GB542648A - Improvements in aircraft steerable wheel mountings - Google Patents

Abstract

542,648. Steering vehicles. MACLAREN UNDERCARRIAGE CO., Ltd., MACLAREN, O. F., and BAYNES, L. E. July 16, 1940, No. 11774. [Class 79 (v)] [Also in Group XXXIII] A steerable-wheel mounting for aircraft comprises a non-steerable part providing a steering axis, a steerable part mounted thereon and itself carrying the wheel hub, and remote-controlled steering means acting between the two parts and housed mainly or entirely within the wheel hub. The steering means are preferably hydraulic. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 applied to a landing-wheel a wheel fork 13 carries a fixed axle 12 to which is secured a vertical' sleeve 15 acting as a pivot for a swivel member 11 on which the wheel hub 8 rotates on bearings 10. The member 11, is swivelled for steering by the vertical movement of a piston 24 on a vertical rod 14 having at its ends cross-heads 18, 19 provided with rollers 18<SP>1</SP>, 19<SP>1</SP> engaging diagonal slots 20. 21 in the fixed sleeve 15 and vertical slots 22, 23 in the member 11. Vertical movement of the rod 14 causes it to rotate on its axis due to the diagonal slots and this rotation is transmitted to the member 11 by the vertical slots. Fluid-pressure is applied as required through nipples 29, 30 to the space above or below the piston 24 which works in the sleeve 15 as a cylinder and is normally kept in a central position by springs 27. 28. In the construction shown in Fig.. 6 in plan the swivel member 33 is mounted on the axle 32 through vertical trunnions for steering and is swivelled by means of a plunger 40 working in the axle as a cylinder, this plunger carrying a sliding arm 41 connected by a pivot pin 42 to the member 33 so as to steer the latter. According to the Provisional Specification bevel gearing may be provided between the steering swivel and the fluid-pressure means. Specification 118,158, [Class 79 (v)], is referred to.