AIRCRAFT WHEELS

Aircraft Wheels
◈ The typical aircraft wheel is lightweight, strong, and made
from aluminum alloy.
◈  The wheels used on many early aircraft were designed as
one-piece units. The tires were flexible enough that they
could be forced over the wheel rim with tire tools in much
the same way we force tires on automobile wheels today.
◈ As aircraft tires were improved for the purpose they serve,
they were made stiffer to better absorb the forces of
landing without blowing out or separating from the rim. 
 Aircraft Wheels
◈ Early two-piece aircraft wheels were essentially one-piece
wheels with a removable rim to allow mounting access for
the tire.
 Aircraft Wheels
◈ The development of tubeless tires promoted the development of
two-piece wheels that are split in the center and made airtight with
an O-ring seal placed between the two halves. Today, this form of
wheel is the most popular for all sizes of aircraft, from small trainers
up to large jet transports.
 Wheel Construction
◈ Inboard Wheel Half
▪ Wheel halves are not identical. The primary reason for this is that the inboard
wheel half must have a means for accepting and driving the rotor(s) of the
aircraft brakes that are mounted on both main wheels. 
▪ Tangs on the rotor are fitted into steel reinforced keyways on many wheels.
Other wheels have steel keys bolted to the inner wheel halves.
Inboard Wheel Half

◈ Some small aircraft wheels have provisions for bolting the

brake rotor to the inner wheel half. Regardless, the inner
wheel half is distinguishable from the outer wheel half by
its brake mounting feature.
◈ One or more fusible plugs are
installed in the inboard half of the
main wheels of jet aircraft to
release the air from the tire in the
event of an extreme overheat
condition.

◈ Rather than allowing the heat to

increase the tire pressure so high
that the tire blows out, the
low-melting-point alloy in the
center of the plug will melt and
deflate the tire without further
damage.
Outboard Wheel Half
◈ The outboard wheel half bolts to the inboard wheel half to make up
the wheel assembly upon which the tire is mounted.
◈ The center boss is constructed to receive a bearing cup and bearing
assembly as it does on the inboard wheel half.
◈ The outer bearing and end of the axle is capped to prevent
contaminants from entering this area.
◈ The outboard wheel half provides a convenient location of the valve
stem used to inflate and deflate tubeless tires.
◈ Alternately, it may contain a hole through which a valve stem
extension may pass from the inner wheel half or the valve stem itself
may fit through such a hole if a tube-type tire is used.