11.13 - Landing Gear Flashcards
What is the purpose of a tapered metering pin?
Small end of the metering pin is in the orifice when extended and as the strut collapses, it’s tapered shape steadily decreases the area of the orifice.
The energy in the landing impact is absorbed by the oil as it is forced through the decreasing size orifice and by the air which compresses as the oil is forced into the upper chamber.
Define tricyle and conventional landing gear?
Tricyle landing gear - Nose wheel unit forward of 2 main landing gear units (CG ahead of main landing gear)
Conventional type landing gear - Tail wheel behind 2 main landing gear units (CG aft of landing gear units)
Explain the servicing procedure for a landing gear strut?
Volume of nitrogen determines pressure (pre-charge).
Required pre-charge is found on a graph in Maintenance Manual/landing gear strut/ landing gear door.
Jack the aircraft, strut will give a maximum reading, the strut can be brought to correct pressure by means of a pressure gauge.
Disengage nitrogen bottle, check for leakage. Strut ready
How is a nose landing gear normally centred after take off?
As the strut extends, centring cams in the inner and outer struts ensure the wheel is in the correct position.
What is used to hold a landing gear down and locked?
Overcentre links which remain in position by means of the spring force of the bungee springs.
(Overcentre link between strut and side brace)
Explain the use of a trim cylinder?
A trim cylinder or tilt cylinder ensures the bogie beam (axle carrier) is at the correct angle to fit into the wheel well.
What is the purpose of sequence valves?
Sequence valves ensure operation of the hydraulic components according to a fixed sequence at the correct time and in the correct way.
(Gear extension and retraction sequence)
What happens to the hydraulic system when the emergency extension is actuated?
In this case, the hydraulic fluid must be able to flow around all hydraulically operated cylinders.
For this reason, a bypass valve is opened as the emergency extension system is operated.
What is the purpose of the green, red and amber lights for landing gear indication?
Green = the landing gear is ‘‘down and locked’’
Red = The landing gear is moving ‘‘up’’ or ‘‘down’’ (in transit)
Amber = The wheel doors are not closed
What position is the gear in if no lights are on?
Landing gear is ‘up’ and doors closed and locked
The light is out if the particular landing gear is ‘up’ and the doors are closed and locked. The cockpit crew is not distracted by an unnecessary warning.
How are wheels made up?
Rims are made of aluminium alloys and are of the split type hubs (2 pieces)
What type of bearings are used in aircraft wheels?
Conical roller bearings
What material are tyres made from and why?
Aircraft tyres are made of natural rubber.
Natural rubber conducts heat better than synthetic rubber.
What is the purpose of a wheel fuse?
To melt the plug core at 145^C allowing nitrogen to escape from the tire before pressure builds up due to heat causing a sudden decompression or explosion.
List the components in a braking system?
How is an aircraft steered on the ground?
Castoring system - Differential use of the brakes (used for small aircraft eg cessna)
Tiller system - Used for steep turns of large commercial aircraft
Rudder - Used for minor turning corrections at slow speed on runway etc
What happens to kinetic energy when the aircraft lands?
Upon landing, an oleo shock absorber converts kinetic energy into heat energy and part into a pressure increase.
What is wheel base?
The distance between the centre point of the nose or tail gear to the wheel axles of the main landing gear
What is wheel track?
The distance between the far right and far left landing main landing gear.
What gas is commonly used in landing gear struts?
Nitrogen gas is commonly used in landing gear struts
(compressed air??)
On landing, how is fluid flow within the strut slowed down?
Before landing, the small end of the tapered metering pin is in the orifice. Upon landing, as the strut collapses, the metering pin is forced up and it’s tapered shape gradually decreases the area of the orifice slowing down fluid flow.
What assists in preventing the aircraft from bouncing after landing?
The flapper valve closes after landing to prevent fluid flowing back into the piston which would cause a bounce. The fluid must flow through the small holes in the snubber tube to get back into the piston.
What ensures that the nose landing gear wheels are in the correct position after take-off?
Centring cams in the inner and outer struts. After take-off, as the strut extends, the centring cams force the nose wheel straight ahead.
What component(s) ensures that the process of landing gear extension and retraction occurs in the correct order?
Sequence valves ensure the correct sequence of operation occurs with the hydraulic components, landing gear door opening and closing, up-lock and down-lock mechanism.