Patents by Inventor Edward C. Wells

Edward C. Wells has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4328939
    Abstract: A main landing gear assembly for an airplane includes a set of landing wheels journalled to a shock-absorber strut. The shock strut and wheels are swingably attached to the wing structure by a pair of trunnion bearings for lateral swinging movement between an extended position wherein the wheels depend downwardly from the wing for taxiing or landing of the airplane and a retracted position wherein the wheels and shock strut are swung inwardy and upwardly into a wheel bay in the airplane fuselage. The shock strut is braced in the extended position by a foldable drag strut and a foldable side strut, each strut attached at an intermediate position on the shock strut. The foldable struts and the trunnion bearings provide a four-point support configuration which allows a net reduction in aircraft weight due to improved distribution of drag and static loads into the wing/body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: John W. Davies, Edward C. Wells