US4116315A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Landing gear actuator
Assignee: Westran Corp
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Filing: 1977-01-06
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Granted: 1978-09-26
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Expires: 1997-01-06
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic landing gear actuator is provided for use with an extendible and retractable landing gear assembly having an input member the rotation of which extends or retracts the landing gear foot in dependence upon the direction of rotation. The landing gear actuator includes a shaft which is drivingly connected to at least one, and preferably two, rotatable input members on two spaced landing gear assemblies. A pair of one-way clutches, each having a drive and driven member, are disposed coaxially around the shaft while a shifting gear selectively drivingly connects the driven member of one clutch or the other to the shaft. A pneumatic air cylinder can be connected to the air system of the tractor to simultaneously reciprocally rotatably drive both clutch drive members via a radial arm. Such compressed air systems are utilized for the air brakes in tractor-trailer combinations so it is readily available on most tractors for use with the present invention. The one-way clutches differ from each other in that one clutch engages only during clockwise rotation of the drive member relative to its driven member while the other clutch engages only during counterclockwise rotation of the drive member relative to its driven member. Thus, the direction of rotation of the shaft resulting from reciprocal rotation of the clutch drive members is dependent upon which of the two clutches is drivingly connected to the shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Ervin K. Vandenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:00
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D21/00; F16D21/02; F16D21/04; B; B60; B60S; B60S9/00; B60S9/02; B60S9/04; B60S9/06; B60S9/08; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0857; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/15; Y10T74/1526; Y10T74/1553; Y10T74/1555; Y10T74/18; Y10T74/18056; Y10T74/18088; Y10T74/18128
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
For use with a landing gear assembly having an extendable and retractable foot and an input member the rotation of which extends or retracts the foot in dependence upon the direction of rotation of said member, a landing gear actuator comprising: a rotatable member drivingly connected with said input member; a one-way clutch having a driven member and a drive member, said driven member being rotatably positioned around said rotatable member; means for selectively drivingly connecting said driven member with said rotatable member, said means comprising an annular member fixedly attached to the rotatable member at a position axially spaced from the driven member, and a shifting gear disposed around said annular member and fixed against rotation with respect to the annular member, said shifting gear being axially movable between a position in which said shifting gear rotatably drivingly connects the driven member with the annular member and a further position in which the shifting gear is out of engagement with the driven member; and means for reciprocally rotatably driving said clutch drive member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
For use with a landing gear assembly having an extendable and retractable foot and an input member the rotation of which extends or retracts the foot in dependence upon the direction of rotation of said member, a landing gear actuator comprising: a rotatable member drivingly connected with said input member; a one-way clutch having a driven member and a drive member, said driven member being rotatably positioned around said rotatable member; means for selectively drivingly connecting said driven member with said rotatable member, said means comprising an annular member fixedly attached to the rotatable member at a position axially spaced from the driven member, and a shifting gear disposed around said annular member and fixed against rotation with respect to the annular member, said shifting gear being axially movable between a position in which said shifting gear rotatably drivingly connects the driven member with the annular member and a further position in which the shifting gear is out of engagement with the driven member; and means for reciprocally rotatably driving said clutch drive member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 and further including a second one-way clutch having a drive member and a driven member, and means for selectively drivingly connecting the driven member of one of said clutches with said rotatable member wherein said clutches engage in opposite rotational directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
111 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the driven members of said clutches are slidably disposed around said rotatable member in an axially spaced relationship, said annular member being attached to said rotatable member between said driven members, said shifting gear being disposed around said rotatable member and movable between a first and a second axial position wherein in said first position said shifting gear drivingly connects one of said driven members with said annular member and wherein in said second position said shifting gear drivingly connects the other driven member with said annular member, and means for axially shifting said shifting gear between said first and second axial positions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said shifting means comprises a yoke slidably received in a recess formed in said shifting gear and a handle means connected to said yoke for axially shifting said yoke.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said clutches is a Sprague clutch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
64 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said reciprocal driving means further comprises an arm member attached to and extending radially outwardly from said clutch drive member, an elongated piston rod pivotally attached at one end to the outwardly extending end of said arm member, and means for linearly, reciprocally driving said piston rod whereby said clutch drive member is reciprocally rotatably driven.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said last mentioned means comprises a reciprocating pneumatic actuator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 and including a second one-way clutch having a drive member and driven member and means for selectively drivingly connecting the driven member of one of said clutches with said rotatable member wherein said clutches engage in opposite rotational directions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said arm member is attached to both of said clutch drive members.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said clutch drive members are coaxial and said arm member includes a tube encompassing and attached to the drive members.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 and including means for positioning said shifting gear substantially midway between said shifting gear axial positions so that said shifting gear drivingly connects both clutch driven members with said rotatable member to thereby lock said rotatable member against rotation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-09-25 | 1982-03-27 | 1982-09-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-09-25 | 1986-03-27 | 1986-09-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-09-25 | 1990-03-27 | 1990-09-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |