US 4,391,351 A · Parking disc brake actuator

Abstract

Disc brakes have heretofore not received wide utilization on fork lift trucks because of the problems of space and lubrication. A lift truck has a very small, central hub area which greatly limits the size and type of brake and the ways of lubricating the brake. The disc brake actuator (7) of the present invention meets the problem of incorporating disc brakes (10) into the limited space of the wheel drive assembly (22) of a fork lift truck by mechanically applying the disc brakes (10) through axial rotation of the actuator (37,50) about the jack shafts (18). The difficulty of lubricating the disc brakes (10) is overcome either by utilizing the brake actuator (37) as a conduit for lube oil from the differential (11) or sealing off the lube oil from the differential (11) with a seal (58) in the brake actuator (50) so that the disc brakes (10) can be independently lubricated.

Claims7

Dependent claims

In a power train subassembly (8) for a vehicle having a frame (9), a support assembly (35) rigidly affixed to the frame (9), a wheel drive assembly (22) rotatably mounted on the support assembly (35), a differential (11) having a jack shaft (18) extending therefrom and a brake (10) operatively associated with said wheel assembly (22) and actuatable between an engaged and disengaged condition, comprising:

a support tube (37,50) connecting said differential (11) to said support assembly (35), said support tube (37,50) being axially rotatable relative to said jack shaft (18);
and
means (45,46) for converting axial rotation of said support tube (37,50) into lateral motion and mechanically actuating the brake (10) between said engaged and disengaged condition, said means for converting (45,46) being connected to said support tube (37,50).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Parking disc brake actuator

Life of this patent

Parking disc brake actuator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7