High-Conductivity Wheel Heat Shield for Brake Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft wheel and brake assemblies face thermal damage due to high temperatures generated during brake actuation, leading to potential tire ruptures or fires, which existing heat shields with low thermal conductivity materials fail to adequately mitigate.

Innovation Solution

A high thermal conductivity heat shield made from materials like aluminized steel, aluminum, or aluminum alloys with a thermal conductivity greater than 30 W/mK, integrated with a retainer and chin ring of similar materials, to enhance heat transfer and cooling by increasing conductive heat transfer through the heat shield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a heat shield made from low thermal conductivity material is used, then thermal insulation is improved, but heat dissipation capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidheat dissipation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The heat shield is divided into multiple segments that can be assembled together to form a complete shield around the brake stack. This segmentation allows the use of lower conductivity materials in each segment while achieving comprehensive thermal protection through the assembled structure, resolving the contradiction between insulation effectiveness and heat dissipation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat shield is positioned nested between the brake stack and the wheel rim, creating a thermal barrier layer. This nested configuration allows the heat shield to effectively trap heat away from the wheel and tire while maintaining the overall structural integrity, improving thermal insulation without compromising heat management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Temperature

If a heat shield with high thermal conductivity material is used, then heat dissipation capability is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation capabilityVSAvoidthermal insulation

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the heat shield structure are assigned different thermal conductivity characteristics. The inner surface facing the brake stack uses materials with lower thermal conductivity to reflect and trap heat, while strategic heat transfer paths incorporate higher conductivity materials to channel heat away from critical areas. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing both insulation and directed heat dissipation where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the heat shield structure is made more complex to improve thermal management, then thermal protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal protectionVSAvoidheat shield structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heat shield structure is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: thermal insulation, heat distribution, structural support, and protection of surrounding components. By integrating these functions into a single unified structure rather than separate components, the design achieves comprehensive thermal protection without proportionally increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of adding complex active thermal management systems, the invention uses a passive heat shield structure that relies on strategic material placement and geometric configuration to achieve thermal management. This inverted approach—using simple passive structures rather than complex active systems—provides effective thermal protection while minimizing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

The high thermal conductivity heat shield effectively distributes heat across the wheel assembly, reducing thermal gradients and achieving faster cooling times, thereby preventing thermal damage to the wheel and tire.

Implementation Method 1

a thermal conductivity of the heat shield material is greater than 30 W/mK... to enhance heat transfer and cooling by increasing conductive heat transfer through the heat shield

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConductive heat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4234269B1High thermal conductivity heat shield

Publication Date: 2025.01.15 GOODRICH CORP

Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6

AI summary

A wheel assembly is described comprising: a wheel having a rim (206) and configured to rotate about an axis; a torque bar (138) disposed radially inward of the rim; a heat shield (800) disposed between the wheel and the torque bar, wherein the heat shield comprises a cylindrical structure extending circumferentially about an axis of the wheel and around an inner diameter of the rim; wherein the heat shield (800) comprises a heat shield material, and a thermal conductivity of the heat shield material is greater than 30 W/mK, and wherein the heat shield comprises a first end and a second end spaced apart from the second end, wherein the first end of the heat shield (800) includes a first hook member and the second end of the heat shield includes a second hook member, wherein the heat shield retainer includes a first clip member configured to engage the first hook member and a second clip member configured to engage the second hook member.