Back to results
US 7,407,042 B2Granted
Brake actuator mechanism with overload protection
AssigneeBendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC
InventorsDaniel E. Banks, Michael R. Brown, II, Alan Hendershot
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake actuator mechanism has an inner shaft received at least partially within an outer shaft. The overload protection device is disposed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The device selectively couples the inner shaft and the outer shaft so that when the outer shaft receives a torque beyond a predetermined limit, the device allows the outer shaft to rotate about the inner shaft without rotating the inner shaft.
Claims18
A brake actuator mechanism, comprising:
- an inner shaft having a first portion connected to a clutch mechanism and a second portion distally opposite said first portion and having a first circumferential ring;
- an outer shaft overlapping at least a portion of said second portion of said inner shaft, said outer shaft terminating at said first circumferential ring of said inner shaft so that said outer shaft does not overlap said clutch mechanism;
- a second ring disposed between said inner shaft and said outer shaft, said second ring having at least one raised surface for selectively coupling said inner shaft and said outer shaft;
- wherein said second ring is compressed between said inner shaft and said outer shaft and couples said inner shaft and said outer shaft via a frictional engagement to a pre-determined torsional limit, and beyond said pre-determined torsional limit said second ring allows said outer shaft to rotate with respect to inner shaft.
1 more element
A brake actuator mechanism, comprising:
- an inner shaft having a first portion connected to a clutch mechanism and a second portion distally opposite said first portion and having a radially extending first circumferential ring unitary with said inner shaft;
- an outer shaft having a recess for receiving said second portion of said inner shaft, said recess being located opposite said clutch mechanism so that said outer shaft does not overlap said clutch mechanism, wherein a gap is formed between said recess and said second portion of said inner shaft;
- and
- a second ring located in said gap and about said inner shaft, said second ring having a portion in contact with said recess and a portion in contact with said second portion of said inner shaft, wherein said second ring selectively couples said inner shaft and said outer shaft;
- wherein said second ring is compressed between said inner shaft and said outer shaft and couples said inner shaft and said outer shaft via a frictional engagement to a pre-determined torsional limit, and beyond said pre-determined torsional limit said second ring allows said outer shaft to rotate with respect to inner shaft.
2 more elements
A method for selectively coupling a brake actuator mechanism, comprising:
- providing an outer shaft having a recess;
- locating an inner shaft within said recess until a first circumferential ring formed from said inner shaft and fixed about said inner shaft abuts an inner end portion of said outer shaft to prevent axial movement of said outer shaft with respect to said inner shaft and so that said outer shaft does not overlap a clutch mechanism, wherein a gap is formed between said recess and said inner shaft;
- and
- selectively coupling said inner shaft and said outer shaft with a second ring located in said gap, said second ring exerting a predetermined force on both said inner shaft and said outer shaft;
- wherein said second ring is compressed between said inner shaft and said outer shaft and couples said inner shaft and said outer shaft via a frictional engagement to a pre-determined torsional limit, and beyond said pre-determined torsional limit said second ring allows said outer shaft to rotate with respect to inner shaft.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.