Main heat shield for braking device of at least one aircraft wheel

Abstract

Main heat shield (13) for a braking device of at least one aircraft wheel, the main heat shield being intended to be arranged between an actuator support (5) and a torque tube (4) of said braking device, the main heat shield comprising at least one holding element (100, 101, 102; 500, 501, 502), in use, of at least one secondary heat shield (14) of the braking device to the main heat shield, the holding element being in one piece with the main heat shield. Assembly of a main heat shield and associated secondary heat shield and braking device. FIGURE OF THE ABSTRACT: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Main heat shield for braking device of at least one aircraft wheel

[0001] The invention relates to the field of aircraft wheel braking.

[0002] The invention thus relates to a main heat shield for a braking device. of at least one aircraft wheel.

[0003] The invention also relates to an assembly of such a main heat shield and a secondary heat shield linked to said main heat shield.

[0004] The invention also relates to a braking device for at least one aircraft wheel comprising such a main heat shield.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An aircraft wheel is generally equipped with a braking device comprising rotor discs, integral in rotation with the wheel, and stator discs, immobilized in rotation with respect to the wheel, the rotor discs and stators being stacked alternately on a torque tube and thus forming a stack of discs. The device further comprises an actuator support, generally called a crown, fixed to one end of the torque tube by means of screws. The crown has cavities in which are arranged braking actuators each equipped with a sliding piston. In addition, the crown comprises channels for circulating a pressurized hydraulic fluid to push the different pistons of the braking actuators and thus exert a general force on the stack of discs. The friction of the discs then makes it possible to produce a braking force.The disk stack is therefore sometimes called a heat sink because it dissipates the kinetic energy of the wheel in the form of heat.

[0007] During braking, the friction of the discs generally causes significant heating of the braking device. While the materials used for the various elements of the braking device generally resist this heating well, this is not the case for the hydraulic fluid present in the crown and the actuators. Indeed, under the effect of the heat released, the hydraulic fluid sees its efficiency deteriorate and its service life reduced. This therefore requires changing the hydraulic fluid relatively frequently, thereby increasing the time the aircraft is immobilized on the ground.

[0008] The problem described above is all the more present since the current strategy of air carriers consists of increasing the number of landings before overhaul (in English we speak of LPO for "Landing Per Overhaul") as well as the load capacity of aircraft. However, to increase the load capacity of aircraft, it was born necessary to increase the mass of the heat sinks and consequently to increase the heating produced during braking effort which deteriorates the quality of the hydraulic fluid even more quickly.

[0009] To limit heat exchanges between the stack of discs and the crown and thus better protect the hydraulic fluid, a common approach consists of interposing a heat shield, typically a piece of thin sheet metal made of thermally insulating material in an annular shape, between the torque tube and the crown.

[0010] In order to further limit the heat exchanges between the stack of discs and the crown, it was envisaged by the present applicant to interpose, in addition to the aforementioned main heat shield, a secondary heat shield also made of thermally insulating material between the main heat shield and the torque tube.

[0011] Nevertheless, the arrangement of two heat shields between the torque tube and the crown would not be without difficulty for an operator in charge of mounting the braking device.

[0012] Indeed, since the heat shields are significantly lighter than the crown and the torque tube, it would be complicated to stabilize their positions when assembling the braking device. A first difficulty for the operator would therefore be to ensure precise alignment of the different parts to be able to easily insert the screws ensuring the holding of the torque tube and the crown. This difficulty would be all the greater since the shape of the main heat shield and that of the crown would prevent the position of the secondary heat shield from being corrected if the latter moved during assembly.

[0013] In addition, the operator would then have to go twice to a storage bin at the edge of the production line. More precisely, the operator would have to carry out at least five consecutive steps: - Recover the secondary heat shield from the storage bin. - Place the secondary heat shield on one end of the torque tube. - Retrieve the main heat shield from the storage bin. - Place the primary heat shield on the secondary heat shield. - Arrange the crown.

[0014] This would significantly increase the time required to install the braking device.

