Integral light weight spring brake actuator and mount
AssigneeBendix Spicer Foundation Brake LLC
InventorsKenneth E. Scheckelhoff, Ron Plantan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved integral spring brake actuator and mount is provided in which a portion of the spring brake actuator is integrally formed with a connecting flange and a brake cam shaft support tube. The improved integral spring brake actuator and mount is significantly lighter than previous multi-part built-up spring brake actuators and mounting brackets, decreasing vehicle weight, eliminating the need for costly high-quality welding and lowering manufacturing costs. The integral spring brake actuator and mount may be formed from cast aluminum.
Claims9
An integral spring brake actuator and mount, comprising:
- a spring brake actuator front housing chamber portion configured to enclose at least a portion of the actuator;
- a brake cam shaft support tube portion;
- and
- a connecting flange portion,
- wherein the spring brake actuator front housing chamber portion is integrally formed as a one-piece unit with the connecting flange portion and the brake cam shaft support tube portion, the connecting flange portion connecting the spring brake actuator front housing chamber portion and the brake cam shaft support tube portion.
An integral spring brake actuator and mount, comprising:
- a spring brake actuator front housing chamber portion configured to enclose at least a portion of the actuator;
- a spring brake actuator rear chamber element;
- a brake cam shaft support tube portion;
- and
- a connecting flange portion,
- wherein
- the spring brake actuator front housing chamber portion is integrally formed as a one-piece unit with the connecting flange portion and the brake cam shaft support tube portion, the connecting flange portion connecting the spring brake actuator front housing chamber portion and the brake cam shaft support tube portion, and
- the spring brake actuator rear chamber element is affixed to the spring brake actuator front housing chamber portion.
An axle assembly, comprising:
- an axle housing having a wheel brake disposed at least one end;
- an integral spring brake actuator and mount, including
- a spring brake actuator front housing chamber portion configured to enclose at least a portion of the actuator;
- a spring brake actuator rear chamber element;
- a brake cam shaft support tube portion;
- and
- a connecting flange portion,
- wherein
- the spring brake actuator front housing chamber portion is formed as a one-piece unit with the connecting flange portion and the brake cam shaft support tube portion, the connecting flange portion connecting the spring brake actuator front housing chamber portion and the brake cam shaft support tube portion, and
- the spring brake actuator rear chamber element is affixed to the spring brake actuator front chamber portion, and
- the integral spring brake actuator and mount is affixed to the wheel brake in a manner which permits a spring brake actuator mechanism disposed within the spring brake actuator front housing chamber portion and the spring brake actuator rear chamber element to operate the wheel brake.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.