TM 1-1500-204-23-2
Figure 4-165. Main Rotor Assembly with Piston
Dampers
Figure 4-166. Vane Damper
b Shock Struts. A shock strut can be thought of
as a combination suspension unit and shock absorber.
The shock strut performs functions in an aircraft similar
to those performed in an automobile by the chassis
spring and the shock absorber. There are two major
types of shock struts, the classification depending on
construction and operation In the mechanical type, a
rubber or spring mechanism performs the cushioning
operation. In the pneudraulic type, air and hydraulic fluid
accomplish this.
Figure 4-167. Vane Damper Cross Section
Figure 4-168. Nose Landing Gear with Vane
Damper
(1) Simple shock strut. The basic parts of a
simple shock strut are two telescoping tubes: a piston
and a cylinder A simple shock strut is installed in an
aircraft as shown in figure 4-170 with the piston upper-
most and with the cylinder filled with fluid. An orifice in
the piston head permits fluid to pass from one chamber
to the other. When a shock strut has sufficient fluid
above the piston head, the space above the fluid is filled
with air. When the aircraft is landing and the shock strut
4-159