[0015] SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0016] An aim of the invention is to propose a solution to facilitate the mounting of a braking device for at least one aircraft wheel. Summary of the invention

[0017] With a view to achieving this object, a main heat shield is proposed for braking device for at least one aircraft wheel, the main heat shield being intended to be arranged between an actuator support and a torque tube of said braking device.

[0018] According to the invention, the main heat shield comprises at least one element for holding, in service, at least one secondary heat shield of the braking device to the main heat shield, the holding element being in one piece with the main heat shield.

[0019] The invention therefore makes it very simple to carry out a preliminary assembly of the main heat shield and the secondary heat shield.

[0020] The invention is thus particularly advantageous because it allows an operator in charge of assembling the braking device to simultaneously arrange the two heat shields, then secured to each other, between the actuator support and the torque tube. The operator will therefore be able to more easily insert screws, ensuring the fixing of the actuator support to one end of the torque tube, despite the presence of the two heat shields.

[0021] Furthermore, the preliminary assembly of the heat shields makes it possible to significantly reduce the time required to assemble the braking device. Indeed, the operator is no longer necessarily forced to go twice to a storage bin at the edge of the production line to successively recover the secondary heat shield and the main heat shield.

[0022] Furthermore, because the holding element is a single piece with the invention, it is not necessary to use additional external parts to allow preliminary assembly of the heat shields.

[0023] The invention thus makes it possible to facilitate the mounting of a braking device for an aircraft wheel while ensuring the reliability of said mounting and minimizing the weight and cost of the braking device.

[0024] Optionally, the holding element is shaped into a tab intended to be deformed to be folded over the secondary heat shield in order to connect the secondary heat shield to the main heat shield.

[0025] Optionally, the tab, before being folded, has a rectangular section.

[0026] Optionally, the tab extends, before being folded, substantially perpendicular to a connection zone of a plate of the main heat shield.

[0027] Optionally, the tab is inclined, before being folded, at an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to a connection zone of a plate of the main heat shield.

[0028] Optionally, the holding element is shaped as an elastically deformable tab intended to cooperate with the secondary heat shield in order to connect the secondary heat shield to the main heat shield.

[0029] Optionally, the tab has a free end shaped like an S.

[0030] Optionally, the holding element is arranged at a central opening of a plate of the main heat shield.

[0031] Optionally, the main heat shield comprises a plate comprising an attachment portion, an active portion and a portion for connecting the attachment portion to the active portion, the holding element being arranged at least partly in a junction zone between the attachment portion and the connection portion.

[0032] Optionally, the holding element is connected to a plate of the main heat shield, the plate having at least one cutout at the level of the connection zone of the holding element to the main heat shield.

[0033] Optionally, the cutout is devoid of sharp edges.

[0034] Optionally, the main heat shield comprises at least three holding elements distributed regularly around a circumference of a plate of said heat shield.

[0035] The invention also relates to an assembly of a main heat shield as previously described and a secondary heat shield.

[0036] Optionally, the secondary heat shield comprises at least one notch adapted to receive the holding element.

[0037] The invention also relates to a braking device comprising a main heat shield as previously described.

[0038] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the following description of particular non-limiting embodiments of the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0039] The description of the invention refers to the attached drawings, among which:

[0040] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a sectional view of a part of a braking device of a aircraft wheel according to a first particular embodiment of the invention.

[0041] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is an enlarged view of a portion of the braking device illustrated in [Fig.l],

[0042] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a relief view of a main heat shield of the device of braking shown in [Fig.l].

[0043] [Fig.4a] [Fig.4a] is a partial sectional view of the heat shield illustrated in [Fig.3], when inserting a secondary heat shield of the braking device shown in [Fig.l].

[0044] [Fig.4b] [Fig.4b] is a partial sectional view of a first variant of the screen thermal shield shown in [Fig.3], when inserting a secondary heat shield.

[0045] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] illustrates the successive stages of securing the heat shield secondary to the main heat shield illustrated in [Fig.4a].

[0046] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a partial top view of the heat shield shown in [Fig.3].

[0047] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] partly illustrates a variant of the heat shield illustrated in [Fig.3],

[0048] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] partly illustrates a variant of the secondary heat shield shown in [Fig.4a].

[0049] [Fig.9] [Fig.9] is a relief view of a heat shield of an aircraft wheel braking device according to a second particular embodiment of the invention.

