The Boeing Company

Nima Forghani

David T Yamamoto

Steven Elliot Smith

Bruce Van Deventer

Levi Aren Mulkey

Thomas Todd Griffith

Joseph Michael Wapenski

A brake system control unit includes one or more sensor interfaces configured to receive a brake torque signal from a brake torque sensor. The brake system control unit also includes a torque estimator configured to generate an estimated brake torque signal based, at least in part, on a brake model and a brake actuator command. The brake system control unit further includes control circuitry configured to generate the brake actuator command to actuate a brake actuator of a brake system. The brake actuator command is generated based on a brake pedal command and a load alleviation command. The load alleviation command is based on the brake torque or the estimated brake torque signal, depending on whether a sensor fault condition associated with the brake torque sensor is detected.

Fault-tolerant brake load alleviation

A parking brake system is disclosed and includes one or more pressure transducers that monitor the fluid pressure of the parking brake system and a brake selection device configured to indicate the parking brake system is either in an engaged state or a disengaged state. The parking brake system includes one or more processors and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores data comprising a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the parking brake system to determine the fluid pressure of the parking brake system is less than a threshold pressure. In response to determining the fluid pressure of the parking brake system is less than the threshold pressure, the parking brake system instructs the brake selection device to indicate the parking brake system is in the disengaged state.

Brake selection device for indicating an actual position of a parking brake system

An aircraft tow vehicle and methods of towing an aircraft are disclosed. An aircraft tow vehicle comprises an aircraft structural interface configured to couple to a wheel assembly of a main landing gear of an aircraft; and an aircraft towing propulsive force system configured to propel the aircraft forward when the aircraft structural interface is coupled to the wheel assembly.

Aircraft tow vehicles and methods of towing an aircraft

The present disclosure provides a brake system including (a) a brake stack, (b) a force member moveable between a retracted position and an extended position in response to a brake command, wherein the force member contacts the brake stack in the extended position, and wherein the brake system includes a running clearance defined by a distance between the brake stack and the force member in the retracted position, (c) a sensor in communication with the brake stack to measure a force between the force member and the brake stack in response to the brake command, and (d) a brake control unit configured to determine a running clearance brake command defined as a percentage of a maximum braking force that causes the force member to contact the brake stack, wherein the running clearance brake command is determined based on the force measured by the sensor for a plurality of brake commands.

Systems and method for determining running clearance brake command for a brake system

Brake control systems are disclosed herein. A brake control system comprises a first set of analog-to-digital converters in electrical communication with a first set of brake input mechanism sensors and a second set of analog-to-digital converters in electrical communication with a second set of brake input mechanism sensors. The first and second sets of analog-to-digital converters comprise one or more of different hardware and different software for differentially manipulating sensor outputs received from the brake input mechanism sensors.

Aircraft brake control systems

A brake system for a vehicle is disclosed and includes an energy storage device configured to store and discharge energy, a plurality of wheels having an observer wheel, one or more processors operatively coupled to the energy storage device, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores data comprising a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the brake system to determine the brake system is operating in a backup mode of operation. In response to determining the brake system is operating in the backup mode of operation, the brake system is caused to apply a first brake pressure command to the observer wheel. In response to determining the observer wheel is starting the skid condition, the brake system is caused to determine a second brake pressure command based on a target slip value.

Brake system providing limited antiskid control during a backup mode of operation

There is provided a pivot turn load alleviation (PTLA) brake system for alleviating structural loads on a pivoting main landing gear of an aircraft in a pivot turn maneuver. The PTLA brake system includes a brake control system operatively coupled to at least two main landing gear, each having two or more wheels. The PTLA brake system further includes a PTLA brake inhibit subsystem coupled to the brake control system. The subsystem inhibits braking of one or more of the two or more wheels of the pivoting main landing gear, in the pivot turn maneuver, so that at least one wheel of the two or more wheels is in an unbraked state, and a remaining number of the two or more wheels are in a braked state. The PTLA brake system alleviates structural loads, and reduces wear on the at least one wheel that is in the unbraked state.

System and method for alleviating structural loads on a pivoting main landing gear of an aircraft in a pivot turn maneuver

A brake system includes a brake stack having a stack closure pressure, a force member positioned within a cylinder, a valve configured to control fluid pressure of the brake system, and one or more pressure transducers that generate a proportional electrical signal representative of the fluid pressure within the cylinder. The brake system also includes one or more processors in electronic communication with the valve, the one or more pressure transducers, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores data comprising a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the brake system to determine the stack closure pressure of the brake stack.

System for determining the stack closure pressure of a brake stack

A brake system for a vehicle is disclosed and includes an energy storage device configured to store and discharge energy, a plurality of wheels, one or more processors operatively coupled to the energy storage device, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores data comprising a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the brake system to determine the brake system is operating in a backup mode of operation. In response to determining the brake system is operating in the backup mode of operation, the brake system calculates a dynamic slip of the plurality of wheels. The brake system is caused to determine a slip error by comparing the dynamic slip with a target slip value of the plurality of wheels. The brake system is also caused to calculate an antiskid command based on the slip error.

A parking brake system is disclosed and includes a parking brake valve configured to maintain a fluid pressure of the parking brake system and one or more pressure transducers that monitor the fluid pressure of the parking brake system. The parking brake system also includes a bistable control valve fluidly connected to the parking brake valve, one or more processors in electronic communication with the bistable control valve, the parking brake valve, and the one or more pressure transducers, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores data comprising a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the parking brake system to instruct the bistable control valve to actuate into the opened position when the fluid pressure of the parking brake system is less than a threshold pressure.

Bistable control valve for maintaining fluid pressure in a parking brake system

An automatic braking system controller automatically decelerates an aircraft on a runway according to a brake-to-exit or a constant deceleration function. The automatic braking system controller determines whether the aircraft can decelerate to a selected velocity prior to reaching a target location along the runway. In response to determining that the aircraft can decelerate to the selected velocity prior to reaching the target location, the automatic braking system controller automatically decelerates the aircraft with a comfortable deceleration profile such that the aircraft reaches the selected velocity at the target location.

Automatic braking system controller

A brake system is disclosed. The brake system includes a brake stack having a stack closure pressure, a force member positioned within a cylinder, a valve configured to control the fluid pressure of the brake system, and one or more pressure transducers that generate a proportional electrical signal representative of fluid pressure within the cylinder. The brake system also includes one or more processors in electronic communication with the valve, the one or more pressure transducers, and a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory stores data comprising a database and program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the brake system to determine the stack closure pressure of the brake stack.

Growing community of inventors

Seattle, WA, United States of America

Nima Forghani