Multifunction device for an undercarriage

1. A multifunction device for an undercarriage, the multifunction device comprising at least:

a first shaft rotatably mounted on an aircraft to rotate about an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to a hinge axis hinging the undercarriage to the aircraft;

a telescopic second shaft rotatably mounted on the undercarriage and extending along a member of the undercarriage;

first transmission equipment for transmitting rotary motion from the first shaft to the telescopic second shaft;

second transmission equipment for transmitting rotary motion from the telescopic second shaft to at least one wheel of a plurality of wheels carried by the undercarriage;

a brake for selectively braking said at least one wheel; and

a motor adapted to cause the first shaft to rotate;

the multifunction device being characterized in that the telescopic second shaft is a single shaft and it extends inside the member of the undercarriage in direction of an axle carrying said wheels of the undercarriage, the second transmission equipment including a differential connected to the wheels carried by the axle via drive shafts extending inside the axle.

2. The multifunction device for an undercarriage according to claim 1 , wherein each wheel carried by the axle and connected to the differential is connected to the differential via a coupler for selectively coupling or uncoupling said wheel to the differential.

3. The multifunction device according to claim 2 , wherein hollow shafts extend around the drive shafts of the wheels and are secured to a cage of the differential carrying fan blades.

4. The multifunction device according to claim 1 , wherein the motor is adapted to actuate sequentially either the multifunction device, or else wing flaps arranged close to the undercarriage carrying the multifunction device.

5. A method of raising an aircraft undercarriage between a deployed position and a stowed position relative to a structure of the aircraft, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the multifunction device according to claim 1 ;

unlocking a side-brace member of the undercarriage;

preventing the first shaft and the telescopic second shaft of the multifunction device from rotating relative to the undercarriage, by actuating the said brake for selectively braking said at least one wheel; and

controlling the motor to cause the first shaft to turn relative to the structure of the aircraft.

6. A method of lowering an aircraft undercarriage fitted with the multifunction device according to claim 1 , between a stowed position and a deployed position, the method comprising the steps of:

releasing the undercarriage to allow it to descend;

preventing the shafts of the multifunction device from rotating relative to the undercarriage, by actuating said brake for selectively braking said at least one wheel; and

controlling the forced rotation of the motor introduced by the undercarriage descending so as to regulate the descent of the undercarriage.

7. A method of setting into rotation the wheels of an aircraft undercarriage fitted with the multifunction device according to claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:

ensuring that the undercarriage is in its deployed position;

controlling the motor to cause the first shaft to rotate, so as to cause the second shaft to rotate, with this rotary motion being transmitted to the wheels via the differential.

8. A method of cooling brake disks fitted to wheels carried by an aircraft undercarriage fitted with the multifunction device according to claim 3 , the method comprising the steps of:

controlling the couplers to uncouple the drive shafts from the wheels; and

controlling the motor to cause the hollow shafts carrying the fan blades to rotate.

9. A method of setting into rotation the wheels of an aircraft undercarriage fitted with the multifunction device according to claim 2 , the method comprising the steps of:

ensuring that the undercarriage is in its deployed position;

controlling the motor to cause the first shaft to rotate, so as to cause the second shaft to rotate, with this rotary motion being transmitted to the wheels via the differential.