Goodrich Corporation

The B. F. Goodrich Company

Franklin C Christ

Mihai Ralea

Robert L Brundrett

Lawrence F Corio

Stephen A Mascarella

Thomas H Haydon

Derolle E Haugen

An electrically actuated aircraft brake system and method which provides for brake wear measurement, brake running clearance adjustment, ram position-based control and improved construction and operation. Brake wear and running clearance measurement are obtained by analyzing the output of position sensing circuitry. The position sensing circuitry, preferably including a LVDT position sensor, is also used to determine braking load, a brake controller including circuitry for effecting displacement of one or more reciprocating rams to load a brake disk stack by a predetermined amount based on a present displacement value of the position signal obtained from the position sensor. The position sensor preferably includes a LVDT transducer connected between the reciprocating ram and a brake housing, and the motive device preferably includes a servo motor. Also provided is an actuator housing including a guideway for each ram, the guideway and ram having the same polygonal cross-section, whereby the ram nut is guided and restrained from rotation by the guideway as it is translated by a ball screw in threaded engagement with the ram nut for selective movement into and out of forceful engagement with the brake disk stack for applying and releasing braking force on a rotatable wheel. An electric motor is drivingly connected to each ball screw by a first gear integral with the ball screw, a second gear in mesh with the first gear, and a pinion on a rotating drive shaft of the electric motor.

Electronic aircraft braking system with brake wear measurement, running clearance adjustment and plural electric motor-actuator ram assemblies

An electrically actuated aircraft brake and method characterized by the use actuator modules which can be easily and quickly replaced as a unit. Quick and easy replacement of the actuator modules can be effected without disassembly of the overall brake and wheel assembly. Accordingly, brake manufacturing, repair costs, overhaul, parts stocking and maintenance costs and requirements are minimized and/or greatly simplified compared to integrated brake designs used in the prior art. Also, a malfunctioning actuator module on an aircraft can be replaced and preferably quickly enough to allow the aircraft to remain in scheduled service and/or with a minimum of downtime.

Aircraft brake and method with electromechanical actuator modules

An aircraft brake assembly, wherein the actuator portion of the brake assembly is no longer provided as part of the brake assembly but instead as part of the aircraft landing gear. Accordingly, the actuator portion or individual actuators assemblies are designated as Line Replacement Units (LRUs), which are replaceable independently of other brake components, e.g., the torque tube and heat sink, which then comprise the brake assembly designated as a separate LRU. This new arrangement is particularly suited to electro-mechanically actuated brakes, where actuator maintenance intervals will typically be more closely related to landing gear maintenance intervals than to brake maintenance (i.e., hydraulic actuator and/or heat sink maintenance). The invention also provides for more effective and desirable mounting of one or more electro-mechanical actuators wherein reactionary loads are transferred in compression as opposed to in tension through mounting bolts or other removable fasteners.

Aircraft landing gear with integrated brake actuation system

A lining wear measurement system which accepts signals from a plurality of movement/displacement sensors coupled to respective auto-adjusters of vehicle brakes and giving information about prevailing brake pad/lining thickness. The system includes a means to hold internally a target wear-out point representing a minimum acceptable brake lining thickness based upon the characteristics of known linings and an internally stored starting point which is set automatically at a suitable point in time after the brake has been equipped with a set of replacement linings so as thereby to take account of the reducing disc or drum thickness as the life of the brake progress. Alternatively, the system can hold an internally stored starting point which is arranged to be manually initiated but actually stored at some suitable point in time thereafter upon each set of replacement linings being installed. The system can also recognise an opening up operation of the brake, such as is necessary to remove worn linings for inspection or replacement purposes, by comparison of pre-opening and post-opening brake position readings.

Growing community of inventors

Pompton Plains, NJ, United States of America

Franklin C Christ