Aircraft Park Brake Torque Ramping After Touchdown
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircrafts landing on restricted surfaces face challenges with park brakes due to abrupt changes in landing conditions, asymmetric center of gravity, and forward speed, leading to brake slip and increased stress on the landing gear and airframe, compromising structural integrity and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A brake control system that progressively increases park brake torque upon touchdown, using sensors to detect landing conditions and environmental factors, allowing for a controlled increase in brake torque based on predetermined profiles to mitigate brake slip and stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the braking performance of the park brake is increased to mitigate brake slip, then the chance of brake slip is reduced, but the weight of the aircraft increases and stress on the landing gear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The park brake torque is made dynamic rather than static. The controller progressively increases the brake torque from an initial value to a final value over a predetermined period after touchdown detection. This dynamic adjustment allows the brake system to adapt to changing landing conditions without requiring excessive braking capacity from the outset, thereby avoiding additional weight while preventing brake slip.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake torque is increased progressively over a predetermined period following touchdown detection. This preliminary progressive action allows the brake system to build up torque gradually rather than applying maximum torque instantaneously, preventing brake slip while avoiding the need for excessive brake capacity that would increase weight.
2Reliability
If the braking performance of the park brake is increased to mitigate brake slip, then the chance of brake slip is reduced, but the stress on the landing gear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The progressive increase in brake torque dynamically adjusts the braking force applied to the wheels during the critical touchdown period. By gradually increasing torque rather than applying it instantly at maximum level, the system prevents brake slip while distributing the stress over time, reducing peak loads on the landing gear structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system cushions the transition to full braking by progressively increasing torque over a predetermined period after touchdown. This beforehand cushioning approach prevents sudden stress spikes on the landing gear that would occur with immediate maximum brake application, while still ensuring brake slip prevention is achieved.
3Reliability
If the forward speed of the aircraft is tightly controlled to minimise brake slip, then the integrity of the aircraft is protected, but the landing conditions become more restrictive
Solution Approach 1:
The brake control system dynamically adjusts torque based on detected touchdown conditions rather than requiring strict pre-landing speed control. This allows the aircraft to maintain integrity through adaptive braking that responds to actual landing conditions, enabling operation on a broader range of landing surfaces without tight speed restrictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller detects touchdown conditions and uses this feedback to progressively increase brake torque accordingly. This feedback-based control allows the aircraft to adapt to various landing conditions and surfaces, maintaining integrity without requiring restrictive forward speed control procedures that would limit landing versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A brake control system 200 and method 300 for controlling a park brake of an aircraft including a controller 201 configured to cause an increase in a brake torque of the park brake based of an indication to the controller. The indication is generated in response to touchdown of the aircraft.