Abstract: In the invention there is provided a disk brake stack having disks with available wear portions of a first thickness, a second thickness and a third thickness. The disk(s) having an initial available wear portion of a first thickness are of a thickness so that at the first overhaul, the available wear portion of such disks are only partly worn away and disks are about equal to disks having an initial available wear portion of a second thickness. The disks having an initial available wear portion of a second thickness at the first overhaul are only partly worn away and such disks are about equal to the disks having an initial available wear portion of a third thickness. The disks initially having an available wear portion of a third thickness at the first overhaul are substantially fully worn and are replaced by new or refurbished disks having an available wear portion of a first, second or third thickness.

Abstract: A CVI furnace is described in which single layer of a porous material or multiple layers of porous materials stacked in a module are loaded into a furnace. The modules are loaded into the furnace singularly or as multiple units stacked vertically or side by side. The modules can be moved through the furnace continuously or step-wise. The furnace comprises a separate CVI chamber. The porous material is heated and subjected to densification, thereby ensuring a dispersion of the reactant gas onto the porous material. A process of densifying a sheet of porous material is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to pressure gradient processes for forcing infiltration of a reactant gas into a porous structure. The process comprises the steps of partially densifying a porous structure with a pressure gradient CVI/CVD process in which a first potion of the porous structure is subjected to greater pressure than a second portion of the porous structure. The process is suited for the simultaneous CVI/CVD processing of large quantities of aircraft brake.

Abstract: In the invention there is provided a disk brake stack having disks with predetermined available wear portions of a first thickness, a second thickness and a third thickness. In the initial configuration a first group of disks is interleaved with a second group of disks. The first group of disks comprises thick disks and the second group of disks comprises thin disks which have an available wear portion approximately one third of the thickness of the thick disks. At the first overhaul, the thin disks are substantially fully worn and are removed. The second group of disks is replaced with mid-thickness disks which have an available wear portion of about two thirds of the initial thickness of the wear portion of thick disks. At the second overhaul, the remaining wear portion of the first group of disks is approximately the thickness of the wear portion of the thin disks. The second group of disks are removed and replaced with thick disks.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of high temperature composites made by the chemical vapor infiltration and deposition of a binding matrix within a porous structure. More particularly, the invention relates to pressure gradient processes for forcing infiltration of a reactant gas into a porous structure, apparatus for carrying out those processes, and the resulting products. The invention is particularly suited for the simultaneous CVI/CVD processing of large quantities (hundreds) of aircraft brake disks.

Abstract: A gas preheater for use in a CVI/CVD furnace that receives a reactant gas from a gas inlet, comprising a sealed baffle structure disposed within the furnace. The sealed baffle structure has a baffle structure inlet and baffle structure outlet. A sealed duct structure is disposed within the furnace, said sealed duct structure being sealed around the gas inlet and said baffle structure such that substantially all of the reaction gas received from the gas inlet is directed to and forced to flow through said sealed baffle structure to said baffle structure outlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for use in chemical vapor infiltration and deposition (CVI/CVD) processes. More specifically, the invention relates to a preheater for heating a reactant gas inside a CVI/CVD furnace, and a fixture for depositing a matrix within a stack of porous structures by a pressure gradient CVI/CVD process. The invention is particularly suited for the simultaneous CVI/CVD processing of large quantities (hundreds) of aircraft brake disks.

Abstract: A heat shield installation for a tire-supporting wheel and brake assembly having a rim member with an inner surface that surrounds a heat sink composed of stator and rotor brake discs which may extend axially beyond the rim member. A plurality of circumferentially spaced torque bars are located between the heat sink and the inner surface of the rim member with such torque bars slidably engaging notches in the outer periphery of the rotor discs. An interior heat shield is located between the inner surface and the torque bars with fasteners interconnecting such heat shield and torque bars to the rim member. An exterior heat shield of cylindrical configuration having a plurality of circumferentially spaced series of louvers is secured to the rim member to protect the interior heat shield and brake discs.

Abstract: A brake or clutch mechanism that has one of its stators or rotors composed of a plurality of circumferential spaced arcuate segments wherein each side portion of a segment has an off-set portion abuttingly engaging an adjacent off-set side portion such as to reinforce the off-set torque lugs which interconnect adjacent peripheral off-set lugs of the brake segments to provide axial reinforcement of the individual annular brake discs.

Abstract: A disk brake in which the brake is assembled with the thickness of the available wear portions of a first group of disks being different from the thickness of the available wear portions of a second group of disks. After a predetermined number of brake applications, the first group of disks is replaced by a third group of disks. At the time of replacement, the thickness of the available wear portions of the third group of disks is greater than the thickness of the available wear portions of the second group of disks so that after another predetermined number of brake applications the second group of disks may be replaced by another group of disks. By maintaining disks of different thicknesses of the available wear portions, the piston travel is reduced and the size and weight of the brake may be reduced while at the same time the heat sink mass of the worn disks is not reduced excessively and worn brake operating temperatures are lowered.

Abstract: A disk brake in which the brake is assembled with the thickness of the available wear portions of a first group of disks being different from the thickness of the available wear portions of a second group of disks. After a predetermined number of brake applications, the first group of disks is replaced by a third group of disks. At the time of replacement, the thickness of the available wear portions of the third group of disks is greater than the thickness of the available wear portions of the second group of disks so that after another predetermined number of brake applications the second group of disks may be replaced by another group of disks. By maintaining disks of different thicknesses of the available wear portions, the piston travel is reduced and the size and weight of the brake may be reduced while at the same time the heat sink mass of the worn disks is not reduced excessively and worn brake operating temperatures are lowered.

Abstract: A split disc for a brake or clutch in which a separator disc member is positioned for frictional engagement with adjacent disc members that form an integral disc. The separator disc member is thin relative to adjacent spaced disc members suppressing noise and vibration to enhance dissipation of heat.

Abstract: A friction brake disc assembly having a plurality of axially aligned annular shaped rotor discs splined for axial movement interleaved with annular stator discs which are splined for axial movement along a mating key member or members that are fixedly secured to a torque tube. The discs have a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots along the periphery, with inserts therein to transfer the load to the discs. The inserts have structural portions thereof extending along the outer annular surface of the discs for engagement by clips to retain the inserts within the slots. The clips are secured to spaced locations along the periphery of the discs to minimize the concentrations of any load transferred from the inserts to the discs.

Abstract: A friction brake assembly for use with axially aligned rotor brake discs that are interleaved with stator brake discs. The rotor discs have a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots along their inner periphery. The slots opposite side walls are beveled and are complimentarily engaged by the beveled legs of a U-shaped insert. The inserts transfer the load and stresses to the full beveled faces of the slots while held in place by overlying clips which are fastened to the discs.