Self adjusting braking apparatus
OwnerRandall R. Bendtsen, Jens M. Erp +2inventors
InventorsRandall R. Bendtsen, Jens M. Erp, Alan D. Gustafson, Cary J. Lyons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake apparatus includes a brake disk secured to a shaft and a reaction plate secured to a housing. The brake apparatus further includes a fluid actuated piston which urges the brake disk against the reaction plate to slow rotation of the shaft and an adjustment member positioned by the piston. The brake apparatus yet further includes a spring interposed between the adjustment member and the piston. The piston positions the adjustment member relative to the brake disk when fluid is applied to said piston. The spring urges the piston away from the adjustment member and brake disk when fluid pressure is removed from the piston.
Claims17
A brake apparatus, comprising,
- a brake disk secured to a shaft;
- a reaction plate secured to a housing;
- a fluid actuated piston having a contact surface which urges the brake disk against the reaction plate to slow rotation of the shaft;
- an adjustment member positioned by the contact surface;
- and
- a spring interposed between the adjustment member and the contact surface, wherein:
- the contact surface positions the adjustment member relative to the brake disk when fluid is applied to the piston, and
- the spring urges the contact surface away from the adjustment member and brake disk when fluid pressure is removed from the piston.
The apparatus of 7, wherein the spring is a bellville spring interposed between the sleeve and the head of the bolt.
A method of operating a brake apparatus having (i) a brake disk secured to a shaft, (ii) a reaction plate secured to a housing, (iii) a fluid actuated piston having a contact surface which urges the brake disk against the reaction plate to slow rotation of the shaft, (iv) an adjustment member positioned by the contact surface, and (v) a spring interposed between the adjustment member and the contact surface, comprising the steps of:
- positioning the adjustment member relative to the brake disk by applying fluid to the piston;
- and
- urging the piston away from the adjustment member and brake disk with the spring when fluid pressure is removed from the piston.
The method of claim 16, the urging step further comprising the step of interposing a bellville spring between the sleeve and the head of the bolt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.