CONTROLLER FOR ELECTROMECHANICAL BRAKING SYSTEM WITH RUNNING CLEARANCE ADJUSTMENT AND METHOD

• US 20070235267A1
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Goodrich Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Liebert, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/733,790
• Publication Number:
  US 20070235267A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 188/1.11L
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/02 with mechanical assistance or drive combined with fluid pressure B60T13/588
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/746 and mechanical transmission of the braking action
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/108 with mechanisms to take up slack in the linkage to the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1703 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/005 Force, torque, stress or strain
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/24 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/38 Slack adjusters

Abstract

A system and method for establishing a running clearance position for an electromechanical actuator, wherein the running clearance is based on an actuator ram position attained during an advancement of the actuator ram using a current limit that is less than a current limit used for the application of braking force to a brake stack. Generated is a commandable running clearance position as a function of the position value.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting a running clearance of an electromechanical actuator that is operative to apply a braking force to brake of a wheel of a vehicle, the electromechanical brake actuator having a motor driven to control the displacement of a force applicator relative to a brake stack, comprising:

commanding an advancement of the force applicator toward the brake stack using a current limit that is less than a current limit used for application of the braking force;

determining a position attained by the force applicator when advancement of the force applicator stops; and

generating a commandable running clearance position as a function of the attained position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the running clearance position is generated by combining the attained position, a reference running clearance gap and a brake deflection value.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the combining subtracts the brake deflection value and the reference running clearance gap from the attained position.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting a commanded position value for the force applicator to the attained position.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the commanded advancement is made using a motor velocity limit that is less than a motor velocity limit used for application of the braking force.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising commanding an initial advancement of the force applicator using the braking force current limit prior to commanding the advancement of the force applicator toward the brake stack using the current limit that is less than the braking force current limit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the method includes generating a cold temperature running clearance position prior to take-off of the aircraft for use during landing of the aircraft.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the method includes generating a cold temperature running clearance position during flight for use during landing of the aircraft.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the method includes generating the running clearance position after aircraft landing and at the beginning of an application of braking force, the running clearance position for use between the application of braking force and a subsequent application of braking force.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein commanding advancement of the force applicator using the current limit that is less than the braking force current limit includes incrementally increasing the current limit and commanding advancement of the force applicator under each incremental current limit.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the current limit is incrementally increased to not more than a predetermined value.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising commanding the electromechanical actuator to position the force applicator at a location corresponding to the commandable running clearance position when braking is not commanded.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

14. A controller for an electromechanical brake actuator operative to apply a braking force to brake a wheel of a vehicle, the electromechanical brake actuator having a motor driven to control the displacement of a force applicator relative to a brake stack, the controller comprising circuitry to adjust a running clearance of the force applicator with respect to the brake stack by commanding an advancement of the force applicator toward the brake stack using a current limit that is less than a current limit used for application of the braking force, determining a position attained by the force applicator when advancement of the force applicator stops and generating a commandable running clearance position as a function of the attained position.

15. The controller of claim 14, wherein the running clearance position is generated by combining the attained position, a reference running clearance gap and a brake deflection value.

16. The controller of claim 15, wherein the combining subtracts the brake deflection value and the reference running clearance gap from the attained position.

17. The controller of claim 14, wherein the controller sets a commanded position value for the force actuator to the attained position.

18. The controller of claim 14, wherein the circuitry to adjust a running clearance of the force applicator commands advancement of the force applicator using a motor velocity limit that is less than a motor velocity limit used for application of the braking force.

19. The controller of claim 14, wherein the circuitry to adjust a running clearance of the force applicator commands an advancement of the force applicator using the braking force current limit prior to commanding an advancement of the force applicator toward the brake stack using the current limit that is less than the braking force current limit.

20. The controller of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the circuitry to adjust the running clearance of the force applicator generates a cold temperature running clearance position prior to take-off of the aircraft for use during landing of the aircraft.

21. The controller of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the circuitry to adjust the running clearance of the force applicator generates a cold temperature running clearance position during flight for use during landing of the aircraft.

22. The controller of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft and the circuitry to adjust the running clearance of the force applicator generates the running clearance position after aircraft landing and at the beginning of an application of braking force, the running clearance position for use between the application of braking force and a subsequent application of braking force.

23. The controller of claim 14, wherein advancing of the force applicator using the current limit that is less than the braking force current limit includes incrementally increasing the current limit and commanding advancement of the force applicator under each incremental current limit.

24. The controller of claim 23, wherein the current limit is incrementally increased to not more than a predetermined value.

25. The controller of claim 14, wherein the circuitry includes a processor that executes logical instructions.

26. The controller of claim 14, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.