Aircraft landing gear wheel with integral gear drive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9499260-B2
Application number	US-201414514261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2014
Priority date	Oct 14, 2014
Publication date	Nov 22, 2016
Grant date	Nov 22, 2016

Abstract

An aircraft landing gear wheel is disclosed. A main body includes a hub portion with a gear end and an attachment end. A driven gear portion includes a first annular rail and a second annular rail, the driven gear portion being integrally and drivingly connected with the hub portion at the gear end. Rollers are rotatingly connected between roller apertures of the first annular rail and the second annular rail. Bearings rotatingly support portions of the rollers within the roller apertures.

First claim

We claim:

1. An aircraft landing gear wheel, comprising:
a main body, comprising;
a hub portion including a gear end and an attachment end;
a driven gear portion comprising a first annular rail and a second annular rail, the driven gear portion being integrally and drivingly connected with the hub portion at the gear end;
one or more rollers rotatingly connected between roller apertures of the first annular rail and the second annular rail, and
bearings rotatingly supporting portions of each of the one or more rollers within the roller apertures.

2. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the main body further comprises an intermediary portion integrally connected to the gear end of the hub portion and the driven gear portion.

3. The wheel of claim 2 , wherein the intermediary portion comprises at least one connecting bar.

4. The wheel of claim 3 , wherein the at least one connecting bar includes a fillet.

5. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the main body further comprises an attachment portion integrally connected to the attachment end of the hub portion, for attaching the wheel to a landing gear assembly of an aircraft.

6. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the main body is formed using a forging process.

7. The wheel of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion the main body is formed with machining.

8. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the main body is formed of an aluminum alloy.

9. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the bearings comprise needle bearings.

10. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein:
the driven gear portion further comprises a driven gear back portion; and
the first annular rail and the second annular rail radially extend from the gear portion back portion.

11. The wheel of claim 1 , wherein the bearings comprise low friction bushings.

12. An aircraft landing gear assembly, comprising:
a wheel, comprising a main body and one or more rollers; the main body comprising a hub portion including a gear end and an attachment end, and a driven gear portion integrally and drivingly connected with the hub portion at the gear end; the driven gear portion comprising a first annular rail and a second annular rail; the one or more rollers rotatingly connected between the first annular rail and the second annular rail;
a tire mounted on the hub portion;
an electric motor assembly including a driving gear, and an electric motor drivingly connected to the driving gear; and
an actuator disposed to move the driving gear into and out of a driving connection with the wheel,
wherein the rollers are supported on needle bearings.

13. The landing gear assembly of claim 12 , wherein the driving gear is formed of a steel alloy.

14. The landing gear assembly of claim 12 , wherein the driving gear comprises driving gear teeth.

15. The landing gear assembly of claim 14 , wherein the driving gear teeth mesh with the one or more rollers when the driving gear is in driving connection with the wheel.

16. The landing gear assembly of claim 15 , wherein the wheel comprises spaces between the rollers; the driving gear drives the wheel when the driving gear and the wheel are in driving connection; and the driving gear teeth protrude into the spaces as the driving gear drives the wheel.

17. An aircraft with an electric taxi drive system, comprising:
a landing gear assembly comprising;
a wheel, comprising a main body and one or more rollers; the main body comprising a hub portion including a gear end and an attachment end, and a driven gear portion integrally and drivingly connected with the hub portion at the gear end; the driven gear portion comprising a first annular rail and a second annular rail; the one or more rollers rotatingly each supported on bearings positioned within apertures of the first annular rail and the second annular rail;
a tire mounted on the hub portion;
an electric motor drivingly connected to a driving gear; and
an actuator disposed to move the driving gear into and out of a driving connection with the wheel; and
an auxiliary power unit electrically connected with the electric motor, to selectively drive the electric motor.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Christensen Donald Jeffrey
• Mitchell Robert

Classifications

• B64C25/405 Primary

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

• Y02T50/80

  Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management · CPC title