Brake system for mine trucks

A piece of equipment comprising:

• a frame;
• a shaft rotatable relative to the frame;
• and
• a brake system comprising:
• a cage portion surrounding the shaft and defining a plurality of first chambers and second chambers arranged with each other around the cage portion;
• a series of rotors and stators arranged in an alternating sequence in the cage portion, the plurality of rotors operatively coupled to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft relative to the frame, the plurality of stators operatively coupled to the frame and fixed against rotation relative to the frame;
• each of the rotors and stators being a monolithic piece comprised of a carbon fiber-reinforced carbon material;
• a load distribution plate positioned in the cage portion on one side of the alternating sequence of rotors and stators for directing forces on the rotors and stators;
• a first brake actuator and a second brake actuator each positioned for applying force on the same side of the load distribution plate opposite the alternating sequence of rotors and stators;
• the first brake actuator including a plurality of first pistons positioned within respective first chambers such that pressurization of the respective first chambers on a side of the first pistons opposite the load distribution plate causes the first pistons to operatively engage the load distribution plate for compression of the alternating sequence of rotors and stators such that the rotors and stators are compressed together and thereby create braking torque;
• a second brake actuator including a plurality of second pistons positioned within respective second chambers and arranged on the same side of the load distribution plate as the plurality of first pistons, the second brake actuator including a plurality of springs operatively coupled to respective second pistons on a side of the second pistons opposite the load distribution plate for biasing the second pistons to operatively engage the load distribution plate for compression of the alternating sequence of rotors and stators for creating braking torque and further including fluid inlets on the same sides of the second pistons as the load distribution plate, such that pressurization of the second chambers can cause the second pistons to overcome the bias of the springs to prevent the compression of the alternating sequence of rotors and stators to remove braking torque.

A brake system for a piece of equipment having a rotatable shaft, the brake system comprising:

• a housing surrounding the shaft and including a cage portion;
• a series of rotors and stators arranged in an alternating sequence in the cage portion, the plurality of rotors operatively coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate with the shaft, the plurality of stators configured to be fixed against rotation relative to the rotors;
• each of the rotors and stators being a monolithic piece comprised of a carbon fiber-reinforced carbon material;
• a load distribution plate positioned on one side of the alternating sequence of rotors and stators for directing forces on the rotors and stators to create braking torque;
• a first brake actuator and a second brake actuator each positioned for applying force on the same side of the load distribution plate opposite the alternating sequence of rotors and stators;
• the first brake actuator including at least one first piston positioned in the housing such that pressurization on a side of the first piston opposite the load distribution plate causes the first piston to operatively engage the load distribution plate for compression of the alternating sequence of rotors and stators such that the rotors and stators are compressed together and thereby create braking torque;
• a second brake actuator including at least one second piston arranged on the same side of the load distribution plate as the first piston, the second brake actuator including at least one spring operatively coupled to the second piston on a side of the second piston opposite the load distribution plate for biasing the second piston to operatively engage the load distribution plate for compression of the alternating sequence of rotors and stators to create braking torque and further including a fluid inlet on the same side of the second piston as the load distribution plate, such that pressurization on that same side of the second piston that overcomes the bias of the spring will prevent the compression of the alternating sequence of rotors and stators to thereby remove the braking torque of the second actuator.