[0050] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] is an enlarged view of a portion of the heat shield shown in [Fig.9].

[0051] [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] illustrates the successive stages of securing to the main heat shield illustrated in [Fig.9] a secondary heat shield of the braking device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0052] With reference to [Fig.l], the invention applies to a braking device, designated 1, of an aircraft wheel (not shown). The X axis is the axis of rotation of the wheel.

[0053] The braking device 1 comprises rotor discs 9a and stator discs 9b stacked alternately on a torque tube 4. The rotor discs 9a, integral in rotation with the wheel, are in rotation around the axis X and the stator discs 9b, integral with the torque tube 4, are immobile in rotation.

[0054] The braking device 1 further comprises an actuator support 5, generally called a crown, fixed to one end of the torque tube 4 by means of screws 11. The crown 5 comprises a plurality of cavities 6 distributed symmetrically around the axis X and connected to each other by channels 7. Each of the cavities accommodates an actuator 8 capable of exerting a braking force on the stack of discs 9 via a pressurized hydraulic fluid circulating inside the crown 5 through the channels 7.

[0055] The actuator 8 comprises a piston 10 sliding along a sliding axis parallel to the axis X. The piston 10 is composed of a head 12 for exerting pressure on a first stator disc 9b of the stack of discs 9. The annular distribution of the actuators 8 makes it possible to distribute the braking force uniformly over the entire surface of the first stator disc 9b.

[0056] The braking device 1 comprises a main heat shield 13 and a secondary heat shield 14 intended to be arranged between the torque tube 4 and the crown 5 to protect said crown from the radiation and thermal conduction generated by the friction of the discs 9 during braking of the wheel.

[0057] The braking device 1 is well known from the prior art and will not be detailed here.

[0058] With reference to Figures 2 and 3, the main heat shield 13 is of course in one thermally insulating material and for example made of or based on metal and for example made of steel, stainless steel, titanium, etc.

[0059] The main heat shield 13 is for example formed from a piece of sheet metal, preferably in one piece. For example, the first heat shield 13 has a thickness of less than 1 millimeter. The first heat shield 13 is arranged in the device coaxially with the X axis.

[0060] The main heat shield 13 has a plate comprising three distinct portions 13a, 13b and 13c: - An attachment portion 13a of the main heat shield 13 to the rest of the braking device. The attachment portion 13a is thus arranged between the crown 5 and the torque tube 4 and more precisely here between the crown 5 and the secondary heat shield 14. In addition, the attachment portion 13a has regularly spaced orifices on its circumference to receive the screws 11 ensuring the attachment of the crown 5 to one end of the torque tube 4. - An active portion 13c extending opposite the stack of discs 9. Preferably, the active portion 13c has cutouts regularly spaced around its circumference to allow the actuators 8 to reach the stack of discs 9. Preferably, the active portion 13c extends in a plane substantially parallel to the plane in which the attachment portion 13a extends. - A connecting portion 13b of the attachment portion 13a to the active portion 13c, the connecting portion 13b extending in such a way as to form an angle α (torque tube 4 side) with the attachment portion 13a and an angle [3 (crown 5 side) with the connecting portion 13b. Preferably, the connecting portion 13b extends so that the angle α is obtuse and for example between 100 and 135 degrees. Preferably, the connecting portion 13b extends so that the angle [3 is obtuse and for example between 100 and 135 degrees.

[0061] Preferably, the plate is shaped so that its different portions are attached two by two by fillets 80.

[0062] The secondary heat shield 14 is made of a thermally insulating material and for example made of or based on metal (for example stainless steel, titanium, etc.) and / or made of or based on polymer (for example Polyetheretherketone (better known by the acronym PEEK, registered trademark), phenolic resin, etc.) ... Preferably, the secondary heat shield 14 is of a thickness greater than that of the main heat shield 13. Preferably, the secondary heat shield 14 remains of small thickness. For example, the secondary heat shield 14 has a thickness greater than 1 millimeter and less than at 10 millimeters. The secondary heat shield 14 is for example formed from a piece of sheet metal. The secondary heat shield 14 is preferably formed from a single piece. The secondary heat shield 14 is for example shaped as a washer.

