Ribbed Piston Housing Assembly for Aircraft Brake Vibration Damping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft brake systems experience increased friction-induced vibration due to higher torque and loads, which existing designs fail to adequately mitigate, leading to dynamic coupling issues between piston housing and brake rods.

Innovation Solution

A piston housing assembly featuring a torque takeout arm with a structural rib extending between a main annular ring and a torque takeout annular ring, designed to dampen vibrations by structurally coupling these components and optimizing weight distribution, while also providing torque transfer from a brake rod to an axle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If higher torque and loads are used in brake actuation designs, then braking performance is improved, but friction-induced vibration increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking torqueVSAvoidfriction-induced vibration
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies vibration damping principles by introducing a damper mechanism that specifically targets and reduces friction-induced vibrations. The damper is integrated into the piston housing assembly to counteract the harmful vibrations generated during high-torque braking operations, allowing the system to maintain high braking performance while eliminating the associated vibration problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The structural rib acts as an intermediary element that couples the piston housing to the torque takeout arm. This rib provides a stiffening connection that prevents relative motion and vibration between these components, thereby reducing friction-induced vibration while allowing the high-torque braking system to function effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If structural rigidity is increased to reduce vibration, then vibration damping is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration dampingVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functions into integrated components. The structural rib is incorporated directly into the piston housing assembly, combining vibration damping, structural support, and torque transfer functions into a single integrated structure. This eliminates the need for separate vibration damping components, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving effective vibration control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The torque takeout arm serves multiple functions: it transfers torque from the brake rod to the wheel assembly, provides structural support for the piston housing, and acts as a mounting structure for the vibration damper. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving effective vibration damping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 structural rib effectively reduces vibrations during braking events, enhancing the stability and performance of aircraft brake systems by mitigating torsional, bending, and longitudinal vibrational modes, thereby improving the overall braking experience.

Implementation Method 1

The structural rib may be configured to dampen vibration of the piston housing during a braking event

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3961058B1Piston housing assembly
Publication Date: 2023.04.19 GOODRICH CORP
  • EP3961058B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3961058B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3961058B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A piston housing may comprise: a main annular ring (110) defining a main bore (112); a torque takeout annular ring (120) defining a torque takeout bore (122); a torque takeout arm (140) extending from the main annular ring to the torque takeout annular ring and defining an aperture (150) therethrough; and a structural rib (160) disposed within the aperture and extending from the main annular ring to the torque takeout annular ring.