Combination air/hydraulic intermittent braking system

A braking apparatus comprising:

• a brake;
• a brake applying means for applying said brake;
• a compressed air operating means for operating said brake applying means such that, when an amount of compressed air pressure which is at least as large as a threshold compressed air pressure is applied to said compressed air operating means, said compressed air operating means imparts a force to said brake applying means which urges said brake applying means to apply said brake;
• and
• a second operating means for automatically operating said brake applying means such that, while said amount of compressed air pressure which is at least as large as said threshold compressed air pressure is applied to said compressed air operating means, said brake is alternatingly released and reapplied,
• wherein said brake applying means comprises an elongate shaft having a longitudinal axis, said elongate shaft being operably associated with said brake such that said brake is applied by moving said elongate shaft in a first direction along said longitudinal axis and said brake is released by moving said elongate shaft in a second direction along said longitudinal axis;
• said compressed air operating means is associated with said elongate shaft such that, as long as said amount of compressed air pressure which is at least as large as said threshold compressed air pressure is applied to said compressed air operating means, said compressed air operating means urges said elongate shaft in said first direction;
• and
• said second operating means comprises:
• a piston connected to said elongate shaft and having a first side and second side;
• a hydraulic chamber surrounding said piston;
• and a delivering means for automatically alternatingly delivering, while said amount of compressed air pressure which is at least as large as said threshold compressed air pressure is applied to said compressed air operating means, a pressurized hydraulic fluid (a) to said hydraulic chamber on said second side of said piston such that said pressurized hydraulic fluid urges said piston and said elongate shaft in said second direction with sufficient force to cause said elongate shaft to move in said second direction and thereby release said brake and then (b) to said hydraulic chamber on said first side of said piston such that said pressurized hydraulic fluid operates with said compressed air operating means to move said elongate shaft in said first direction and thereby reapply said brake.