance load is also large, and meanwhile, the available space on the main landing gear is small, the conventional designed steering device of the main landing gear often causes the undersize of the deflection angle of the wheel axle of the main landing gear or the too low deflection speed due to the insufficient load output capacity of the steering mechanism, and then the steering device cannot achieve the expected effect.

Accordingly, there remains a need for further improvements in the construction of existing aircraft landing gear steering devices.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above problems in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a main landing gear-operated steering apparatus having high steering efficiency, large output load, simple structure, high reliability, and small occupied space.

To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a landing gear with a steering device, the landing gear comprising a frame and at least two axles, and the axles each connecting a pair of wheels, wherein a first axle is pivotally connected to the frame by an axle-to-frame pivot, wherein the steering device comprises: a rocker arm assembly, a rocker arm of the rocker arm assembly pivotally connected to the vehicle frame; a cylinder assembly having a cylinder with a first end pivotally connected to the free end of the rocker arm and a second end pivotally connected to a first axle position of a first axle; and a tie rod assembly having a tie rod with a first end pivotally connected to the rocker at an intermediate location and a second end pivotally connected to the first axle at a second axle location, wherein when the rotor drives the first axle about the axle-to-frame pivot in the first steering direction of the landing gear at the first axle location, the tie rod simultaneously drives the first axle about the axle-to-frame pivot in the first steering direction at the second axle location.

According to one aspect of the invention, the rocker assembly is transverse to the direction of extension of the vehicle frame in the neutral position of the landing gear, and the rocker assembly further comprises a rocker support, wherein the rocker support is fixed to the vehicle frame and has an extension extending beyond the top-view contour of the vehicle frame in a first transverse direction of the vehicle frame, wherein the first end of the rocker is pivotally connected to the extension of the rocker support by a rocker-to-vehicle pivot.

According to one aspect of the invention, the free end of the rocker arm extends beyond a top view profile of the vehicle frame in a second lateral direction opposite to the first lateral direction.

According to one aspect of the invention, the ram assembly is parallel to the direction of extension of the vehicle frame in the neutral position of the landing gear, and the ram assembly comprises a ram support, wherein the ram support is fixed to a first axle position of the first axle, wherein a first end of the ram is pivotally connected to a free end of the rocker by a ram-rocker pivot, and a second end of the ram is pivotally connected to the ram support by a ram-axle pivot.

According to one aspect of the invention, when the landing gear changes from the neutral position to toward the first or second steering direction, the ram expands or contracts and the spacing between the first end of the ram and the frame decreases.

According to one aspect of the invention, the tie rod assembly is angled to the extension direction of the frame when in the neutral position of the landing gear, and the tie rod assembly comprises a tie rod support, wherein the tie rod support is fixed to the first axle in a second axle position, wherein a first end of the tie rod is pivotally connected to an intermediate position of the rocker by a tie rod-rocker pivot, and a second end of the tie rod is pivotally connected to the tie rod support by a tie rod-axle pivot.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first end of the tie rod is inside the top view profile of the frame.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first axle location and the second axle location abut against an axle-frame pivot, and the first axle location and the second axle location are mirror images of the frame.

According to one aspect of the invention, when the rotor is extended, the ram pushes the first axle to rotate about the axle-frame pivot in a first steering direction at the first axle position and simultaneously the tie rod pulls the first axle to rotate about the axle-frame pivot in the first steering direction at the second axle position, and when the rotor is retracted, the ram pulls the first axle to rotate about the axle-frame pivot in a second steering direction opposite the first steering direction at the first axle position and simultaneously the tie rod pushes the first axle to rotate about the axle-frame pivot in the second steering direction at the second axle position.

An aircraft having landing gear according to the invention is characterised in that the landing gear of the aircraft has a steering device according to one aspect of the invention.

Compared with the prior art, the steering device has the advantages of high operating efficiency, large output load, simple structure, high reliability and small occupied space.

Drawings

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to exemplary embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a landing gear according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the landing gear of FIG. 1 rotating in a first steering direction; and

figure 3 is a schematic top view of the landing gear of figure 1 rotating in a second steering direction.

The drawing scales are not necessarily to scale and are schematically exaggerated for clarity of illustration. In other embodiments, other relative dimensions may be used. Throughout the following, the same features that appear in different drawings are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals.

