Aeronautics and astronautics – Landing gear – Wheel
Patent
1998-07-07
2000-07-11
Poon, Peter M.
Aeronautics and astronautics
Landing gear
Wheel
B64C 2532
Patent
active
060860170
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to apparatus for causing an aircraft wheel to rotate.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
It is well known that aircraft tires need to be replaced at frequent intervals as a result of wear sustained on landing. It is also recognized that this wear can be reduced by causing the wheels of an aircraft to rotate, immediately prior to landing, at or near the landing speed of the aircraft. Many attempts to achieve such wheel rotation have been proposed but one of the major difficulties has been devising a wheel or attachment which produces sufficient turning moment during landing but which does not create problematic drag during take-off.
One way to increase the turning moment during landing without increasing the drag during take-off is to provide rotating means which are movable between a deployed position and a retracted position. In the deployed position, used during landing, the rotating means are positioned so as to maximize the turning moment applied to the wheel. Increased drag is not problematic during landing; indeed, it can be beneficial. In the retracted position, used during take-off, drag is minimized along with the turning moment which is not required on take-off.
Examples of prior art arrangements which utilize this type of retractable system are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,666,604 and 4,732,350. However, because of the need to retract the scoops and vanes, it will be noted that the total area of the scoops and vanes exposed to the airflow is relatively small. It will also be noted that the vanes and scoops of the prior art are positioned relatively close to the aircraft wheel in their extended positions.
Further examples of prior art, namely U.S. Pat. No. 4,385,739 and U.S. Pat. No. 2,414,849, illustrate methods of causing an aircraft wheel to rotate by directing a flow of air, taken either from a compressed air source or from an engine, onto vanes located on the wheel. However, the presence of the nozzle which directs the flow of air onto the vanes is cumbersome and increases the drag on take-off.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an aircraft wheel or attachment therefor in which it is possible to expose a relatively large area of vanes, scoops or other wind-catching members to the airflow.
It is another object of the invention to provide an aircraft wheel or attachment therefor which has rotation means which are extendible away from the axle of the wheel to a relatively great extent to maximize the turning moment applied to the wheel.
It is still another object of the invention to provide an arrangement of nozzles or the like which does not itself create significant drag upon take-off.
To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for causing an aircraft wheel to rotate in an airflow which includes wind-catching members disposed around a central axis. The wind-catching members are moved between a non-operative, retracted position and an operative-extended position in which the wind-catching members project outside the outer radial periphery of the aircraft wheel.
The present invention is further directed to an apparatus in which at least one nozzle or vent is provided, centered on the axle of the wheel and arranged to expel air at least partially circumferentially, along with an air supply for providing air to the at least one nozzle or vent. The air supply includes a compressed air source and an air supply passage connecting the compressed air source to the at least one nozzle or vent. Each nozzle or vent is rotatable with the wheel so that the expulsion of air causes rotation of the wheel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a wheel incorporating apparatus (excluding sails) embodying a first aspect of the invention shown in a fully-retracted position;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II--II of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is
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patent: 2412406 (1946-12-01), Kerezi
patent: 2414849 (1947-01-01), Beazley
patent: 2435459 (1948-02-01), Oden
patent: 2666604 (1954-01-01), Davis
patent: 3026069 (1962-03-01), Young et al.
patent: 3741503 (1973-06-01), Cabeza
patent: 3866860 (1975-02-01), Opitz, Sr.
patent: 4385739 (1983-05-01), Soderberg
patent: 4732350 (1988-03-01), Lamont
patent: 5213285 (1993-05-01), Stanko
patent: 5251848 (1993-10-01), Gannatal
patent: 5417387 (1995-05-01), Jennings
UK Search Report.
WO97/18127 (PCT/GB96/02791) International Search Report Feb. 5, 1997.
Ducker, Jr. Charles R
Poon Peter M.
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