Actuating device for machine elements that are subject to wear play, especially for brakes of railborne vehicles

An actuating device for machine elements subject to wear play, comprising:

• an adjusting device configured as an adjusting nut/spindle assembly adjustable so as to compensate for wear play, the adjusting nut/spindle assembly including a sleeve-type adjusting nut having a toothing;
• a piston-cylinder unit having an axially movable piston rod arranged therein, the piston rod being connected with the adjusting device;
• automatically actuatable actuating drive means for engaging the toothing of the adjusting nut and means for rotating the adjusting nut;
• a brake piston arranged within the piston cylinder unit, the brake piston being connected to the piston rod so as to axially move the piston rod;
• sensor means for measuring axial position of the piston rod and providing a corresponding input signal;
• an electronic control unit in electrical communication with the sensor so as to receive the input signal, the electronic control unit generating an actuating signal as a function of the input signal, the actuating signal being transmitted to the actuating drive means so as to operate the actuating drive means to compensate for wear play;
• and
• path measurement means for measuring the axial position of the sleeve type adjusting nut so as to determine an amount of wear play.

An actuating device for machine elements subject to wear play, comprising:

• an adjusting device configured as an adjusting nut/spindle assembly adjustable so as to compensate for wear play, the adjusting nut/spindle assembly including a sleeve-type adjusting nut having a toothing;
• a piston-cylinder unit having an axially movable piston rod arranged therein, the piston rod being connected with the adjusting device;
• automatically actuatable actuating drive means for engaging the toothing of the adjusting nut and means for rotating the adjusting nut;
• a brake piston arranged within the piston cylinder unit, the brake piston being connected to the piston rod so as to axially move the piston rod;
• sensor means for measuring axial position of the piston rod and providing a corresponding input signal;
• an electronic control unit in electrical communication with the sensor so as to receive the input signal, the electronic control unit generating an actuating signal as a function of the input signal, the actuating signal being transmitted to the actuating drive means so as to operate the actuating drive means to compensate for wear play;
• and
• a brake linkage having an external thread portion arranged at one end, the piston rod having an external thread portion arranged at one end, the adjusting nut having two coaxially extending oppositely directed internal thread portions, the internal thread portions respectively engage in the piston rod external thread portion and the brake linkage external thread portion whereby the piston rod and brake linkage are axially adjustable with respect to one another by rotation of the adjusting nut.

An actuating device for machine elements subject to wear play, comprising:

• an adjusting device configured as an adjusting nut/spindle assembly adjustable so as to compensate for wear play, the adjusting nut/spindle assembly including a sleeve-type adjusting nut having a toothing;
• a piston-cylinder unit having an axially movable piston rod arranged therein, the piston rod being connected with the adjusting device;
• automatically actuatable actuating drive means for engaging the toothing of the adjusting nut and means for rotating the adjusting nut;
• a brake piston arranged within the piston cylinder unit, the brake piston being connected to the piston rod so as to axially move the piston rod;
• sensor means for measuring axial position of the piston rod and providing a corresponding input signal;
• and
• an electronic control unit in electrical communication with the sensor so as to receive the input signal, the electronic control unit generating an actuating signal as a function of the input signal, the actuating signal being transmitted to the actuating drive means so as to operate the actuating drive means to compensate for wear play, the piston cylinder unit including:
• a stop piston operative as an auxiliary brake;
• a spring arranged within the piston cylinder unit so as to operate as a spring brake cylinder, the spring having a first end and a second end, the first end being in contact with the stop piston so as to bias the stop piston toward the brake piston;
• and unlocking means arranged proximal the second end of the spring for locking the stop piston into a neutral position, the brake piston being arranged within the piston cylinder unit, coaxial and adjacent to the stop piston so as to operate as a service brake, the piston cylinder unit having a pressure chamber in fluid communication with the stop piston so that a pressure medium urges the stop piston in a direction away from the brake piston, towards the neutral position, the pressure chamber being concurrently in fluid communication with the brake piston so that the pressure medium urges the brake piston in a direction away from the stop piston.