David Scott Devine

US Patent:

7621481, Nov 24, 2009

Filed:

Sep 3, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/933962

Inventors:

Brian Keith Hershberger - Granada Hills CA, US
David J. Devine - Thousand Oaks CA, US
Axel Sehic - Canyon County CA, US

Assignee:

Lockheed-Martin Corporation - Bethesda MD

International Classification:

B64C 25/10
B64C 25/20

US Classification:

244102A, 244102 SS

Abstract:

A landing gear assembly comprises a landing gear strut assembly further comprising a landing gear strut having a longitudinal axis and extending from an inboard end to an outboard end capable of attaching to a wheel, and a landing gear housing. The landing gear housing has a longitudinal axis coincident with the landing gear strut longitudinal axis and having an interior chamber capable of accepting a portion of the landing gear strut. The landing gear housing is capable of pivotably coupling to an aircraft. The landing gear assembly further comprises a retraction linkage having an inboard end capable of coupling to the aircraft and an outboard end coupled to the landing gear housing. The retraction linkage is moveable to retract the landing gear strut assembly into an aircraft landing gear compartment about the landing gear housing pivotable aircraft coupling. The landing gear assembly further comprises a steering linkage capable of coupling and decoupling to the landing gear strut and, when coupled, capable of steerably rotating the landing gear strut with respect to the landing gear housing about the coincident longitudinal axis. The landing gear assembly further comprises a planing linkage that can gradually rotate the landing gear strut into a planar position as the landing gear strut assembly is retracted and decoupled from the steering linkage.