Pivot bearing unit comprising a braking device

A pivot bearing unit, comprising:

• a first bearing part having an axial central opening generally defining a bearing axis, the first bearing part having a bearing plate with a annular groove defined therein, the annular groove having a generally rectangular cross sectional shape with an open side;
• a brake hose disposed in the annular groove of the first bearing part, the brake hose having a generally rectangular cross sectional shape complementary to the annular groove, the brake hose having a free side at the open side of the groove, the brake hose being inflatable from an inactive state in which the free side is generally flat to an activated state in which the free side expands along the bearing axis;
• a second bearing part interconnected with the first bearing part for rotation about the bearing axis, the second bearing part extending through the axial central opening of the first bearing part and having bearings engaging an upper and lower surface of the first bearing part, the bearings directly supporting rotation of the second bearing part about the bearing axis;
• a brake block connected to the second bearing part;
• an axially movable switching ring disposed at the open side of the annular groove such that the axially movable switching ring is moved axially away from the open side of the annular groove when the brake hose in the activated state expands the free side along the bearing axis;
• a brake lining disposed between the brake block and the axially movable switching ring;
• whereby expansion of the free side of the brake hose in the activate state pushes the axially movable switching ring into braking engagement with the brake lining and brake block, thereby locking the second bearing part relative to the first bearing part.

A pivot bearing unit, comprising:

• a first bearing part having an axial central opening generally defining a bearing axis, the first bearing part having a bearing plate with a annular groove defined therein, the annular groove having an open side;
• a brake hose disposed in the annular groove of the first bearing part, the brake hose having a free side at the open side of the groove, the brake hose being inflatable from an inactive state to an activated state in which the free side expands along the bearing axis;
• a second bearing part interconnected with the first bearing part for rotation about the bearing axis;
• a brake block connected to the second bearing part, the brake block being axially adjustable to a plurality of positions along the bearing axis with respect to the second bearing part;
• an adjusting structure operable to axially adjust the brake block;
• a fixing structure fixing the brake block in any one of the plurality of positions;
• an axially movable switching ring disposed at the open side of the annular groove such that the axially movable switching ring is moved axially away from the open side of the annular groove when the brake hose in the activated state expands the free side along the bearing axis;
• a brake lining disposed between the brake block and the axially movable switching ring;
• whereby expansion of the free side of the brake hose in the activate state pushes the axially movable switching ring into braking engagement with the brake lining and brake block, thereby locking the second bearing part relative to the first bearing part.

A pivot bearing unit, comprising:

• a first bearing part having an axial central opening generally defining a bearing axis, the first bearing part having a bearing plate with a annular groove defined therein, the annular groove having an open side;
• a brake hose disposed in the annular groove of the first bearing part, the brake hose having a free side at the open side of the groove, the brake hose being inflatable from an inactive state to an activated state in which the free side expands along the bearing axis;
• a second bearing part interconnected with the first bearing part for rotation about the bearing axis, the second bearing part extending through the axial central opening of the first bearing part and having bearings engaging an upper and lower surface of the first bearing part, the bearings directly supporting rotation of the second bearing part about the bearing axis;
• a brake block connected to the second bearing part;
• an axially movable switching ring disposed at the open side of the annular groove such that the axially movable switching ring is moved axially away from the open side of the annular groove when the brake hose in the activated state expands the free side along the bearing axis;
• a brake lining disposed between the brake block and the axially movable switching ring;
• whereby expansion of the free side of the brake hose in the activate state pushes the axially movable switching ring into braking engagement with the brake lining and brake block, thereby locking the second bearing part relative to the first bearing part.