Drill String Rotation Brake
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorsMax A. Metcalf, Philip J. Wosmek, Harry Bendure, Rick E. Barrett
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a motor;
- a rotatable spindle;
- a drive train configured to rotationally couple the motor to the spindle and comprising a series of intermeshed gears;
- and
- a brake element disposed in laterally offset relationship to one of the gears and movable between a first position, out of engagement with the gear, and a second position, in engagement with the gear;
- in which the gear is rotatable in the first position of the brake element and is not rotatable in the second position of the brake element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.