Abstract: A rapidly extendible, rough-field attenuating shock-absorbing strut, particularly adapted for use with an aircraft having a tricycle landing gear, is used during takeoff and is adapted for rapid extension to provide angular or upward momentum to the aircraft and thus facilitate takeoff. The strut comprises an outer cylinder which is secured to the aircraft and an inner cylinder adapted for longitudinal reciprocation within the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder has a wheel mounted thereon at the end opposite that of the outer cylinder. A piston is secured for longitudinal reciprocation within both the outer and inner cylinders. The piston has a piston head adapted for reciprocation within the outer cylinder.

Abstract: An extendable shock strut comprising a strut housing having an open end and a closed end and a piston including a piston housing and a piston head slidable in the strut housing. The piston housing and the strut housing are adapted to move a selected distance relative to one another under normal usage. A source of high pressure gas is provided coupled to the shock strut for rapidly driving the strut housing and the piston housing relative to one another to an extended position. In a particular embodiment of the invention, an expandable chamber is formed from the closed end of the strut housing and a secondary piston slidable in the strut housing and positioned between the closed end of the strut housing and the piston head. The high pressure gas rapidly expands the chamber and drives the secondary piston toward the piston head to cause the piston housing and the strut housing to move relative to one another to the extended position.

Abstract: A rotary actuator having a cylindrical housing in which an annular piston arm rotates through an arc within an annular chamber in the housing as a result of fluid pressure to produce rotary motion communicated from the piston to the drive shaft. The piston head is capable of lateral or radial movement relative to the piston arm so as to accommodate flexing of the piston arm or variances in the shape of the chamber. Friction reduction washers are placed between the piston head and the piston arm to facilitate this movement. The overall effect is to reduce the friction encountered by the piston head against the walls of the chamber during movement, thereby improving overall performance of the actuator.

Abstract: A thermally efficient shock absorber comprising a strut housing having an open end and a closed end, a piston including a piston housing and a piston head slideable in the strut housing, and a preselected volume of fluid and gas located in the strut and piston housings. A compensating system is provided coupled to the fluid for maintaining a constant fluid-to-gas volume ratio irrespective of thermal variations and a valve is provided for isolating the compensating system from the fluid. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the compensating system includes a gas compensating chamber and a fluid compensating chamber having a movable separator piston therebetween, the fluid compensating chamber being coupled to the fluid in the strut and piston housings. The gas and fluid compensating chambers are contained within the strut housing separate from the gas and fluid in the strut and piston housings.

Abstract: A tool to assist in the servicing of a shock absorber wherein the shock absorber is constructed of a pair of aligned gas and liquid filled chambers. Each of the chambers is separated by a movable separator member. Maximum efficiency of the shock absorber is achieved in the locating of a precise volume of gas within the gas chamber and a precise volume of liquid within the liquid chamber. The servicing tool of this invention employs a rod which is to connect with the separator and by observation of the position of the rod with respect to the gauge body, the location of the separator is ascertained even though it is not directly observable.