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US 6,604,708 B1Granted
Carbon brake wear for aircraft
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorGarrett Howard DeVlieg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and means are provided for extending the life of carbon brakes on aircraft. The method comprises measuring the speed of the aircraft and the intensity of braking and comparing these to predetermined maximum values for each. If the values are both lower than the maximum values, one or more of the brakes are selectively disabled.
Claims30
A method of controlling carbon brakes of multiple brake aircraft, comprising:
- receiving a signal corresponding to a speed of an aircraft when braking;
- receiving a signal corresponding to a desired braking intensity;
- comparing the speed of the aircraft with a preset value for the aircraft speed only at the moment at which a brake application is detected;
- comparing the desired braking intensity with a preset value for braking intensity repeatedly during braking;
- and
- if the speed is below the preset value for the aircraft speed and the braking intensity is below the preset value for the braking intensity, directing a signal to disable at least one set of the carbon brakes during braking and thereafter directing a signal to selectively disable a further set of the carbon brakes during a succeeding brake application.
3 more elements
A system for controlled application of braking pressure to only selected brakes during low speed ground travel, comprising:
- a brake release logic circuit portion;
- first receiving means for receiving a signal corresponding to an aircraft speed;
- second receiving means for receiving a signal corresponding to a metered brake pressure;
- a brake disable control circuit portion;
- means for coupling the signal corresponding to the aircraft speed and the signal corresponding to the metered brake pressure to an input of the brake disable control circuit portion that includes comparing means, the comparing means being configured to:
- compare the signal corresponding to the metered brake pressure with a first predetermined value of brake pressure to detect when a brake application has been commanded;
- when a brake application has been detected, compare the signal corresponding to the aircraft speed with a predetermined value of aircraft speed;
- when the signal corresponding to the aircraft speed is greater than the predetermined speed, direct a signal to prevent disablement of any brakes;
- repeatedly compare the signal corresponding to the metered brake pressure with a second predetermined value of brake pressure;
- and
- when the signal corresponding to the metered brake pressure is greater than the second predetermined value of brake pressure, direct a signal to prevent disablement of any brakes.
8 more elements
An apparatus for controlling carbon brakes for multiple brake aircraft, comprising:
- a first receiving circuit portion configured to receive a signal corresponding to an aircraft speed;
- a second receiving circuit portion configured to receive a signal corresponding to a metered brake pressure;
- a brake release circuit portion configured to direct brake release;
- a brake disable circuit portion configured to direct brake disablement;
- and
- a comparison circuit portion operatively coupled among the first and second receiving circuit portions, the brake release circuit portion and the brake disable circuit portion, the comparison circuit portion being configured to:
- compare the signal corresponding to the metered brake pressure with a first predetermined value of brake pressure to detect when a brake application has been commanded;
- when a brake application has been detected, compare the signal corresponding to the aircraft speed with a predetermined value of aircraft speed;
- direct a signal to prevent disabling of any brakes when the signal corresponding to the aircraft speed is greater than the predetermined speed;
- repeatedly compare the signal corresponding to the metered brake pressure with a second predetermined value of brake pressure;
- and
- direct a signal to prevent disabling of any brakes when the signal corresponding to the metered brake pressure is greater than the second predetermined value.
9 more elements
A computer-based system for controlling carbon brakes of multiple brake aircraft, comprising:
- a first receiver portion configured to receive a signal corresponding to a speed of an aircraft when the aircraft is braking;
- a second receiver portion configured to receive a signal corresponding to a desired baking intensity;
- a first comparer portion configured to compare the signal corresponding to the speed of the aircraft with a predetermined value at only at least approximately the moment at which a brake application is detected;
- a second compare portion configured to compare the signal corresponding to the desired braking intensity with a predetermined value for braking intensity repeatedly during braking;
- and
- a disabling portion configured to direct disablement of at least one set of the carbon brakes if the speed is below the predetermined value for the aircraft speed and the braking intensity is below the predetermined value for the braking intensity, the braking portion further being configured to direct disablement of another set of the carbon brakes during a succeeding brake application.
3 more elements
An aircraft, comprising:
- a fuselage;
- a wing depending from the fuselage
- a propulsion system depending from at least one of the wing and the fuselage;
- a landing gear system having a plurality of carbon brake sets;
- and
- a computer-based system for controlling the carbon brake sets, the computer-based system including:
- a first receiver portion configured to receive a signal corresponding to a speed of an aircraft when the aircraft is braking;
- a second receiver portion configured to receive a signal corresponding to a desired baking intensity;
- a first compare portion configured to compare the signal corresponding to the speed of the aircraft with a predetermined value at only at least approximately the moment at which a brake application is detected;
- a second compare portion configured to compare the desired braking intensity with a predetermined value for braking intensity repeatedly during braking;
- and
- a disabling portion configured to direct disablement of at least one set of the carbon brakes if the speed is below the predetermined value for the aircraft speed and the braking intensity is below the predetermined value for the braking intensity, the braking portion further being configured to direct disablement of another set of the carbon brakes during a succeeding brake application.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.