Aircraft Wheel Brake Lining Integration for Lower Mass Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft wheels with integrated brake assemblies are often heavy and complex, leading to a desire for mass reduction and more efficient maintenance to enhance fuel efficiency and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method of routine maintenance that synchronizes the inspection and replacement of consumable brake lining material with tire re-treading, reducing the need for separate maintenance schedules and allowing for more frequent brake inspections, along with a dual-brake system where the consumable brake lining material is integrated into the wheel and supplemented by additional material on the landing gear for maximum energy rejected take-off demands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If brake assemblies are integrated with wheels, then braking function is provided, but mass increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake assembly is divided into modular components: brake lining material, brake shoes, and actuation mechanisms that can be independently replaced. This segmentation allows maintenance without replacing the entire wheel assembly, reducing overall system mass while maintaining braking function.
Solution Approach 2:
Consumable brake lining material is provided as a separate replaceable component rather than integrating the entire brake system into the wheel. This local differentiation allows only the worn portions to be replaced, reducing the mass of replaceable components while maintaining full braking capability.
2Reliability
If brake assemblies are integrated with wheels, then braking function is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The brake system is segmented into distinct functional modules: consumable lining material, brake shoes, actuation mechanisms, and mounting structures. This modular segmentation simplifies maintenance procedures and reduces overall system complexity by allowing independent replacement of worn components.
Solution Approach 2:
Consumable brake lining material is designed to be replaced when worn, while durable components like brake shoes and actuation mechanisms are retained and reused. This approach simplifies the maintenance cycle and reduces the complexity of managing entire brake assembly replacements.
3Reliability
If separate maintenance schedules are used for tyres and brake material, then maintenance is performed, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The maintenance schedules for tyres and brake lining material are merged into a single synchronized schedule based on flight cycles. This allows both components to be inspected and replaced together during routine maintenance, eliminating the need for separate maintenance interventions and reducing total maintenance time.
Solution Approach 2:
A universal maintenance schedule is implemented that covers both tyre and brake lining material based on common wear patterns and flight cycle accumulation. This multi-functional approach allows a single maintenance procedure to address multiple wear-prone components simultaneously.
4Weight of moving object
If consumable brake lining material is reduced for mass reduction, then mass decreases, but braking capacity may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Brake lining material is provided in specific quantities optimized for normal operational braking requirements, with the understanding that exceptional conditions (maximum energy rejected take-off) have lower probability. This local optimization reduces mass while maintaining adequate braking capacity for the majority of operational scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake lining material quantity is optimized for partial braking requirements (normal operations) rather than providing excessive material for all possible scenarios. This approach reduces mass while accepting that exceptional high-energy braking events are rare and can be managed through operational procedures.
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 approach reduces the mass of brake material on the aircraft, increases maintenance efficiency, and allows for earlier detection of issues, while ensuring sufficient braking capacity during normal and exceptional conditions.
Implementation Method 1
consumable brake lining material which is directly attached to, or is integrally formed with, an outwardly facing surface of the wheel
Data Source
AI summary
A routine maintenance procedure performed in respect of a wheel of an aircraft landing gear is disclosed. Consumable brake lining material is integrated with the wheel. Re-treading or replacing the wheel tyre and inspecting or replacing the consumable brake lining material tyre are performed at the same successive intervals as part of the routine maintenance procedure. The sum volume and mass of brake material present on the aircraft may thus be reduced. Brake material providing for the demands of a maximum energy rejected take-off may be provided separately. The wheel may be made in one or two parts from carbon-fibre composite material. At least some of the brake material may be provided on an outwardly facing planar surface of the wheel.