Remote Electric Motor Brake System with Flexible Force Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aircraft brake systems are exposed to the elements, leading to accelerated maintenance and repair needs due to exposure to temperature and precipitation, and they often require multiple smaller motors for disk engagement, which reduces efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A brake system using a flexible force transfer member to mount an electric motor remotely from the brake assembly, allowing a single larger motor to drive multiple disk engagement members through a force distribution device, with the motor being shielded from the elements and easily accessible for maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the electric motor is mounted on the brake assembly, then the brake system is compact, but the motor is exposed to the elements leading to accelerated maintenance and repair needs
Solution Approach 1:
The electric motor is extracted from the brake assembly and mounted remotely on the aircraft fuselage or wing. This separation removes the motor from direct exposure to environmental elements (precipitation, temperature extremes) while maintaining functional connection through the flexible force transfer member, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing accessibility
Solution Approach 2:
A flexible force transfer member (such as a flexible cable or belt) serves as an intermediary between the remotely mounted motor and the brake assembly. This intermediary allows the motor to be positioned in a protected, accessible location while still transmitting mechanical force to actuate the brake, resolving the contradiction between motor protection and functional connection
2Productivity
If multiple smaller motors are used for disk engagement, then the brake assembly is compact, but the efficiency of the brake system decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple smaller motors are merged into a single larger electric motor that is remotely mounted. This consolidation improves overall system efficiency by using one high-efficiency motor instead of multiple lower-efficiency motors, while the flexible force transfer member distributes the mechanical force to multiple disk engagement members, maintaining the required braking capability with reduced complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A brake assembly and system (202) characterized by the use of a flexible force transfer member (230) to enable an electric motor (220) to be mounted remotely from other brake components and preferably at a location shielded from the elements and/or more easily accessible for maintenance and repair. By mounting the electric motor (220) in a less confining area, and using a force distribution device (350) to distribute force to a plurality of rams (342,344), one larger motor (220) may be used to drive multiple disk engagement members rather than several smaller motors mounted on the brake assembly. Since larger motors are typically more efficient than smaller motors, using one larger motor increases the overall efficiency of the brake.