The Boeing Company

Christopher T Jasklowski

Steve G Mackin

David W Foutch

Michael L Sangwin

Matthew Anthony Dilligan

Mehmet Bahadir Alkislar

David William Foutch

Braking systems for aircraft are disclosed. An example braking system includes a brake pad movably coupled to a lower section of a fuselage of the aircraft. The brake pad is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. An actuator is configured to deploy the brake pad from the fuselage during an emergency braking event. The brake pad to engage a surface of a runway and increase frictional force to reduce a speed of the aircraft during the emergency braking event.

Brake systems for aircraft and related methods

Braking systems for aircraft are disclosed. An example braking system includes a fan cowl having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The braking system includes a hinge assembly coupled between the leading edge and a fan cage of an aircraft engine to enable the fan cowl to move between a stowed position and a deployed position. An actuator is coupled to the leading edge of the fan cowl, and the actuator is to move the fan cowl via the hinge from the stowed position to the deployed position in a direction away from the aircraft engine and toward a fore end of the aircraft to provide an air brake during a braking event.

A variable area fan nozzle comprising an array of rigid petals and a petal actuation system comprising left and right assemblies, each assembly comprising: a multiplicity of tracks attached to or integrally formed with respective petals; a curved pivoting ring segment; an actuator coupled to the ring segment; and a multiplicity of sets of cam followers spaced along the ring segment and aligned with respective tracks. Each ring segment is pivotable between first and second angular positions depending on how the state of the actuator changes. As one ring segment pivots in one direction, one set of cam followers exert inward forces on the tracks to deflect petals inward; as that ring segment pivots in the other direction, another set of cam followers exert outward forces on the tracks to deflect petals outward.

Pivoting ring petal actuation for variable area fan nozzle

A variable area fan nozzle comprising an array of hinged rigid petals and a petal actuation system in which the principle of actuation is realized by changes in shape (i.e., deformation) of the actuators rather than by movement of cooperating mechanical parts. Because these actuators have no rotating or sliding mechanical components, wear and associated maintenance are reduced. Each deformable actuator has a portion made of shape memory alloy that has been trained to change shape in a specific manner when heated to a temperature above a transition temperature. In addition, each shape memory alloy actuator is shaped to act as a fairing to reduce aerodynamic drag.

Shape memory alloy actuation system for variable area fan nozzle

An apparatus installed on an aircraft, comprising: a sleeve or duct having a trailing lip area; a plurality of petals arranged side by side with gaps therebetween, one end of each petal being attached or pivotably coupled to the lip area; and a plurality of elastomeric seals configured and disposed to close the gaps between adjacent petals. Each elastomeric seal comprises a first portion that moves with a portion of a first petal that is in contact therewith, a second portion that moves with a portion of a second petal that is in contact there, and a third portion which is stretched as the first and second petals move further apart from each other. Petal deflection is actuated by a system comprising a flexible member, a motor, a shaft driven by the motor, and an arm projecting from the shaft. One end of the flexible member is attached to the arm, the flexible member being movable to deflect the petals inward in response to a shaft rotation.

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Redmond, WA, United States of America

Christopher T Jasklowski