FIELD

The field of the disclosure relates generally to nose-mounted landing gear for an aircraft, and more specifically to a compact nose-mounded landing gear housed in a reduced-volume gear bay.

BACKGROUND

Current known nose landing gears and their stowing mechanism configurations are highly refined based on the aircraft type and function efficiently under multiple operational conditions, such as taxiing, braking, take-off/landing, and retraction/extension. Commercial airliners generally include a passenger area and a luggage area beneath the passenger area. The luggage area on some known aircraft also includes landing gear bays that house the landing gear during flight. However, in aircraft used for the transport of cargo only, the cargo area floor is positioned in as close proximity to the bottom of the aircraft as possible to enable a maximum amount of cargo storage. In such configurations, the available volume for the storage of landing gear is reduced, and the volume of the cargo area is limited by the amount of space needed to house the landing gear during flight.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In one aspect, a nose landing gear assembly for use with a high wing aircraft that defines a nose gear bay is provided. The nose landing gear assembly includes an oleo strut, a forward brace including a forward brace first end and a forward brace second end. The forward brace first end is pivotably coupled to the nose gear bay about a first pivot axis. The nose landing gear assembly also includes an aft brace including an aft brace first end and an aft brace second end. The aft brace first end is pivotably coupled to the nose gear bay about a second pivot axis, and the aft brace second end is pivotably coupled to the oleo strut. An actuator includes an actuator first end and an actuator second end. The actuator second end is coupled to the nose gear bay and the actuator first end coupled to the forward brace. The actuator is configured to selectively move the nose landing gear assembly between, inclusively, a retracted position and an extended position.

In another aspect, an aircraft is provided. The aircraft includes a cargo bay comprising a cargo bay floor, a nose gear bay positioned below the cargo bay floor; and a nose landing gear assembly selectively positioned within the nose gear bay. The nose landing gear assembly includes an oleo strut, a forward brace including a forward brace first end and a forward brace second end. The forward brace first end is pivotably coupled to the nose gear bay about a first pivot axis. The nose landing gear assembly also includes an aft brace including an aft brace first end and an aft brace second end. The aft brace first end is pivotably coupled to the nose gear bay about a second pivot axis, and the aft brace second end is pivotably coupled to the oleo strut. An actuator includes an actuator first end and an actuator second end. The actuator second end is coupled to the nose gear bay and the actuator first end coupled to the forward brace. The actuator is configured to selectively move the nose landing gear assembly between, inclusively, a retracted position and an extended position.

In yet another aspect, a method of assembling a nose gear assembly for use with a high wing aircraft is provided. The high wing aircraft defines a nose gear bay, wherein the nose gear assembly includes an oleo strut, a forward brace, an aft brace, and an actuator. The method includes pivotably coupling a first end of the forward brace to the nose gear bay about a first pivot axis and pivotably coupling a first end of the aft brace to the nose gear bay about a second pivot axis. The method also includes pivotably coupling a second end of the aft brace to the oleo strut, coupling a first end of the actuator to the nose gear bay, coupling a second end of the actuator to the forward brace. The actuator is configured to selectively move the nose landing gear assembly between, inclusively, a retracted position and an extended position.

