Method to reduce carbon brake wear through residual brake force
AssigneeHydro-Aire, Inc.
InventorsGary DeVlieg, John Gowan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The method for reducing aircraft carbon brake wear involves monitoring the commanded initiation of braking, and setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force, which is maintained following the commanded initiation of braking to prevent release of braking during taxiing of the aircraft. The minimum residual brake clamping force is applied despite a commanded release of braking until at least one predetermined control logic condition occurs.
Claims18
A method for controlling carbon brakes of an aircraft having a plurality of wheels and a corresponding plurality of wheel brakes for the plurality of wheels to reduce brake wear when the aircraft is taxiing, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
- setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force for the plurality of wheel brakes only in response to said commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- applying said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force simultaneously to all of the plurality of wheel brakes despite a commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- determining an average wheel speed and comparing said average wheel speed with a predetermined wheel speed threshold;
- and
- discontinuing applying said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force in response to at least one control logic condition, wherein said at least one control logic condition comprises when said average wheel speed is below said predetermined wheel speed threshold.
A method for controlling carbon brakes of an aircraft having a plurality of wheels and a corresponding plurality of wheel brakes for the plurality of wheels to reduce brake wear when the aircraft is taxiing, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
- setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force for all of the plurality of wheel brakes only in response to said commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- monitoring commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
- applying said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force simultaneously to all of the plurality of wheel brakes following said commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- determining an average wheel speed;
- and
- setting said residual brake clamping force to zero when said average wheel speed is in the range of a predetermined wheel speed threshold of about 2 knots to about 15 knots.
A method for controlling carbon brakes of an aircraft having at least one engine thrust lever, a plurality of wheels and a corresponding plurality of wheel brakes for the plurality of wheels to reduce brake wear when the aircraft is taxiing, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
- setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force for all of the plurality of wheel brakes only in response to said commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- monitoring commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
- applying said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force simultaneously to all of the plurality of wheel brakes following said commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- monitoring engine thrust lever position;
- and
- setting said residual brake clamping force to zero when said at least one engine thrust lever is in an advanced position.
A method for controlling carbon brakes of an aircraft having a plurality of wheels and a corresponding plurality of wheel brakes for the plurality of wheels to reduce brake wear when the aircraft is taxiing, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
- setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force for all of the plurality of wheel brakes only in response to said commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- monitoring commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
- applying said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force simultaneously to all of the plurality of wheel brakes following said commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- detecting wheel speed acceleration, and comparing said wheel speed acceleration with a predetermined acceleration threshold;
- and
- setting said residual brake clamping force to zero when said wheel speed acceleration exceeds said acceleration threshold.
A method for controlling carbon brakes of an aircraft having a plurality of wheels and a corresponding plurality of wheel brakes for the plurality of wheels to reduce brake wear when the aircraft is taxiing, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
- setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force for all of the plurality of wheel brakes only in response to said commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- monitoring commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
- applying said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force simultaneously to all of the plurality of wheel brakes following said commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- monitoring temperature of said plurality of wheel brakes, and comparing said temperature of said plurality of wheel brakes with a temperature threshold;
- and
- setting said residual brake clamping force to zero when said temperature of said plurality of wheel brakes exceeds said temperature threshold.
A method for controlling carbon brakes of an aircraft having a plurality of wheels and a corresponding plurality of wheel brakes for the plurality of wheels to reduce brake wear when the aircraft is taxiing, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
- setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force for all of the plurality of wheel brakes only in response to said commanded initiation of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- monitoring commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes of the aircraft;
- applying said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force simultaneously to all of the plurality of wheel brakes following said commanded release of braking of any of the plurality of wheel brakes;
- determining distance rolled with said predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force applied, and comparing said distance rolled with a predetermined distance threshold;
- and
- setting said residual brake clamping force to zero when said distance rolled exceeds said predetermined distance threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.