Sacrificial Torque Button Bushing for Brake Plate Wear Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft braking systems face wear issues at torque plate contact surfaces with torque buttons, leading to unserviceable conditions and premature scrapping due to material toughness differences, where the tougher torque button can deform the softer torque plate, causing wear and potential deformation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a sacrificial bushing made of a softer material than the torque plate and torque button, which can be replaced to absorb wear and prevent deformation of both components, allowing the torque plate and torque button to remain in service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a torque button is directly connected to the torque plate, then the connection is simple and direct, but the torque button can deform the torque plate due to material toughness differences, causing wear and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
A bushing is introduced as an intermediary component between the torque button and the torque plate. The bushing acts as a mediator that absorbs the harmful effects of direct contact, preventing the tougher torque button from deforming the softer torque plate while still transmitting the necessary torque forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The bushing is designed as a sacrificial, replaceable component that can be periodically replaced. This disposable element absorbs wear and deformation that would otherwise affect the more expensive and critical torque plate and torque button, extending their service life.
2Force
If the torque plate and torque button are made of tough materials, then they can withstand high torque loads, but they are prone to wear and deformation at contact surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the entire torque plate and torque button from soft, wear-resistant material, the patent applies a localized solution by inserting a bushing only at the contact surface where wear occurs. This allows the main components to remain made of tough materials for high torque capacity, while the localized bushing provides wear resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution creates a composite connection structure where the bushing material combines the properties of wear resistance with adequate strength. This composite approach allows the system to benefit from both the high torque capacity of tough materials and the wear resistance of softer materials at the critical contact interface.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the torque plate is made of softer material to reduce deformation, then wear is reduced, but the torque plate becomes more susceptible to deformation under high torque loads
Solution Approach 1:
The bushing serves as an intermediary that allows the torque plate to be made of softer, more wear-resistant material without compromising the overall structural strength. The bushing absorbs the mechanical stresses, protecting the softer torque plate from deformation while still enabling torque transmission.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A braking arrangement includes a torque plate (114), a torque button (150), and a sacrificial bushing. The torque button (150) comprises a head portion and a shaft portion, wherein the head portion is configured to extend at least partially into a torque pocket of an torque plate (140)of a brake stack and the shaft portion is configured to extend through an aperture disposed in a back leg of the torque plate (114). The bushing is configured to be removably coupled between the shaft portion of the torque button (150) and the back leg of the torque plate (114).