Abstract: Initial retraction of telescoping cylinders (22, 72) forces hydraulic fluid through an orifice area into a low pressure chamber (116). When the cylinders (22, 72) reach a predetermined position, a stop surface (120) carried by the second cylinder (72) engages a floating member (52) carried by the first cylinder (22). Further retraction causes the floating member (52) to move relative to the first cylinder (22) and compress a high pressure chamber (44). When the shock strut (20) is pivoted into a stowed position, the cylinders (22, 72) are retracted to the predetermined position without compressing the high pressure chamber (44). In a second embodiment, a linkage mechanism (298) moves the high pressure chamber (318) relative to the first cylinder (272) to allow the shock strut (220) to be shortened beyond the predetermined position without compressing the high pressure chamber 318.

Abstract: A four bar linkage, between a hinge carriage segment and a translating door segment, of an outward opening overhead rotation plug type aircraft door, defines the relative movement between the two segments. A door handle actuates linkages that extend between the two segments to power the relative movement. When the handle is in either the down and the door locked position, or in the up and unlocked ready for outward rotation position, the linkage is overcenter so that the handle remains in position. A safety link extends between the two segments to provide fail safe locking at either handle position.

Abstract: A pivotably mounted door stop linkage has a resilient member acting on the linkage to maintain the door stop in position for conventional door operation while allowing rotation of the stop to release the door in reaction to a pressure differential acting across the door.

Abstract: A kneeling nose landing gear assembly for an airplane enables the nose of the airplane fuselage to be lowered to facilitate loading and unloading of cargo. A pair of hydraulic kneeling actuators pivotally coupled to the midsection of a pivotable landing gear strut are selectively positionable against a pair of retractable stop assemblies positioned above the strut. The actuators are pressurized against the cooperable stop assemblies to thereby cushion the descent of the airplane nose to a lowered position wherein the landing gear strut is pivoted forwardly into an angled kneeling position intermediate between an upright taxiing position and a retracted position. The kneeling actuators are subsequently pressurized to raise the nose of the airplane and swing the landing gear strut back into the taxiing position from the kneeling position.

Abstract: A landing gear assembly mounted to a trunnion for movement about a transverse horizontal axis to a stowed position. The trunnion is mounted to an intermediate member which is in turn mounted to the aircraft structure for rotation about an axis skewed with respect to the trunnion axis. The intermediate member is releasably held to the aircraft structure by a fuse pin which gives way under conditions of excessive loading on the landing gear assembly, so that the landing gear assembly is able to rotate about its skewed axis to an out-of-the-way location clear of the cargo compartment.