Patents by Inventor George Sonnenburg
George Sonnenburg 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).
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Patent number: 11407499Abstract: An aircraft landing gear structure includes a strut assembly and a wheel assembly operatively coupled to the strut assembly. The strut assembly includes an upper tubular housing and a lower tubular housing configured to be longitudinally translated with respect to the upper tubular housing such that the overall length of the strut assembly is transitioned between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration for stowage during flight. The wheel assembly includes a forward link pivotally coupled to the upper tubular housing and a truck beam that is pivotally coupled to the lower tubular housing such that translation of the lower tubular housing with respect to the upper tubular housing causes pivoting of the forward link and the truck beam with respect to one another, thereby tilting and/or raising a wheel of the wheel assembly with respect to the upper tubular housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Mark Nicholas Simpson, Mitchell Loren Ray Mellor, James E. Cusworth, Justin Cottet, Richard Kevin Johnson, George Sonnenburg
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Patent number: 11186360Abstract: Methods of retracting a strut assembly for stowing aircraft landing gear comprise longitudinally translating an upper bulkhead within an upper tubular housing from a lower position to an upper position by pressurizing an upper bulkhead space between an upper plate of the upper bulkhead and an upper bulkhead restriction structure that is fixed to the upper tubular housing. Other methods of retracting a strut assembly for stowing aircraft landing gear comprise flowing liquid from an upper liquid chamber positioned above an upper bulkhead within an upper tubular housing to a recoil chamber, wherein during the flowing, the liquid is prevented from passing from the recoil chamber to a pressure chamber that is defined between the upper bulkhead and a lower bulkhead, thereby longitudinally translating a lower tubular housing upward.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: November 30, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Justin Duane Cottet, James E. Cusworth, Malcolm Scott Bryant, George Sonnenburg
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Patent number: 11136113Abstract: A landing gear including a shock strut assembly including an outer cylinder coupled to an airframe, a wheel movably coupled to the outer cylinder so as to reciprocate substantially along a longitudinal axis of the outer cylinder, and a shrink mechanism including a pivot arm pivotally coupled to the shock strut assembly, a drive member coupling the pivot arm to a landing gear retract mechanism, a driven member coupled to the pivot arm, a first shrink link member coupled to the pivot arm by the driven member, and a second shrink link member coupled to the first shrink link member and to the shock strut assembly. Rotation of the pivot arm by the drive member, effects a folding movement between the first shrink link member and the second shrink link member, and the folding movement effects at least a retraction of the wheel relative to the outer cylinder.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Justin D. Cottet, Mitchell Mellor, Michael L. Drake, George Sonnenburg
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Publication number: 20200198773Abstract: An aircraft landing gear structure according to the present disclosure includes a strut assembly and a wheel assembly operatively coupled to the strut assembly. The strut assembly includes an upper tubular housing and a lower tubular housing configured to be longitudinally translated with respect to the upper tubular housing such that the overall length of the strut assembly is transitioned between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration for stowage during flight. The wheel assembly includes a forward link pivotally coupled to the upper tubular housing and a truck beam that is pivotally coupled to the lower tubular housing such that translation of the lower tubular housing with respect to the upper tubular housing causes pivoting of the forward link and the truck beam with respect to one another, thereby tilting and/or raising a wheel of the wheel assembly with respect to the upper tubular housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2020Publication date: June 25, 2020Inventors: Mark Nicholas Simpson, Mitchell Loren Ray Mellor, James E. Cusworth, Justin Cottet, Richard Kevin Johnson, George Sonnenburg
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Publication number: 20200115042Abstract: Methods of retracting a strut assembly for stowing aircraft landing gear comprise longitudinally translating an upper bulkhead within an upper tubular housing from a lower position to an upper position by pressurizing an upper bulkhead space between an upper plate of the upper bulkhead and an upper bulkhead restriction structure that is fixed to the upper tubular housing. Other methods of retracting a strut assembly for stowing aircraft landing gear comprise flowing liquid from an upper liquid chamber positioned above an upper bulkhead within an upper tubular housing to a recoil chamber, wherein during the flowing, the liquid is prevented from passing from the recoil chamber to a pressure chamber that is defined between the upper bulkhead and a lower bulkhead, thereby longitudinally translating a lower tubular housing upward.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Inventors: Justin Duane Cottet, James E. Cusworth, Malcolm Scott Bryant, George Sonnenburg
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Patent number: 10597146Abstract: An aircraft landing gear structure includes a strut assembly and a wheel assembly operatively coupled to the strut assembly. The strut assembly includes an upper tubular housing and a lower tubular housing configured to be longitudinally translated with respect to the upper tubular housing such that the overall length of the strut assembly is transitioned between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration for stowage during flight. The wheel assembly includes a forward link pivotally coupled to the upper tubular housing and a truck beam that is pivotally coupled to the lower tubular housing such that translation of the lower tubular housing with respect to the upper tubular housing causes pivoting of the forward link and the truck beam with respect to one another, thereby tilting and/or raising a wheel of the wheel assembly with respect to the upper tubular housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Mark Nicholas Simpson, Mitchell Loren Ray Mellor, James E. Cusworth, Justin Cottet, Richard Kevin Johnson, George Sonnenburg
