Brakes – Elements – Cooling and lubricating
Patent
1983-01-13
1986-06-03
Halvosa, George E. A.
Brakes
Elements
Cooling and lubricating
188 716, 192 7012, 192113A, 301 6CF, F16D 65847
Patent
active
045924520
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention concerns an aircraft wheel brake cooling apparatus.
When large aircraft make high energy stops that is they use perhaps reverse thrust and maximum application of the wheel brakes the latter heat up considerably and due to the mass of the brake assembly and associated wheel and the good conductivity to the aircraft tire there follows when the aircraft is at rest a dangerous increase in tire pressure which must be relieved. Deflation of the tires is hazardous because of the possibility that the two bolted halves of the wheel may burst apart while deflation is being attempted. The brakes may not cool to ambient for two hours.
If the aircraft is scheduled to take off shortly after landing which is common on short routes the brakes will be subject to a further application before cooling adequately from the high energy stop.
OBJECTIVE AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention seeks to provide an apparatus which reduces the risk of damage to the wheel and tire by overheating during the period following a high energy stop.
This invention provides a wheel brake cooling apparatus for aircraft comprising a clamp assembly for attachment to an aircraft tire, a duct adapted to be clamped by the clamp assembly against an aircraft wheel upon which the tire is fitted, and a fan arranged, when activated, to draw cooling air through the wheel brake assembly via the duct.
A clamp assembly may comprise a tire-straddling, U-shaped frame with a first tire engaging pad for one sidewall of the wheel and a second tire engaging pad for the opposite side wall and means to clamp the pads against the tire. The frame may be made of a major part, the length of which exceeds the greatest sidewall to sidewall width of the tire, which part carries an inwardly directed pad for engaging one sidewall, a minor part which is pivoted to the major part, which minor part carries a complementary pad for engaging the opposite sidewall and a lever operated linkage for clamping the pads on the parts of the frame to the tire. The duct may be of circular cross-section and may have a ring seal at the front edge thereof in order to mate with the wheel hub. Preferably the fan is an axial flow fan supported in a cylindrical housing of a smaller cross-sectional area than the duct and the duct may extend from the housing on the input side of the fan. The duct may be releasably attached to the clamp assembly by a hook assembly which affords pivotal connection between the frame and the duct, the hook assembly being of adjustable length so as to permit the duct to mate closely with the wheel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic section of the apparatus and the aircraft wheel to which it is applied
FIG. 2 is a side view of the clamp assembly
FIG. 3 is a plan of the clamp assembly.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIG. 1, the aircraft wheel has two hub sections 2, 4 clamped together by bolts 6. A multiple disc brake assembly 8 is located within hub section 4. Hub section 12 is pierced by cut-outs 10. The wheel supports a tire 12. A frame 14 straddles the tire 12 and crossbar 16 thereon supports a hook assembly 18 which is welded to the struts 20 of the duct 22. The duct is a sheet aluminium frustrum which coaxially overlaps an aluminium motor housing 24 the open end of which is protected by a grid 26. The inlet end of the frustrum has a rolled edge 28 which is protected by a rubber seal 30. An axial flow fan 32 is mounted within the housing 24 on arms 34 (only one shown) and is supplied with 115 v DC from a ground supply or from the aircraft generators. The fan produces a flow of 1400 cfm. The duct is stiffened by six tubular struts 36. The hook assembly 18 welded to the upper pair of struts consists of two slotted plates 38 which locate a pin 40 and a pair of tubes 42 each provided with adjustable screws 44 and hooks 46 for engaging cross bar 16.
Referrin
REFERENCES:
patent: 3251437 (1966-05-01), Moyer et al.
patent: 3301357 (1967-01-01), Cussons et al.
patent: 3664467 (1972-05-01), Lucien et al.
patent: 3734247 (1973-05-01), Buckley
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