Segmented Rivetless Wear Liner for Aircraft Brake Torque Transfer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current aircraft brake systems face issues with torque transfer problems, warping, and increased part count and cost due to the use of single-piece wear liners and fasteners in friction disk assemblies, leading to inefficiencies in manufacturing and maintenance.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of segmented wear liners with tenon and mortise dovetail shapes that couple to the friction disk core without fasteners, reducing waste and part count, and allowing for easier replacement and manufacturing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single-piece wear liner is used, then the structure is simple, but it experiences warping and creates manufacturing waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidwarping resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The wear liner is divided into multiple segments that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each segment is formed separately without requiring removal of the center disk, eliminating warping issues associated with single-piece construction and reducing manufacturing waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If rivets are used to fasten wear liners to the reusable core, then the connection is secure, but it increases part count, cost, and manufacture time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidpart count
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wear liner segments are integrally formed with the reusable core through a press-fit arrangement where the segment's outer surface directly contacts and fits within the core's inner surface. This eliminates the need for separate fasteners like rivets, reducing part count while maintaining secure connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If the center disk is removed from a formed disk to create a wear liner, then the manufacturing process is straightforward, but the center disk is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing straightforwardnessVSAvoidmaterial waste
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of forming a complete disk and removing the center, the wear liner is manufactured as separate annular segments. This allows the material to be optimally utilized for the friction surface area only, eliminating waste of the center disk material while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of manufacture

If a flange is used to attach the liner to the core, then the attachment is possible, but torque transfer problems occur particularly when the liner is worn

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment capabilityVSAvoidtorque transfer
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The flange is eliminated by creating a direct press-fit interface between the wear liner segment's outer surface and the reusable core's inner surface. This integral connection provides superior torque transfer compared to flange attachments, especially when the liner is worn, as there is no separate attachment interface that can fail.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3715663B1Segmented rivetless wear liner with structural carbon or ceramic core
Publication Date: 2022.01.26 GOODRICH CORP
  • EP3715663B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3715663B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3715663B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

A friction disk (140) includes a friction disk core (149) having an inner diameter edge, an outer diameter edge, and a first surface with multiple mortises extending radially across the first surface. The friction disk further includes a first wear liner (150) having two wear liner segments each including a wear surface and a non-wear surface having a tenon with a complimentary shape to each of the multiple mortises, the tenon of each wear liner segment being configured to be received by a corresponding mortise of the multiple mortises to couple the wear liner segments to the friction disk core to form an annular liner.