US 11,731,790 B2
Health monitoring of aircraft landing gear mechanical structures
John J. Dong, Bothell, WA (US); Mark N. Simpson, Kirkland, WA (US); Roland Hinton, Renton, WA (US); and Naveed Hussain, Palos Verdes Peninisula, CA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by THE BOEING COMPANY, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 2, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/391,603.
Application 16/723,727 is a division of application No. 15/941,373, filed on Mar. 30, 2018, granted, now 10,577,128, issued on Mar. 3, 2020.
Application 17/391,603 is a continuation of application No. 16/723,727, filed on Dec. 20, 2019, granted, now 11,104,455.
Prior Publication US 2021/0362883 A1, Nov. 25, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B64F 5/60 (2017.01); B64C 25/00 (2006.01); G01B 11/14 (2006.01); B64C 25/60 (2006.01); G06V 20/56 (2022.01); B64D 45/00 (2006.01); B64D 47/08 (2006.01)
CPC B64F 5/60 (2017.01) [B64C 25/001 (2013.01); B64C 25/60 (2013.01); G01B 11/14 (2013.01); G06V 20/56 (2022.01); B64C 2025/008 (2013.01); B64D 47/08 (2013.01); B64D 2045/0085 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
calibrating a sensor for measuring a condition of a stop joint formed by a first stop pad and a second stop pad of a levered landing gear against a nominal condition of at least one of the first stop pad and the second stop pad, wherein the first stop pad is included in a first shock strut of the levered landing gear, and the second stop pad is included in a truck lever of the levered landing gear that is connected to the first shock strut and a second shock strut disposed concentrically along a longitudinal axis of the first shock strut to extend along a shared extension axis;
monitoring, by the sensor, a current condition of the at least one of the first stop pad and the second stop pad from the nominal condition;
determining whether a non-conformance from the nominal condition of the at least one of the first stop pad and the second stop pad has been detected by the sensor for the current condition; and
in response to determining that the non-conformance has been detected, generating an alert.