[0063] The secondary heat shield 14 is arranged between the main heat shield 13 and the end of the torque tube 4. More precisely, the secondary heat shield 14 is arranged between the attachment portion 13a and the end of the torque tube 4. In this way, the secondary heat shield 14 bears against the attachment portion 13a. It should therefore be noted that in the present case, it is the attachment portion 13a which is shaped to receive the secondary heat shield 14. The secondary heat shield 14 is directly in contact with the main heat shield 13. The secondary heat shield 14 is thus arranged in the device coaxially with the X axis.

[0064] The secondary heat shield 14 has regularly spaced orifices around its circumference to receive the screws 11 which thus extend through the secondary heat shield 14 and the attachment portion 13a to ensure the fixing of the crown 5 to one end of the torque tube 4.

[0065] Furthermore, the main heat shield 13 comprises at least one holding element making it possible to connect the secondary heat shield 14 to said main heat shield 13. The holding element is advantageously made of a single piece with said main heat shield 13 and in particular made of a single piece with the plate.

[0066] Preferably, the main heat shield 13 comprises at least three holding elements 100, 101, 102 distributed regularly around the circumference of its plate. In the present case, the plate comprises only three holding elements 100, 101, 102 arranged 120 degrees from each other.

[0067] Optionally, the holding elements 100, 101, 102 are arranged at the attachment portion 13a. Optionally, the holding elements 100, 101, 102 are arranged at the inner edge 50 of the attachment portion 13a, the inner edge also defining a central opening of the plate for the passage of the torque tube 4 through the main heat shield 13.

[0068] In the present case at least one of the holding elements 100, 101, 102 is a tab intended to be deformed to be folded onto the secondary heat shield 14, when the latter is pressing against the main heat shield 13, in order to connect said secondary heat shield 14 to said main heat shield 13.

[0069] In the present case the three holding elements are identical to each other so that the following description of one of the holding elements is also applicable to the other holding elements.

[0070] The tab forming the holding element 100 has the same thickness as that of the plate. The tab is made of the same material as that of the plate.

[0071] The tab here extends towards the inside of the main heat shield 13 so as to be facing the torque tube 4 in service.

[0072] The tab is presented here (before it is folded) in the form of a strip. Said strip has a rectangular section (according to a section plane having a radial axis as its normal).

[0073] As more visible in [Fig.4a], the tab, before being folded, extends here in an inclined manner (i.e. neither parallel nor orthogonally) relative to the attachment portion 13a. The tab is also inclined towards the outside of the plate in the direction of the central opening of the main heat shield. Typically the tab, before being folded, extends in a plane forming an angle 0 with a plane normal to the attachment portion 13a, angle 0 which is acute and for example between 0 (not included) and 30 degrees. Thus, the arrangement of the secondary heat shield 14 on the attachment portion 13a is made easier as we will see later.

[0074] The tab has a sufficient height to be able to fold at least partially onto a main face of the secondary heat shield 14 (opposite to that bearing against the attachment portion). Typically, the tab here has a height which is at least one millimeter greater than the thickness of the secondary heat shield 14 (thickness and height considered along the X axis) and for example the tab here has a height which is 1 to 10 millimeters greater than the thickness of the secondary heat shield 14.

[0075] As indicated previously, the tab extends from an area of ​​the plate of the main heat shield 13 which can also be called the “connection area of ​​the tab to the plate”. Preferably, and as more visible in [Fig. 6], said area is separated from the rest of the plate by at least one cutout made in the plate (here in the attachment portion 13a). Preferably, said area is separated from the rest of the plate by two cutouts 60 made in the plate (here in the attachment portion 13a). At least one of its cutouts and preferably both cutouts 60 extend substantially radially. The connection zone and therefore the associated tab are thus framed by two cutouts 60. At least one of the cutouts, and preferably both cutouts 60, is shaped into a groove open in the thickness of the main heat shield 13 and opening at one end at the inner edge 50 of said screen.

