US 12,187,416 B2
Retractable landing gear linkage with electromagnetic downlock
Randy Lee, Oshawa (CA); Zoran Pasic, Etobicoke (CA); and Michael Saccoccia, Seagrave (CA)
Assigned to Safran Landing Systems Canada Inc., Ajax (CA)
Filed by SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMS CANADA INC., Ajax (CA)
Filed on May 1, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/310,394.
Prior Publication US 2024/0367779 A1, Nov. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. B64C 25/20 (2006.01); B64C 25/26 (2006.01); B64C 25/58 (2006.01); H01F 7/02 (2006.01); H01F 7/08 (2006.01)
CPC B64C 25/20 (2013.01) [B64C 25/26 (2013.01); B64C 25/58 (2013.01); H01F 7/02 (2013.01); H01F 7/081 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A landing gear system for a vehicle, comprising:
a landing gear coupled to a body of the vehicle and configured for reciprocating motion between a stowed position and a deployed position, the landing gear having a linkage with a first link rotatably coupled to a second link, the linkage being configured to reciprocate between a folded state when the landing gear is in the stowed position and an extended state when the landing gear is in the deployed position; and
a fail-secure downlock reciprocal between a locked state and an unlocked state, the downlock comprising:
a first electromagnet fixedly positioned relative to the first link, the first electromagnet including a first solenoid configured to generate a first electromagnetic field with a reversible polarity and a first permanent magnet; and
a second electromagnet fixedly positioned relative to a second link, the second electromagnet including a second solenoid configured to generate a second electromagnetic field with a reversible polarity and a second permanent magnet,
wherein the first electromagnet is proximate to the second electromagnet when the landing gear is in the deployed position, the first permanent magnet being attracted to the second permanent magnet, the first solenoid being attracted to the second solenoid when the downlock is in the locked state, and the first solenoid being repelled by the second solenoid when the downlock is in the unlocked state.