Drill string rotation brake
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorsMax A. Metcalf, Philip J. Wosmek, Harry Bendure, Rick E. Barrett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rotation brake for stopping rotation of a spindle assembly on a horizontal directional drill. The rotation brake comprises a brake lock that is actuated by a cylinder and spring to interact with a non-rotating brake cap and a rotating pinion, thereby stopping rotation of the pinion. The brake lock is removed from the pinion by applying pressurized fluid to a cylinder such that a cylinder rod moves the brake lock out of a cavity between the brake cap and the pinion. Upon removing fluid pressure from the cylinder, a compressed spring moves the brake lock back to into the cavity, preventing rotation.
Claims30
An apparatus, comprising:
- a motor;
- a pinion rotationally driven by the motor and having a surface having a plurality of pinion splines formed thereon, the plural pinion splines extending in a parallel relationship;
- a spindle rotationally driven by the pinion, wherein the spindle is connectible to a pipe segment;
- and
- a brake assembly configured to selectively stop rotation of the pinion, comprising:
- a brake lock having a surface having a plurality of lock splines formed thereon, the plural lock splines extending in a parallel relationship and interlockable with the plural pinion splines;
- and
- an actuator to move the brake lock between a first position and a second position;
- wherein the brake lock and pinion are engaged and locked against relative rotation in the first position, and are disengaged and relatively rotatable in the second position, in which the brake lock is a hollow member having an interior surface and an exterior surface and in which the plural lock splines are situated only on the interior surface, and in which the brake lock further comprises a plurality of second lock splines situated only on the exterior surface.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a motor;
- a spindle connectable to a pipe segment;
- a drive train configured to rotationally couple the motor to the spindle, and comprising:
- a rotatable pinion;
- and
- a brake assembly configured to selectively stop rotation of the pinion, comprising:
- a brake lock;
- and
- an actuator configured to move the brake lock between a first position, in which the brake lock surrounds and engages a periphery of the pinion, and a second position, in which the brake lock does not surround and does not engage the same periphery.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a motor;
- a pinion rotationally driven by the motor and having a surface having a plurality of pinion splines formed thereon;
- a spindle rotationally driven by the pinion, wherein the spindle is connectible to a pipe segment;
- and
- a brake assembly comprising:
- a brake lock having a surface having a plurality of lock splines formed thereon, the plural lock splines engageable with the plural pinion splines;
- and
- an actuator comprising a spring and configured to move the brake lock between a first position and a second position, in which the brake lock surrounds the spring;
- wherein the brake lock and pinion are engaged and locked against relative rotation in the first position, and are disengaged and relatively rotatable in the second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.