List of reference numerals:

1. vehicle frame

2. First wheel axle

3. Axle-frame pivot

10. Rocker arm assembly

11. Rocker arm

12. Rocker arm support

13. Rocker-frame pivot

20. Actuating cylinder assembly

21. Actuating cylinder

22. Actuator cylinder support

23. Actuator cylinder-rocker pivot

24. Actuator-axle pivot

30. Pull rod assembly

31. Pull rod

32. Pull rod support

33. Pull rod-rocker pivot

34. Pull rod-axle pivot

A1 First axle position

A2 Second axle position

Detailed Description

The present invention will be further described with reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein the following description sets forth further details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the present invention, but it is apparent that the present invention can be embodied in many other forms other than those described herein, and it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in many different forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, and therefore the scope of the invention should not be limited by the specific embodiments disclosed herein.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the "extending direction" of the vehicle frame is defined as the up-down direction of fig. 2, 3, and the "lateral direction" of the vehicle frame is defined as the left-right direction of fig. 2, 3.

Figure 1 shows schematically a landing gear with a steering arrangement of a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a frame 1 for providing support for an aircraft and at least two, preferably three, axles, each of which connects a pair of wheels. Wherein optionally the first or last row of wheel axles, here referred to as first wheel axle 2, is pivotally connected to the frame 1 by means of an axle-frame pivot 3, and the first wheel axle 2 is only turnable around the axle-frame pivot 3 to provide a steering function to the frame 1.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the steering apparatus includes a rocker arm assembly 10, a ram assembly 20 and a tie rod assembly 30.

As shown in fig. 1, the rocker arm 11 of the rocker arm assembly 10 is pivotally connected to the vehicle frame 1.

Preferably, the rocker arm assembly 10 is transverse to the direction of extension of the frame 1 in the neutral position of the landing gear.

Preferably, the rocker arm assembly 10 further includes a rocker arm stand 12 secured to the vehicle frame 1. The rocker arm stand 12 has an extension which extends beyond the top-view contour of the vehicle frame 1 in a first transverse direction of the vehicle frame 1.

Preferably, the first end of the swing arm 11 is pivotally connected to an extension of the swing arm support 12 by a swing arm-to-frame pivot 13, such that the swing arm 11 is only rotatable about the swing arm-to-frame pivot 13. In one example, the rocker-frame pivot 13 comprises a bolt. In one example, the rocker-frame pivot 13 is pivotally connected by a hinge.

Preferably, the free end of the rocker arm 11 extends beyond the top profile of the frame 1 in a second transverse direction, opposite to the first transverse direction.

As shown in fig. 1, a first end of the ram 21 of the ram assembly 20 is pivotally connected to the free end of the rocker arm 11 and a second end of the ram 21 is pivotally connected to the first axle position A1 of the first axle 2.

Preferably, the ram assembly 20 is parallel to the direction of extension of the frame 1 in the neutral position of the landing gear.

Preferably, the ram assembly 20 further comprises a ram support 22 fixed to the first wheel axle 1. The ram holder 22 is fixed to the first wheel axle 1 in a first wheel axle position A1. Preferably, the first axle position A1 is adjacent to the axle-to-frame pivot 3 to reduce the risk of possible interference between the ram 21 and the wheel connected to the first axle 2.

Preferably, a first end of the ram 21 is pivotally connected to the free end of the rocker arm 11 by a ram-rocker pivot 23.

Preferably, the second end of the ram 21 is pivotally connected to the ram support 22 by a ram-axle pivot 24.

In one example, the ram-rocker pivot 23 and the ram-axle pivot 24 comprise bolts. In one example, the ram-rocker pivot 23 and the ram-axle pivot 24 are pivotally connected by a hinge.

Preferably, the ram 21 may be a hydraulic ram which is permitted to extend or retract under hydraulic pressure.

Preferably, as the ram 21 contracts, the spacing between the first end of the ram 21 and the frame 1 decreases and the spacing between the second end of the ram 21 and the frame 1 decreases, as will be discussed in more detail below.

