Goodyear Aerospace Corporation

The Goodyear & Tire Rubber Company

Richard L Crossman

Harold E Correll

Richard L Kirk

Robert J French

Robert E Berger

William F Conley

A closed torus tire may be inflated by means of a circumferential conduit located at the interface of the tire and a rim. The closed inflation chamber of the closed torus tire communicates with the circumferential conduit via an air inlet passageway through the annular base region of the tire's carcass. An inflation valve passageway through the rim also communicates with the circumferential conduit to provide an air conduit means for inflating the closed torus tire.

Circumferential conduit means for inflating a closed torus tire

A reciprocating drive for operative axial communication with a brake disk stack through a pressure plate to compress the disk stack for braking of a rotatable wheel comprises: a relatively stationary annular housing; an annular ram member mounted coaxially within the housing and adapted for axial movement and contacting engagement with the pressure plate to effect compression of the brake disk stack; a relatively rotatable annular ring gear member mounted coaxially between the housing and the ram member; a plurality of rollers operative between the rotatable ring gear and ram members to effect an axial movement of the ram member when interacting with the rotatable ring gear member; and at least two high torque motors mounted within the housing and having pinion drives for operative engagement with the ring gear member to rotate the member in response to an electrical signal. The rollers may comprise a planetary drive or a recirculating roller drive with suitably configured ring gear and ram member engagement surfaces.

Electrically actuated aircraft brakes

Apparatus for electrically controlling the application and release of aircraft brakes. In one embodiment, the invention includes a slurry clutch controlling a reciprocating member which is operatively connected to the pressure plate. In another embodiment of the invention, a torque motor is adapted to have an armature which comprises a ball screw, the ball screw being in engagement with a longitudinal drive rod interconnected with the pressure plate. Rotation of the armature causes the drive rod to move the pressure plate into forceful engagement with the brake disk stack or to retract the same. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of torque motors are interconnected with a bull gear which is operative for driving the pressure plate. Each of the embodiments of the invention includes apparatus for maintaining a fixed built-in clearance in the brake disk stack of the brake assembly, and are further adapted for utilization with antiskid systems by utilizing a device connected to the pressure plate which allows rapid release of brake torque. Additionally, apparatus is provided which allows a locking of the brake assembly while the aircraft is parked.

Apparatus for electrically controlling the application and release of aircraft brakes. In one embodiment, the invention includes a slurry clutch controlling a reciprocating member which is operatively connected to the pressure plate. In another embodiment of the invention, a torque motor is adapted to have an armature which comprises a ball screw, the ball screw being in engagement with a longitudinal drive ring communicating with the pressure plate. Rotation of the armature causes the drive ring to move the pressure plate into forceful engagement with the brake disk stack or to retract the same. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a plurality of torque motors are interconnected with a bull gear which is operative for driving the pressure plate. Each of the embodiments of the invention includes apparatus for maintaining a fixed built-in clearance in the brake disk stack of the brake assembly, and are further adapted for utilization with antiskid systems by utilizing a device communicating with the pressure plate which allows rapid release of brake torque. Additionally, apparatus is provided which allows a locking of the brake assembly while the aircraft is parked.

A torque readout sensor for mounting to a bolted interconnection between an aircraft brake assembly and a brake reaction torque limiting apparatus to sense the reaction torque upon the application of braking action comprises a metal body that replaces a bushing at the bolted interconnection and configured such that a deflection of the body is accomplished in the direction of the reaction torque force and at least one pair of strain gauges are affixed to the body at the point of deflection to provide an output electrical signal calibrated to the amount of deflection and thus to the reaction torque experienced by the body.

Torque readout sensor

A brake adjuster wherein a solid or fluted rod is connected between the return mechanism and the pressure plate of a brake assembly. The rod passes through a draw ring of slightly less diameter than the major diameter of the rod. The draw ring may be part and parcel of, or operatively connected to, the spring follower. The rod is drawn through the draw ring under force imparted by the pressure plate on brake wear action, the draw ring swaging and reshaping the rod as the rod extends to compensate for brake wear. The rod may be either a smooth, solid one, or it may be fluted or ribbed.

Brake adjuster having a rod drawn through a draw ring

A unique configuration for a torque tube assembly associated with a disk type brake comprises separable and replaceable keys and a separable and replaceable brake disk backplate. The keys are mounted in anti-rotation slots at the inboard and outboard ends of the torque tube and bolted to the barrel portion of the torque tube and are characterized by a radial extension that supports the separable backplate. The torque tube is a formed wrought metal tube that is mounted to the stationary portion of the brake housing via bolts that thread into the inboard end of the keys. In this configuration, the occurrence of a defective key and/or backplate does not require replacement of the total torque tube assembly.

