Composite pdu tire in an aircraft cargo handling system
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorsSanjay Yadav, Mohinder Saini
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite PDU tire in an aircraft cargo handling system may comprise a plurality of bonded regions configured to propel cargo within an aircraft cargo bay. The composite tire may include edge regions that are stiffer than a cylindrical region. The edge regions may be configured to have a greater wear resistance and abrasion resistance relative to the cylindrical region. The cylindrical region may be configured to have greater traction relative to the edge regions. The edge regions may include a fillet profile and may be configured to reduce chipping as cargo climbs across the tire.
Claims20
A composite tire, the composite tire comprising:
- a cylindrical region having a first circumferential groove and a second circumferential groove;
- a first edge region having a fillet, wherein the first edge region is coupled to the first circumferential groove at a first bonding region;
- and
- a second edge region having a fillet, wherein the second edge region is coupled to the second circumferential groove at a second bonding region,
- wherein the first edge region and the second edge region comprise a first material and the cylindrical region comprises a second material, wherein the first material is stiffer than the second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different materials.
A tire assembly comprising:
- a composite tire bonded to a tire hub, the composite tire comprising:
- a cylindrical region having a first circumferential groove and a second circumferential groove;
- a first edge region having a fillet, wherein the first edge region is coupled to the first circumferential groove at a first bonding region;
- and
- a second edge region having a fillet, wherein the second edge region is coupled to the second circumferential groove at a second bonding region,
- wherein the first edge region and the second edge region comprise a first material and the cylindrical region comprises a second material, wherein the first material is stiffer than the second material, wherein the first material and the second material are different.
A method for molding a composite tire over a hub, the method comprising:
- disposing a first die relative to the hub;
- injecting a first material at a first temperature into the first die, the first temperature being above an ambient temperature, wherein the first material forms a first edge region and a second edge region;
- removing the first die from the hub;
- disposing a second die relative to the hub, while the first material is above the ambient temperature;
- injecting a second material into the second die, while the first material is above the ambient temperature, wherein the second material forms a cylindrical region, wherein the cylindrical region bonds to the first edge region at a first bonding region, wherein the cylindrical region bonds to the second edge region at a second bonding region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.