Aircraft brake temperature monitoring system and method

1. An aircraft brake temperature monitoring system for determining the time interval until a safe take-off can be initiated, said system comprising an aircraft brake and a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of said brake, a timer coupled said sensor and said timer for measuring the temperature of said brake at two selected times, and means for calculating the rate of cooling of said brakes and for determining the time until the brake reaches a preselected safe take-off temperature.

2. An aircraft brake temperature monitoring system for determining the time interval until a safe take-off can be initiated according to claim 1 , which includes means for sensing the ambient temperature and in which said means for calculating the rate of cooling of said brakes includes the effect of ambient temperature thereon.

3. An aircraft brake temperature monitoring system for determining the time interval until a safe take-off can be initiated according to claim 2 , which includes an electronically stored temperature profile and means for comparing the calculated rate of cooling with said electronically stored temperature profile to determine a time until the brake reaches a safe take-off temperature.

4. An aircraft brake temperature monitoring system for determining the time interval until a safe take-off can be initiated according to claim 3 , in which said brake monitoring system is applied to each of the brakes on an aircraft.

5. A system for determining the time interval until an aircraft's brakes have cooled to a safe take-off temperature comprising:

a brake assembly including a frictional brake surface and a brake pad for stopping an aircraft following a landing;

a sensor for sensing the temperature of said brake assembly after the aircraft has come to a stop and the brake has been released;

a timer; means coupled to said sensor and said timer for measuring the temperature of said brake assembly at two times; and

means for calculating the rate of cooling of said brake assembly and for determining the time until the brake assembly reaches a safe take-off temperature.

6. A system for determining the time interval until an aircraft 's brakes have cooled to a safe take-off temperature according to claim 5 , which includes means for sensing the ambient temperature and in which said means for calculating the rate of cooling of said brake assembly includes the effect of ambient temperature.

7. system for determining the time interval until an aircraft's brakes have cooled to a safe take-off temperature according to claim 5 , which includes an electronically stored temperature profile and means for comparing the calculated rate of cooling with said electronically stored temperature profile to determine a time until the brake reaches a safe take-off temperature.

8. A method for determining the time interval until an aircraft's brakes have cooled to a safe take-off temperature comprising the steps of:

providing an aircraft brake, a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the brakes, a timer and a temperature profile indicative of the cooling of the brake;

actuating the brake after landing the aircraft and bringing the aircraft to a stop;

sensing the temperature of the aircraft's brake at two different times;

calculating the rate of cooling; and

determining the time when the aircraft brake will have cooled sufficiently for a safe take-off.

9. A method for determining the time interval until an aircraft's brakes have cooled to a safe take-off temperature according to claim 8 , which includes the step of inputting the ambient temperature and including the ambient temperature and calculating the rate of cooling.