Aircraft undercarriage concept

Engineers at SUS21 Co. Inc. and the Kyoto Institute of Technology have developed an aircraft suspension system that features shock isolation to reduce abrupt deceleration and impact force on aircraft wheels.

Two safety issues with aircraft undercarriages include acceleration impact on aircraft wheels and a collision with an obstacle on the runway-both of which could result in excessive tire wear or rupture. SUS21 Co. Inc. and Kyoto Institute of Technology have developed a new suspension system model, consisting of a wheel supported by a crankshaft, to address these safety concerns (Figures 1 and 2).

As an aircraft lands, it receives two shocks. One is the acceleration impact generated as the wheel contacts the runway; the other is the descent impact of the aircraft. With present technology, the oleo strut is required to buffer both forces; however, it is unable to reduce acceleration impact, resulting in smoking and excessive tire wear.