A bar covering a tenon attached to a wheel to drive the rotation of brake rotor discs

Abstract

A braked wheel (10) comprising a rim (11a) equipped with rotor discs (21b) driven in rotation with the rim by means of studs (11a.1) integral with said rim and engaged in notches in the rotor discs, characterized in that each of the studs is capped with a bar (40) for interface with the notches of the rotor discs, the bar comprising an elongated body (41) having lateral wings, at least one plate of damping material (42) extending between the wings and the stud and being arranged to deform elastically under the effect of tangential forces transmitted between at least one of the rotor discs and the rotor stud and to absorb vibrations due to repeated impacts between the body (41) of the bar and the rotor discs during braking of the wheel via said rotor discs. FIGURE IN ABBREVIATION: Fig. 4

Description

Title of the invention: A bar covering a tenon fixed to a wheel for rotating brake rotor discs

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of braking of a wheel and more particularly to a bar covering a tenon attached to the wheel to drive rotor brake discs in rotation.

[0002] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Aircraft wheels mounted on aircraft landing gear and designed to cooperate with a brake are known. Generally, the brake comprises discs extending inside the wheel rim, including stator discs that are stopped from rotating and arranged alternately with rotor discs driven in rotation by the wheel rim via bars that are fixed to the rim and extend into peripheral notches on the rotor discs. Controlled pressure on all the discs brings them into contact with each other and generates friction, thus producing a braking torque that slows the wheel's rotation.

[0004] It has been observed that the pressure applied to all the discs at low speeds or at the end of braking causes repeated impacts between the slats and the rotor discs. These impacts generate vibrations that travel up the aircraft structure via the landing gear and are felt by the passengers. While these vibrations do not affect the mechanical strength of the landing gear and the aircraft structure, they do create a passenger comfort problem that can even damage the image of the airline operating the aircraft.

[0005] SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention therefore aims to provide a brake bar for aircraft wheels which at least partially overcomes the aforementioned drawback. Summary of the invention

[0007] For this purpose, a braked wheel is proposed, comprising a rim equipped with rotor discs driven in rotation with the rim by means of tenons attached to said rim and engaged in notches in the rotor discs.

[0008] According to the invention, each of the tenons is capped with an interface bar with the notches of the rotor discs, the bar comprising an elongated body having wings, at least one plate of damping material extending between the wings and the tenon and being arranged to deform elastically under the effect of tangential forces passing between at least one of the rotor discs and the rotor tenon and to absorb vibrations due to repeated shocks between the body of the bar and the rotor discs during braking of the wheel via said rotor discs.

[0009] The damping material plate thus makes it possible to attenuate the amplitude of the vibrations generated by the repeated shocks between the bars and the rotor disks, failing to be able to cut off the excitation or the structural natural mode at the origin of the vibrations.

[0010] According to a particular feature of the invention, the bar is attached and fixed to the tenon.

[0011] In particular, the body of the bar is fixed on the tenon so as to allow movement of the bar in a substantially tangential direction.

[0012] According to another particular feature, the damping material plate is made of elastomer or glass wool or graphite.

[0013] According to another particular feature, the body of the barrette has a substantially constant cross-section and is generally U-shaped.

[0014] According to another particular feature, the body of the bar comprises a core, the wings each extending from a longitudinal edge of the core, and the core and the wings respectively defining the base and the branches of the U-shaped section.

[0015] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, each of the wings of the bar body comprises a single plate of damping material forming a strip of material which extends longitudinally along the body.

[0016] According to another particular embodiment of the invention, each of the wings of the bar body comprises a plurality of damping material plates, each of the material plates being arranged to deform elastically under the effect of a tangential force passing between one of the rotor discs and the rotor tenon of the rim.

[0017] The invention also relates to an aircraft landing gear comprising at least one such braked wheel.

[0018] The invention also relates to an aircraft comprising at least one such landing gear. Brief description of the drawings

[0019] The invention will be better understood in the light of the following description, which is purely illustrative and not limiting, and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, among which:

[0020] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] is a simplified view of an aircraft including landers main ones equipped with braked wheels according to the invention;

[0021] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is an axial cross-sectional view of one of these braked wheels;

[0022] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a perspective view of the braked wheel illustrated in [Fig.2], the brake being off the wheel;

[0023] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a partial cross-sectional view of the braked wheel illustrated in [Fig.2], along a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] With reference to [Fig. 1], the invention is described in application to an aircraft 1 comprising two main landers 2. Each of the main landers 2 has a leg 3 having a first end articulated on a structure 4 of the aircraft 1 and, at the opposite end, a second end provided with a tubular shaft or axle 5 carrying wheels 10 rotating about an axis X. The main landers 2 are here of the retractable type, but the invention is applicable to fixed landers, or even to another type of vehicle such as a land vehicle.

[0025] The following description relates to one of the wheels 10 of the aircraft, the wheels 10 being identical here but also being different.

[0026] With reference to [Fig.2], the wheel 10 comprises two half-wheels 10a, 10b each having an annular rim 11a, 11b connected to a half-hub 13a, 13b by a disc 12a, 12b. The half-hub 13a, 13b is pivotally received on the axle 5 by means of a bearing 14a, 14b and has a distal end comprising a bore in which the bearing 14a, 14b is received.

