Brakes – Wheel – Axially movable brake element or housing therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-29
2001-07-17
Oberleitner, Robert J. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Wheel
Axially movable brake element or housing therefor
C188S071600, C074S42100R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260668
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to brake systems for vehicles, and more specifically to an improved brake system for electrically driven vehicles, such as underground mining cars.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Although the present invention is applicable to any electrically powered vehicle, it is especially useful on underground mining cars known as “scoop” cars. These cars scoop up and transport to a conveyor belt or to a larger capacity vehicle, such as a rail car or truck, fractured ore or coal that has been broken away from a fixed vein or deposit. Such cars are also used to transport equipment and supplies within an underground mine.
Conventional disc brakes when used on scoop cars, as may be seen in
FIG. 6
, are considered unreliable because they lack sufficient braking torque to stop or hold the car against a heavy load or against the power of the electric drive motor, which may be operated inadvertently by the operator. As often happens, operators forget to release the brake so that the car may be operated for some time with the brake engaged before burning up of the brake brings this problem to the operator's attention. Such occurrences result in rapid destruction of the brake and inoperable braking systems, which in turn cause federal mine safety violations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art by providing a brake system with much greater braking power and durability than prior art systems. In this regard, the preferred embodiment provides sufficient braking torque to prevent movement of the car unless the brake is disengaged, even upon application of full power, and to stop the car even at maximum torque generated by the electric drive motor. The level of braking power provided by the invention translates into a new brake system with greater durability and much longer service life than conventional brake systems.
The invention achieves these advantages, at least in part, by interconnecting a brake assembly to the drive shaft of the vehicle through a brake reduction gear train using reverse gear ratios that directly oppose the forward gear ratios of the drive reduction gear train connecting the electric motor to the drive shaft of the vehicle. In other words, the reverse ratio of the brake gearing opposes the forward ratio of the drive gearing to create sufficient braking torque at the brake head to prevent the electric motor from overpowering the holding power of the brake assembly.
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Connolly Bove & Lodge & Hutz LLP
Highland Machinery Corporation
Oberleitner Robert J.
Siconolfi Robert A.
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