[0076] Preferably, at least one of the cutouts (and here the two cutouts 60) are devoid of sharp edges. This makes it possible to prevent potential cracking of the main heat shield 13 at the level of the tab. Thus, it will be preferable to round the cutout at its closed end and / or it will be preferable to round its open end forming a junction with the inner edge 50 of the plate on the one hand and of the tab on the other hand.

[0077] In operation, the operator positions the secondary heat shield 14 against the attachment portion 13a as indicated by the arrow in [Fig.4a]. The secondary heat shield 14 is therefore arranged in a translational movement substantially parallel to the plane in which each of the three holding elements 100, 101, 102 extends.

[0078] As shown in [Fig.5], when the secondary heat shield 14 is in place against the attachment portion 13a, a first of its main faces rests against a first of the main faces of the attachment portion 13a.

[0079] A first of the tabs forming the holding element 100 is then folded, via a pressure force exerted, so that said tab at least partially covers said secondary heat shield 14.

[0080] More precisely here, in a first step, pressure is exerted on the tab according to a substantially radial force (as represented by an arrow) so that said tab is placed against the inner edge of the secondary heat shield 14 (i.e. the inner edge defining the central opening of the secondary heat shield 14 allowing the torque tube 4 to pass through it). It is noted here that the tab is of a height greater than the thickness of the secondary heat shield 14 (thickness and height considered along the X axis) so that the tab protrudes from the secondary heat shield 14 once this first folding has been carried out. Then, in a second step, pressure is exerted to fold the free end of the tab according to a force exerted obliquely in the direction of the secondary heat shield 14 (as represented by an arrow). The tab is thus started to be folded down onto the second main face of the secondary heat shield 14.Finally, in a third step, pressure is exerted on the free end of the tab according to an axial force in the direction of the secondary heat shield 14 (as represented by an arrow). In this position, the free end of the tab at least partially covers the second main face of the secondary heat shield 14.

[0081] At the end of these three steps, the main thermal element 13 completely covers the first main face of the secondary thermal screen 14 (via its attachment portion 13a), completely covers the inner edge of the secondary thermal screen 14 (via the tab) and partially covers the second main face of the secondary thermal screen 14 (via the tab and more precisely its free end).

[0082] At least one of the steps described above can be implemented manually (via manual pressure exerted by the operator) and / or automatically (via pressure exerted by a machine tool).

[0083] These three steps are implemented for the holding elements 100, 101 and 102 (simultaneously for the three holding elements or successively - for example the holding elements are folded one after the other or the first step is implemented for all the holding elements then the second step is implemented for all the holding elements or the third step is implemented for all the holding elements) thus allowing the secondary heat shield 14 to be linked to the main heat shield 13 by deformation (which is not intended to be reversible) of said holding elements 100, 101 and 102.

[0084] According to a first variant of the first embodiment which has just been described, at least one of the elements can extend, before being folded, in a non-oblique manner to the attachment portion 13a. Thus, as illustrated in [Fig.4b], at least one of the holding elements can extend, before being folded, substantially perpendicular to the attachment portion 13a. The holding element, before being folded, therefore extends in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the attachment portion 13a extends. In this case, it is optionally possible to dispense with the first folding step which was described previously.

[0085] According to a second variant of the first embodiment (which may or may not be combined with the first variant), as shown in [Fig. 7], at least one of the holding elements may not extend from the inner edge of the attachment portion 13a. For example, the holding element may extend from a junction zone, here the fillet 80, between the attachment portion 13a and the connecting portion 13b. For example, the holding element may extend from an edge of the attachment portion 13a delimiting (on the attachment portion 13a side) said junction zone. In this case, it is optionally possible to carry out at least the second and third folding steps which have been mentioned previously. It is therefore understood that with this second variant, the holding element folds around the outer edge of the secondary heat shield and not around the inner edge as described with regard to [Fig. 5]

[0086] The tab is then for example formed by a cutout of the plate. Under the tab, the plate optionally has a hole 90 passing through the main heat shield 13 in its entire thickness, the hole 90 also extending substantially over the entire height of the junction zone between the attachment portion 13a and the connection portion 13b. The width of the hole 90 (in a circumferential direction) is here greater than that of the tab.

