Systems and methods for aircraft emergency and park brakes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10272888-B2
Application number	US-201615373593-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 9, 2016
Priority date	Dec 9, 2016
Publication date	Apr 30, 2019
Grant date	Apr 30, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods for an aircraft emergency and park brake system are disclosed. The emergency and park brake system may comprise an emergency and park brake controller. The emergency and park brake controller may be configured to receive brake signals from mechanical and electrical inputs, generate a braking command comprising data from the brake signal, and transmit the braking command to control braking force. The emergency and park brake controller may receive brake signals from multiple locations including from the aircraft and from a remote location.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An emergency and park brake system for an aircraft, comprising:
an emergency and park controller having a processor configured to perform operations;
a position encoder in electronic communication with the emergency and park controller and comprising a sensor configured to detect a brake signal, wherein in response to detecting the brake signal the position encoder is configured to transmit at least one of a first emergency brake signal or a first park brake signal to the emergency and park controller; and
a remote emergency and park interface integrated into a computer-based system in electronic communication with the emergency and park controller, wherein the remote emergency and park interface is configured to transmit at least one of a second emergency brake signal or a second park brake signal to the emergency and park controller, wherein the remote emergency and park interface is located in a first location external the cockpit of the aircraft, wherein the first location comprises at least one of a nose wheel well, a main wheel well, or a nose landing gear of the aircraft, or a remote console external from the aircraft, wherein the remote emergency and park interface comprises an emergency switch configured to receive input related to the second emergency brake signal and a park switch configured to receive input related to the second park brake signal, and
wherein the emergency and park controller is configured to generate a braking command in response to receiving at least one of the first emergency brake signal, the second emergency brake signal, the first park brake signal, or the second park brake signal, and wherein the emergency and park controller transmits the braking command to an aircraft brake of the aircraft, wherein in response to receiving the braking command the aircraft brake is configured to control a braking force in the aircraft brake.

2. The emergency and park brake system of claim 1 , further comprising a brake pressure modulating valve in electronic communication with the emergency and park controller, wherein the brake pressure modulating valve is configured to control a fluid pressure to the aircraft brake in response to the aircraft brake receiving the braking command from the emergency and park controller.

3. The emergency and park brake system of claim 1 , further comprising an electromechanical actuator controller (EMAC) in electronic communication with the emergency and park controller, wherein the EMAC is configured to control a braking force in the aircraft brake in response to the aircraft brake receiving the braking command from the emergency and park controller.

4. The emergency and park brake system of claim 1 , further comprising an emergency brake handle in operable communication with the position encoder, wherein the position encoder is configured to measure a displacement of the emergency brake handle.

5. The emergency and park brake system of claim 4 , wherein in response to measuring the displacement the position encoder is configured to transmit the first emergency brake signal related to the displacement of the emergency brake handle to the emergency and park controller.

6. The emergency and park brake system of claim 4 , wherein the emergency brake handle is located in the cockpit of the aircraft.

7. The emergency and park brake system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first emergency brake signal or the second emergency brake signal comprises at least one of a variable emergency brake signal or a single emergency brake signal.

8. The emergency and park brake system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first park brake signal or the second park brake signal comprises at least one of a variable park brake signal or a single park brake signal.

9. The emergency and park brake system of claim 1 , wherein the emergency and park controller is configured to generate a brake status signal representative of a current state of the aircraft brake.

10. The emergency and park brake system of claim 1 , wherein the remote emergency and park interface is in wireless communication with the emergency and park controller.

11. A method of controlling an emergency and park brake system, comprising:
receiving, by an emergency and park controller, a brake signal from a position encoder having a sensor configured to detect the brake signal, and a remote emergency and park interface integrated into a computer-based system located in a first location external the cockpit of an aircraft, wherein the first location comprises at least one of a nose wheel well, a main wheel well, or a nose landing gear of the aircraft, or a remote console external from the aircraft, and wherein the remote emergency and park interface comprises at least one of an emergency switch or a park switch that receives input related to the brake signal;
generating, by the emergency and park controller, a braking command comprising data from the brake signal; and
transmitting, by the emergency and park controller, the braking command to an aircraft brake, wherein in response to receiving the braking command the aircraft brake is configured to control a braking force in the aircraft brake.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the brake signal comprises an emergency brake signal having at least one of a variable emergency brake signal or a single emergency brake signal.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the brake signal comprises a park brake signal having at least one of a variable park brake signal or a single park brake signal.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the position encoder is configured to measure a displacement of an emergency brake handle, and transmit the brake signal related to the displacement of the emergency brake handle.

15. An emergency and park brake system, comprising:
an emergency and park controller having a processor;
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 emergency and park brake system to perform operations comprising:
receiving, by the processor, a brake signal from at least one of a position encoder having a sensor configured to detect the brake signal, or a remote emergency and park interface integrated into a computer-based system located in a first location external the cockpit of an aircraft, wherein the first location comprises at least one of a nose wheel well, a main wheel well, or a nose landing gear of the aircraft, or a remote console external from the aircraft, and wherein the remote emergency and park interface comprises at least one of an emergency switch or a park switch configured to receive input related to the brake signal;
generating, by the processor, a braking command comprising data from the brake signal; and
transmitting, by the processor, the braking command to an aircraft brake, wherein in response to receiving the braking command the aircraft brake is configured to control a braking force in the aircraft brake.

16. The emergency and park brake system of claim 15 , wherein the brake signal comprises an emergency brake signal having at least one of a variable emergency brake signal or a single emergency brake signal.

17. The emergency and park brake system of claim 15 , wherein the brake signal comprises a park brake signal having at least one of a variable park brake signal or a single park brake signal.

18. The emergency and park brake system of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise generating,

Assignees

• Goodrich Corp

Inventors

• Ayichew Efrem E
• Cahill Eric Daniel

Classifications

• B60T8/1703

  for aircrafts · CPC title

• B64C25/44 Primary

  Actuating mechanisms · CPC title

• B60T7/16 Primary

  operated by remote control, i.e. initiating means not mounted on vehicle · CPC title