Self-adjusting braking apparatus
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsRandall R. Bendtsen, Jens M. Erp, Mark D. Fabry, Alan D. Gustafson, Cary J. Lyons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake apparatus includes a brake disk secured to a shaft and a reaction plate secured to a housing. The brake apparatus further includes a fluid actuated piston which urges the brake disk against the reaction plate to slow rotation of the shaft and an adjustment member positioned by the piston. The brake apparatus yet further includes a spring interposed between the adjustment member and the piston. The piston positions the adjustment member relative to the brake disk when fluid is applied to said piston. The spring urges the piston away from the adjustment member and brake disk when fluid pressure is removed from the piston.
Claims19
A brake apparatus, comprising,
- a brake disk secured to a shaft;
- a reaction plate secured to a housing;
- a fluid actuated piston having a contact surface which urges the brake disk against the reaction plate to slow rotation of the shaft;
- an adjustment member positioned by the contact surface, the adjustment member being mounted within and slideable relative to the reaction plate;
- a pin including a first portion engaged with the piston, the pin having a second portion in a sliding friction relationship with the adjustment member, wherein the pin extends between the piston and the reaction plate;
- and
- a spring retained between the adjustment member and the the reaction plate, wherein:
- the contact surface positions the adjustment member through movement of the pin relative to the brake disk when fluid is applied to the piston, and
- the spring urges the contact surface away from the adjustment member and brake disk when fluid pressure is removed from the piston.
The apparatus of 7, wherein the spring is a Bellville spring interposed between the sleeve and the head of the bolt.
A method of operating a brake apparatus having (i) a brake disk secured to a shaft, (ii) a reaction plate secured to a housing, (iii) a fluid actuated piston having a contact surface which urges the brake disk against the reaction plate to slow rotation of the shaft, (iv) an adjustment member positioned by the contact surface, (v) a pin including a first portion engaged with the piston, the pin having a second portion in a sliding friction relationship with the adjustment member, wherein the pin extends between the piston and the reaction plate and the contact surface positions the adjustment member through movement of the pin relative to the brake disk when fluid is applied to the piston, and (vi) a spring interposed between the adjustment member and the contact surface, comprising the steps of:
- positioning the adjustment member relative to the brake disk by applying fluid to the piston;
- and
- urging the piston away from the adjustment member and brake disk with the spring when fluid pressure is removed from the piston.
A brake apparatus, comprising
- a brake disk driven by a shaft;
- a reaction plate secured to a housing;
- a selectively moveable piston having a contact surface engageable with the brake disk wherein the brake disk is urged against the reaction plate to slow rotation of the shaft in response to compressive movement of the piston;
- a pin including a first portion engaged with the piston, the pin having a second portion in a sliding friction relationship with an adjustment member, wherein the pin extends between the piston and the reaction plate;
- the adjustment member provided between the piston and the reaction member and being operable to:
- (i) urge the piston away from the brake disk in response to deactivation of the brake assembly, and (ii) readjust a gap clearance between the brake disk and at least one of the piston and the reaction member in response to brake wear, wherein the contact surface positions the adjustment member through movement of the pin relative to the brake disk when fluid is applied to the piston.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.