Brake Temperature Torque Control for Aircraft Braking Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aircraft braking systems do not optimize braking performance and turnaround time due to variations in brake-pack torque and temperature across multiple brake-packs, caused by differences in manufacturing tolerances and wear, leading to inconsistent heating and cooling rates.
Innovation Solution
A Brake Temperature & Torque Control (BTTC) apparatus that calculates adjustment factors for each brake-pack based on input values such as torque and cooling time to redistribute braking pressure, ensuring equal torque development and synchronized cooling across all brake-packs, operating in different modes depending on vehicle state and flight cycle phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If equal hydraulic pressure is applied to each brake-pack, then the braking system is simple to control, but braking performance is not optimized due to variations in brake gain and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different hydraulic pressures to different brake-packs based on their individual characteristics (brake gain, wear state, temperature). Each brake-pack receives a customized pressure level to achieve optimal torque contribution, rather than uniform pressure distribution. This local differentiation optimizes overall braking performance while accounting for manufacturing tolerances and wear variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the hydraulic pressure parameter for each brake-pack based on real-time or pre-characterized data about brake gain variations and wear states. By changing the pressure parameter individually for each brake-pack, the system compensates for manufacturing tolerances and wear, achieving consistent torque output across all brake-packs.
2Stability of the object's composition
If identical torque is developed by each brake-pack, then braking force is balanced, but each brake-pack heats at different rates due to variations in brake mass and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recognizes that each brake-pack has different thermal characteristics due to variations in mass and wear state. Instead of applying identical torque to all brake-packs, the system differentiates the torque distribution to account for these local differences, ensuring more uniform temperature rise across all brake-packs during braking operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system intentionally creates asymmetric torque distribution among brake-packs that have different thermal characteristics. By applying different torque levels to brake-packs with different masses or wear states, the system compensates for their different heat generation and dissipation rates, achieving more balanced thermal performance.
3Reliability
If brake-packs have different peak temperatures due to wear and brake gain variations, then cooling time varies significantly, but extending cooling time increases aircraft turnaround time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary characterization of each brake-pack's thermal and mechanical properties before actual operation. This pre-characterization data (brake gain, wear state, mass) is used to pre-calculate optimal pressure distribution strategies that will equalize torque and temperature rise during subsequent braking operations, thereby minimizing cooling time and reducing aircraft turnaround time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from temperature sensors and brake performance data to continuously monitor and adjust the hydraulic pressure distribution among brake-packs. This feedback mechanism allows the system to maintain optimal temperature management dynamically, ensuring that all brake-packs cool down at similar rates and reducing the overall cooling time required before the aircraft can be pushed back.
4Productivity
If torque development varies between brake-packs due to brake gain variations, then braking performance is inconsistent, but equalizing torque requires complex pressure control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary measurement and characterization of each brake-pack's brake gain during manufacturing or initial operation. This pre-acquired data is stored and used to calculate the optimal hydraulic pressure distribution that will equalize torque output across all brake-packs. This preliminary action eliminates the need for complex real-time control algorithms, simplifying the control system while achieving consistent braking performance.
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
Improves braking performance and reduces aircraft turnaround time by equalizing torque and cooling times across brake-packs, optimizing braking pressure distribution based on real-time data and flight phase, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the hydraulic pressure is increased in a number of braking pistons, which apply force to press together the rotors and stators within the brake pack
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided an apparatus for controlling braking of a vehicle having a plurality of brake-packs. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to receive a first plurality of input values having a first scatter value; calculate an adjustment factor for each brake-pack based on the received first plurality of input values; output a control signal to cause each brake-pack of the plurality of brake-packs to be applied at a pressure based on the adjustment factor calculated for that brake-pack; and receive a second plurality of input values having a second scatter value. Each input value relates to a different one of the plurality of brake-packs. The adjustment factors are calculated such that the second scatter value is less than or equal to the first scatter value.