Keywords
Citation
(2001), "Hydraulic actuators", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773eab.024
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
Hydraulic actuators
Hydraulic actuatorsKeywords: Helipebs Controls, Actuators, Landing gear
Hydraulic Actuators from Helipebs Controls have been specified by Airbus UK, Filton for the A340-600 landing gear system test rig.
The involvement of Helipebs Controls is to supply hydraulic actuators to load various parts of the undercarriage system. The actuators incorporate low friction sealing systems, manifold mountings for servo valves, fully flushed to NAS 1648 class 4 along with a two-part epoxy paint finish to resist the Skydrol hydraulic fluid used in the aircraft system. Helipebs Controls engineers were also able to assist Airbus UK with the design and manufacture of attachments between the main test flame and the part of the under carriage to be loaded.
The largest-ever Airbus landing gear system test rig, which cost over £8 million to build and equip, has now begun operations at Airbus UK, in Filton, Bristol. Created to thoroughly test new design developments for the largest capacity and longest-range Airbus aircraft yet – the A340-600 and A340-500 – the rig is a replica of the actual aircraft landing gear system and is complete with wheels, tyres and associated hydraulics and control hardware.
Bristol-based Airbus UK is responsible for the specification and integration of the landing gear system into A340-600 and its sister aircraft, the ultra long-range A340-500. The design and supply of the landing system equipment is carried out by 14 different suppliers from around the globe.
Although based on the landing gear system, A340s flying today, the increased maximum take-off weight of the new, larger aircraft (from 275 tonnes for the A340 to 365 tonnes for the A340-500/600) has required considerable modifications. To ensure complete integration of the systems with the aircraft before entry into service, the new landing gear system rig will be fully occupied with a test programme that will exceed 6,000 cycles before the end of 2001. This rig is enabling engineers to evaluate thoroughly the new developments for the aircraft that will make its first flight in spring 2001.
Further details are available from Helipebs Controls Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1452 423201; E-mail: jhanderton@helipebs.co.uk; Web site: www.helipebs.co.uk