Granted Patent B2

US 12,722,804 · App. 19/024,673 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventors: Tabitha Au (Luke AFB, AZ); Michael Williamson (Peoria, AZ)

Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

B64F5/10

Abstract

Claims (15)

1 . A tool for aligning a nose tire on a F-35 aircraft, the tool defining a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular thereto and comprising:

a yoke having two opposed arms extending outwardly from a common proximal end to two transversely spaced distal ends remote therefrom and defining a space therebetween, each arm having an articulable protuberance proximate the distal end of the respective arm wherein each protuberance is bilaterally articulable from a closed position wherein the respective trunnion is parallel to the transverse axis to an open position wherein the respective trunnion is skewed relative to the transverse axis, protuberance being bistable in the open position and the closed position and not therebetween; and

a trunnion disposed on each articulable protuberance, each trunnion extending towards the longitudinal axis and being adapted to fit into a gudgeon of a F-35 landing gear.

2 . A tool according to claim 1 wherein each protuberance articulates about a hinge perpendicular to a plane defined by the mutually perpendicular longitudinal axis and transverse axis.

3 . A tool according to claim 1 further comprising a spring operably associated with one protuberance and biasing that protuberance towards a closed position.

4 . A tool for aligning a nose tire on a F-35 aircraft, the tool defining a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular thereto and comprising:

a yoke having two opposed arms extending outwardly from a common proximal end to two transversely spaced distal ends remote therefrom and defining a space therebetween, each arm having an articulable protuberance proximate the distal end of the respective arm;

a trunnion disposed on each articulable protuberance, each trunnion extending towards the longitudinal axis and being adapted to fit into a gudgeon of a F-35 landing gear, and a pair of springs with a spring operably associated with each protuberance and biasing each protuberance towards a closed position wherein the protuberance is parallel to the transverse axis.

5 . A tool according to claim 4 wherein the springs have mutually different retraction forces.

6 . A tool according to claim 4 further comprising at least one stop juxtaposed with the distal end of an arm and limiting articulation of the corresponding protuberance to thereby define the closed position.

7 . A tool according to claim 6 further comprising a respective pocket disposed on the protuberance and positionally associated with each at least one stop to receive the stop therein while in the closed position and provide proper alignment of the protuberance during use.

8 . A tool for aligning a nose tire on a F-35 aircraft, the tool defining a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis perpendicular thereto and comprising:

a yoke having two opposed arms extending outwardly from a common proximal end to two transversely spaced distal ends remote therefrom and defining a space therebetween, each arm having an articulable protuberance proximate the distal end of the respective arm;

a trunnion disposed on each articulable protuberance, each trunnion extending towards the longitudinal axis and being adapted to fit into a gudgeon of a F-35 landing gear; and an elongate breaker bar cantilevered outwardly from the common proximal end of the yoke.

9 . A tool according to claim 8 wherein the elongate breaker bar is coincident the longitudinal axis.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (10)