Friction assembly with connector block and suction circuit

A friction assembly for a braking system for railway rolling stock, said friction assembly comprising:

• a brake head comprising a lower face, an upper face, and at least one secondary channel of central axis A which connects said lower face and an upper face;
• at least one friction plate made of friction material comprising a first face which is the friction face, a second face which is adapted to be assembled to said lower face by an assembly mechanism, and at least one primary channel which connects said first face and said second face;
• at least one connecting ring which is inserted into said at least one secondary channel and which establishes a connection with said at least one primary channel as said at least one primary channel is aligned with said at least one secondary channel;
• a connector block which is connected to a suction device and which is fixed to said brake head at said upper face, said block having a cavity which is connected by a circuit to the suction device and which comprises at least one hole which connects said cavity and said upper face and which is aligned with said at least one secondary channel, and wherein said at least one connecting ring is removably mounted on a connecting plate, said connecting plate and said at least one connecting ring being removably secured to said brake head.

A method for mounting at least one connecting ring on a brake head with a connector block connected to a suction device, said brake head comprising a lower face, an upper face, and at least one secondary channel of central axis A, said brake head and said connecting ring forming part of a friction assembly for a braking system for railway rolling stock, said friction assembly further comprising a friction plate made of friction material comprising a first face which is the friction face, a second face which is adapted to be assembled to said lower face by an assembly mechanism, and at least one primary channel which connects said first face and said second face, said at least one connecting ring being adapted to be inserted in said at least one secondary channel and to establish a connection with said at least one primary channel as said at least one primary channel is aligned with one of said at least one secondary channel(s), said method comprising the following steps:

• providing said block with a cavity which is connected by a circuit to the suction device, and with at least one hole which connects said cavity and said upper face and which is aligned with said at least one secondary channel;
• providing a connecting plate, wherein said at least one connecting ring is removably mounted on said connecting plate;
• positioning said connecting plate against the upper face of said brake head, and simultaneously inserting said at least one connecting ring in said at least one secondary channel by sliding along central axis A from said upper face, then placing said block on said connecting plate such that said connecting plate and said at least one connecting ring are together sandwiched between said brake head and said block;
• removably securing said block to said brake head;
• assembling said friction plate to said brake head by said assembly mechanism until said friction plate covers said secondary channels.

A method for mounting at least one connecting ring on a brake head comprising a lower face and an upper face, and having a connector block located at the upper face side and connected to a suction device, said brake head comprising at least one secondary channel of central axis A, said brake head and said connecting ring forming part of a friction assembly for a brake system for railway rolling stock, said friction assembly further comprising a friction plate made of friction material comprising a first face which is the friction face, a second face which is adapted to be assembled to said lower face by an assembly mechanism, and at least one primary channel which connects said first face and said second face, said at least one connecting ring being adapted to be inserted in said at least one secondary channel and to establish a connection with said at least one primary channel as said at least one primary channel is aligned with one of said at least one secondary channel(s), said method being comprising the following steps:

• providing said block with a cavity which is connected by a circuit to the suction device, and with at least one hole which connects said cavity and said upper face and which is aligned with said at least one secondary channel, and said lower face is provided with a housing;
• providing a connecting plate and removably mounting said at least one connecting ring on said connecting plate;
• housing said connecting plate in said housing such that said connecting plate does not protrude from the lower face, and simultaneously inserting said at least one connecting ring in said at least one secondary channel by sliding along central axis A from said lower face, said connecting plate and said at least one connecting ring being removably secured to said brake head;
• assembling said friction plate to said brake head by said assembly mechanism until said friction plate covers said secondary channels and said connecting plate.