Configuration for a disk brake torque tube assembly having replaceable

A friction pad configuration and a method and apparatus for fastening said pads to a disk core member wherein the base of the pad is formed with a plurality of extended tabs that are inserted in slots in the core and secured to the tabs of a pad on the opposite surface of the core by a clip that draws the base-to-base mounted pads together on the core. Alternatively, and for mounting on a single face surface of the core, U-clips are mounted on the tabs and inserted through the core to the opposite surface thereof and the ends of the U-clips are bent down into annular grooves in the face surface of the core to securely mount the pads to the core.

Friction wear pad and method and means for fastening said pad to a disk

A friction pad configuration and a method and apparatus for fastening said pads to a disk core member wherein the base of the pad is formed with a plurality of extended tabs that are inserted in slots in the core and secured to the tabs of a pad on the opposite surface of the core by a clip that draws the base-to-base mounted pads together on the core. Alternatively, and for mounting on a single face surface of the core, U-clips are mounted on the tabs and inserted through the core to the opposite surface therof and the ends of the U-clips are bent down into annular grooves in the face surface of the core to securely mount the pads to the core.

Method and apparatus for fastening a friaction wear pad to a disk core

Devices for transmitting signals from a rotatable tire to a stationary receiver which correspond to the internal pressure of the tire. In one embodiment, a Bourdon tube communicates with internal tire pressure to regulate the magnetic gap of an electromagnetic induction configuration. Changes in the magnetic gap result in corresponding changes in an output signal strength. In another embodiment of the invention, a bellows is provided in communication with tire pressure for regulating the position of the core of an LVDT. The core position and, accordingly, the output of the LVDT corresponds to tire pressure. In yet another embodiment, strain gauges or other appropriate electrical signal generators are connected to the tire and interconnected with a rotating race. A plurality of ball bearings are maintained in a preloaded condition between the rotating race and a stationary race, the latter race communicating signals to a tire pressure meter or the like.

Tire pressure communication devices

A brake adjuster for implementation between the brake housing and pressure plate of a brake disk stack. A casing is fixedly secured to the brake housing and receives therein a spring follower. Maintained within the spring follower and engaged at one end thereof is a tubular member. Passing through the tubular member and through the casing is a shaft, the shaft being fixedly secured to the pressure plate at a first end thereof and maintaining a multi-sided broach on the other end thereof. The broach is of such geometry as to make contacting engagement with the interior surface of the tube. Upon successive brake applications, the broaching or cutting surfaces of the broach cut portions of the inner wall of the tube, allowing the shaft to telescope from the casing in order to maintain a fixed built-in clearance among the disks of the brake disk stack. There is no frictional engagement between the broach and the inner wall of the tube and, consequently, no difference in the static and dynamic load characteristics of the adjuster.

Brake adjuster having multi-sided internal broach

An adjuster for brake wear compensation. Fundamentally, the invention includes a casing affixed to a brake housing. Maintained within the casing, and operative between the ends thereof, is a spring follower. A hollow tubular member is received within the spring follower and in contacting engagement with one end thereof. A shaft passes through the tubular member and is connected at a first end to the brake system pressure plate and is characterized at the other end by a swage. The swage is of a perimeter substantially equivalent to the inside circumference of the tubular member. However, the swage and tubular member are of different geometrical configurations. As brake wear compensation is made, the pressure plate draws the swage through the tubular member and reshapes the same without stretching or enlarging the tubular member itself.

Brake adjuster with internal swage

The invention is designed to produce a more economical means of closing drilled passage holes in hydraulic and/or pneumatic systems either during manufacture and/or repair. The process involves pressing a ball, or diametral portion thereof, with a diametral interference fit, and of similar material as the parent part to be sealed, into the drilled hole causing a seal of the hole by relying on the curvature of the surface of the ball or plug to plastically deform and maintain a depressional diametral seal within the elastic limits of the seal and the parent material for sealing, and then crimping the parent material to be sealed over the end of the ball or plug to maintain it in position against pressure blow out. Alternate methods of holding the ball in position might include a line spot fusing utilizing a current passing through the ball to make the bond permanent, or a ring furnace fusing and/or other such fusing and partial staking procedures to bond the ball in place as an integral part of the unit.

Growing community of inventors

Tallmadge, OH, United States of America

Richard L Crossman