Independent brake control of a common aircraft gear

Abstract

A brake control system for a landing gear of an aircraft is provided. The system includes a first control channel for providing brake control signals to one or more brakes on the landing gear, and a second control channel for providing brake control signals to another one or more brakes on the landing gear. At least one of the first control channel and the second control channel is configured to act as an executive in monitoring braking efforts applied by the one or more brakes as compared to braking efforts applied by the another one or more brake, and to cause the braking efforts of at least one of the one or more brakes or the another one or more brakes to be modified in an effort to equalize the braking efforts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brake controller for controlling one or more brakes and another one or more brakes of a vehicle, comprising:
 a first control channel for providing brake control signals to the one or more brakes;   a second control channel for providing brake control signals to the another one or more brakes, wherein at least one of the first control channel and the second control channel is configured to act as an executive in monitoring braking efforts applied by the one or more brakes as compared to braking efforts applied by the another one or more brakes, and to modify the first and/or second brake control signals so as to cause the braking efforts of the one or more brakes and the another one or more brakes to equalize.   
     
     
         2 . A method for controlling one or more brakes and another one or more brakes of a vehicle, comprising:
 providing brake control signals for the one or more brakes;   providing brake control signals for the another one or more brakes;   comparing braking efforts applied by the one or more brakes and the another one or more brakes;   and modifying the respective brake control signals so as to cause the braking efforts of the one or more brakes and the another one or more brakes to equalize.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the brake control signals are modified so as to equalize an applied braking force between the one or more brakes and the another one or more brakes. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the control channel configured to act as the executive is operative to increase the brake control signal provided to one of the one or more brakes and the another one or more brakes, and to decrease the brake control signal provided to the other of the one or more brakes and the another one or more brakes. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the brake control signals are modified so as to equalize a braking phase between the one or more brakes and the another one or more brakes. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the control channel configured to act as the executive is operative to increase or decrease a brake timing signal provided to one of the one or more brakes and the another one or more brakes relative to a brake timing signal provided to the other of the one or more brakes and the another one or more brakes. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising a first communication interface configured to exchange information between the first control channel and the second control channel. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising a second communication interface configured to exchange information between devices external to the controller and at least one of the first or second control channel.