Landing gear

Abstract

In the retracted position, aircraft landing gear of an aircraft is supported by an uplock hook. The deployment of the aircraft landing gear includes the steps of supporting at least part of the weight of the landing gear by a releasable catch in the form of an uplock hook, applying a lifting force to the landing gear to remove at least part of the load sustained by the releasable catch, releasing the catch and effecting the downward movement of the landing gear to the deployed position.

1 . An aircraft landing gear assembly, comprising:
 (i) a landing gear movable between a stowed position and a deployed position,   (ii) a releasable catch arranged such that the landing gear, when stowed, is at least partially supported by the releasable catch, and   (iii) a control apparatus,   wherein the control apparatus is arranged such that, on deployment of the landing gear from the stowed position, the control apparatus causes, prior to the release of the releasable catch, a lifting force to be applied to the landing gear which relieves at least part of the load sustained by the releasable catch.   
     
     
         2 . A control apparatus for a landing gear assembly, the landing gear assembly including a landing gear moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and a releasable catch arranged such that the landing gear, when stowed, is at least partially supported by the releasable catch,
 wherein the control apparatus is arranged such that, on deployment of the landing gear from the stowed position, the control apparatus causes, prior to the release of the releasable catch, a lifting force to be applied to the landing gear which relieves at least part of the load sustained by the releasable catch.   
     
     
         3 . A control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the control apparatus is a hydraulic circuit. 
     
     
         4 . A control apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the control apparatus is an electronic circuit.