Aircraft Landing Gear Axle Actuator Bearer Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft landing gear with braked wheels is heavy due to the mass of components required for braking, including actuators, torque tubes, and connecting elements, which increases the overall weight and reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating the actuator bearer directly into the axle, eliminating the need for separate carriers, flanges, and connecting elements, and integrating electromechanical actuators to form a single component with the axle, thereby reducing the mass by eliminating redundant components and connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If separate actuator bearer, carriers, and connecting elements are used to brake the wheel, then the braking system is reliable and functional, but the mass of the landing gear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator bearer is integrated directly into the axle to form a single component, eliminating the need for separate actuator bearer, carriers, and connecting elements. This merging of components directly reduces the mass of the landing gear while maintaining the braking function through the integrated structure.
2Reliability
If multiple connecting elements (pins, screws, pegs) are used to react braking torque, then the braking system is robust and reliable, but the device complexity and mass increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting elements (pins, screws, pegs) are eliminated by integrating the actuator bearer into the axle, forming a monolithic structure that inherently provides the necessary mechanical connection and torque reaction without requiring separate fastening components.
Solution Approach 2:
The unnecessary connecting elements are removed from the system. The integrated actuator bearer-axle structure performs the function of connection and torque reaction inherently, making separate pins, screws, and pegs redundant.
3Weight of moving object
If separate carriers and flanges are used for dog brake and axle casing brake configurations, then the braking system is functional and reliable, but the mass of the landing gear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator bearer and axle are merged into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate carriers and flanges in both dog brake and axle casing brake configurations. This integration reduces mass while the design can still accommodate different brake types through the unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated actuator bearer-axle structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the mechanical connection for both dog brake and axle casing brake configurations, reacts braking torque, and supports the electromechanical actuators, reducing the need for specialized components for each brake type.
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 design significantly reduces the mass of the braking system, leading to a lighter aircraft landing gear while maintaining effective braking functionality.
Implementation Method 1
at least one electromechanical actuator extending facing the stack of discs in order in a controlled manner to apply the imposed pressure to the stack of discs
Implementation Method 2
a brake intended to brake a wheel borne by an axle of an aircraft landing gear conventionally comprises a stack of discs comprising an alternation of rotor discs and of stator discs which extend around the axle and which are designed to impose a braking torque on the wheel
Data Source
AI summary
An aircraft landing gear comprising an axle (100), a wheel (102) borne by the axle, a stack of discs (104) arranged to impose a braking torque on the wheel in response to a pressure imposed on the stack of discs, at least one electromechanical actuator (106) extending facing the stack of discs in order in a controlled manner to apply the imposed pressure to the stack of discs, and an actuator bearer (107) designed to bear the electromechanical actuator. The electromechanical actuator is fixed to the actuator bearer while at the same time being demountable. The actuator bearer is incorporated into the axle in such a way that the axle and the actuator bearer form a single component. There also is a method of demounting a stack of discs from such a landing gear.