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Patent number: 10562614Abstract: An aircraft landing gear structure includes a strut assembly configured to transition between a compressed configuration, an extended configuration, and a retracted configuration. The strut assembly has a compressed length, an extended length, and a retracted length, such that the compressed length and retracted length are less than the extended length. The strut assembly includes an upper tubular housing, an upper bulkhead configured to be translated between a lower position and an upper position, a lower tubular housing operatively coupled to the upper tubular housing, a lower bulkhead supported by the lower tubular housing, and a pressure chamber defined between the lower bulkhead and the upper bulkhead. A volume of strut liquid and a mass of strut gas are positioned within the pressure chamber. A method of retracting a strut assembly includes longitudinally translating an upper bulkhead within an upper tubular housing from a lower position to an upper position.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Justin Duane Cottet, James E. Cusworth, Malcolm Scott Bryant, George Sonnenburg
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Patent number: 10486798Abstract: A landing gear assembly for use with an aircraft includes a housing including a trunnion brace, a drag brace, and an aft brace that together define an opening through the housing. The landing gear assembly also includes a shrink link assembly coupled to the housing such that the shrink link assembly is accessible through the opening.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Justin Cottet, James Cusworth, George Sonnenburg
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Publication number: 20190270513Abstract: A landing gear including a shock strut assembly including an outer cylinder coupled to an airframe, a wheel movably coupled to the outer cylinder so as to reciprocate substantially along a longitudinal axis of the outer cylinder, and a shrink mechanism including a pivot arm pivotally coupled to the shock strut assembly, a drive member coupling the pivot arm to a landing gear retract mechanism, a driven member coupled to the pivot arm, a first shrink link member coupled to the pivot arm by the driven member, and a second shrink link member coupled to the first shrink link member and to the shock strut assembly. Rotation of the pivot arm by the drive member, effects a folding movement between the first shrink link member and the second shrink link member, and the folding movement effects at least a retraction of the wheel relative to the outer cylinder.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 21, 2019Publication date: September 5, 2019Inventors: Justin D. Cottet, Mitchell Mellor, Michael L. Drake, George Sonnenburg
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Patent number: 10384767Abstract: A semi-levered landing gear including a shock strut configured for coupling to an airframe of an aircraft, a truck lever being rotatably coupled to the shock strut, a tension link assembly having a tension link assembly first end, a tension link assembly second end and at least one tension link assembly rotation axis, the tension link assembly first end being coupled to the shock strut, and the tension link assembly second end being coupled to the truck lever, and a positioning mechanism configured for coupling to one or more of the airframe and the shock strut and being coupled to the tension link assembly, wherein the tension link assembly is configured to rotate the truck lever about the truck pivot axis of rotation between a truck lever extended position and a truck lever stowed position.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventors: Justin D. Cottet, Mitchell Mellor, Michael L. Drake, George Sonnenburg
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Publication number: 20180297694Abstract: A landing gear assembly for use with an aircraft includes a housing including a trunnion brace, a drag brace, and an aft brace that together define an opening through the housing. The landing gear assembly also includes a shrink link assembly coupled to the housing such that the shrink link assembly is accessible through the opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2017Publication date: October 18, 2018Inventors: Justin Cottet, James Cusworth, George Sonnenburg
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Publication number: 20180244372Abstract: An aircraft landing gear structure according to the present disclosure includes a strut assembly and a wheel assembly operatively coupled to the strut assembly. The strut assembly includes an upper tubular housing and a lower tubular housing configured to be longitudinally translated with respect to the upper tubular housing such that the overall length of the strut assembly is transitioned between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration for stowage during flight. The wheel assembly includes a forward link pivotally coupled to the upper tubular housing and a truck beam that is pivotally coupled to the lower tubular housing such that translation of the lower tubular housing with respect to the upper tubular housing causes pivoting of the forward link and the truck beam with respect to one another, thereby tilting and/or raising a wheel of the wheel assembly with respect to the upper tubular housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2017Publication date: August 30, 2018Inventors: Mark Nicholas Simpson, Mitchell Loren Ray Mellor, James E. Cusworth, Justin Cottet, Richard Kevin Johnson, George Sonnenburg
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Publication number: 20180208298Abstract: A semi-levered landing gear including a shock strut configured for coupling to an airframe of an aircraft, a truck lever being rotatably coupled to the shock strut, a tension link assembly having a tension link assembly first end, a tension link assembly second end and at least one tension link assembly rotation axis, the tension link assembly first end being coupled to the shock strut, and the tension link assembly second end being coupled to the truck lever, and a positioning mechanism configured for coupling to one or more of the airframe and the shock strut and being coupled to the tension link assembly, wherein the tension link assembly is configured to rotate the truck lever about the truck pivot axis of rotation between a truck lever extended position and a truck lever stowed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2017Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: Justin D. Cottet, Mitchell Mellor, Michael L. Drake, George Sonnenburg
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Publication number: 20180079494Abstract: An aircraft landing gear structure includes a strut assembly configured to transition between a compressed configuration, an extended configuration, and a retracted configuration. The strut assembly has a compressed length, an extended length, and a retracted length, such that the compressed length and retracted length are less than the extended length. The strut assembly includes an upper tubular housing, an upper bulkhead configured to be translated between a lower position and an upper position, a lower tubular housing operatively coupled to the upper tubular housing, a lower bulkhead supported by the lower tubular housing, and a pressure chamber defined between the lower bulkhead and the upper bulkhead. A volume of strut liquid and a mass of strut gas are positioned within the pressure chamber. A method of retracting a strut assembly includes longitudinally translating an upper bulkhead within an upper tubular housing from a lower position to an upper position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: March 22, 2018Inventors: Justin Duane Cottet, James E. Cusworth, Malcolm Scott Bryant, George Sonnenburg