Laminated Dimpled Foil Metallic Heat Shield for Aircraft Braking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft brake systems generate significant heat during landing, which damages unprotected landing gear components, leading to frequent replacement and disposal of heat shields made from hazardous materials.

Innovation Solution

A laminated dimpled foil metallic heat shield with a cylindrical structure, comprising multiple metallic and dimpled foil layers, is designed to protect landing gear components from heat, featuring a torque bar spacer and mounting features for secure attachment to the wheel rim, reducing heat transfer through conductive, convective, and radiative means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional heat shields are used to protect landing gear components from brake heat, then thermal protection is provided, but the heat shields degrade over many braking cycles requiring periodic replacement and disposal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat shield durabilityVSAvoidheat shield service life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The heat shield employs a composite structure consisting of a metallic base layer (aluminum, steel, or titanium) combined with a ceramic coating layer (alumina, zirconia, or magnesia). This composite material configuration provides superior thermal resistance and structural durability compared to single-material shields, enabling the shield to withstand repeated thermal cycling without degradation that would necessitate replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes phase change materials or thermal barrier coatings that undergo controlled thermal parameter changes to protect underlying components. The ceramic coating layer maintains its structural integrity across wide temperature ranges, effectively managing heat transfer characteristics during braking cycles and extending the service life of the heat shield.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If heat shields made from hazardous heat resistant materials are used, then thermal protection is achieved, but disposal becomes complicated due to hazardous material content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat protection capabilityVSAvoiddisposal complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies that the ceramic coating layer should have a thickness between 1 micrometer and 1 millimeter, optimized to provide adequate thermal protection while maintaining overall shield thinness. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient heat resistance without requiring excessive material quantities, facilitating easier disposal and reducing environmental impact.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a laminated multi-layer structure is used to improve thermal protection, then heat resistance is enhanced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal protection effectivenessVSAvoidheat shield structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat shield comprises a metallic base layer providing structural strength and a ceramic coating layer providing thermal insulation. This two-layer composite configuration delivers enhanced thermal protection effectiveness while maintaining relatively simple manufacturing processes and avoiding excessive structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent specifies that the entire heat shield assembly should have a thickness between 0.1 millimeter and 10 millimeters, achieved through thin-film deposition techniques for the ceramic coating. This thin-film approach provides effective thermal protection without creating bulky or overly complex structures, maintaining ease of installation and integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 laminated dimpled foil metallic heat shield effectively mitigates heat damage to landing gear components, reducing the need for frequent replacement and simplifying disposal by using non-hazardous materials while maintaining structural integrity and thermal protection.

Implementation Method 1

a first dimpled foil layer extending about a first circumference between the inner diameter and the outer diameter. The first dimpled foil layer comprises a plane of metallic material having a plurality of dimples raised above and below the plane of metallic material.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

A laminated dimpled foil metallic heat shield having a cylindrical structure with an outer diameter and an inner diameter comprising a first metallic layer defining the outer diameter, an inboard edge and an outboard edge of the laminated dimpled foil metallic heat shield assembly, a second metallic layer defining the inner diameter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3521161B1Laminated dimpled foil metallic heat shield
Publication Date: 2021.10.20 GOODRICH CORP
  • EP3521161B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3521161B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3521161B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A laminated dimpled foil metallic heat shield (300) may have a cylindrical structure with an outer diameter (301) and an inner diameter (303) comprising a first metallic layer (404) defining the outer diameter (301), an inboard edge (304) and an outboard edge (302) of the laminated dimpled foil metallic heat shield assembly, a second metallic layer (408) defining the inner diameter (303) of the laminated dimpled foil metallic heat shield assembly, and a first dimpled foil layer (406) extending about a first circumference between the inner diameter (303) and the outer diameter (301).