A brake actuator for an aircraft braking system, comprising a housing, a sleeve, an annular member mounted to the housing extending radially inwardly for engagement with the ratchet teeth of the sleeve, a piston slidable along an axis (X), a piston head disposed at a first end of the pin portion, a cap disposed at a second end of the pin portion for operative engagement with a brake element of the housing, and a second position in which the piston head is drivingly disengaged from the sleeve.

A brake actuator for an aircraft braking system, comprising a housing, a sleeve, an annular member mounted to the housing extending radially inwardly for engagement with the ratchet teeth of the sleeve, a piston slidable along an axis (X), a piston head disposed at a first end of the pin portion, a cap disposed at a second end of the pin portion for operative engagement with a brake element of the housing, and a second position in which the piston head is drivingly disengaged from the sleeve.

A method for aircraft brake wear optimization includes processes by which the actual instantaneous temperature of brakes can be determined during taxi braking operations. The invention is particularly applicable to carbon disc brakes in aircraft. In the system, the energy absorbed by the carbon disc brakes during taxiing operation is calculated and a conversion made from energy absorbed to disc temperature is made. The system uses less than a full complement of brakes during taxiing such that the brakes actually employed during taxiing are at elevated temperatures, which are characterized by improved brake wear. The system provides substantially instantaneous thermal information, in contrast to the prior art relying upon thermal measurements rather than energy calculations.

A method for aircraft brake wear optimization includes processes by which the actual instantaneous temperature of brakes can be determined during taxi braking operations. The invention is particularly applicable to carbon disc brakes in aircraft. In the system, the energy absorbed by the carbon disc brakes during taxiing operation is calculated and a conversion made from energy absorbed to disc temperature is made. The system uses less than a full complement of brakes during taxiing such that the brakes actually employed during taxiing are at elevated temperatures, which are characterized by improved brake wear. The system provides substantially instantaneous thermal information, in contrast to the prior art relying upon thermal measurements rather than energy calculations.

Systems and methods for shut off valve failure detection are provided. The system may comprise a housing, a shut off valve disposed within the housing, a first servovalve and a second servovalve coupled to the housing, and a pressure sensor disposed within the housing in fluid communication with the shut off valve. A controller may receive a pressure signal from the pressure sensor in the system, and a brake signal from a brake input device. The controller may determine whether there has been a shut off valve failure in the system in response to the pressure signal being greater than a pressure threshold and the controller failing to receive the brake signal, for a threshold period. The controller may then send a signal to a notification system in response to detection of the shut off valve failure and output a shut off valve failure notification.

A braking system includes a brake stack; a first brake cavity operably coupled to the brake stack, the first brake cavity including a first plurality of brake actuators; a second brake cavity operably coupled to the brake stack, the second brake cavity including a second plurality of brake actuators; and a brake control module, the brake control module being configured to activate either the first plurality of brake actuators or both the first plurality of brake actuators and the second plurality of brake actuators in response to an input brake load.

A brake actuator system may comprise a brake actuator comprising a ball screw, a ball nut coupled to the ball screw, and a ram coupled to a ram end of the ball nut; a position sensor coupled to the brake actuator; a processor in electronic communication with the brake actuator and the position sensor; and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations may comprise commanding the brake actuator to translate the ball nut in a first direction toward a brake stack; detecting the pusher reaching a furthest forward position; and commanding the brake actuator to translate the ball nut in a second direction opposite the first direction for a predetermined retraction distance.

A brake actuator system may comprise a brake actuator comprising a ball screw, a ball nut coupled to the ball screw, and a ram coupled to a ram end of the ball nut; a position sensor coupled to the brake actuator; a processor in electronic communication with the brake actuator and the position sensor; and a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processor, the tangible, non-transitory memory having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations. The operations may comprise commanding the brake actuator to translate the ball nut in a first direction toward a brake stack; detecting the pusher reaching a furthest forward position; and commanding the brake actuator to translate the ball nut in a second direction opposite the first direction for a predetermined retraction distance.

In some examples, a rotor drive key assembly configured to be positioned on a wheel includes an insert and a rotor drive key. The insert is configured to mate with a wheel boss of the wheel and mechanically connect the rotor drive key with the wheel boss. The rotor drive key is configured to mate with the insert such that the insert limits movement of the rotor drive key relative to the wheel boss in at least a radial direction of the wheel. In some examples, the rotor drive key includes a tab having a tab aperture configured to receive a fastener extending in an axial direction of the wheel and engaging the wheel boss.

A system for controlling landing gear subsystems may comprise a controller and a first motor drive unit in operable communication with the controller. A first electric motor and a second electric motor may be in operable communication with the first motor drive unit. A second motor drive unit may be in operable communication with the controller. A third electric motor and a fourth electric motor may be in operable communication with the second motor drive unit. An AC/DC converter may be electrically coupled to the first drive unit and the second motor drive unit.