Method and apparatus for applying bending load to an axle of an aircraft landing gear

1. Apparatus for applying a bending load to an axle of an aircraft landing gear, the apparatus comprising:

a dummy wheel having a dummy wheel bearing and an axis of rotation; and

a load tool having a convex outer surface when viewed in cross section with the plane of said cross section parallel with said axis of rotation of said dummy wheel, said load tool configured to engage the dummy wheel and to apply the bending load to the axle via the dummy wheel bearing, wherein the dummy wheel is shaped to enable it to roll over the convex outer surface of the load tool as the axle bends.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the load tool has a load tool bearing which permits the load tool to move as it applies the bending load to the axle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the load tool bearing is a linear load tool bearing which permits the load tool to move in a straight line as it applies the bending load to the axle.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the load tool bearing is a rolling-element bearing.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the load tool bearing permits the load tool to move in two orthogonal directions.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an actuator for applying bending load to the axle in a different direction to the load tool.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the actuator is connected to the dummy wheel at one end and to another axle of the aircraft landing gear at another end.

8. A system for testing an axle of an aircraft landing gear, the system comprising:

the apparatus of claim 1 for applying bending load to the axle;

one or more sensors for sensing the load applied to the axle; and

one or more sensors for sensing the response of the axle to the applied load.

9. Apparatus for applying bending load to an axle of an aircraft landing gear, the apparatus comprising a dummy wheel having a dummy wheel bearing; and a load tool having a convex outer surface which is configured to engage the dummy wheel when in use so as to apply the bending load to the axle via the dummy wheel bearing, wherein the dummy wheel is shaped to enable it to roll over the convex outer surface of the load tool as the axle bends, wherein the dummy wheel has a series of recesses formed in its surface, the recesses being shaped to enable them to roll over the convex outer surface of the load tool.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each recess has a curved concave surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein each recess is elongate in shape when viewed in plan.

12. Apparatus for applying a bending load to an axle of an aircraft landing gear, the apparatus comprising a dummy wheel having a dummy wheel bearing; and a load tool having a convex outer surface which is configured to engage the dummy wheel when in use so as to apply the bending load to the axle via the dummy wheel bearing, wherein the dummy wheel is shaped to enable it to roll over the convex outer surface of the load tool as the axle bends, wherein the convex outer surface of the load tool is elongate in shape when viewed in plan.

13. A method of applying a bending load to an axle of an aircraft landing gear, the method comprising:

fitting a dummy wheel to the axle via a dummy wheel bearing and having an axis of rotation; and

applying the bending load to the axle by engaging the dummy wheel with an outer surface of a load tool, said outer surface having a convex shape when viewed in cross section where the plane of the cross section is parallel with said axis of rotation, wherein the bending of the axle causes the dummy wheel to roll over the convex outer surface of the load tool.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the bending of the axle causes the load tool to move.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the bending of the axle causes the load tool to move in a straight line.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the bending load is applied to the axle in a first direction by the load tool, and the method further comprises applying bending load to the axle in a second direction.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the bending load in the second direction is applied by an actuator which is connected to the dummy wheel at one end and to another axle of the aircraft landing gear at another end.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the load tool applies the bending load to the axle in a vertical direction.

19. A method of testing an axle of an aircraft landing gear, the method comprising:

applying a bending load to the axle by the method of claim 13 ;

sensing the load applied to the axle; and

sensing the response of the axle to the applied load.

20. Apparatus for applying a bending load to an axle of an aircraft landing gear, the apparatus comprising:

a dummy wheel having a dummy wheel bearing; and

a load tool having a convex outer surface which is configured to engage the dummy wheel and to apply the bending load to the axle via the dummy wheel bearing, wherein the dummy wheel is shaped to enable it to roll over the convex outer surface of the load tool as the axle bends, wherein the load tool bearing permits the load tool to move in two orthogonal directions, wherein the load tool has a load tool bearing which permits the load tool to move as it applies the bending load to the axle.

21. A method of applying a bending load to an axle of an aircraft landing gear, the method comprising:

fitting a dummy wheel to the axle via a dummy wheel bearing;

applying a bending load in a first direction to the axle by engaging the dummy wheel with a convex outer surface of a load tool, wherein the bending of the axle causes the dummy wheel to roll over the convex outer surface of the load tool; and

applying a bending load to the axle in a second direction, wherein the bending load in the second direction is applied by an actuator which is connected to the dummy wheel at one end and to another axle of the aircraft landing gear at another end.