Textron Innovations Inc.

Textron Eaviation Inc.

Justin Birkey

Steven G Hagerott

Paul C Collado

Gayle Juracek

Sean Michael Killingsworth

Ryan Culp

Tatiana Arends

A landing gear system for an aerial device includes a mounting structure and a main landing gear. The mounting structure is configured to be attached relative to a fuselage of the aerial device. The main landing gear includes a pair of aft swept struts and wheels mounted on each of the aft swept struts. The pair of aft swept struts is attached relative to the mounting structure and extends downwardly and rearwardly relative thereto.

Aft swept spring main landing gear

An oleo strut includes an outer cylinder forming a first fluid chamber and an inner cylinder forming a second fluid chamber. The inner cylinder is adapted for sliding concentrically within the outer cylinder in a longitudinal direction. An orifice plate, which is located within the inner cylinder, has holes for fluidly coupling the first fluid chamber with the second fluid chamber. A free-floating washer is constrained in a slot of the orifice plate adjacent the holes and is adapted to move in the longitudinal direction for alternatively blocking and unblocking at least a portion of the holes. During compression of the oleo strut, fluid pushes the washer away from the holes for reducing resistance to fluid flow. During extension of the oleo strut, fluid pushes the washer against the orifice plate covering at least a portion of the holes, which increases the damping force and reduces the extension speed.

Free-floating washer for rebound damping

Growing community of inventors

Wichita, KS, United States of America

Justin Birkey