WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR FOR AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20170113788A1
• Filed: 06/30/2015
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin
• Original Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: ESSINGER, OLIVIER, MARRO, PATRICK, BLANC, CLAUDE
• Granted Patent: US 10,457,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/34 wheeled type, e.g. multi-wheeled bogies
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/40 the elements being rotated before touch-down
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/405 Powered wheels, e.g. for taxing
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/58 Arrangements or adaptations of shock-absorbers or springs shimmy-dampers B64C25/50
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 25/64 using rubber or like elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/80 Energy efficient operational measures, e.g. ground operations or mission management

Abstract

Wheel drive system, particularly for the ground circulation of an aircraft comprising a motor unit (22) borne by an unsuspended part (14b) of a landing gear strut (14) of the aircraft and comprising an electric motor (26) and reduction means, and a clutch device (24) connecting the output shaft (26a) of the electric motor (26) to the wheel (12) via the reduction means.

The clutch device (24) comprises a dog-clutch mechanism (32, 34) comprising a drive part (32) secured to the motor unit (22) and a receiving part (34) secured to the rim (12b) of the wheel (12), and a system for the translational movement, along the axis of the axle crossbeam (20) of the landing gear strut (14), of the drive part (32) into an engaged position in which the drive part (32) collaborates with the receiving part (34) and a disengaged position in which the drive part (32) is separated from the receiving part (34).

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. :

A wheel drive system for ground movement of an aircraft, the wheel drive system comprising;

a motor system supported by an unsuspended part of a landing gear strut of the aircraft, the motor system including;

an electric motor, and

a reduction gearing system; and

a clutch system, which connects an output shaft of the electric motor to a wheel of the aircraft via the reduction gearing system, the clutch system including;

a dog-clutch including a drive part, which is secured to the motor system, and a receiving part, which secures to a rim of the wheel, and

a translational movement system, which translationally moves the drive part along an axis of an axle crossbeam of the landing gear strut into an engaged position, in which the drive part collaborates with the receiving part, and a disengaged position, in which the drive part is separated from the receiving part,

wherein the receiving part includes an annular corolla, which is fixes to the rim of the wheel on one side, and a plurality of shock absorbers fixed to the annular corolla and spaced apart so as to leave a square-edged slot between each adjacent pair of the shock absorbers, and

wherein each of the shock absorbers fixed to the annular corolla is arranged circumferentially between radial stop portions extending radially towards each other.

17. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 16, wherein each of the shock absorbers includes a main elastic element housed circumferentially between two abutment plates in abutment against the radial stop portions and two outer support plates each of which is fixed to a respective one of the abutment plates, one on each side of the main elastic element.

18. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 17, wherein each of the shock absorbers includes two lateral elastic elements each of which is housed between one of the abutment plates and one of the outer support plates.

19. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 18, wherein the main elastic elements and the lateral elastic elements are made of a synthetic material.

20. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 16, wherein the drive part includes;

an annulus fixed to the motor system, and

a plurality of coupling fingers fixed uniformly around a circumference of the annulus such that, when in the engaged position, the coupling fingers engage respectively with the square-edged slots.

21. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 16, wherein the translational movement system includes a connector secured to the reduction gearing system of the motor system and structured to mount on the axle crossbeam of the landing gear strut.

22. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 21, wherein the connector is structured to mount on guide pins secured to the landing gear strut.

23. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 21, wherein the translational movement system includes;

an electric actuator structured to fix to the landing gear strut, and

an actuator rod slidingly connected to the electric actuator, with one end of the actuator rod being fixed to the connector.

24. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 16, wherein the clutch system includes a blocker, which blocks the translational movement system to cause the drive part to be kept in the disengaged position, and which when actuated unblocks the translational movement system to permit the drive part to move to the engaged position.

25. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 24,

wherein the translational movement system includes a connector secured to the reduction gearing system of the motor system and structured to mount on the axle crossbeam of the landing gear strut via guide pins secured to the landing gear strut, and

wherein the blocker includes an actuating cylinder secured to the connector, the actuating cylinder including an electromagnetically actuatable piston having a first end connected to a body of the actuating cylinder by a compression spring and a second end that engages in a corresponding housing on one of the guide pins when in the disengaged position.

26. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 16, wherein the reduction gearing system includes;

a drive pinion connected to the output shaft of the electric motor, and

a planetary reduction gearset rotationally driven by the drive pinion and arranged to drive a reduction gearset output bevel annulus gear via a reduction gearset output bevel pinion.

27. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 26, wherein the drive part of the dog-clutch is fixed to the reduction gearset output bevel annulus gear.

28. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 26, wherein the planetary reduction gearset includes at least two reduction stages.

29. :

The wheel drive system according to claim 16, wherein the wheel drive system is incorporated in an aircraft.

30. :

An aircraft comprising;

a wheel;

a landing gear strut; and

at least one wheel drive system for ground movement of the aircraft, each of the at least one wheel drive system including;

a motor system supported by an unsuspended part of the landing gear strut, the motor system including;

an electric motor, and

a reduction gearing system, and

a clutch system, which connects an output shaft of the electric motor to the wheel via the reduction gearing system, the clutch system including;

a dog-clutch including a drive part, which is secured to the motor system, and a receiving part, which is secured to a rim of the wheel, and

a translational movement system, which translationally moves the drive part along an axis of an axle crossbeam of the landing gear strut into an engaged position, in which the drive part collaborates with the receiving part, and a disengaged position, in which the drive part is separated from the receiving part,

wherein the receiving part includes an annular corolla, which is fixed on one side of the rim of the wheel, and a plurality of shock absorbers fixed to the annular corolla and spaced apart so as to leave a square-edged slot between each adjacent pair of the shock absorbers, and

wherein each of the shock absorbers fixed to the annular corolla is arranged circumferentially between radial stop portions extending radially towards each other.

31. :

The aircraft according to claim 30, further comprising a landing gear system that includes the landing gear strut and a pair of wheels that includes the wheel and a second wheel, wherein the wheel and the second wheel share the wheel drive system or the second wheel is separately equipped with its own wheel drive system.