A wheel assembly includes an inboard wheel portion having a rim and a disk. A radially inward surface of the rim and an inboard surface of the disk define a wheel well cavity configured to house a brake assembly. The wheel assembly also includes a torque bar (e.g., a torque bar of the brake assembly) mounted to the inboard wheel portion. Further, the wheel assembly includes a retainer coupled to the torque bar and disposed radially between the torque bar and the radially inward surface of the rim of the inboard wheel portion. The retainer includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a body extending between the first end and the second end. The body includes opposing longitudinal sides configured to respectively engage and retain a respective heat shield segment of a segmented annular heat shield.

A method is provided to check for presence of gas bubbles in an electronically slip-controllable motor vehicle brake system that includes brake circuits to which wheel brakes are connected, a pressure generator to charge the brake circuits with a brake pressure, and sensors to detect an actuating signal of the pressure generator and measure the brake pressures in the brake circuits. Disturbances are recognized by ascertaining from the signal a setpoint value for a brake pressure to be obtained and comparing it to an actual value of the brake pressure or by determining that an actual volume of the pressurizing medium displaced into the brake circuits, ascertainable from the signal, is greater than a limiting value that is determined for a setpoint value for the pressurizing-medium volume to be displaced into the brake circuits in order to generate the actual value of the brake pressure.

A passive airflow regulation system for controlling temperature of a heat-absorbing subassembly is disclosed. The passive airflow regulation system includes a duct configured to provide a conduit for an incident ambient airflow to the heat-absorbing subassembly. The duct is arranged proximate to the heat-absorbing subassembly. The airflow regulation system includes a valve configured to control passage of the incident ambient airflow through the duct. The airflow regulation system also includes an actuator employing a phase-change element configured to selectively store and release energy in response to changes in temperature and stress. The actuator is arranged at the heat-absorbing subassembly and configured to select a position for the valve between and inclusive of fully-opened and fully-closed in response to a temperature of the heat-absorbing subassembly. The airflow regulation system can be arranged on a vehicle having a vehicle body including a first body end configured to face the incident ambient airflow.

A pressure plate for a friction coupling such as a clutch or brake system is disclosed in the present application. The pressure plate includes one or more pockets with a phase change material disposed therein. The phase change material operates to absorb and release heat when the friction coupling cycles between activation and deactivation so as to minimize a maximum temperature of the pressure plate.

A method of cooling an aircraft brake including a brake pack and a reservoir in the form of a removable cartridge containing a coolant. The method includes vaporizing the coolant using heat energy from the brake pack.

A wheel and brake assembly comprising: a stator; a rotating assembly mounted around and rotatable relative to the stator about an axis A; a torque tube in fixed engagement with the stator; a stack of brake disks mounted about the torque tube, the stack of brake disks comprising alternate rotor disks and stator disks, the stator disks attached to the torque tube and the rotor disks attached to the rotating assembly; a brake actuator configured to, in response to a brake command, apply a pressing force on the stack of brake disks to cause frictional engagement between the rotor disks and the stator disks such that the stator disks prevent the rotor disks and, hence the rotating assembly, from rotating relative to the torque tube.

The flywheel device includes a sealed housing section; a rotor located in the sealed housing section where the rotor is held in a vertical position by a magnetic system; a controller coupled to the magnetic system; and a braking annular ring mounted to the sealed housing section below the rotor, where the rotor contacts the braking annular ring when the rotor is lowered or otherwise dropped from the vertical position. The controller perform operations to provide control signals to provide first power to the magnetic system to hold the rotor in the vertical position and provide second control signals to provide second power to the magnetic system to lower the rotor.

A brake disc, in particular for a motor vehicle, includes a base disc of a first material and a wear-reducing coating of a second material. The first material is a lightweight metal and the second material is an oxide layer.

A wheel assembly includes an inboard wheel portion having a rim and a disk. A radially inward surface of the rim and an inboard surface of the disk define a wheel well cavity configured to house a brake assembly. The wheel assembly also includes a torque bar (e.g., a torque bar of the brake assembly) mounted to the inboard wheel portion. Further, the wheel assembly includes a retainer coupled to the torque bar and disposed radially between the torque bar and the radially inward surface of the rim of the inboard wheel portion. The retainer includes a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a body extending between the first end and the second end. The body includes opposing longitudinal sides configured to respectively engage and retain a respective heat shield segment of a segmented annular heat shield.

A method is provided to check for presence of gas bubbles in an electronically slip-controllable motor vehicle brake system that includes brake circuits to which wheel brakes are connected, a pressure generator to charge the brake circuits with a brake pressure, and sensors to detect an actuating signal of the pressure generator and measure the brake pressures in the brake circuits. Disturbances are recognized by ascertaining from the signal a setpoint value for a brake pressure to be obtained and comparing it to an actual value of the brake pressure or by determining that an actual volume of the pressurizing medium displaced into the brake circuits, ascertainable from the signal, is greater than a limiting value that is determined for a setpoint value for the pressurizing-medium volume to be displaced into the brake circuits in order to generate the actual value of the brake pressure.