[0027] The half-wheel 10a has a housing provided on an edge of the rim 1la and in which a sealing gasket 15 is arranged so that it is elastically compressed between the half-wheels 10a, 10b once they are assembled.

[0028] The half-wheels 10a, 10b are brought together in a direction parallel to the X axis of rotation of the wheel 10 and have centering bearing surfaces (not shown) to ensure the correct relative positioning of the half-wheels 10a, 10b. The half-wheels 10a, 10b are held in position by assembly bolts 16 arranged in holes drilled opposite each other in pairs in the webs 12a, 12b.

[0029] The bolts 16 are screwed and tightened to assemble the half-wheels 10a, 10b after mounting a tire (not shown) on the rims 1la, 11b. In this position, the sealing gasket 15 is elastically compressed between the half-wheels 10a, 10b.

[0030] The half-wheels 10a, 10b each have an annular rim 17a, 17b which is arranged at a distal end of the rim 11a, 11b and which extends radially outwards from the wheel 10. The rim rims 17a, 17b form axial stops preventing the tire from coming off the rim.

[0031] The wheel 10 is said to be "braked," that is, equipped with a braking device 20 intended to selectively slow down and stop the aircraft 1 when it is on the ground. The braking device 20 comprises discs 21, including stator discs 21a and rotor discs 21b, which are stacked alternately against each other on a torsion tube 22 fixed to a hand (not shown) of the axle 5. The torsion tube 22 and the stack of discs 21 extend inside the half-wheel 12a in an annular space delimited by an inner surface of the rim 1a, the disc 12a, and a surface outer edge of half hub 13a extending opposite the inner surface of rim lia.

[0032] The stator discs 21a have an inner circumference comprising axial peripheral notches, each receiving a section of a stator tenon 22.1 extending axially from an outer surface of the torsion tube 22 to ensure rotational coupling of the stator discs 21a with the torsion tube 22 around the X axis of rotation of the wheel 10. The stator tenons 22.1 are formed from the same material as the torsion tube 22 and each has a longitudinal axis parallel to the X axis so as to form slides allowing the stator discs 21a to slide along said X axis. The peripheral notches of the stator discs 21a include lateral flanks protected by clips 23a riveted to said stator discs 21a.

[0033] The rotor discs 21b have an outer circumference comprising axial peripheral notches, each receiving a section of a rotor tenon 1la.1 extending axially from the inner surface of the rim 1la to ensure rotational coupling of the rotor discs 21a with the rim 1la around the X axis of rotation of the wheel 10. With reference to Figures 3 and 4, the rotor tenons 1la.1 are here formed from the rim 1la and each have a longitudinal axis parallel to the X axis so as to form slides allowing the rotor discs 21b to slide along said X axis. The peripheral notches of the rotor discs 21b include lateral flanks protected by clips 23b riveted to said rotor discs 21b.

[0034] The braking device 20 further comprises a hydraulic ring 24 fixed to one end of the torsion tube 22 by means of screws. The ring 24 comprises a plurality of cavities 25 which are symmetrically distributed around the X axis of rotation of the wheel 10 and connected to each other by channels. Each of the cavities 25 receives an actuator 26 which selectively exerts a pressing force, parallel to the X axis of rotation of the wheel 10, on the stack of discs 21 via a pressurized hydraulic fluid circulating inside the ring 24 through the channels. The pressing force generates friction between the stator discs 21a and the rotor discs 21b, resulting in the application of a braking torque on the wheel 10. The ring arrangement of the actuators 26 makes it possible to distribute the pressing forces evenly over the entire surface of the first stator disc 21a.

[0035] The wheel 10 is also equipped with a heat shield to protect the rim 1la and the tire carried by the rim 1la from the influx of heat generated by the friction of the stator discs 21a against the rotor discs 21b. The heat shield here consists of several identical heat shields 30 fixed to the rim 1la. Each of the heat shields 30 extends between two rotor studs 1la and is interposed between the inner surface of the rim 1la and the stack of discs 21.

[0036] According to the invention, each of the rotor tenons 1 la. 1 is capped with a bar 40 for interface with the riders 23b of the rotor discs 21b to ensure a rotational coupling of said rotor discs 21b with the rim lia around the axis X of rotation of the wheel 10.

[0037] The bar 40 comprises an elongated body 41 extending parallel to the axis X of rotation of the wheel 10 and having a cross-section, perpendicular to the axis X, substantially constant and globally U-shaped so as to cap the corresponding tenon 1.

[0038] The body 41 is here made of metal and comprises a core 41.1 and two wings 41.2 each extending from a longitudinal edge of the core 41.1. The core 41.1 and the wings 41.2 respectively define the base and the arms of the U-shaped cross-section.

