GB1012803A - Improvements in or relating to aircraft undercarriages - Google Patents

Abstract

1,012,803. Aircraft undercarriages; aircushion vehicles. MINISTER OF AVIATION. Sept. 3, 1964 [July 5, 1963], No. 26701/63. Headings B7G and B7K. A helicopter undercarriage comprises a suction pad at the extremity of each leg for suction attachment with the landing surface and for bearing the landing loads and a rotatable load carrying ball or roller associated with the leg and positioned or so movable that the helicopter may be supported by the ball or roller for movement on the landing surface on release of the suction. An undercarriage leg 22 carries a ball-and-socket connection 21 for an oval housing 10 which has. a recessed base 26 and a peripheral sealing member 13 so that suction applied at a conduit 25 will cause the housing 10, resting on landing surface 17, to act as a suction cup. Alternatively, compressed air may be supplied through conduit 25 to form an air cushion beneath the housing to assist lift-off of the helicopter. A plurality of balls or rollers 27 are mounted for rotation in anti-friction surfaces 28 carried by a piston 29 formed with a hollow crown 33 for the admission of pressure liquid through a conduit 32. When suction has been released, pressure liquid is delivered to external pistons 29 so that the balls or rollers extend below the base to enable the helicopter to be manoeuvred on the landing surface. In an alternative embodiment a single ball or roller is mounted coaxially with the leg in the centre of a circular housing mounted on a part-spherical joint and provided with a plurality of centralizing springs. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 915,875.