Ventilated Wheel Assembly Noise Reduction via Intermediary Collar
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wheel assembly cooling systems for aircraft landing gear brakes are a significant source of noise due to the operational clearance between the fan rotor blades and the air circulation channel, which is necessary for mechanical and structural reasons.
Innovation Solution
The wheel assembly incorporates a rotor with a collar at the outer radial end of the blades, and an operational clearance is maintained between the internal annular wall of the air circulation channel and the collar, along with a shroud and protection element that guide air flow and reduce noise interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If operational clearance is provided between the rotor blades and the air circulation channel wall, then mechanical and structural requirements are met, but noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
A collar is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotor blades and the air circulation channel wall. This collar serves as a mediator that maintains the necessary operational clearance for mechanical reliability while reducing the direct interaction between blades and wall that generates noise. The collar absorbs or dampens the noise-generating effects of the clearance gap.
2Temperature
If fan is used to cool the braking system, then braking system temperature is controlled, but noise is generated by the operational clearance
Solution Approach 1:
The collar acts as an intermediary that allows the cooling function to proceed while mitigating the noise side-effect. By positioning the collar between the blades and the channel wall, it maintains the operational clearance needed for safe operation while reducing the noise generated by air flow through the clearance gap during braking cooling operations.
3Reliability
If significant clearance is provided for rotor clearance during landing operations, then mechanical limitations are satisfied, but blade head clearance noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar serves as a noise-reducing intermediary that allows significant clearance to be maintained for rotor clearance during landing operations. The collar structure enables the mechanical reliability requirement for landing operations to be met while simultaneously reducing the noise generated by the blade head clearance.
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 design significantly reduces noise levels by minimizing the disturbance of air flow and noise generation at the blade heads, allowing for effective cooling while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a fan is arranged along the axis of the wheel in order to cool the braking system, the fan comprising a rotor which rotates about the axis X-X′ and which is provided with a plurality of peripheral blades
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel assembly including a wheel having an axis X-X′ and a system for braking the wheel, in which a fan is arranged in order to cool the braking system. The rotor (14) of the fan is formed by a hub (20) and a plurality of blades (22) which rotate about the axis (X-X′) of the wheel and has a wall (54). The rotor (14) of the fan comprises a rotating collar (24) which connects the outer radial ends of the blades (22), so that an operational clearance (56) is provided between the wall (54) of the air circulation channel (50) and the collar (24).