[0087] As indicated previously, the tab then extends from an area of ​​the plate of the main heat shield 13 which can also be called the “connection area of ​​the tab to the plate”. Preferably, said area is separated from the rest of the plate by at least one cutout made in the plate (here in the attachment portion 13a). Preferably, said area is separated from the rest of the plate by two cutouts 160 made in the plate (here in the attachment portion 13a). At least one of its cutouts and preferably the two cutouts 160 extend substantially in the plane of the attachment portion 13a. The connection area and thereby the associated tab are thus framed by two cutouts 160. At least one of the cutouts, and preferably the two cutouts 160, is shaped into an open groove in the thickness of the main heat shield 13. In the present case, at least one of the cutouts, and preferably the two cutouts 160, opens at one end into the hole.

[0088] Preferably, at least one of the cutouts (and here the two cutouts 160) is free of sharp edges. This makes it possible to prevent potential cracking of the main heat shield 13 at the level of the tab. Thus, it will be preferable to round the cutout at its closed end.

[0089] Also preferably, the hole 90 is devoid of sharp edges. Thus, it will be preferable to round the hole 90 at its various corners.

[0090] A third variant of the first embodiment (which may or may not be combined with the first variant and / or the second variant) will now be described with reference to [Fig.8]. In what has been described so far, once the secondary heat shield 14 is connected to the main heat shield 13, after folding the holding elements 100, 101 and 102, said secondary heat shield 14 may possibly still have a degree of freedom in rotation relative to the main heat shield 13 around an axis of rotation parallel (or coincident if the heat shields are already in place in the braking device) to the X axis. Thus in a third variant, the secondary heat shield 14 comprises at least one notch 14a adapted to receive one of the holding elements of the main heat shield 13. Typically said notch 14a is pushed radially into the secondary heat shield thus forming two lateral edges 141.It will be understood that it is not necessary for said notch 14a to be deeply inserted into the secondary heat shield 14 due to the restricted dimensions of the various holding elements. Preferably, said notch is arranged at the internal edge of the secondary heat shield 14. Said notch is open in the thickness of the secondary heat shield 14 and opens out at one end at the internal edge of said screen.

[0091] Once one of the holding elements (the holding element 100 for example) is arranged in the notch 14a, said element is framed by the edges 141 of the notch 14 and is thus in abutment against them in the event of relative rotation between the two heat shields 13 and 14. The notch 14a thus makes it possible to block the rotation of the secondary heat shield 14 relative to the main heat shield 13.

[0092] Preferably, the secondary heat shield 14 is shaped to have as many notches as there are holding elements on the main heat shield 13 so that each holding element is housed in one of the notches.

[0093] With reference to Figures 9 to 11, a second embodiment will now be described.

[0094] Whereas in the first embodiment, at least one holding element was shaped to be able to be folded for a definitive purpose on the associated secondary heat shield 14, in the second embodiment, at least one holding element is a deformable elastic element.

[0095] Of course, here again, the holding element is advantageously made of a single piece with the main heat shield 13 and in particular made of a single piece with the plate.

[0096] Preferably, the main heat shield 13 comprises at least three holding elements 500, 501, 502 distributed regularly around the circumference of its plate. In the present case, the plate comprises only three holding elements 500, 501, 502 arranged 120 degrees from each other.

[0097] Optionally, the holding elements 500, 501, 502 are arranged at the level of the connection portion 13b.

[0098] In the present case at least one of the holding elements 500, 501, 502 is an elastically deformable tab. In the present case the three holding elements are identical to each other so that the following description of one of the holding elements is also applicable to the other holding elements.

[0099] The tab forming the holding element 500 has the same thickness as that of the plate. The tab is made of the same material as that of the plate.

[0100] The tab here extends towards the inside of the main heat shield 13 so as to be turned towards the torque tube 4 in use.

