Granted Patent B2

US 12,617,524 · App. 18/626,756 · Granted May 5, 2026

Inventor: Jason Bradley Allen (Waco, TX)

Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION

B64C25/26B64C25/22F04B17/04F15B11/08F15B2211/212

Abstract

Claims (72)

1 . An electrohydrostatic actuator (EHA) for unlocking an uplock of an aircraft, the EHA comprising:

a solenoid;

a primary plunger positioned within the solenoid;

a secondary plunger positioned within a first chamber separate from the solenoid, wherein the secondary plunger is mechanically coupled to the primary plunger within the solenoid via a shaft;

a first manifold, wherein the first manifold is fluidly coupled to the first chamber;

an extension, wherein:

a first end of the extension is mechanically coupled to the secondary plunger,

a second end of the extension is positioned within a second chamber, and

the first manifold is fluidly coupled to the second chamber; and

an unlock mechanism,

wherein, responsive to the solenoid being energized, the solenoid is configured to translate the primary plunger in a first direction to push a hydraulic fluid within the first chamber, via the secondary plunger, into the first manifold, via a first check valve, that feeds the unlock mechanism and, at a same time, translate the extension in the first direction to push hydraulic fluid within the second chamber, via the extension, into the first manifold, via a second check valve, that feeds the unlock mechanism, and

wherein, responsive to a command to unlock the uplock of the aircraft, the hydraulic fluid in the first manifold is pushed to the unlock mechanism, thereby causing the unlock mechanism to maneuver an over-centered mechanism over a centerline and unlock an uplocked landing gear.

2 . The EHA of claim 1 , further comprising:

an unloading valve; and

a reservoir,

wherein, responsive to a pressure in the first manifold exceeding predetermined pressure, the unloading valve redirects a portion of the hydraulic fluid in the first manifold to the reservoir.

3 . The EHA of claim 2 , further comprising:

a second manifold,

wherein the unloading valve redirects the portion of the hydraulic fluid in the first manifold to the reservoir via the second manifold.

4 . The EHA of claim 3 , further comprising:

wherein, responsive to the command to unlock the uplock of the aircraft ending, pushing the hydraulic fluid in the reservoir into at least one of the first chamber or the second chamber while the secondary plunger is being spring-returned to a first position from a second position in a second direction opposite the first direction.

5 . The EHA of claim 1 , further comprising:

an accumulator,

wherein the accumulator is fluidly coupled to the first manifold, and

wherein, responsive to a command to charge the accumulator, the hydraulic fluid in the first manifold is pushed to the accumulator.

6 . The EHA of claim 5 ,

wherein, responsive to the command to unlock the uplock of the aircraft, the hydraulic fluid from the accumulator is pushed to the unlock mechanism thereby causing the unlock mechanism to maneuver the over-centered mechanism over the centerline and unlock the uplocked landing gear.

7 . The EHA of claim 1 , further comprising:

a relief valve; and

a reservoir,

wherein the relief valve is configured to open in response to an overload pressure in the first manifold, and

wherein, responsive to the relief valve opening in response to the overload pressure, an excess hydraulic fluid in the first manifold is released into the reservoir.

8 . The EHA of claim 1 , further comprising:

a directional valve,

wherein the command to unlock the uplock of the aircraft activates the directional valve so that the hydraulic fluid in the first manifold is pushed to the unlock mechanism.

9 . An aircraft, the aircraft comprising:

a landing gear; and

an electrohydrostatic actuator (EHA) for unlocking the landing gear in an uplocked position, the EHA comprising:

a solenoid;

a primary plunger positioned within the solenoid;

a secondary plunger positioned within a first chamber separate from the solenoid, the secondary plunger is mechanically coupled to the primary plunger within the solenoid via a shaft;

a first manifold;

an extension, wherein:

a first end of the extension is mechanically coupled to the secondary plunger,

a second end of the extension is positioned within a second chamber, and

the first manifold is fluidly coupled to the second chamber; and

an unlock mechanism,

wherein, responsive to the solenoid being energized, the solenoid is configured to translate the primary plunger in a first direction to push first hydraulic fluid within the first chamber, via the secondary plunger, into the first manifold, via a first check valve, that feeds the unlock mechanism and, at a same time, translate the extension in the first direct direction to push a second hydraulic fluid within the second chamber, via the extension, into the first manifold, via a second check valve, that feeds the unlock mechanism, and

wherein, responsive to a command to unlock an uplock of the aircraft, the first hydraulic fluid and the second hydraulic fluid are pushed to the unlock mechanism thereby causing the unlock mechanism to maneuver an over-centered mechanism over a centerline and unlock an uplocked landing gear.

10 . The aircraft of claim 9 , wherein the EHA further comprises:

an unloading valve; and

a reservoir,

wherein, responsive to a pressure in the first manifold exceeding predetermined pressure, the unloading valve redirects a portion of the hydraulic fluid in the first manifold to the reservoir.

11 . The aircraft of claim 10 , wherein the EHA further comprises:

a second manifold,

wherein the unloading valve redirects the portion of the hydraulic fluid in the first manifold to the reservoir via the second manifold.

12 . The aircraft of claim 11 , wherein the EHA further comprises:

wherein, responsive to the command to unlock the uplock of the aircraft ending, pushing the hydraulic fluid in the reservoir into at least one of the first chamber or the second chamber while the secondary plunger is being spring-returned to a first position from a second position in a second direction opposite the first direction.

13 . The EHA of claim 9 , wherein the EHA further comprises:

an accumulator,

wherein the accumulator is fluidly coupled to the first manifold, and

wherein, responsive to a command to charge the accumulator, the hydraulic fluid in the first manifold is pushed to the accumulator.

14 . The aircraft of claim 13 ,

wherein, responsive to the command to unlock the uplock of the aircraft, the hydraulic fluid from the accumulator is pushed to the unlock mechanism thereby causing the unlock mechanism to maneuver the over-centered mechanism over the centerline and unlock the uplocked landing gear.

15 . The aircraft of claim 9 , wherein the EHA further comprises:

a relief valve; and

a reservoir,

wherein the relief valve is configured to open in response to an overload pressure in the first manifold, and

wherein, responsive to the relief valve opening in response to the overload pressure, excess hydraulic fluid in the first manifold is released into the reservoir.

16 . The aircraft of claim 9 , wherein the EHA further comprises:

a directional valve,

wherein the command to unlock the uplock of the aircraft activates the directional valve so that the hydraulic fluid is pushed to the unlock mechanism.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (12)