Abstract: An apparatus for causing an aircraft wheel to rotate in an airflow includes wind-catching members disposed around a central axis. The wind-catching members are moved between a non-operative, retracted position and an operative-extended position in which the wind-catching members project outside the outer radial periphery of the aircraft wheel. Alternatively, at least one nozzle or vent is provided, centered on the axle of the wheel and arranged to expel air at least partially circumferentially, along with an air supply for providing air to the at least one nozzle or vent. The air supply includes a compressed air source and an air supply passage connecting the compressed air source to the at least one nozzle or vent. Each nozzle or vent is rotatable with the wheel so that the expulsion of air causes rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: A device for rotating a wheel of an aircraft prior to landing. The inventive device includes an annular plate having a plurality of engaging brackets extending therefrom for coupling to an aircraft wheel. A plurality of air scoops are arranged about the annular plate for capturing oncoming wind to effect rotation of the wheel. A plurality of center vanes extend within the annular plate and react to wind laterally impacting the aircraft wheel to further rotation thereof.

Abstract: An aircraft wheel rotating apparatus comprised of an inner circular portion dimensioned for coupling with a wheel of an aircraft. An outer circular portion is integral with an outer end of the inner circular portion. The outer circular portion is dimensioned to receive a braking system of an aircraft therein and an axle of the aircraft therethrough to extend through the inner circular portion to couple with the aircraft wheel. A plurality of crescent shaped turbine blades are secured to the outer circular portion.

Abstract: A rotator assembly for rotating an aircraft landing wheel by the action of the airstream flowing thereby has a circular plate mounted on the wheel and a plurality of independently movable scoops connected to the outer surface of the plate in circumferentially spaced relation. Each scoop has a leading edge facing generally in the direction in which the wheel is to be rotated, a convex curved trailing edge facing generally opposite the direction in which the wheel is to be rotated, and a central portion extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge. The leading edge is pivotally connected to the plate and the trailing edge is movable a distance outward relative to the plate outer surface.

Abstract: A wheel of a roller skate includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart generally axially extending curvilinear paths. A speed skater, traveling a predominately circular course with such wheels properly aligned on such skates, is able to use air moving past the skater to increase skating speed. As air enters the curvilinear paths of the wheel the direction of air flow changes. In this manner, momentum is transferred from the moving air to the spinning wheels, thus increasing the number of revolutions of the wheel and the speed of the skater.

Abstract: This invention introduces a tire for aircraft. The tire of the invention is provided with drive means to revolve the wheel of the aircraft at landing procedure before the aircraft actually touches the ground. The drive means consist of airflow responsive configurations on the tire. Preferably vanes of a specific configuration are formed on the tire to cause a bigger resistance to airflow along the tire at the bottom-most portion of the tire relative to the uppermost portion of the revolving tire. The bigger resistance of that portion of the tire which is closer to the ground forces the tire to revolve. Thereby it is possible to revolve the wheels of the aircraft automatically by the movement of the aircraft through the air and as a result thereof the wheels of the aircraft revolve at the moment of touching the ground with a speed which is substantially equal at the periphery of the tire relative to the speed of the aircraft to the ground.

Abstract: A space shuttle wheel acceleration system includes a plurality of attachm bands located in the grooves of a tire and extending around the circumference of the tire with collapsible cups attached to the attachment bands located at spaced intervals around the tire that pop open on the downwind portion of a tire revolution to catch the wind and rotate the tire and collapse on the downwind portion of a revolution to reduce drag. The cups include elastic-bands to maintain the cup in a collapsed state when not catching the wind and also include stiffeners to prevent the cups from folding over when catching the wind. A breakaway buckle attaches the ends of each attachment band and automatically fails when the tire touches down to shed the space shuttle wheel acceleration system for smooth runway performance.

Abstract: An aircraft tire and an associated landing gear apparatus which rotate a wheel of a landing aircraft prior to contact between the wheel and a runway. The tire possesses an array of projections which have a forward face for catching air and which are molded into the tire in at least one channel circling the tire tread on at least one sidewall of the tire. The tire preferably possesses one or more belts underneath those projections situated in channels to protect the integrity of the tire's shape. A landing gear apparatus which may be used in conjunction with the aircraft tire comprises a duct mounted adjacent to the tire which receives air, reroutes it, and releases it into at least some of the forward faces of the projections so as to effect a further forward rotational force on the tire and wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus and control system for prerotating the landing gear wheels of an airplane is disclosed. The apparatus includes an impeller disc attached to the rim of the wheel. The disc includes a plurality of blades. A housing covers the upper half of the impeller disc and is attached to the landing gear strut. A vacuum source is linked to one hole in the housing, and a forced air source is linked to a diametrically opposite hole. The vacuum source creates an entering stream of air which impacts on the blades creating a torque which rotates the impeller disc and wheel. Additionally, the forced air stream impacts directly on the blades to provide an additional torque. Finally, since only the lower part of the impeller disc and the associated portion of blades are exposed to the passing air stream, a third torque is created.

Abstract: A device to induce rotation of aircraft landing wheels is disclosed, using only the force of oncoming air to bring them up to synchronous ground (landing) speed during approach to landing. A complete, independently operating system with its own sensors, microcontroller, motors and control linkages, which does not interface with any of the aircraft's instumentation or systems, continually measures the actual ground speed of the aircraft during final approach, transmitting this flow of data to a microcontroller for continuous translation into required RPM for each tire diameter and monitors the precise RPM of each landing wheel through non-contact photo-tachometers whose outputs are multiplexed into the microcontroller. The system provides continuous control over the RPM of each landing wheel through air intake ducts with servo motor driven inlet vanes gating incoming air to the wheel-mounted impellers.