As shown in fig. 1, a first end of the drawbar 31 of the drawbar assembly 30 is pivotally connected to an intermediate position of the rocker arm 11, and a second end of the drawbar 31 is pivotally connected to the second axle position A2 of the first axle 2.

Preferably, the tie rod assembly 30 is angled with respect to the direction of extension of the frame 1 in the neutral position of the landing gear.

Preferably, the tie rod assembly 30 further includes a tie rod mount 32 fixed to the first axle 1. The tie rod support 32 is fixed to the first wheel axle 1 in the second wheel axle position A2. Preferably, the second axle position A2 is adjacent to the axle-frame pivot 3. In one example, the first wheel axle position A1 and the second wheel axle position A2 are mirror images opposite with respect to the frame 1. In one example, the first and second axle positions A1 and A2 abut against the axle-frame pivot 3.

Preferably, a first end of the tie rod 31 is pivotally connected to an intermediate position of the rocker arm 11 by a tie rod-rocker pivot 33.

Preferably, the first end of the tie rod 31 is inside the top profile of the frame 1.

Preferably, the second end of the tie rod 31 is pivotally connected to the tie rod support 32 by a tie rod-axle pivot 34.

In one example, the tie-rocker pivot 33 and the tie-axle pivot 34 comprise bolts. In one example, the tie-rocker pivot 33 and the tie-axle pivot 34 are pivotally connected by a hinge.

Figures 2 and 3 schematically show top views of the undercarriage of figure 1 rotated in a first steering direction and a second steering direction. Previously described components are similarly numbered in subsequent figures and are not re-described for brevity.

When it is desired that the frame is facing a first steering direction, as shown in fig. 2, the ram 21 is extended, e.g. under the influence of hydraulic pressure, such that the second end of the ram 21 pushes the first wheel axle 2 to rotate about the wheel axle-frame pivot 3 in the first steering direction at the first wheel axle position A1.

At the same time, the first end of the ram 21 pushes the rocker arm 11 at the free end of the rocker arm 11 to rotate about the rocker-frame pivot 13, thereby moving the first end of the tie rod 31.

In turn, the second end of the tie rod 31 pulls the first wheel axle 2 to rotate in the first direction of rotation about the wheel axle-frame pivot 3 at the second wheel axle position A2.

Likewise, when it is desired that the frame is facing the second steering direction, as shown in fig. 3, the ram 21 contracts, e.g. shortens under the influence of hydraulic pressure, such that the second end of the ram 21 pulls the first wheel axle 2 to rotate about the wheel axle-frame pivot 3 in the second steering direction at the first wheel axle position A1.

At the same time, the first end of the ram 21 pulls the rocker arm 11 at the free end of the rocker arm 11 to rotate about the rocker-frame pivot 13, thereby bringing the first end of the tie rod 31 into motion.

In turn, the second end of the tie rod 31 pushes the first wheel axle 2 to rotate in the second steering direction about the wheel axle-frame pivot 3 at the second wheel axle position A2.

The output load of the actuator cylinder can push the wheel shaft to turn, and the other end of the actuator cylinder can push the wheel shaft to turn through driving the rocker arm and the pull rod. And through stress analysis, the steering load at the pull rod is larger than the output load of the actuating cylinder, so that the steering device disclosed by the invention improves the load efficiency of the actuating cylinder by more than one time by prolonging the stroke of the actuating cylinder. The output load of the invention is significantly greater than that of the prior art.

Furthermore, since the ram is pivotally connected to the rocker arm, rotation of the rocker arm causes the free end of the rocker arm to move towards the vehicle frame when the ram is actuated, which helps to reduce the spacing between the first end of the ram and the vehicle frame 1, thereby reducing interference between the ram and the wheel and increasing the angle at which the wheel axle can deflect.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art that the disclosed subject matter can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.

The present disclosure also includes various modifications and variations within an equivalent range. In addition, various combinations and modes, and other combinations and modes including only one element, one or more elements, and one or less elements also belong to the scope and idea of the present disclosure.

The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and not restrictive.