[0101] As illustrated in [Fig. 10], the tab of the main heat shield 13 here comprises two parts: • A fixing part 500a to the plate and more particularly here to the connection portion 13b. The fixing part extends for example in a plane which is inclined (i.e. neither parallel nor orthogonal) to a plane in which the connection portion extends. Said planes jointly form an angle q> which is for example acute and for example between 35 and 55 degrees. Preferably, the fixing part 500a extends from one end of the connection portion 13b which is closest to the active portion 13c. The fixing part 500a is here in the form of a strip. Said strip has a rectangular section (along a section plane parallel to the plane in which said fixing part 500a extends). • A holding portion 500b extending from a free end of the fixing portion 500a. The free end of the holding portion 500b thus forms the end of the elastically deformable tab. Preferably, said holding portion 500b is shaped in an S. The holding portion 500b thus extends in the extension of the fixing portion 500a but in at least one plane different from that in which the fixing portion 500a extends.

[0102] The tab is for example here formed by a cutout of the plate. The tab is then conformed to the form indicated above.

[0103] Under the tab, the plate optionally has a hole 590 passing through the main heat shield 13 in its entire thickness, the hole 590 also extending substantially from the end of the connection portion 13b closest to the active portion 13c to the end of the attachment portion 13a closest to the connection portion 13b. The width of the hole 590 (in a circumferential direction) is here greater than that of the tab.

[0104] The tab thus has a sufficient height to be able to come into contact with the secondary heat shield 14 to hold it in place against the main heat shield 13 as we will see later. For example, at least the holding part here extends at least partly above the attachment portion 13a.

[0105] As indicated previously, the tab extends from an area of ​​the plate of the main heat shield 13 which can also be called the “connection area of ​​the tab to the plate”. Preferably, and as more visible in [Fig. 10], said area is separated from the rest of the plate by at least one cutout made in the plate (here in the connection portion 13b). Preferably, said area is separated from the rest of the plate by two cutouts 560 made in the plate (here in the connection portion 13b). At least one of its cutouts and preferably the two cutouts 560 extend substantially in the plane of the connection portion 13b in the direction of the active portion 13c. The connection zone and thus the associated tab are thus framed by two cutouts 560. At least one of the cutouts, and preferably both cutouts 560, is shaped into an open groove in the thickness of the main heat shield 13.In the present case, at least one of the cutouts, and preferably both cutouts 560, opens at one end into the hole 590.

[0106] Preferably, at least one of the cutouts (and here the two cutouts 560) is free of sharp edges. This makes it possible to prevent potential cracking of the main heat shield 13 at the level of the tab. Thus, it will be preferable to round the cutout at its closed end.

[0107] Also preferably, the hole 590 is devoid of sharp edges. Thus, it will be preferable to round the hole 590 at its various corners.

[0108] In operation, the operator positions the secondary heat shield 14 against the attachment portion 13a as indicated by the arrow in [Fig.l 1]. The tabs extend in the path of the secondary heat shield 14 and therefore deform elastically as said screen passes under the pressure force exerted by the secondary heat shield 14. More precisely, the different tabs are deformed so as to be temporarily folded back in the direction of the connection portion 13b.

[0109] Once the secondary heat shield 14 is attached to the attachment portion 13a,

[0110] [YES]

[0112]

[0113]

[0114]

[0115]

[0116] the different legs tend to return, by elasticity, to their initial position. The holding part 500b of the different legs then come into abutment against the secondary heat shield 14 and in the present case come into abutment against the external edge of said secondary heat shield 14. The elastically deformable tabs 500, 501 and 502 thus make it possible to connect said secondary heat shield 14 to the main heat shield 13. In the present case, the S-shape of the holding portions 500b facilitates this holding. Whatever the embodiment described and / or the variant described, it has thus been proposed to carry out a preliminary assembly of the main heat shield 13 and the secondary heat shield 14 which provides a certain number of advantages: - The operator can thus simultaneously arrange the two heat shields 13, 14, without them moving relative to each other, between the crown 5 and the torque tube 4. The operator can thus easily insert the screws 11 ensuring the fixing of the crown 5 to one end of the torque tube 4. - The time required to assemble the braking device 4 is significantly reduced. In fact, the operator is no longer required to go twice to a storage bin at the edge of the production line to successively retrieve the secondary heat shield 14 and the main heat shield 13. - The secondary heat shield 14 is connected to the main heat shield 13 without using additional parts in the braking device. This ensures the reliability of the assembly and minimizes the weight and cost of the braking device. This list is obviously not exhaustive and other advantages could appear to those skilled in the art. The invention is not limited to the embodiments and variations described but encompasses any variation falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. The invention can thus be applied to any braking device of at least one aircraft wheel comprising at least two thermally insulating screens. Thus the braking device can be hydraulic or electric. The primary heat shield and / or secondary heat shield may differ from what has been described in terms of its shape or manufacturing material. In particular, at least one holding element may be different from what has been described. In particular, the shape and / or dimensions of at least one holding element may be different from what has been indicated (for example the width of at least one of the tabs) in particular depending on the dimensions of the secondary heat shield. For example, at least one holding element may have at least one area of triangular, rounded, square, etc. section The angle 0 defined in the first embodiment of the invention may be different from what has been indicated, in particular to facilitate more or less the positioning of the secondary heat shield on the plate of the main heat shield. At least one holding element (or an area thereof) may be curved to follow the curvature of the main heat shield (or at least a portion thereof) instead of being flat as indicated previously. At least one tab of the first embodiment may thus be curved instead of being flat.

