Brake Backing Plate Coupling Without Cotter Pins
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake systems for vehicles, particularly aircraft, face challenges in efficiently transferring compression forces from a disc stack to a support member while minimizing movement and requiring additional components like cotter pins, which can limit the thickness and heat sink material in the plate member, affecting performance and installation complexity.
Innovation Solution
A coupling system is introduced that uses a pin with a shank portion extending between a plate member and a support member, featuring a locking tail that engages a locking recess and an elastic member to stabilize the pin, allowing for efficient force transfer without protruding bosses, thus enhancing heat transfer and simplifying installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a traditional pin coupling system with protruding bosses is used to transfer compression forces, then the force transfer is achieved, but the plate member thickness is reduced and heat sink material is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is designed with a locking tail that engages with a locking recess in the support member, transferring the coupling function from a protruding boss structure (extending outward in one dimension) to an integrated recess engagement structure (utilizing internal space in another dimension). This eliminates the need for protruding bosses while maintaining force transfer capability, thereby increasing plate member thickness and heat sink material volume.
2Reliability
If cotter pins are used to secure the pin, then the connection is secured, but the device complexity increases and installation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The pin is designed as an integrated component where the locking tail is formed as part of the pin itself, and the locking recess is formed as part of the support member. This merges the function of separate components (pin + cotter pin + securing mechanism) into a unified integrated structure, reducing the number of parts while maintaining connection security through the locking tail-recess engagement.
3Reliability
If additional securing components like cotter pins are used, then the pin is secured, but the installation process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The locking tail of the pin automatically engages with the locking recess of the support member upon insertion, providing self-securing functionality without requiring additional components or complex installation steps. The elastic member further enhances this by automatically maintaining engagement force, making the installation process simpler while ensuring reliable pin securing.
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
The coupling system effectively transfers compression forces while reducing movement and eliminating the need for cotter pins, improving heat transfer performance and operational life of the brake system components, and simplifying installation processes.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member configured to dispose within the plate passage and between the head portion and the locking tail when the head portion is disposes within the plate passage and the locking tail engages the support member, wherein the elastic member is configured to exert a force on the pin in a direction from the support member to the plate member
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a brake system is configured to compress a brake disc stack to reduce and/or limit rotational motion of a wheel about a wheel axis. The brake system is configured to transmit a compression force on the disc stack to a plate member, such as a backing plate. The plate member may be configured to transmit the compression force to a support member such as a torque tube via one or more torque pads. The brake system includes a coupling system configured to couple the plate member and the support member. The coupling includes an elastic member configured to exert a force on a pin in a direction opposite the compression force to assist in keeping a locking tail of the pin engaged with the support member.