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Landing gear hubcaps save weight with plastics
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15/09/2008
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Hubcaps for the Boeing 777 with a new tyre pressure monitoring system developed by Crane Aerospace and Electronics are made of Victrex Peek, because of the material’s high temperature resistance, high mechanical strength and chemical resistance to caustic substances found on airport runways.
The hubcaps have to include a conduit that allows a rim mounted pressure sensor to communicate with an onboard system providing real time data to the cockpit. Maintaining proper tyre pressure is crucial to aircraft safety during take off and landing. The hubcaps have to endure temperatures at altitude as low as –54ºC whereas temperatures during braking can reach 200ºC. The landing gear has to be able to withstand repeated hard landings as well as impacts from flying debris. In addition, the gear is exposed both to ozone and chemicals in jet fuel, fluid, and de-icing mixtures.
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Author
Tom Shelley
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