Abstract: In some examples, an assembly includes a wheel configured to rotate around an axis and a brake system configured to reduce a rotation of the wheel. The brake system includes a disc stack having a rotor disc rotationally coupled to the wheel and a stator disc, wherein the wheel is configured to rotate relative to the stator disc. The brake system includes an actuator configured to compress the disc stack. The brake system is configured to exert a reaction force on the disc stack when the actuator compresses the disc stack. The assembly includes a mechanical stop configured to encounter the brake system, wherein the mechanical stop is configured to limit a linear displacement between the actuator and the disc stack.

Abstract: In some examples, an assembly includes a wheel configured to rotate around an axis and a brake system configured to reduce a rotation of the wheel. The brake system includes a disc stack having a rotor disc rotationally coupled to the wheel and a stator disc, wherein the wheel is configured to rotate relative to the stator disc. The brake system includes an actuator configured to compress the disc stack. The brake system is configured to exert a reaction force on the disc stack when the actuator compresses the disc stack. The assembly includes a mechanical stop configured to encounter the brake system, wherein the mechanical stop is configured to limit a linear displacement between the actuator and the disc stack.

Abstract: In some examples, a drive insert for a drive slot of a brake disc includes a first insert member configured to cover a first surface of the drive slot, a second insert member configured to cover a second surface of the drive slot, and a bridge member configured to extend between the first insert member and the second insert member. The bridge member is configured to limit movement of the first insert member and the second insert member in a tangential direction of the brake disc when the bridge member extends from the first insert member to the second insert member. In some examples, the bridge member is configured to be in compression between the first insert member and the second insert member.

Abstract: In some examples, a drive insert for a drive slot of a brake disc includes a first insert member configured to cover a first surface of the drive slot, a second insert member configured to cover a second surface of the drive slot, and a bridge member configured to extend between the first insert member and the second insert member. The bridge member is configured to limit movement of the first insert member and the second insert member in a tangential direction of the brake disc when the bridge member extends from the first insert member to the second insert member. In some examples, the bridge member is configured to be in compression between the first insert member and the second insert member.

Abstract: Methods and brake disc assemblies are disclosed to increase the use of friction material. A disclosed example carbon composite brake disc includes a generally annular body having an opening, an outer axial surface, an inner axial surface, a disc thickness extending radially between the outer axial surface and the inner axial surface, and at least one ring extending radially from the outer axial surface to define an outer diameter of the carbon composite brake disc.

Abstract: An aircraft wheel assembly includes a wheel (12) and a beam key (40) mounted on the wheel (12). The beam key (40) includes a body (46) having first and second longitudinally spaced ends (42, 44), an upper side (48), and a lower side (52) having a first surface (53), and a bore (60) having a first end opening (66) in the first surface and a second end opening (64). The wheel (12) includes a centerline (20), an opening (18) for receiving the body first end (42), a second surface (26) angled with respect to the centerline (20), and a wheel bore (30) coaxially aligned with the beam key bore (60) when the body first end (42) is received in the opening (18), the wheel bore (30) having a first end opening in the second surface (28). A spacer (70) must be included between the beam key (40) and the wheel (12).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to connect a brake disc to a brake are disclosed. A brake disc torque pad is received in a complementary shaped opening in the brake disc and the torque pad engages a tab of the brake to connect the brake disc to the brake.

Abstract: Methods and brake disc assemblies are disclosed to increase the use of friction material. A disclosed example carbon composite brake disc includes a generally annular body having an opening, an outer axial surface, an inner axial surface, a disc thickness extending radially between the outer axial surface and the inner axial surface, and at least one ring extending radially from the outer axial surface to define an outer diameter of the carbon composite brake disc.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to design a wheel of a multiple-axle vehicle are disclosed. A disclosed method analyzes fatigue damage values of wheels, each to be installed at a number of axle positions on a vehicle, and includes determining for each wheel a fatigue damage value for each of a plurality of critical locations at the wheel during an installation and determining whether at least a subset of total fatigue damage values at critical locations for each wheel installation exceeds a respective threshold total fatigue damage value.

Abstract: An aircraft wheel assembly includes a wheel (12) and a beam key (40) mounted on the wheel (12). The beam key (40) includes a body (46) having first and second longitudinally spaced ends (42, 44), an upper side (48), and a lower side (52) having a first surface (53), and a bore (60) having a first end opening (66) in the first surface and a second end opening (64). The wheel (12) includes a centerline (20), an opening (18) for receiving the body first end (42), a second surface (26) angled with respect to the centerline (20), and a wheel bore (30) coaxially aligned with the beam key bore (60) when the body first end (42) is received in the opening (18), the wheel bore (30) having a first end opening in the second surface (28). A spacer (70) must be included between the beam key (40) and the wheel (12).

Abstract: Brake disc drive inserts for use in carbon-carbon composite brake discs. A rotatable brake disc annular drive insert includes a cylindrical steel body having one side of the body truncated to provide an insert opening which extends axially through the body. The insert opening extends into the body along a diameter of the body and the insert opening terminates at a radially extending surface located between the revolutional center of the body and an outer surface of the body. End flanges extend radially outwardly from the outer surface of the body to provide for axial positioning of the drive insert relative to a brake disc. The insert opening has a lining comprising carbon-carbon composite material. This low friction carbon-carbon composite material bed that is positioned between the steel insert component and the torque tube spline location provides significantly lower friction and enables significantly greater disc clamping and brake torque.

Abstract: A friction disc assembly having an annular structural core (40) and at least one friction lining disc (30). The annular structural core (40) is made from a strength-optimized carbon carbon composite and the friction lining discs (30) from a friction-optimized carbon carbon composite. Each friction lining disc (30) is provided with a mounting surface (31) and a wear surface (32). The structural core (40) includes at least one mounting surface (41). The mounting surfaces (31,41) may include corresponding sinusoidally-shaped wave patterns for increasing the surface area of a contact zone between the friction lining discs (30) and a reusable structural core (40).

Abstract: A friction disc assembly having an annular structural core (40) and at least one friction lining disc (30). The annular structural core (40) is made from a strength-optimized carbon—carbon composite and the friction lining discs (30) from a friction-optimized carbon—carbon composite. Each friction lining disc (30) is provided with a mounting surface (31) and a wear surface (32). The structural core (40) includes at least one mounting surface (41). The mounting surfaces (31,41) may include corresponding sinusoidally-shaped wave patterns for increasing the surface area of a contact zone between the friction lining discs (30) and a reusable structural core (40).

Abstract: The aircraft brake torque transfer assembly of a brake (30) comprises an aircraft axle (10) having at one axial location an axle flange (18) flange which includes about the circumference thereof a plurality of teeth members or splines (19). An aircraft wheel (20) is mounted upon a set of roller bearing assemblies (15, 17) with one roller bearing assembly engaging a nut assembly (14). The other roller bearing assembly (17) maintains in axial position a bushing assembly (21) and a foot (25) of a torque tube (24) which abuts against the axle flange (18). The aircraft brake (30) includes a piston housing (35) attached to the torque tube (24), and the torque tube (24) includes a plurality of openings (27) receiving bolts (60) with nuts (64) to attach a retention ring (50) to the torque tube (24). The retention ring (50) includes a central, generally annular opening (51) with a plurality or teeth or splines (54) disposed thereabout.