Honeywell International Inc.

Alliedsignal Inc.

Jeffrey K Arnold

Allan Blunt

Allen R Gale

Leo H McWilliams

Raymond J Dale

A combination brake and anti-lock system for a wheeled vehicle such as an aircraft includes an operator controlled source of pressurized hydraulic fluid for selectively applying hydraulic pressure to a hydraulically actuated wheel rotation braking device which responds to the applied hydraulic pressure to apply a braking force to a wheel of the vehicle to thereby arresting wheel motion. There is a low pressure hydraulic fluid return with a normally open hold valve in circuit between the source and the braking device for selectively opening and closing a fluid flow path from the source to the braking device and a normally closed decay valve in circuit between the braking device and the return for selectively opening and closing a fluid flow path from the braking device to the return. A wheel speed sensing device provides an indication of the rotational speed of the wheel and a valve control responds to an indication of a skid indicative wheel speed irregularity from the sensing device to close the normally open valve and open the normally closed valve. The valve control may be disabled manually by an operator on command or automatically upon detecting an anti-skid malfunction.

Anti-lock braking system module for aircraft equipped with master cylinder brake systems

An electrically actuated braking system ( ) of the type having a plurality of brake actuators ( ) disposed on a carrier housing ( ) to selectively apply a braking force to effect the restraint of wheel rotation has the particular actuators employed during a braking event determined, at least in part, by monitored wheel motion. The system ( ) reduces brake energy consumption and heat generation during slow speed operations, reduces braking induced vibration, and compensates for individual actuator failure. The system ( ) includes a first circuit for energizing only a first proper subset of the plurality of the brake actuators ( ) upon occurrence of a braking command ( ); a second circuit for energizing only a second proper subset of the plurality of brake actuators upon occurrence of a braking command; and wheel motion monitors ( ) providing control signals for selectively enabling the first circuit and not the second circuit in response to certain of the control signals, the second circuit and not the first circuit in response to other of the control signals, and both the first and second circuits in response to still other of the control signals. Typically, there are four disjoint proper subsets the union of which comprises all actuators for the given brake. Preferably the first and second circuits each energize exactly one brake actuator. In one form, the first and second circuits are both energized during normal braking while the first, but not the second, is energized during slow speed taxi or towing operation. In another form, the first subset comprises all properly operating brake actuators while the second comprises all malfunctioning brake actuators and the second circuit remains un-energized.

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South Bend, IN, United States of America

Jeffrey K Arnold