US 12,680,585 B2 · Wet brake system and method for a vehicle

Abstract

Various systems and methods are provided for wet brake systems for vehicles. In one embodiment, a wet brake system for a vehicle includes a drive shaft, a housing including a brake compartment and a reservoir axially offset from the brake compartment along the drive shaft, a brake plate assembly including an end plate arranged within the brake compartment, a lower channel formed between the end plate and the housing and arranged at a drain end of the housing, and an upper channel formed between the end plate and the housing, opposite to the lower channel across the drive shaft. Coolant/lubricant within the housing, such as oil, may flow out of the brake compartment during conditions in which the drive shaft is rotated, and may flow into the brake compartment during conditions in which the drive shaft does not rotate or is relatively stationary.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A wet brake system for a vehicle, comprising:

a drive shaft;
a housing including a brake compartment and a reservoir axially offset from the brake compartment along the drive shaft;
a brake plate assembly including an end plate arranged within the brake compartment;
a lower channel formed between the end plate and the housing and arranged at a drain end of the housing, wherein oil flows from the reservoir to the lower channel and into the brake compartment;
and
an upper channel formed between the end plate and the housing, opposite to the lower channel across the drive shaft, wherein oil flows from the brake compartment to the reservoir via the upper channel, and wherein a flow rate of the oil in the upper channel is greater than a flow rate of oil in the lower channel during rotation of friction plates in the brake plate assembly.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wet brake system and method for a vehicle

Life of this patent

Wet brake system and method for a vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20