Abstract: An aircraft wheel rotation assembly is mountable on the rim of an aircraft wheel and includes a plurality of vanes which are equally spaced around the rim. Each vane has a generally radially aligned airfoil shaped cross section so that when a passing air current impinges on the vanes, each vane contributes a positive torque to rotate the associated wheel through an angle of more than 180 degress about the wheel axis. The vanes may be deployable and retractable, in which case each vane also has an integral segment gear which meshes with a ring gear carrried by the assembly. Rotation of the ring gear, which may be done hydraulically, moves the vanes in unison from a fully retracted position toward a fully extended position.

Abstract: An aircraft undercarriage assembly (10) has an undercarriage truck (15) where the pair of rear wheels (25) are mounted on a rear support member (20) pivotally movable relative to the front support member (16) when the aircraft is taxiing to provide a steering effect, but lockable in alignment with the front wheel pair (24) during flight. Each pair of wheels (24, 25) has one wheel (37) connected to the respective axle (22, 23) the wheel (37) having turbine-like spokes (39) which receive air directed by a vental airscoop (45) to spin the wheel (37) upto speed. A clutch assembly (55) then operatively connects the second wheel (49) to the respective axle (22, 23) to enable that wheel (49) to spin upto speed. The wheels (37, 49) are independently braked by respective brake disc/friction disc pairs (61, 64, 68, 70) engaged by brake pistons (67, 71) on the respective axle housing (17, 21).

Abstract: A wheel and tire for an aircraft includes a number of wind receiving ledges radially arranged on side surfaces of the tire for causing the tire to rotate by receiving wind pressure before touch-down of the aircraft in a landing position. According to the invention each ledge is formed on its edge with a bead to obtain rotating speed of the wheel and tire proportional to wind velocity, thereby making it possible to design the wheel and tire whose circumferential velocity at the moment of touch-down is as coincident or substantially coincident with the touch-down speed of the aircraft as possible.

Abstract: An aircraft landing wheel rotating means has an airscoop (21) mounted on the undercarriage unit (10) between a pair of landing wheels (16) fitted with tires (14). A wheel outlet (25) in each side of the airscoop (21) directs the airflow over turbine blades (20) formed integrally with the landing wheels (16) as spokes interconnecting the rims to the wheel hubs (15) (which incorporate disc breaking systems). The airscoop (21) has a rearward venting outlet (24) which is selectively closed by hinged doors (29) and/or flaps (34) to direct the airflow to the turbine blades (20) or opened to allow a portion of the airflow to bypass the turbine blades (20) and so reduce the drag produced by the airscoop as the undercarriage unit (10) is lowered prior to landing or on take-off.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system for reducing tire wear of airborne vehicles that require a runway upon which to land, wherein there is provided from an aircraft's engines, or other source, a stream of air such that the stream of air is directed against mechanical housings affixed to the wheels of the airborne vehicle, the housings comprising a number of radially spaced surfaces symmetrically positioned about the housings and thus about the wheels of the airborne vehicles such that the stream of air is directed against the radially spaced surfaces imparting to same energy thereby causing the housings and the wheels upon which the housings are mounted to rotate, resulting in controlled rotations of the wheels of the airborne vehicle at the point of landing so as to commence and continue rotation of the wheels at a regulated rate equivalent to the landing speed of the airborne vehicle prior to its landing thereby eliminating excess wear of the tires on the airborne vehicle as well as achieving an added degree

Abstract: An improved landing wheel for an airplane, which includes a plurality of freely pivoted fins from eccentrically located pivot pins around one side of the wheel, the fins being straight but flexible, so that in one position relative to the wind from a forwardly direction, the fins get caught against the wheel rim and are flexed into a cupped shape for causing the wheel to rotate prior to a landing.

Abstract: An aircraft landing wheel rotating device including a body portion eccentrically secured to the outer face of the landing wheel hub. A series of like air-receiving portions extend outwardly from the body member in spaced relation for catching the wind and effecting rotation of the wheel prior to landing.

Abstract: An aircraft wheel rotator comprising plow like deflectors and fan like spokes on the wheels. The plow like deflectors have a bottom pan which causes air impinging thereon to be funneled downwardly and rearwardly with increased velocity, and thence backward to impinge on fan like spokes which are integral with the aircraft wheels. The result of having this air stream impinge on the fan like spokes of the wheels, the spokes being suitably oriented to provide resistance to the incoming air stream, is that the wheels will begin to spin due to the air flow before the aircraft has landed on the ground. This spin up effect of the wheels prior to landing minimizes flat spots on the tires due to wheels that are encountering the ground while stationary, and therefore provide additional life for the tires, as well as improved safety for the aircraft.

Abstract: A wind-utilization attachment for pneumatic-tired vehicle for automobiles, aircraft wheels, or the like. The attachment consists of an annular disc with spaced cups to catch head winds and convert their forces into rotational torque. The disc is secured to a wheel by opposing arcuate clamping segments having flanges engaged between the tire side wall and the wheel rim, the adjacent ends of the clamping segments being bolted together. A removable cover cap is engaged in the central aperture of the disc, which when removed, provides access to the securing fasteners of the associated wheels.

Abstract: A system for spinning up a nose wheel of an airplane equipped with a Fixed Slip Hydraulic Anti-Lock Braking System, incorporated in the airplane's anti-lock system. The system includes a main wheel pump coupled to a main wheel which is hydraulically coupled to a nose wheel pump-motor.