US 5,358,036 A · Safety disc brake assembly

Abstract

A relatively simple hydraulically operated disc brake mechanism for drive systems which store reactive torque by reason of being under torsion is disclosed. Certain drive systems such as the drive strings for deep well submersible pumps store considerable reactive torque due to torsional stresses. Such torque must be controllably released if drive power is interrupted. The disc brake mechanism includes a housing that defines a reservoir for lubricating oil for the bearings of a shaft that drives a bi-directional hydraulic pump. When the shaft turns in an operating direction, the pump pumps the lubricating oil in a closed circuit through a filter and back to the reservoir. If normal operation is interrupted and the reactive torque in the system is released, the bi-directional pump forces oil through a control manifold to a disc brake caliper which brakes a disc rotor attached to the shaft. The faster the shaft turns as it releases reactive torque, the more braking force applied. As reactive torque is released, pump speed drops and brake force is correspondingly reduced until all reactive torque is released from the drive string permitting safe handling and soft restart of the drive string. The advantage is much improved safety and a self-regulating brake mechanism that handles power interruptions without manual intervention.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A disc brake assembly for permitting axial rotation of a shaft in a first direction and inhibiting axial rotation of the shaft in an opposite direction, comprising:

a brake disc mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft;
a fluid actuated brake mechanism adapted to engage the brake disc and retard rotation of the disc and consequently to retard rotation of the shaft;
a bi-directional pump for pumping fluid from a reservoir, the pump being driven by the shaft;
a control manifold for directing the fluid from the pump back to the reservoir when the shaft turns in a first direction and for directing fluid to the brake mechanism to retard rotation of the shaft when the shaft turns in the opposite direction.

1 more element

A self-regulating disc brake assembly for controllably releasing reactive torque stored in an axially rotatable elastic member under torsion, comprising:

a shaft coupled with the elastic member to be axially rotatable with the elastic member in either direction;
a brake disc mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft;
a fluid actuated brake mechanism adapted to engage the brake disc and retard rotation of the brake disc and consequently retard rotation of the shaft and the elastic member;
a bi-directional pump for pumping fluid from a reservoir, the pump being driven by the shaft;
and
a control manifold for directing fluid from the pump back to the reservoir when the elastic member turns in a first direction to induce torsion in the member, and for directing fluid to the brake mechanism when the elastic member stops turning in the first direction and stored reactive torque is released from the elastic member under torsion.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Safety disc brake assembly

Life of this patent

Safety disc brake assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20