Claims

1. An undercarriage with steering gear, the undercarriage comprising a vehicle frame (1) and at least two axles, and the axles are each connected to a pair of wheels, wherein the first axle (2) passes through the axle-car A frame pivot (3) is pivotally connected to the frame (1), characterized in that,

The steering device includes:

a rocker arm assembly (10), the rocker arm (11) of which is pivotally connected to the frame (1);

A jack assembly (20), the jack (21) of the jack assembly (20) having a first end pivotally connected to the free end of the rocker arm (11), and the jack The second end of (21) is pivotally connected to the first axle position (A1) of said first axle (2); and

A pull rod assembly (30), the first end of the pull rod (31) of the pull rod assembly (30) is pivotally connected to the middle position of the rocker arm (11), and the second end of the pull rod (31) is pivoted a second axle position (A2) rotationally connected to said first axle (2),

Wherein, when the jack (21) drives the first axle (2) around the axle-frame pivot (3) at the first axle position (A1) on the undercarriage When rotating in the first steering direction, the draw rod (31) simultaneously drives the first axle (2) around the axle-frame pivot (3) at the second axle position (A2). ) rotates in the first steering direction.

2. The landing gear with steering device according to claim 1, wherein,

The rocker arm assembly (10) is transverse to the extension direction of the frame (1) when the landing gear is in the neutral position, and the rocker arm assembly (10) further comprises a rocker arm support (12),

wherein the rocker arm mount (12) is fixed to the frame (1) and has an extension extending beyond the top view profile of the frame (1) in a first transverse direction of the frame (1) department,

Wherein the first end of the rocker arm (11) is pivotally connected to the extension of the rocker arm support (12) via a rocker arm-frame pivot (13).

3. The landing gear with steering device according to claim 2, wherein,

The free end of the rocker arm (11) extends beyond the top view profile of the frame (1) in a second transverse direction opposite to the first transverse direction.

4. The landing gear with steering device according to claim 1, wherein,

The jack assembly (20) is parallel to the extension direction of the frame (1) when the undercarriage is in the neutral position, and the jack assembly (20) includes a jack mount (22) ,

wherein, the jack support (22) is fixed to the first axle position (A1) of the first axle (1),

Wherein, the first end of the jack (21) is pivotally connected to the free end of the rocker arm (11) by a jack-rocker pivot (23), and the jack ( The second end of 21) is pivotally connected to the jack mount (22) by a jack-axle pivot (24).

5. The landing gear with steering device according to claim 1, wherein,

When the undercarriage is changed from the neutral position to the first turning direction or the second turning direction opposite to the first turning direction, the jack (21) is extended or retracted, and the The distance between the first end of the jack (21) and the frame (1) is reduced.

6. The landing gear with steering device according to claim 1, wherein,

The tie rod assembly (30) is angled with the extension direction of the frame (1) when the undercarriage is in the neutral position, and the tie rod assembly (30) comprises a tie rod support (32),

Wherein, the tie rod support (32) is fixed to the second axle position (A2) of the first axle (1),

Wherein, the first end of the pull rod (31) is pivotally connected to the middle position of the rocker arm (11) through the pull rod-rocker arm pivot (33), and the second end of the pull rod (31) It is pivotally connected to the tie rod mount (32) by a tie rod-axle pivot (34).

7. The landing gear with steering device according to claim 1, wherein,

The first end of the tie rod (31) is inside the top view profile of the frame (1).

8. The landing gear with steering device according to claim 1, wherein,

the first axle position (A1) and the second axle position (A2) abut the axle-frame pivot (3), and

The first axle position (A1) and the second axle position (A2) are mirror images opposite to the frame (1).

9. The landing gear with steering device according to claim 1, wherein,

When the jack (21) is extended, the jack (21) pushes the first axle (2) around the axle-frame pivot at the first axle position (A1) The swivel (3) rotates in the first steering direction, and at the same time the pull rod (31) pulls the first axle (2) around the axle-car at the second axle position (A2) the frame pivot (3) rotates in the first steering direction, and

When the jack ( 21 ) is retracted, the jack ( 21 ) pulls the first axle ( 2 ) at the first axle position ( A1 ) to pivot about the axle-frame The part (3) rotates in a second steering direction opposite to the first steering direction, and at the same time the pull rod (31) pushes the first axle (2) around the second axle position (A2) The axle-frame pivot (3) rotates in the second steering direction.

10. An aircraft with a landing gear, characterized in that the landing gear of the aircraft has the steering device according to any one of claims 1-9.