GB606079A - Operating aircraft landing gear - Google Patents

Abstract

606,079. Retractable undercarriages for aircraft. MARTIN, J. April 10, 1946, No. 891. [Class 4] Mechanism for operating retractable undercarriages and landing wheels of an aeroplane comprises a pneumatic operating unit, which actuates one or more retractable undercarriages through mechanical connecting means, and a single control means to actuate individual locking catches of the undercarriages and to effect simultaneous or concurrent operation of all the undercarriages. The undercarriages may be as shown in Specifications 558,751 and 558,752 and comprise foldable struts 4, 8. The operating unit 40 comprises a cylinder 17 in the upper part of which works a piston 41 carried on the top of a hollow piston-rod 42, carrying at its lower end pulleys for cables 52, for operating main undercarriages 2, and cable 53 for operating tail-wheel undercarriage 6. The single control means comprises a handlever 14, which when turned to the raised position shown in dotted lines releases an exhaust valve 16 of the pneumatic unit pressure supply and also closes an electric switch 18 to open a valve 19 in the pressuresupply conduit leading to pneumatic cylinder 17 for raising the undercarriages. For lowering the undercarriages when coming in to land the control lever 14 is turned down to release through a rod 13 and levers 12 the locking catches of the foldable struts 4, 8 of the undercarriages and to open exhaust valve 16 of the pneumatic system. A switch 24 on one of the undercarriages 2 remains open while the plane is grounded.