Floating Wear Liners in Aircraft Brake Friction Disks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft brake systems using carbon composite friction disks face challenges with high shear forces and temperatures during braking, leading to potential delamination of wear liners from the core, and the high cost of manufacturing these disks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a multi-disk brake system with a retention ring that radially constrains a floating wear liner in a position concentric with the friction disk core, distributing frictional forces across multiple interfaces and improving heat distribution, thereby reducing the risk of delamination and maintaining performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If replaceable wear liners are bonded to a reusable core, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the wear liners may delaminate from the core due to high shear force and temperature during braking
Solution Approach 1:
The wear liner is designed to float and rotate relative to the core rather than being rigidly bonded, allowing it to dynamically adapt to thermal expansion and shear forces during braking, preventing delamination while maintaining the cost benefits of replaceable liners
Solution Approach 2:
The retention ring constrains the wear liner radially while allowing axial movement, changing the degrees of freedom of the wear liner to accommodate thermal and mechanical stresses without compromising retention
2Temperature
If carbon composite materials are used for friction disks, then high temperature resistance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The brake disk is segmented into a reusable core and replaceable wear liners, allowing only the friction-facing components to be made from expensive carbon composite materials while the structural core can be made from cheaper materials
Solution Approach 2:
Carbon composite wear liners are applied only where high temperature resistance is needed (at the friction interfaces), rather than making the entire disk from carbon composite, optimizing material usage and reducing cost
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 configuration enhances the durability and efficiency of the brake system by reducing relative rotational velocity at friction interfaces, improving heat distribution, and allowing for the use of fewer rotors and stators, while also simplifying maintenance by enabling replaceable wear liners without resurfacing the core.
Implementation Method 1
The retention ring may radially constrain a floating wear liner in position that is substantially concentric with the friction disk core
Implementation Method 2
The friction disks withstand and dissipate the heat generated from contact between one another during braking
Data Source
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AI summary
Friction disks, such as rotors and stators, including floating wear liners (50) are disclosed. The friction disks may include a core (48) and a floating wear liner (50) configured to contact a contact surface of the core. The cores may include a retention ring (244) that is substantially concentric with the core and extends axially beyond the plane of the contact surface. The retention ring may retain one or more floating wear liners in a substantially concentric position aligned with the contact surface to provide frictional contact with the core during braking.