Wheel and gear assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10640199-B2
Application number	US-201916241243-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2019
Priority date	Mar 14, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

A wheel assembly is disclosed, in which a ring gear is movably mounted to the rim of the wheel, so that torque can be transmitted between wheel and rim, while the ring gear is isolated from deformations induced in the wheel rim.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wheel assembly, comprising:
a wheel;
a ring gear, mounted to and rotatable with the wheel; and
an interface for connecting the wheel hub to the ring gear to transmit a torque therebetween;
the interface comprising:
an array of substantially radially oriented openings, arranged in a substantially circular array around an axis of rotation of the assembly; and
a plurality of connecting members disposed in the openings, each connector having a substantially radially oriented longitudinal axis, the connecting members being free to move relative to at least one of the wheel hub and the ring gear, to permit relative radial movement between the ring gear and the wheel hub;

such that torque applied to one of the ring gear or the wheel is transmitted to the other via the connecting members, and the ring gear is substantially isolated from radial deformation of the wheel rim.

2. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the ring gear is attached to the wheel by a plurality of discrete couplings.

3. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein each discrete coupling provides either a rigid or a flexible attachment.

4. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 3 , wherein each discrete coupling provides a rigid attachment.

5. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a lateral extension to the wheel rim or ring gear, extending in a direction of the axis of rotation of the wheel or ring gear on which it is provided, the attachment being via a flange forming a continuous extension rim projecting axially from either the wheel or the ring gear.

6. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a flange to the wheel rim or ring gear, and wherein a plurality of openings are provided in the flange, with a plane of the opening being substantially perpendicular to a radius of the wheel and an axis passing through the opening being substantially radial with respect to the wheel.

7. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a flange to the wheel rim or ring gear, and wherein a plurality of openings are provided in the flange, with an axis passing through the opening being substantially radial with respect to the wheel.

8. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connecting members are located in tabs extending laterally from the ring gear or wheel.

9. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the connecting members provides a resilient connection between the wheel and the ring gear and wherein one or more fixed or resilient retaining means may be provided in one or more of the openings, and wherein preferably a substantially fixed connection at at least one point on the circumference of the ring gear and the wheel assembly is provided.

10. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interface comprises a flange to the wheel rim or ring gear, and wherein the connecting members are provided at an internal diameter of the ring gear or an external diameter of the flange.

11. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connecting members have an elongate form and may be substantially cylindrical, having a circular outer profile.

12. A wheel assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connecting members are integrally formed with the ring gear or the wheel.

13. A drive system for an aircraft undercarriage, comprising the wheel assembly of claim 1 .

14. An aircraft, comprising the wheel assembly of claim 1 .

15. An aircraft, comprising the drive system of claim 13 .

Assignees

• Airbus Operations Ltd

Inventors

• Didey Arnaud
• Wilson Fraser

Classifications

• B64C25/34

  wheeled type, e.g. multi-wheeled bogies · CPC title

• B60K7/0007

  the motor being electric · CPC title

• B64C25/405 Primary

  Powered wheels, e.g. for taxing · CPC title

• B60K17/043

  Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel · CPC title

• Y02T50/823

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic