GB531750A - Improvements relating to retractable undercarriages for aircraft - Google Patents

Abstract

531,750. Retractable undercarriages. AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, Ltd., DOWTY, G. H., and BRIDGES, D. G. March 31, 1939, Nos. 10138/39 and 476/40. [Class 4] An aircraft undercarriage includes a mounting adapted for rigid connection to an aircraft structure, a leg resiliently carrying a landing element and swingable about a pivot on the mounting for retraction and extension, and interengaging locking means constituted by members one on the leg and the other on the mounting to afford means for securing the leg in a cantilevered extended relationship with the mounting to afford a structure capable of transmitting landing and taxying loads from the landing element to the aircraft. In one form a leg 7 carrying a wheel and shock absorber at its lower end is pivoted at 6 to a channel shaped member 4 secured to the aircraft, and in the extended position the leg rests against an extension 4a of the member to which it is locked by a catch 13 urged by a spring 20 into engagement with a pin 10 on the extension 4a. A jack 8, 9 is connected between a pivot 12 on the member 4 and a lug 11 on the leg 7 a pin 18 on the jack cylinder 8 engaging a slot 19 in the lug 11 so that initial movement causes a lever 16 to dis-engage the catch 13 before moving the leg. Simultaneously a connection 23 sets a catch 21 ready to engage a pin 24 on the aircraft to lock the leg in its raised position. Fig. 2 shows a modification in which a laterally swinging leg is locked in extended position by a toggle 39 held in alignment by a pivoted catch 44 engaging a pin 50 on the toggle. Initial movement of the jack dis-engages the catch, the hooked end of which is shaped to break the toggle as the catch is dis-engaged.