[0039] The core 41.1 of the body 41 comprises an internal surface cooperating with an inner face of the rotor tenon 1la.1 and has oblong holes for fixing the body 41 to the rotor tenon 1la.1. The oblong holes are shaped to allow the body 41 to be fixed to the rotor tenon 1la.1 by screwing through the oblong holes. The oblong holes allow play between the screw and the bar 40 in a direction F substantially tangential to the braking torque. Circular holes with a diameter larger than the diameter of the screws could also be used. It is understood that the bar 40 is attached to the rotor tenon 1la.1.

[0040] Each of the wings 41.2 of the body 41 comprises: • an external surface arranged to cooperate with the bearing faces of the 23b riders protecting the lateral sides of the peripheral notches of the rotor discs 21b; and • an internal surface, opposite the external surface, on which is fixed a strip of shock-absorbing material 42, one free face of which cooperates with a lateral or support face of the rotor tenon 1. 1.

[0041] The strip of material 42 extends substantially over the entire length of the wing 41.2 of the body and is here bonded to the inner surface of said wing 41.2 but is not integral with the rotor tenon lia. 1.

[0042] The strip of material forms a single plate of damping material and is arranged to deform elastically under the effect of tangential forces passing between the rotor discs 21b and the rotor tenon 1la. 1 of the rim 1la and to absorb at least partially the vibrations due to repeated impacts between the body 41 of the bar 40 and the riders 23b of the rotor discs 21b during braking of the wheel 10 carried out via the braking device 20, particularly at low speed and under the following conditions: - the braking torque exerted on wheel 10 is between 0 and 1500 Nm (Newton meter); - the exposure temperature of the material strip 42 is approximately equal to 250 degrees.

[0043] The material and thickness of the material strip 42 are chosen according to the required damping and absorption capacity. The material strip 42 is here made of elastomer or glass wool and has a thickness of approximately 2 millimeters.

[0044] It is understood that the strip of material 42 makes it possible to locally modify the stiffness of the bar 40, and therefore that of the interface between the rotor tenon 1 la. 1 and the rotor discs 21b through which the braking torque passes, so that said strip of material 42 makes it possible to limit the transmission of vibrations from the braking device 20 into the landing gear 2 and therefore into the structure S of the aircraft A.

[0045] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0046] The damping material plate is here in the form of a single strip of material 42 extending over the entire length of the bar: a plurality of damping material plates can be provided, each plate being fixed to a section of the inner surface of the wing 41.2 of the body and comprising a free face cooperating with a section of the lateral or support face of the rotor tenon 1la.1, this section being axially opposite one of the rotor discs 21b. The plates can be spaced apart from each other. Such an arrangement of the damping material allows a discontinuity in the stiffness of the bar 40 and thus allows said stiffness to be adapted according to the need to absorb the braking torque in order to decouple the vibrations generated by each of the rotor discs 21b with the rotor tenons lla.1.

[0047] The shock-absorbing material plate can be deposited as a layer on the wings or on the side walls of the tenon.

[0048] Although the material strip 42 is here made of elastomer or glass wool, any other suitable material may be used, such as graphite.

[0049] Although the rotor tenons lla.l here come from the material with the rim lia, they can be attached to said rim lia.

[0050] Although the wheel 10 here comprises two half-wheels 10a, 10b, it can also be a single piece.

Claims

Demands

1. A braked wheel (10) comprising a rim (1a) equipped with rotor discs (21b) driven in rotation with the rim by means of studs (lla.l) integral with said rim and engaged in notches of the rotor discs, characterized in that each of the studs is capped with a bar (40) for interface with the notches of the rotor discs, the bar comprising an elongated body (41) having lateral wings, at least one plate of damping material (42) extending between the wings and the stud and being arranged to deform elastically under the effect of tangential forces passing between at least one of the rotor discs and the rotor stud and to absorb vibrations due to repeated shocks between the body (41) of the bar and the rotor discs during braking of the wheel via said rotor discs.

2. Wheel (10) braked according to claim 1, in which the bar (40) is attached and fixed on the tenon (1 la. 1).

3. Wheel (10) braked according to claim 2, wherein the body (41) of the bar (40) is fixed on the tenon (1 la. 1) so as to allow movement of the bar in a substantially tangential direction (F).

4. Wheel (10) braked according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the damping material plate (42) is made of elastomer or glass wool or graphite.

5. Wheel (10) braked according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body (41) of the bar (40) has a substantially constant cross-section and is generally U-shaped.

6. Wheel (10) braked according to claim 5, wherein the body (41) of the bar (40) comprises a web (41.1), the wings (41.2) each extending from a longitudinal edge of the web, and the web and the wings respectively defining the base and the arms of the U-shaped section.

7. Wheel (10) braked according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the wings of the body (41) of the bar (40) comprises a single plate of damping material forming a strip of material which extends longitudinally along the body.

8. Wheel (10) braked according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each of the wings (41.2) of the body (41) of the bar (40) comprises a plurality of damping material plates, each of the material plates being arranged to deform elastically under the effect of a tangential force passing between one of the rotor discs (21b) and the rotor tenon (lla.l) of the rim (Hb).

9. Aircraft landing gear (2), comprising at least one wheel (10) braked according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Aircraft (A) comprising at least one landing gear (2) according to claim 9.

Images