Nitrogen-Enriched Brake Cooling for High-Temperature Pad Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Brake pads in vehicles, especially aerial vehicles, face increased wear and potential oxidative degradation due to high temperatures during active braking, which reduces their operational life and poses safety hazards like fire risks, and existing cooling methods are inadequate for active braking procedures.
Innovation Solution
A brake cooling system utilizing an onboard inert gas generation system to produce nitrogen-enriched air, which is delivered to the brake pads to dissipate heat and reduce oxidation, thereby maintaining the brake pads' temperature within a preset range and minimizing wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cooling methods are used during active braking, then heat removal may be achieved, but oxidation and wear of brake pads increase due to exposure to oxygen-enriched environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inert atmosphere principle by using nitrogen-enriched air (at least 90% nitrogen by volume) generated by an onboard inert gas generation system to cool brake pads during active braking. The nitrogen-enriched air displaces oxygen around the brake pads, creating an inert environment that prevents oxidation while removing heat through convection and conduction, thereby solving both cooling and oxidation protection simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The nitrogen-enriched air acts as an intermediary substance between the brake pads and the external environment. It serves dual functions: (1) as a cooling medium that absorbs and removes heat from the brake pads through fluid flow, and (2) as a protective barrier that prevents direct contact between oxygen and the brake pad surface, thus reducing oxidation and wear during the braking process
2Power
If brake pads operate at high temperatures during active braking, then braking performance is maintained, but wear increases and useful life is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system activates the inert gas generation system and delivers nitrogen-enriched air to the brake pads before and during the active braking procedure. This preliminary action prepares the protective inert environment in advance, preventing oxidation and excessive wear before they can occur during high-temperature braking operations, thereby extending brake pad life while maintaining braking performance
Solution Approach 2:
By maintaining a nitrogen-enriched inert atmosphere around the brake pads during active braking, the system enables the brake pads to operate at high temperatures necessary for effective braking without suffering from accelerated oxidation and wear that would normally occur in oxygen-containing environments, thus preserving brake pad integrity and extending useful life
3Speed
If active braking procedures are performed, then vehicle deacceleration is achieved, but brake pad temperature increases causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The nitrogen-enriched air serves as a protective intermediary that surrounds the brake pads during active braking. It facilitates heat removal through convection while simultaneously acting as a fire suppressant by displacing oxygen, thereby eliminating fire risks associated with hot brake pads and preventing thermal damage to surrounding components without compromising deacceleration performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the high-temperature condition, which is inherently harmful during braking, into a beneficial situation by introducing nitrogen-enriched air that cools the brake pads through convection. The heat that would normally cause fire hazards is instead used to drive natural convection currents of the nitrogen-enriched air, enhancing cooling efficiency while the inert atmosphere prevents combustion, thus turning a harmful thermal condition into a controlled and beneficial cooling process
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 system effectively reduces brake pad wear and oxidative degradation, ensuring optimal performance and safety by maintaining the brake pads' temperature within a predetermined range during active braking, thus extending their operational life and preventing hazards.
Implementation Method 1
delivering the NEA to the at least one brake pad to remove heat from the brake pads
Implementation Method 2
delivering the NEA to the at least one brake pad to remove heat from the brake pads
Implementation Method 3
reduce the amount of oxidation that occurs on the brake pads
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, a brake cooling system including a brake assembly including at least one brake pad configured to deaccelerate the vehicle during an active braking procedure, a controller configured to monitor a temperature of the at least one brake pad, an onboard inert gas generation system (OBIGGS) configured to receive air and produce a nitrogen enriched air (NEA), a NEA supply conduit connected to the OBIGGS and configured to deliver the NEA from the OBIGGS to the brake assembly, and a NEA control valve coupled to the NEA supply conduit. The controller, in response to detecting the temperature of the at least one brake pad exceeds a threshold value during the active braking procedure, operates the NEA control valve to control the flow of the NEA passing through the NEA supply conduit and delivered to the at least one brake pad.