Flex disk brake in a press machine
AssigneeThe Minster Machine Company
InventorsJohn B. Bornhorst, Kevin J. Evers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake assembly includes a flex disk brake secured to a brake device of a press clutch-brake combination. A plurality of axially flexible finger elements extends from a peripheral side of the flex disk in a bent or arcuate configuration. The finger elements extend at least in part in a circumferential direction of the flex disk generally opposite to a direction of rotation of the press crankshaft. Each finger element is secured at one end to the stationary press crown. During brake activation, the axial flexibility of each finger element accommodates axial displacement of the attached brake device as the brake device undergoes actuated movement into its braking position. The flex brake disk provides a torquing rigidity that renders it rotationally stationary.
Claims35
A brake system for use in a machine, comprising:
- a brake member disposed within said machine;
- and
- a flex brake unit coupled to said brake member, said flex brake unit having a multi-layer, plate construction, said flex brake unit comprising a brake disk coupled to said brake member, said flex brake unit further comprising a single pair of finger elements extending from said brake disk, at least one said finger element coupled to a stationary member of said machine, each said finger element generally extending at least in part in a first generally circumferential direction of said brake disk.
A brake system for use in a machine environment, comprising:
- a movable brake component disposed within said machine;
- and
- a connection means having a stationary portion and a movable portion, said movable portion being connected at least in part to said brake component, said connection means having a multi-layer plate construction, said movable portion comprising a single pair of connection elements extending from said stationary portion, at least one said connection element coupled to a stationary member of said machine, each said connection element generally extending at least in part in a first generally circumferential direction of said stationary portion.
The brake system as recited in claim wherein said machine is a press machine having a crankshaft, said brake component includes a brake disk, and said press machine includes a mechanism to selectively connect said brake disk to said crankshaft.
A brake system for use in a machine, comprising:
- a brake component disposed within said machine;
- and
- a spider mechanism connecting said brake component to a stationary part of said machine, said spider mechanism having a multi-layer, construction plate, said spider mechanism further comprises:
- a disk coupled to said brake component;
- and
- a single pair of spider arms disposed about a periphery of said disk and coupled to the stationary part of said machine, each said spider arm generally extending at least in part in a first generally circumferential direction of said disk.
A brake system for use in a machine environment, comprising:
- a brake component disposed within said machine;
- and
- an axially flexible connection device connecting said brake component to a stationary part of said machine, said axially flexible connection device having a multi-layer plate construction, said connection device comprising:
- a body member coupled to said brake component;
- and
- a single pair of flexible spider arms disposed about a periphery of said body member and coupled to the stationary machine part, each said spider arm generally extending at least in part in a first generally circumferential direction of said body member.
A brake device for use in a brake unit of a machine, comprising:
- a generally disk-shaped body member;
- and
- a single pair of arcuate finger elements each extending from said body member, each said finger element generally extending at least in part in a first generally circumferential direction of said body member,
- each said finger element having a flex region normally defining a generally planar structure comprising a plurality of plate members disposed in a layering arrangement, wherein the layering arrangement defining a flexing axis directed generally orthogonally to a planar dimension thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.