Wheel Motor Hydrostatic Transmission for Aircraft Taxiing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aircraft engines consume excessive fuel and are prone to damage from ground particles during taxiing, as existing ground propulsion methods rely on engine power and introduce additional weight and complexity with AC-to-DC converters and inverters.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft ground propulsion system featuring a wheel assembly with directly coupled motors and hydrostatic transmissions, eliminating the need for AC-to-DC converters and inverters, and utilizing engagement/disengagement systems for controlled wheel rotation, powered by a constant mechanical rotation from the aircraft's power supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If aircraft engines are used for taxiing, then ground propulsion is provided, but fuel consumption increases and engine damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The propulsion function is segmented from the main aircraft engines to independent wheel assembly motors. Each wheel assembly has its own motor and hydrostatic transmission, allowing ground propulsion without using the aircraft engines, thus reducing fuel consumption and eliminating the risk of engine damage from ground particles.
Solution Approach 2:
A hydrostatic transmission system acts as an intermediary between the motor and the wheel. The hydrostatic transmission converts motor rotation to wheel rotation through hydraulic fluid, providing controlled ground propulsion while isolating the aircraft engines from direct ground contact and particle exposure.
2Ease of operation
If AC-to-DC converters and inverters are added for motor control, then controlled ground propulsion is achieved, but system complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex electronic conversion systems (AC-to-DC converters and inverters) are extracted and replaced with a direct DC motor connection to the aircraft's DC bus. This eliminates unnecessary electronic components while maintaining controlled ground propulsion through the hydrostatic transmission system.
Solution Approach 2:
Complex electronic control systems are replaced with a mechanically simple direct-drive DC motor system. The motor connects directly to the DC power bus, and mechanical control through the hydrostatic transmission replaces electronic conversion stages, reducing overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If additional electronic components are added for motor control, then ground propulsion control is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Heavy electronic components (converters and inverters) are removed from the wheel assembly. The DC motor connects directly to the aircraft's existing DC power bus, eliminating the weight of intermediate electronic conversion equipment while maintaining propulsion control capability.
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 reduces fuel consumption and minimizes engine damage by providing efficient and controlled ground propulsion, while simplifying the system by eliminating unnecessary electronics and reducing weight and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
Each wheel may be coupled to a motor and a hydrostatic transmission. The hydrostatic transmission may convert a constant mechanical rotation received from the motor to a variable mechanical rotation that generates rotation of the wheel
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for propelling an object across a surface comprises a motor (214) is disposed at a location of a wheel (206a) of the object. The motor (214) draws electrical power directly from a power supply (110) in order to generate a constant mechanical motion such as a constant rotation. A transmission (212) receives the constant mechanical motion from the motor (214) and generates a variable mechanical motion such as a variable-speed rotation at a wheel (206a).