Profiled Hybrid Torque Bar for Even 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 features tailored profiling with deflection ears that increase contact area with the wheel lug, distributing load evenly and reducing stress, thereby minimizing lug damage and corrosion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a hybrid torque bar is used in aircraft wheel assemblies, then the wheel assembly can handle torque loads, but the torque bar deflects under load causing uneven loading on drive lugs leading to damage and corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque bar load capacityVSAvoiddrive lug durability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The torque bar features a profiled reaction face with specific geometric characteristics (radius of curvature between 50-120 inches, chamfered surfaces) at the drive lug contact area. This local geometric modification ensures uniform stress distribution across the reaction face, preventing stress concentration and uneven loading that causes drive lug damage and corrosion while maintaining overall torque bar strength.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If the torque bar is made stronger to handle increased loads, then load capacity improves, but deflection under load increases causing more uneven loading on drive lugs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque bar load capacityVSAvoidstress distribution on drive lugs

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The reaction face of the torque bar is profiled with a controlled radius of curvature (50-120 inches) to create a curved contact surface. This curvature geometry ensures that as the torque bar deflects under load, the contact stress is distributed uniformly across the drive lug reaction face rather than concentrating at specific points, thereby reducing drive lug damage and corrosion while maintaining load capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The torque bar incorporates specific geometric parameters including radius of curvature (50-120 inches) and chamfered surfaces on the reaction face. These parameter modifications to the contact geometry change how stresses are distributed during deflection, ensuring uniform loading patterns that prevent drive lug failure while preserving the torque bar's load-bearing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12545398B2Use of profiled reaction face in hybrid torque bar applications

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 GOODRICH CORP

AI summary

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