Brakes – Wheel – Axially movable brake element or housing therefor
Patent
1994-02-25
1995-07-18
Graham, Matthew C.
Brakes
Wheel
Axially movable brake element or housing therefor
188 726, F16D 6556
Patent
active
054332990
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to an improved disc brake. More specifically, the invention is directed to improvements in positive locking and self-adjusting disc brake assemblies particularly, but not solely, suitable for use with rotating components of machinery such as conveyor drives, cranes and the like.
BACKGROUND ART
Industrial disc brakes are used to decelerate a drive, such as a conveyor or crane drive, when the motive power is removed, and to hold the drive (and components connected to it) against reverse movement once the drive has stopped.
There are various known disc brake assemblies. An example of a convention disk brake arrangement can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 3,968,864 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
However, industrial disc brakes of conventional design have several inherent problems or disadvantages. First, known disc brakes used on industrial machinery do not have a facility enabling the friction pad of the brake to be positively locked onto the disc. Hitherto, disc brakes have relied solely on the pinching action of pre-tensioned disc springs to urge the friction pad into contact with the disc when the disc brake actuator is de-energised.
Secondly, to compensate for wear of the friction pad, some known disc brakes incorporate a complicated wear compensation system designed to hold the friction pad in a constant position relative to the disc face as the friction material of the pad wears away. Such compensation systems typically utilise chains and sprockets and/or several lost motion linkages. In addition to being complex and expensive to construct, the known wear compensation systems require regular maintenance and servicing to maintain them in proper operating condition.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved disc brake assembly which overcomes or alleviates at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one broad form, the present invention provides a disc brake assembly comprising receive a portion of a brake disc therebetween; urge the brake elements into contact with respective opposite sides of the disc; operatively associated with a respective one of the cam formations; surfaces, and wherein in use the cam followers are displaced apart by the respective first cam surfaces during motion of the cam member in one direction to thereby release the brake elements from the brake disc, and the brake elements are positively locked into contact with the brake disc by the abutment of the second cam surfaces against the respective cam followers when the cam member is moved in the opposite direction.
Typically, the first cam surfaces are located inwardly of their respective cam followers, i.e. between the cam followers, and the second cam surfaces are located outwardly of their respective cam followers. The first cam surfaces form a wedge-shaped formation on the cam member which drives the cam followers, and hence the brake arms, apart when the cam member moves in one direction. When the cam member moves in the opposite direction, the brake arms come together under the action of the biasing means until the brake elements contact the brake disc. The abutment of the second cam surfaces against their respective cam followers positively locks the brake elements into contact with the disc, and also limits the continued movement of the cam member in the opposite direction. Thus, the extent of the movement of the cam member in the opposite direction is an indication of the amount of wear of the brake elements.
Preferably, the first and second cam surfaces of each cam formation are parallel and opposed.
The term "cam surfaces" refers to the operative portion of the cam and includes a thin or linear cam portion.
Similarly, the term "cam" and "cam follower" as used in this specification are not intended to be restricted to the specific arrangement illustrated in the drawings of the preferred embodiment, but include generally any member defining a surface or path followed by another member.
Advantageously, each brake a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3124219 (1964-03-01), Lee
patent: 3184003 (1965-05-01), Kershner
patent: 3968864 (1976-07-01), Deichsel et al.
patent: 4121697 (1978-10-01), Kobelt et al.
patent: 4154321 (1979-05-01), Falk
patent: 4648613 (1987-03-01), Hennessy
Huth Alan
Sundstrom Paul
Gladstone Port Authority
Graham Matthew C.
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