An aircraft wheel (1) comprising a hub connected to a rim (3) provided with a tire (100), the hub having an outer surface that extends facing an inner surface (4) of the rim (3) and that co-operates therewith to define an annular space for receiving a stack of brake disks including rotor disks having axial peripheral notches, each notch receiving a segment of an axial bar (10) extending projecting from the inner surface (4) of the rim (3), and respective heat shields (20), each in the form of an annular segment, being mounted between the two bars (10) of respective pairs of adjacent bars. Each heat shield (20) includes at least one holder portion bearing against at least one first abutment (19, 119) secured to the rim (3) in order to hold the heat shield (20) in position on the rim (3) elastically.

A system and method are provided for continuous monitoring and controlling of aircraft braking that can reduce brake wear and aircraft operating costs through the retention of carbon brake powder from the brakes or addition of carbon powder in a device mounted with respect to the brake disc stack. The use of carbon powder reduces brake wear by providing small particles between the brake discs, acting as a buffer between the brake discs when the brake stack is clamped together. Moreover, when carbon powder or small particles are used at application, such use reduces the roughness of the carbon surface and reduces the number of large particles from braking off the carbon surface, thereby reducing brake wear. Adaptive or selective braking may be used in conjunction with carbon powder to further reduce carbon brake wear.

A system and method are provided for continuous monitoring and controlling of aircraft braking that can reduce brake wear and aircraft operating costs through the retention of carbon brake powder from the brakes or addition of carbon powder in a device mounted with respect to the brake disc stack. The use of carbon powder reduces brake wear by providing small particles between the brake discs, acting as a buffer between the brake discs when the brake stack is clamped together. Moreover, when carbon powder or small particles are used at application, such use reduces the roughness of the carbon surface and reduces the number of large particles from braking off the carbon surface, thereby reducing brake wear. Adaptive or selective braking may be used in conjunction with carbon powder to further reduce carbon brake wear.

A method for monitoring the braking performance of a vehicle. The method includes, for at least some of the braking events: determining a braking demand; determining vehicle deceleration; defining a first data set of braking events, wherein each braking event in the data set includes a determined braking demand and a determined vehicle deceleration; applying a statistical trend analysis method to the data set to generate a vehicle deceleration and braking demand trend; providing a vehicle deceleration and braking demand reference; and comparing at least one trend value with at least one reference value. From this comparison it is possible to determine if the braking system is operating within an acceptable limit. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

A method for monitoring the braking performance of a vehicle. The method includes, for at least some of the braking events: determining a braking demand; determining vehicle deceleration; defining a first data set of braking events, wherein each braking event in the data set includes a determined braking demand and a determined vehicle deceleration; applying a statistical trend analysis method to the data set to generate a vehicle deceleration and braking demand trend; providing a vehicle deceleration and braking demand reference; and comparing at least one trend value with at least one reference value. From this comparison it is possible to determine if the braking system is operating within an acceptable limit. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Systems and methods for a heat-insulated wheel are disclosed herein. A wheel may comprise a wheel body comprising an outer diameter surface, an inner rim on an inboard side of the wheel body, an outer rim on an outboard side of the wheel body opposite the inner rim, and a heat insulator coupled to the outer diameter surface between the inner rim and the outer rim.

Systems and methods for a heat-insulated wheel are disclosed herein. A wheel may comprise a wheel body comprising an outer diameter surface, an inner rim on an inboard side of the wheel body, an outer rim on an outboard side of the wheel body opposite the inner rim, and a heat insulator coupled to the outer diameter surface between the inner rim and the outer rim.

An electrical system for an aircraft with an electric taxi system (ETS), the electrical system may include at least one traction motor, a DC link and at least one traction-motor bidirectional DC-AC converter interposed between the at least one traction motor and the DC link. An engine-driven power source may be configured to provide DC power to the DC link or extract DC power from the DC link. A battery unit may be configured to provide DC power to the DC link or extract DC power from the DC link. An adaptive power controller may be interconnected with the power source, the battery unit and the at least one traction-motor bidirectional DC-AC converter and configured to regulate voltage of DC power delivered to the DC link.

An electrical system for an aircraft with an electric taxi system (ETS), the electrical system may include at least one traction motor, a DC link and at least one traction-motor bidirectional DC-AC converter interposed between the at least one traction motor and the DC link. An engine-driven power source may be configured to provide DC power to the DC link or extract DC power from the DC link. A battery unit may be configured to provide DC power to the DC link or extract DC power from the DC link. An adaptive power controller may be interconnected with the power source, the battery unit and the at least one traction-motor bidirectional DC-AC converter and configured to regulate voltage of DC power delivered to the DC link.

A system for reducing a temperature of a braking assembly includes the braking assembly of a wheel assembly, an airflow amplifier, and a conduit. The braking assembly may include a plurality of friction disks. The airflow amplifier may be coupled to the wheel assembly, and the conduit may extend from a compressed gas source to the airflow amplifier. Generally, the airflow amplifier is configured to entrain ambient air (“entrained air”) in response to compressed gas from the compressed gas source flowing to the airflow amplifier via the conduit, according to various embodiments. The airflow amplifier may be configured to direct the entrained air and the compressed gas to the braking assembly to reduce the temperature of the braking assembly.