Aircraft Brake Actuator Shuttle Parking Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft brake actuators with parking brake members suffer from continuous electrical consumption and overheating, premature wear due to untimely friction, and efficiency loss when the coil fails, as they require permanent power to maintain the brake engaged.
Innovation Solution
An electromechanical brake actuator with a shuttle-based parking blocking member that moves between blocking and release positions using brief pulses, eliminating the need for continuous power and featuring a torque limiter and a pulse actuator to ensure the shuttle can release even if the impulse actuator fails.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the parking brake member coil remains permanently energized to maintain the brake engaged, then the brake can hold the aircraft in place, but electrical consumption increases and overheating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using brief impulse signals to energize the coil only when needed to move the shuttle between positions, rather than continuous energization. The control unit sends periodic impulse signals that activate the coil temporarily to shift the shuttle, then cut power while maintaining the brake position through mechanical latching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through the mechanical latching mechanism that maintains the brake engaged position without continuous electrical power. Once the shuttle is moved to the engaged position by an impulse, the mechanical structure itself maintains the position, and the system serves itself by using the brake stack friction and mechanical geometry to hold the position.
2Reliability
If the parking brake member coil remains permanently energized to maintain the brake engaged, then the brake can hold the aircraft in place, but overheating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using brief impulse signals to energize the coil only when needed to move the shuttle between positions, rather than continuous energization. The control unit sends periodic impulse signals that activate the coil temporarily to shift the shuttle, then cut power while maintaining the brake position through mechanical latching.
3Device complexity
If the park unit coil fails, then the system structure remains simple, but the park unit remains engaged causing premature wear and efficiency loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through the mechanical latching mechanism that maintains the brake engaged position without continuous electrical power. Once the shuttle is moved to the engaged position by an impulse, the mechanical structure itself maintains the position, and the system serves itself by using the brake stack friction and mechanical geometry to hold the position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies inversion by designing the system so that the default state is disengaged and requires active intervention to engage, rather than the conventional approach where the default is engaged and requires active intervention to disengage. This is achieved through the forcing means that push the shuttle toward the disengaged position, reversing the conventional logic.
4Reliability
If a conventional park unit is used, then the brake can be held engaged, but untimely friction occurs reducing actuator efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using brief impulse signals to energize the coil only when needed to move the shuttle between positions, rather than continuous energization. The control unit sends periodic impulse signals that activate the coil temporarily to shift the shuttle, then cut power while maintaining the brake position through mechanical latching.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces electrical consumption, prevents overheating, and minimizes wear by allowing brief impulses to control the shuttle, ensuring the brake releases when necessary and maintaining efficiency even in case of actuator failures.
Implementation Method 1
a pulse actuator (21) causing the shuttle (17) to pass from one position to another
Implementation Method 2
means for forcing the shuttle towards the release position when the motor of the brake actuator is energized
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an electromechanical brake actuator for aircraft wheels, comprising an electric motor (2) with a stator (3) and a rotor (4), a screw/nut assembly, one element of which is driven in rotation by the motor and the other element is constrained to slide without rotation to selectively exert a force on a stack of discs, the actuator comprising a parking locking member (10) adapted to selectively lock the motor rotor at least when the sliding element exerts a force on the stack of discs. The parking locking member comprises a shuttle (17) movable between a stable position of locking the motor rotor and a stable position of releasing it under the action of a pulse actuator (22, 24, 25) moving the shuttle from one position to the other, the brake actuator comprising means (9, 18) for forcing the shuttle towards the release position when the motor of the brake actuator is powered.