Aircraft Wheel Brake Torque Bar Vibration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft torque bars in wheel and brake assemblies are susceptible to excessive vibration-induced deflections, leading to weight increases when heavy torque bars are used to mitigate this issue, which is undesirable in aircraft applications.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a spacer block made of insulating material, interposed between the wheel and torque bar at a mid-span location, provides pre-stress and resistance to radial and tangential deflections through frictional and mechanical interference, allowing for the use of lighter torque bars while maintaining dynamic stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If heavy torque bars are used to provide necessary strength and resistance to deflection, then the torque bar strength and vibration resistance improve, but the weight of the wheel and brake assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
A spacer block is introduced as an intermediary component between the torque bar and the wheel well. This spacer block provides support to the torque bar at its midpoint, reducing deflection and vibration without requiring the torque bar itself to be heavier. The spacer block acts as a mediator that transfers and distributes loads, allowing the torque bar to maintain strength while reducing its own mass.
2Temperature
If the central portion of the torque bar is radially spaced from the wheel well to minimize thermal conduction, then thermal conduction from brake assembly to wheel rim is reduced, but the torque bar becomes more susceptible to vibration and deflection
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer block serves as a thermal intermediary between the torque bar and the wheel well. It provides mechanical support for vibration resistance while its insulating material properties maintain thermal isolation. This intermediary approach allows the torque bar to remain radially spaced from the wheel well for thermal management while gaining vibration resistance through the spacer block's support.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer block is made of insulating material that may have resilient compressibility, combining thermal insulation properties with mechanical support capabilities. This composite material approach allows a single component to address both thermal conduction reduction and vibration resistance simultaneously.
3Weight of moving object
If the torque bar is made lighter to reduce assembly weight, then the weight of the wheel and brake assembly decreases, but the torque bar becomes more susceptible to excessive vibration-induced deflections
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer block acts as a stabilizing intermediary that compensates for the reduced stiffness of lighter torque bars. By providing support at the midpoint and creating pre-stress, the spacer block enables lighter torque bars to maintain dynamic stability and resist vibration-induced deflections that would otherwise require heavier construction.
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
This solution effectively reduces or eliminates excessive vibration-induced deflections with minimal thermal penalty, enabling the use of lighter torque bars and improving the operating characteristics of wheel and brake assemblies, making them more stable and efficient.
Implementation Method 1
the central portion of the torque bar is radially spaced from the well of the wheel, and usually a heat shield is located in this space
Implementation Method 2
The spacer block is thicker than the normal spacing between the radially inner surface of the wheel well and the unstressed torque bar such that the torque bar is pre-stressed by the spacer block when the torque bar is secured to the wheel
Implementation Method 3
frictional and/or mechanical interference between the spacer block and both the torque bar and wheel well resists tangential deflection of the torque bar during braking
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel and brake assembly (10) having a torque bar (24) supported at a mid-span location. The torque bar (24) can be pre-loaded at a mid-span location. The pre-load can be effected by a spacer block (150) that is interposed between the wheel well and the torque bar (24). The method and device of the present invention can be used with existing wheel and brake assemblies. The spacer block can be a two-part spacer block.