Patents by Inventor Christopher Neil Wood

Christopher Neil Wood 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: 9193447
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear assembly comprises a landing gear (10) arranged to be moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The assembly includes a removably mounted cover plate (20) that covers a void (12) defined by a part of the landing gear assembly. The plate (20) may have a substantially constant thickness, one or more fixing elements (22) on one side only of the plate, and a sealing element (34) that extends around substantially the entire perimeter (20a) of the plate (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Christopher Neil Wood, Philip Campbell
  • Patent number: 8882043
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear (9) includes a wheel (1) having a wheel rim (3) on which a tire (4) is held. The gap (6) between the rim (3) and tire (4) is bridged and covered by a sealing element (7), which thereby presents a smooth surface to the air flowing over the wheel during flight of the aircraft (8). Thus, noise that would otherwise be generated by the interaction of air and the parts of the wheel (1) and/or tire (4) defining the gap (6) is reduced. Such noise reduction benefits may also be achieved by providing a tire (4) and wheel (1) so shaped that there is no gap (6) between the tire (4) and wheel rim (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus UK Limited
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Christopher Neil Wood
  • Patent number: 8746615
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear is arranged such that in its deployed position it is configured to reduce, during the approach on landing, the noise generated by the interaction of the landing gear and the air flowing past the landing gear. Various means are described to reduce the amount of turbulent air flow generated in the region of the landing gear, including inverting and fairing the nose-gear shock-absorbing leg, providing faired twin in-line oleos and providing fairings that produce shielding air curtains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Neil Wood
  • Patent number: 8714473
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear is arranged such that in its deployed position it is configured to reduce, during the approach on landing, the noise generated by the interaction of the landing gear and the air flowing past the landing gear. Various means are described to reduce the amount of turbulent air flow generated in the region of the landing gear, including inverting and fairing the nose-gear shock-absorbing leg, providing faired twin in-line oleos and providing fairings that produce shielding air curtains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus UK Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Neil Wood
  • Publication number: 20130313360
    Abstract: The invention provides a landing gear 120 for an aircraft 110, the landing gear comprising a main strut 121 having a first upper end arranged to be moveably mounted to a structure of the aircraft, a landing gear wheel assembly 131, 132 connected to a second lower end of the main strut, the landing gear wheel assembly comprising at least one landing gear wheel arranged to roll in a fore-aft direction with respect to the main strut, and a stay 122 having a first upper end arranged to be connected to a structure of the aircraft, and a second lower end pivotally mounted to a mounting element 140 on the main strut, wherein the mounting element on the main strut is positioned substantially in line with the main strut in the fore-aft direction. The invention also provides a main strut, an aircraft and a kit of parts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Leung Choi CHOW, Christopher Neil Wood, Philip Ian Campbell
  • Patent number: 8376261
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear is described including a noise-reducing means. In one embodiment there is a noise-reducing element that includes an air-deflecting surface, in the form of a fairing, and a perforated airflow-reducing region. In use, some air passes through the perforations, while other air is deflected by the fairing away from a noise-generating region of the landing gear. Noise caused by the passing of the landing gear through the air is therefore reduced. In another embodiment a noise-reducing layer in the form of a mesh is supported by a skeleton structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus UK Limited
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Christopher Neil Wood, Philip Campbell
  • Patent number: 8371524
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear (10) includes a torque link set (12) comprising a first fairing (12a) rotatably connected at a first end (18) to a first end (19) of a second fairing (12b). The fairings (12a), (12b) may be arranged to act as first and second torque links. The fairings may be in the form of noise reduction fairings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Ltd.
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Philip Campbell, Christopher Neil Wood
  • Patent number: 8302906
    Abstract: The invention relates to aircraft noise reduction apparatus, in particular, but not exclusively, to noise reduction apparatus on an aircraft landing gear. The aircraft noise reduction apparatus comprises a noise reduction attachment for a landing gear of an aircraft. The noise reduction apparatus is movable between a first position in which it deflects air away from a noise inducing component of the landing gear and a second position in which it allows access to the noise inducing component. The movement of the noise reduction attachment between the first and second positions is actuated by a part of the landing gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Christopher Neil Wood, Philip Campbell
  • Patent number: 8061653
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear 501 includes a folding side stay 502, wherein the folding side stay includes an integral locking mechanism and does not require the landing gear to include a lock stay. The lack of a lock stay reduces the airframe noise created by the aircraft, which is particularly significant when the aircraft is landing. The aircraft landing gear 501 is movable between an stowed and deployed position. The folding side stay 502 comprises a first section and a second section foldable relative to the first section. The integral locking mechanism 503 is arranged to lock the first section and second section of the folding side stay into position when the landing gear is in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Christopher Neil Wood, Philip Campbell
  • Patent number: 8028956
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear door assembly includes a door, which is moveable to an open position, in which an aperture is exposed, the landing gear being able to be deployed through said aperture, and moveable to a closed position, in which the door is closed across the aperture. The door is arranged for rotational movement of a first type, in which the door rotates about an axis that is substantially parallel to the length of the aircraft, between the closed position and the open position. The door is also arranged for movement of a second type, different from the first type, in which the door rotates, about an axis that is substantially transverse to the length of the aircraft, to a position in which it acts as a fairing to reduce the noise caused by the landing gear or a part thereof. In one embodiment, the second type of movement is rotational movement about an axis that is substantially parallel to the door when in the closed position and the door forms a ramp type fairing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus UK Limited
