Disk spring hydraulic release brake

A hydraulically actuated brake/clutch assembly comprising:

• a shaft;
• a plurality of friction disks mounted to the shaft for rotation with the shaft, each friction disk extending in a radial direction from a rotational axis of the shaft, each friction disk comprising aluminum and having a thickness measured generally parallel to the rotational axis of the shaft being generally uniform from an outer radial edge of the disk to an inner radial edge of the disk, wherein each friction disk includes a hardened anodized surface infused into the aluminum of each disk;
• a housing receiving the shaft;
• a plurality of reaction disks mounted to the housing extending substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the shaft, the reaction disks being interleaved between the friction disks;
• a piston disposed in the housing, the piston being moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the engaged position being where the piston is moved towards a friction disk or reaction disk to press the friction disks against the reaction disks and the disengaged position being where the piston is moved away from a friction disk or reaction disk to allow for rotation of the friction disks with respect to the reaction disks;
• a biasing member contacting the piston;
• and
• a first seal contacting the shaft and the housing and a second seal contacting the piston and the housing, a cavity being defined in the housing between the first seal and the second seal, the friction disks and the reaction disks being disposed in the cavity and the seals being configured to confine hydraulic fluid in the cavity for cooling the friction disks and the reaction disks.

A wet brake/clutch assembly comprising:

• a shaft;
• a housing receiving the shaft and defining a cavity for containing cooling fluid;
• at least two disks disposed in the cavity containing the cooling fluid, a first of the disks mounted to the shaft for rotation with the shaft and extending in a radial direction from a rotational axis of the shaft, a second of the disks mounted to the housing extending substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the shaft, at least one of the disks comprising aluminum having an anodized wear surface;
• and
• a piston disposed in the housing, the piston being moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the engaged position being where the piston is moved towards the disks to press the first disk against the second disk and the disengaged position being where the piston is moved away from the disks to allow for rotation of the first disk with respect to the second disk.