Aircraft wheel prelanding rotation device and method of use

An aircraft wheel prelanding rotation device comprising:

• a disc having an inner face, an outer face, an inner perimeter, and an outer perimeter;
• a coupler being attached to the disc and being configured for coupling to a hub of a wheel attached to an axle of an aircraft, wherein the coupler is configured for attaching the disc to the hub such that the inner face abuts the hub and the axle extends axially through the disc, the coupler comprising a plurality of holes extending into the disc, wherein each hole of the plurality of holes is configured for insertion of a respective bolt of a plurality of bolts for mounting the disc to the hub;
• a plurality of veins being attached to the outer face of the disc, the plurality of veins comprising from four to sixteen veins, the plurality of veins comprising from six to twelve veins, the plurality of veins comprising eight veins, each vein having a first terminus positioned proximate to the inner perimeter and a second terminus positioned proximate to the outer perimeter, the second terminus being circumferentially larger than the first terminus such that the vein tapers from the second terminus to the first terminus, the vein being arcuate;
• a shell, the shell being bowl shaped such that the shell has an open face, the open face being circumferentially complementary to the hub, the shell having an upper rear quadrant, a lower rear quadrant, an upper front quadrant, and a lower front quadrant;
• an opening extending axially into the shell, wherein the opening is configured for receiving the axle such that the shell is fixedly attached to the axle and such that the open face is positioned adjacent to the hub;
• a plurality of slots extending into the shell, wherein the plurality of slots is configured for venting of the shell, the plurality of slots being positioned in the upper rear quadrant;
• an inlet being positioned in the shell, the inlet being positioned in one or both of the lower front quadrant and the lower rear quadrant;
• a tube being attached to the shell and extending from the inlet toward a forward end of the aircraft, wherein the tube is configured for directing air over the plurality of veins such that torque is applied to the hub for rotating the wheel prior to landing of the aircraft, the tube having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the shell, the second end being circumferentially larger than the first end, wherein the tube is configured for accelerating air entering the second end;
• and
• the shell being one of a pair of shells, the tube being one of a pair of tubes, the pair of shells and the pair of tubes forming an integral structure, wherein the integral structure is configured for mounting to an axle bearing a pair of hubs mounted singly to opposed ends of the axle.

A method of rotating a wheel of an aircraft prior to landing, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing an aircraft wheel prelanding rotation device comprising:
• a disc having an inner face and an outer face;
• a coupler being attached to the disc and being configured for coupling to a hub of a wheel attached to an axle of an aircraft, wherein the coupler is configured for attaching the disc to the hub such that the inner face abuts the hub and the axle extends axially through the disc;
• a plurality of veins being attached to the outer face of the disc;
• a shell, the shell being bowl shaped such that the shell has an open face, the open face being circumferentially complementary to the hub;
• an opening extending axially into the shell, wherein the opening is configured for receiving the axle such that the shell is fixedly attached to the axle and such that the open face is positioned adjacent to the hub;
• a plurality of slots extending into the shell, wherein the plurality of slots is configured for venting of the shell;
• an inlet being positioned in the shell;
• and
• a tube being attached to the shell and extending from the inlet toward a forward end of the aircraft, wherein the tube is configured for directing air over the plurality of veins such that torque is applied to the hub for rotating the wheel prior to landing of the aircraft;
• mounting the aircraft wheel prelanding rotation to the axle;
• entering of air into the tube;
• directing of the air over the plurality of veins;
• applying of the torque to the hub;
• and
• rotating of the wheel.