Aircraft Wheel Brake Unblocking via External Control Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft wheel brakes equipped with electromechanical actuators face challenges in being unblocked when the electrical power supply is unavailable, necessitating a method to release the braking force without relying on the aircraft's power source.
Innovation Solution
An external control unit with its own energy source is connected to the brake to unblock the pusher actuator, utilizing additional connection means that bypass normal operational electrical connections, allowing the control unit to act on the blocking member and release the braking force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the brake is blocked using the aircraft's electrical power supply, then the parking brake force can be applied and maintained, but the brake cannot be unblocked when the electrical power supply is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
An external control unit is introduced as an intermediary device with its own energy source to control the blocking member. This external unit acts as a mediator between the brake system and the aircraft's electrical system, allowing the brake to be unblocked independently when the aircraft power supply is unavailable. The external control unit connects to the blocking member through additional connection means, enabling autonomous operation.
2Reliability
If additional connection means are added to the brake for external control unit connection, then the brake can be unblocked externally, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into two distinct pathways: additional connection means for external control unit connection and normal operational connection means for standard aircraft system connection. This segmentation allows the external unblocking function to be added without interfering with or complicating the normal operational connections. The additional connections are separate and dedicated solely to external control purposes.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single external control unit is used to unblock all wheel brakes, then the cost increase is minimized, but the control unit must serve multiple functions across different brakes
Solution Approach 1:
The external control unit is designed with universal functionality to control the blocking member of any wheel brake on the aircraft. A single control unit can be connected to different brakes through the additional connection means, allowing one unit to perform the unblocking function across multiple locations. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple separate control units, thereby minimizing cost increase while maintaining the ability to unblock any brake independently.
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
Enables the unblocking of aircraft wheel brakes even when the aircraft's electrical power is off, reducing costs and ensuring the brakes can be released efficiently, with a single control unit capable of unblocking all brakes on the aircraft.
Implementation Method 1
at least one electromechanical actuator (5) with at least one electric motor (51) and a pusher (52) movable under drive from the motor (51) facing friction elements (8, 9) of the brake in order to apply a braking force selectively against the friction elements (8, 9)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method of unblocking an aircraft wheel brake having at least one electromechanical actuator 5 with at least one electric motor and a pusher 10 movable under drive from the motor facing friction elements 8 of the brake in order to apply a braking force selectively against the friction elements 8, the actuator 5 being provided with a blocking member 12 for blocking the pusher in position, at least after the actuator has been operated to apply a parking brake force. According to the invention, the unblocking method comprises the steps of:connecting an external control unit to the brake, the external control unit being adapted to act at least on the blocking member 12 of the actuator; andusing the external control unit to cause the blocking member 12 to unblock the pusher.