Profiled Hybrid Torque Bar for Uniform Wheel Lug Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft wheel assemblies with hybrid torque bars experience damage to wheel drive lugs due to uneven loading, leading to corrosion issues and customer complaints.

Innovation Solution

The torque bar includes tailored profiling with deflection features that distribute load evenly across the lug face, reducing stress and minimizing corrosion by increasing contact area as the torque bar deflects under load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional torque bar with flat surfaces is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but uneven loading occurs causing damage to wheel drive lugs and corrosion issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelug damage resistanceVSAvoidtorque bar structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The torque bar features profiles with curved surfaces at specific contact locations (lug contact surfaces) while maintaining a simple overall structure. This local modification concentrates the complexity only where needed for load distribution, allowing the torque bar to deflect uniformly and distribute loading evenly across the drive lugs, preventing damage and corrosion without requiring complete structural redesign

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies curved profiles (circular arcs with specific radii of curvature) to the torque bar contact surfaces. These curved surfaces enable uniform deflection of the torque bar under load, ensuring even contact pressure distribution across the drive lugs. The curvature radius is specifically selected to match the torque bar thickness and achieve optimal load distribution, transforming the flat surface into a load-distributing curved surface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Strength

If the torque bar is made more rigid to prevent deflection, then structural integrity is maintained, but uneven loading occurs causing lug damage and corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural integrityVSAvoidlug loading uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention modifies the geometric parameters of the torque bar by introducing profiles with specific curvature radii (R1, R2) that are related to the torque bar thickness (t). These parameter changes allow the torque bar to achieve optimal deflection characteristics under load, ensuring uniform load distribution across the drive lugs while maintaining sufficient structural integrity. The curvature radius is specifically selected as a function of thickness to balance flexibility and strength

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a profiled torque bar is implemented, then load distribution improves reducing corrosion, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidtorque bar fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The profiles are applied only at the critical contact surfaces of the torque bar where load transfer occurs, rather than modifying the entire structure. This localized approach to profiling minimizes the additional manufacturing steps required while achieving the primary goal of uniform load distribution. The rest of the torque bar maintains its simple geometry, making fabrication relatively straightforward despite the added surface profiles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 profiling of the torque bar surfaces reduces lug damage and subsequent corrosion, ensuring uniform stress distribution and minimal additional cost, while maintaining structural integrity.

Implementation Method 1

the torque bar to deflect under load... as the torque bar deflects under load

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deflection: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4414581B1Use of profiled reaction face in hybrid torque bar applications

Publication Date: 2025.11.05 GOODRICH CORP

Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A

AI summary

A torque bar is disclosed herein. The torque bar includes a body, a distal end (210a), and a proximal end (210b). The proximal end (210b) includes a horizontal portion (224) having a first side and a second side, a first vertical portion (220) having a first end and a second end, the first vertical portion (220) coupled to the first side of the horizontal portion (224) between the first end and the second end, a second vertical portion (222) having a third end and a fourth end, the second vertical portion (222) coupled to the second side of the horizontal portion (224) between the third end and the fourth end, wherein a first profile (220a) is formed in the first end of the first vertical portion (220) and a second profile (222a) is formed in the third end of the second vertical portion (222).