Electric brake for an aircraft wheel, the brake including an electromechanical actuator fitted with a temperature sensor

1. An electric brake for an aircraft wheel, the brake comprising:

a support ( 4 ) that may be formed by a torsion tube ( 5 ) and by an actuator-carrier ( 6 );

a stack ( 7 ) of disks mounted around the torsion tube ( 5 );

at least one electromechanical actuator ( 8 ) carried by the actuator-carrier ( 6 ), each actuator comprising an electric motor ( 12 ) and a pusher ( 14 ), the electric motor ( 12 ) being adapted to move the pusher ( 14 ) facing the stack ( 7 ) of disks in order to apply a braking force selectively to the stack ( 7 ) of disks; and

temperature measurement means for measuring a temperature representative of a temperature that exists in the stack ( 7 ) of disks;

the electric brake being characterized in that the temperature measurement means comprise at least one temperature sensor ( 18 ) arranged in the pusher ( 14 ) of one of the electromechanical actuators ( 8 ) so as to be located in the immediate proximity of the stack ( 7 ) of disks when the pusher ( 14 ) is brought into contact therewith.

2. An electric brake according to claim 1 , wherein each actuator ( 8 ) is fitted with a temperature sensor ( 18 ) arranged in the pusher ( 14 ).

3. An electromechanical actuator specially adapted to be mounted in an electric brake including a stack of disks and in accordance with claim 2 , the actuator comprising:

a pusher ( 14 ); and

an electric motor ( 12 ) adapted to move the pusher facing the stack ( 7 ) of brake disks in order to apply a braking force selectively on the stack ( 7 ) of disks;

the actuator being characterized in that the pusher ( 14 ) includes at least one temperature sensor ( 18 ) arranged so as to be located in the immediate proximity of the stack ( 7 ) of disks when the pusher ( 14 ) is brought into contact therewith.

4. An electromechanical actuator according to claim 3 , wherein at least one temperature sensor ( 18 ) is a thermocouple probe.

5. An electromechanical actuator specially adapted to be mounted in an electric brake including a stack of disks and in accordance with claim 1 , the actuator comprising:

a pusher ( 14 ); and

an electric motor ( 12 ) adapted to move the pusher facing the stack ( 7 ) of brake disks in order to apply a braking force selectively on the stack ( 7 ) of disks;

the actuator being characterized in that the pusher ( 14 ) includes at least one temperature sensor ( 18 ) arranged so as to be located in the immediate proximity of the stack ( 7 ) of disks when the pusher ( 14 ) is brought into contact therewith.

6. An electromechanical actuator according to claim 5 , wherein at least one temperature sensor ( 18 ) is a thermocouple probe.

7. A method of using an electric brake comprising:

a support ( 4 ) that may be formed by a torsion tube ( 5 ) and by an actuator-carrier ( 6 );

a stack ( 7 ) of disks mounted around the torsion tube ( 5 );

at least one electromechanical actuator ( 8 ) carried by the actuator-carrier ( 6 ), each actuator comprising an electric motor ( 12 ) and a pusher ( 14 ), the electric motor ( 12 ) being adapted to move the pusher ( 14 ) facing the stack ( 7 ) of disks in order to apply a braking force selectively to the stack ( 7 ) of disks; and

temperature measurement means for measuring a temperature representative of a temperature that exists in the stack ( 7 ) of disks;

the electric brake being characterized in that the temperature measurement means comprise at least one temperature sensor ( 18 ) arranged in the pusher ( 14 ) of one of the electromechanical actuators ( 8 ) so as to be located in the immediate proximity of the stack ( 7 ) of disks when the pusher ( 14 ) is brought into contact therewith, the method comprising the following steps:

moving the pusher ( 14 ) until it is in contact with a disk of the stack ( 7 ) of disks; and

acquiring a temperature measurement by means of the temperature sensor ( 18 ) housed in the pusher ( 14 ).

8. A method of using an electric brake according to claim 7 , wherein each actuator ( 8 ) is fitted with a temperature sensor ( 18 ) arranged in the pusher ( 14 ).

9. A method of measuring the temperature of the stack ( 7 ) of disks in an electric brake comprising:

a support ( 4 ) that may be formed by a torsion tube ( 5 ) and by an actuator-carrier ( 6 );

a stack ( 7 ) of disks mounted around the torsion tube ( 5 );

at least one electromechanical actuator ( 8 ) carried by the actuator-carrier ( 6 ), each actuator comprising an electric motor ( 12 ) and a pusher ( 14 ), the electric motor ( 12 ) being adapted to move the pusher ( 14 ) facing the stack ( 7 ) of disks in order to apply a braking force selectively to the stack ( 7 ) of disks; and

temperature measurement means for measuring a temperature representative of a temperature that exists in the stack ( 7 ) of disks;

the electric brake being characterized in that the temperature measurement means comprises at least one temperature sensor ( 18 ) arranged in the pusher ( 14 ) of one of the electromechanical actuators ( 8 ) so as to be located in the immediate proximity of the stack ( 7 ) of disks when the pusher ( 14 ) is brought into contact therewith,

wherein the brake being provided with a plurality of temperature sensors ( 18 ) housed in one or more pushers ( 14 ), the method comprising the following steps:

acquiring measurements delivered by the temperature sensors ( 18 ) by causing the pushers ( 14 ) carrying said temperature sensors ( 18 ) to come into contact with the disks;

for each temperature sensor ( 18 ), comparing the measurement delivered by that temperature sensor ( 18 ) with the measurements delivered by the other temperature sensors ( 18 );

determining whether each of the measurements is or is not consistent with the other measurements; and

rejecting inconsistent measurements.