Distributed Aircraft Brake Hydraulics for Redundant Braking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft braking systems are complex, heavy, and require significant maintenance due to their reliance on centralized hydraulic power supplies with numerous components and long hydraulic piping, leading to inefficiencies and increased risk of failures.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized aircraft braking system where each subset of brakes has a dedicated, localized hydraulic pressure supply unit, reducing the need for extensive hydraulic lines and components, and allowing for localized storage and distribution of hydraulic fluid, thereby minimizing weight, complexity, and maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized hydraulic power supply system is used to supply hydraulic pressure to all brakes, then the system can provide redundant backup supply, but the system becomes complex, heavy, and requires significant maintenance due to numerous components and long hydraulic piping
Solution Approach 1:
The braking system is divided into multiple independent zones, each with its own localized hydraulic pressure supply unit. Each supply unit serves a specific subset of brakes (e.g., left main gear brakes, right main gear brakes, nose gear brakes) rather than a single centralized supply serving all brakes. This segmentation reduces the complexity of hydraulic piping and components while maintaining redundancy through distributed independence.
2Reliability
If a centralized hydraulic power supply system is used to supply hydraulic pressure to all brakes, then the system can provide redundant backup supply, but the system becomes heavy due to extensive hydraulic piping and numerous components
Solution Approach 1:
The braking system is divided into multiple independent zones, each with its own localized hydraulic pressure supply unit. Each supply unit serves a specific subset of brakes (e.g., left main gear brakes, right main gear brakes, nose gear brakes) rather than a single centralized supply serving all brakes. This segmentation reduces the complexity of hydraulic piping and components while maintaining redundancy through distributed independence.
Solution Approach 2:
Hydraulic pressure supply units are distributed locally at different positions on the aircraft (e.g., left main gear, right main gear, nose gear) rather than being centralized in one location. This local distribution reduces the length of hydraulic piping required and allows each supply unit to be optimally positioned near the brakes it serves, thereby reducing overall system weight.
3Reliability
If a centralized hydraulic power supply system is used to supply hydraulic pressure to all brakes, then the system can provide redundant backup supply, but significant maintenance is required to service all components
Solution Approach 1:
The braking system is divided into multiple independent zones, each with its own localized hydraulic pressure supply unit. Each supply unit serves a specific subset of brakes (e.g., left main gear brakes, right main gear brakes, nose gear brakes) rather than a single centralized supply serving all brakes. This segmentation reduces the complexity of hydraulic piping and components while maintaining redundancy through distributed independence.
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 decentralized system reduces weight, complexity, and maintenance costs while enhancing efficiency by providing dedicated hydraulic pressure to specific subsets of brakes, reducing the likelihood of failures and improving the distribution of functions such as antiskid logic and park brake functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of brakes, each for braking one of a plurality of aircraft wheels using hydraulic pressure, a first hydraulic pressure supply unit, and a second hydraulic pressure supply unit
Data Source
AI summary
A aircraft braking system is disclosed including a plurality of brakes each for braking one of a plurality of aircraft wheels using hydraulic pressure, a first hydraulic pressure supply unit, and a second hydraulic pressure supply unit. The first hydraulic pressure supply unit is connected to only a first subset of the plurality of brakes, such that the first hydraulic pressure supply unit can enable only the first subset of the plurality of brakes to provide braking. The second hydraulic pressure supply unit is connected to only a second subset of the plurality of brakes, the second subset not including any of the brakes of the first subset, such that the second hydraulic pressure supply unit can enable only the second subset of the plurality of brakes to provide braking.