Brake condition monitoring

• US 8,152,246 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2011
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meggitt Aerospace Ltd. (Meggitt PLC)
• Original Assignee: Meggitt Aerospace Ltd. (Meggitt PLC)
• Inventors: Miller, Richard John, Marshall, Ross John, Bailey, David Alexander, Griffin, Nicholas Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Pamela
• Application Number:
  US13/021,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20110144879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 303/122, 303/122.03, 303/122.02, 303/122.08, 303/DIG.3, 188/1.11 W, 188/1.11 L, 188/1.11 E, 188/1.11 R, 188/79.51, 188/79.52, 340/163, 340/179, 377/15, 377/25, 701/29, 701/30, 701/70, 244/110.A, 244/111
• US Class Current: 303/191
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• 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: B64C 25/42 Arrangement or adaptation of brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/001 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/003 Position, angle or speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/005 Force, torque, stress or strain
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/006 without direct measurement of the quantity monitored, e.g. wear or temperature calculated form force and duration of braking
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/02 Apparatus for indicating wear
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A method for charging an aircraft braking system for use includes monitoring actuations of an aircraft braking system to identify where generating usage and non-wear generating usage of the aircraft braking system, and charging the aircraft braking system for use based on the identified usage of the aircraft braking system. An apparatus for monitoring usage of aircraft brakes and charging the aircraft brakes for usage includes at least one sensor for sensing a brake output parameter when the aircraft brakes are actuated and providing signals indicative of values of the sensed brake output parameter. The apparatus further includes a processing system for processing the signals and determining whether an actuation of the aircraft brakes is a wear generating usage or a non-wear generating usage and operating a pricing scheme based on actuation of the aircraft brakes and the associated usage.

Claims

1. A method of charging for use of an aircraft braking system, the method comprising:

monitoring actuations of an aircraft braking system to identify wear generating usage and non-wear generating usage of the aircraft braking system; and

charging for use of the aircraft braking system based on the identified usage of the aircraft braking system.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said usage is identified onboard an aircraft fitted with the braking system and a record of said usage is transmitted to a ground facility.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a charge is made for each actuation of the aircraft braking system.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a charge is made for each wear generating usage.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising recording only said wear generating usage and charging for each recorded usage.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising charging for each actuation according to the identified usage and associated wear.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising identifying taxi snubs as wear generating usage.

8. Aircraft brake monitoring and charging apparatus for monitoring usage of aircraft brakes comprising carbon-carbon multi-discs and charging for usage of the aircraft brakes, the apparatus comprising at least one sensor for sensing a brake output parameter when the aircraft brakes are actuated and providing signals indicative of values of the sensed brake output parameter;

and a processing system for processing said signals and determining whether an actuation of the aircraft brakes is a wear generating usage or a non-wear generating usage and operating a pricing scheme based on actuation of the aircraft brakes and the associated usage.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said pricing scheme comprises charging for each actuation of the aircraft brakes that is a wear-generating usage.

10. Apparatus is claimed in claim 8, wherein said processing system comprises an onboard computing unit.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said processing system comprises a ground based computing unit.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein processing said signals and determining whether an actuation of the brakes is a wear generating usage or a non-wear generating usage includes identifying actuations that are taxi snubs as wear generating usage and operating a pricing scheme based on actuation of the aircraft brakes and the associated usage includes charging for each actuation of the aircraft brakes that is identified as a taxi snub.

13. A method of charging for use of an aircraft braking system, the method comprising:

sensing a brake output parameter when the aircraft brakes are actuated;

providing signals indicative of values of the sensed brake output parameter;

processing said signals to identify wear generating usage and non-wear generating usage of the aircraft braking system; and

charging for use of the aircraft braking system based on the identified usage of the aircraft braking system.