[0117] The two embodiments of the invention described above show a main heat shield comprising three holding elements. However, this number is not limiting. For example, the main heat shield may comprise only one or two holding elements or even more than three holding elements.

[0118] At least two holding elements may be different from each other.

[0119] Of course, the different embodiments and variants described above can be mixed. Thus, the main heat shield can comprise holding elements according to the first embodiment arranged both on the internal edge forming the central opening of the attachment portion (as illustrated in [Fig.2]) and at the connection between the attachment portion and the connection portion (as illustrated in [Fig.7]). The secondary heat shield associated with the main heat shield of the second embodiment can comprise at least one notch for receiving at least one holding element (as in the third variant of the first embodiment illustrated in [Fig.8]) in order to limit relative rotation between the two heat shields.Once one of the retaining elements is arranged in the notch, said element will be framed by the edges of the notch and will thus be in abutment against them in the event of relative rotation between the two heat shields. No hole may be made in the plate even in the case of a retaining element according to the second embodiment or the second variant of the first embodiment.

Claims

Claims

1. Braking device for at least one aircraft wheel, comprising an actuator support (5), a torque tube (4), a main heat shield (13) and at least one secondary heat shield (14), the main heat shield being arranged between the actuator support and the torque tube, the main heat shield comprising at least one holding element (100, 101, 102; 500, 501, 502) of the secondary heat shield to said main heat shield, the holding element being in one piece with the main heat shield.

2. Braking device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element (100, 101, 102) is shaped as a tab folded over the secondary heat shield (14) in order to connect the secondary heat shield to the main heat shield.

3. Braking device according to claim 2, in which the tab, before being folded, has a rectangular section.

4. Braking device according to one of claims 2 to 3, for which the tab extends, before being folded, substantially perpendicular to a connection zone of a plate of the main heat shield.

5. Braking device according to one of claims 2 to 3, for which the tab is inclined, before being folded, at an angle greater than 90 degrees relative to a connection zone of a plate of the main heat shield.

6. Braking device according to claim 1, wherein the holding element is shaped as an elastically deformable tab (500, 501, 502) cooperating with the secondary heat shield (14) in order to connect the secondary heat shield to the main heat shield.

7. Braking device according to claim 6, in which the tab has a free end shaped like an S.

8. Braking device according to one of claims 1 to 5, for which the holding element (100, 101, 102) is arranged at a central opening of a plate of the main heat shield.

9. Braking device according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the main heat shield comprises a plate comprising an attachment portion (13a), an active portion (13c) and a connection portion (13b) of the attachment portion to the active portion, the holding element (100, 101, 102; 500, 501, 502) being arranged at least in part in a junction area between the attachment portion and the connection portion.

10. Braking device according to one of the preceding claims, for which the holding element is connected to a plate of the main heat shield, the plate having at least one cutout (60; 160; 560) at the level of the connection zone of the holding element to the main heat shield.

11. A braking device according to claim 10, wherein the cutout is free of sharp edges.

12. Braking device according to one of claims 1 to 11, in which the main heat shield comprises at least three holding elements distributed regularly around a circumference of a plate of the heat shield.

13. Braking device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the secondary heat shield comprises at least one notch (14a) adapted to receive the holding element.

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