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, David Leonard Rondeau, Christopher Neil Wood
  • Publication number: 20110139926
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear assembly comprises a landing gear (10) arranged to be moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The assembly includes a removably mounted cover plate (20) that covers a void (12) defined by a part of the landing gear assembly. The plate (20) may have a substantially constant thickness, one or more fixing elements (22) on one side only of the plate, and a sealing element (34) that extends around substantially the entire perimeter (20a) of the plate (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Christopher Neil Wood, Philip Campbell
  • Publication number: 20110001004
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear is arranged such that in its deployed position it is configured to reduce, during the approach on landing, the noise generated by the interaction of the landing gear and the air flowing past the landing gear. Various means are described to reduce the amount of turbulent air flow generated in the region of the landing gear, including inverting and fairing the nose-gear shock-absorbing leg, providing faired twin in-line oleos and providing fairings that produce shielding air curtains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: AIRBUS UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher Neil Wood
  • Publication number: 20100012778
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear (10) includes a torque link set (12) comprising a first fairing (12a) rotatably connected at a first end (18) to a first end (19) of a second fairing (12b). The fairings (12a), (12b) may be arranged to act as first and second torque links. The fairings may be in the form of noise reduction fairings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Philip Campbell, Christopher Neil Wood
  • Publication number: 20100006696
    Abstract: An aircraft noise reduction apparatus including an aircraft landing gear assembly (10) and a noise reduction fairing (12) is described. The landing gear assembly comprises (10) a landing gear bay having an aperture (14), a landing gear moveable between a stowed position and a fully deployed position, and at least one landing gear bay door (16) moveable to close and open the aperture. The noise reduction fairing (12) is positioned fore of the landing gear bay door assembly. The noise reduction fairing (12) is moveable between a stowed position and a fully deployed position such that in the fully deployed position, the noise reduction fairing (12) acts to reduce noise that would otherwise be generated by the interaction of the landing gear assembly when deployed and the air flowing past it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: AIRBUS OPERATIONS LTD.
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Philip Campbell, Christopher Neil Wood
  • Publication number: 20090321559
    Abstract: The invention relates to aircraft noise reduction apparatus, in particular, but not exclusively, to noise reduction apparatus on an aircraft landing gear. The aircraft noise reduction apparatus comprises a noise reduction attachment for a landing gear of an aircraft. The noise reduction apparatus is movable between a first position in which it deflects air away from a noise inducing component of the landing gear and a second position in which it allows access to the noise inducing component. The movement of the noise reduction attachment between the first and second positions is actuated by a part of the landing gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Christopher Neil Wood, Philip Campbell
  • Publication number: 20090084894
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear is arranged such that in its deployed position it is configured to reduce, during the approach on landing, the noise generated by the interaction of the landing gear and the air flowing past the landing gear. Various means are described to reduce the amount of turbulent air flow generated in the region of the landing gear, including inverting and fairing the nose-gear shock-absorbing leg, providing faired twin in-line oleos and providing fairings that produce shielding air curtains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS UK LIMITED
    Inventor: Christopher Neil Wood
  • Publication number: 20090078821
    Abstract: An aircraft noise-reduction apparatus (10) for a landing gear (20) comprises a skeleton structure (14), which supports and acts to maintain the profile of a noise-reducing layer. The skeleton structure may comprise blades (16). The noise-reducing layer may have more than 10 apertures through which, in use, air can pass and may be in the form of a deformable mesh (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Christopher Neil Wood, Philip Campbell
  • Patent number: 7484688
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear (1) is described including a noise-reducing element that includes an air-deflecting surface, in the form of a fairing (4), and a perforated airflow-reducing region (8). In use, some air passes through the perforations, whilst other air is deflected by the fairing away from a noise-generating region of the landing gear. Noise caused by the passing of the landing gear through the air is therefore reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Airbus UK Limited
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, Christopher Neil Wood
  • Publication number: 20090008501
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear door assembly includes a door, which is moveable to an open position, in which an aperture is exposed, the landing gear being able to be deployed through said aperture, and moveable to a closed position, in which the door is closed across the aperture. The door is arranged for rotational movement of a first type, in which the door rotates about an axis that is substantially parallel to the length of the aircraft, between the closed position and the open position. The door is also arranged for movement of a second type, different from the first type, in which the door rotates, about an axis that is substantially transverse to the length of the aircraft, to a position in which it acts as a fairing to reduce the noise caused by the landing gear or a part thereof. In one embodiment, the second type of movement is rotational movement about an axis that is substantially parallel to the door when in the closed position and the door forms a ramp type fairing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, David Leonard Rondeau, Christopher Neil Wood
  • Patent number: 7458542
    Abstract: An aircraft landing gear door assembly (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) includes a door (1), which is moveable to an open position, in which an aperture (6) is exposed, the landing gear (10) being able to be deployed through said aperture (6), and moveable to a closed position, in which the door (1) is closed across the aperture (6). The door (1) is arranged for rotational movement of a first type, in which the door rotates about an axis that is substantially parallel to the length of the aircraft, between the closed position and the open position. The door (1) is also arranged for movement of a second type, different from the first type, in which the door (1) rotates, about an axis that is substantially transverse to the length of the aircraft, to a position in which it acts as a fairing to reduce the noise caused by the landing gear or a part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Airbus UK Limited
    Inventors: Leung Choi Chow, David Leonard Rondeau, Christopher Neil Wood