US 12,280,892 B2
Cradle for an aircraft landing gear assembly
Dominique Chasteau, Bristol (GB); and Guilherme Barsali, Bristol (GB)
Assigned to AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, Bristol (GB)
Filed by AIRBUS OPERATIONS LIMITED, Bristol (GB)
Filed on May 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/324,796.
Claims priority of application No. 2207822 (GB), filed on May 27, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0382562 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. B64F 5/50 (2017.01); B66F 9/12 (2006.01); B66F 9/18 (2006.01)
CPC B64F 5/50 (2017.01) [B66F 9/125 (2013.01); B66F 9/18 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A cradle for supporting a landing gear assembly to be installed on an aircraft, the cradle comprising;
a chassis having a contour and configured to facilitate transportation of the cradle between a manufacturing facility and a FAL or maintenance facility;
an arm coupled to the chassis, the arm being movable between a stowed position and an elevated position, the arm including at least one clamping device for securing the landing gear assembly to the arm;
wherein the at least one clamping device further includes first and second arcuate jaw clamps configured to secure a main strut of the landing gear assembly to the arm;
wherein the first and the second arcuate jaw clamps each includes a width and a curvature configured to match a width and a curvature of a specific portion of the main strut of the landing gear assembly;
wherein the cradle is configured to protect the landing gear assembly when transported by the cradle between the facilities; and
in use, the landing gear assembly is secured by the at least one clamping device such that
(a) when the arm is in the stowed position, the landing gear assembly is stowed in the cradle for transportation, the landing gear assembly being protected by the cradle, and wherein no parts of the landing gear assembly protrude from the contours of the chassis, and
(b) when the arm is in the elevated position, the landing gear assembly is elevated for installing the landing gear assembly on the aircraft.