Brakes – Operators – Spring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-09
2001-02-13
Graham, Matthew C. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Operators
Spring
C310S093000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186291
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a brake mechanism for releasable braking, e.g., of a cable drum used in heavy equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Heavy equipment used for lifting, hoisting, scraping, etc. has moving components such as scoops and blades. These components may be raised or lowered by winding in or playing out cables from a winch, turning gears and the like. Such movements are ongoing continuously in the use of the heavy equipment and will involve something like raising a scoop with product, stopping the scoop at a desired travel level, moving the scoop to a deposit site, lowering the scoop and dumping the product. The cable is repetitively wound onto and off of the winch's drum and/or gears are repeatedly engaged and turned, and at the end of each movement, a brake is applied to stop and then hold the position.
Brakes that are used on such winches or other apparatus are typically complex and expensive, they rapidly wear and are difficult and expensive to repair or replace, and they are noisy.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide an improved braking system for such winches or similar apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a rotor is mounted to the drive shaft of a hoist drum. A pair of brake shoes are movably mounted to each side of the rotor and are slidable into and out of engagement with the rotor. A plunger mechanism or actuator is independently mounted behind each brake shoe. A piston within the mechanism is spring biased to urge the brake shoe into engagement with the rotor and hydraulic pressure urges the piston away from the brake shoe allowing the brake shoe to disengage from the rotor.
A single hydraulic fluid source can service a plurality of the plunger mechanisms each having a remote controlled pump. In its simplest form, the brake is released by operation of the hydraulic fluid pump and sequencing the brake release and engagement of the electric winch motor produces acceptably smooth transition between them. However, a switching system may be used to enhance the cooperative action between brake release/engagement and the power applied to the hoist drum.
Whereas the brake shoes are independently mounted, they can be serviced with little problem or down time. The brake mechanism of the invention outlasts known braking mechanism and is far simpler in its operation and less noisy. The benefits will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description and the drawings referred to therein.
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Graham Matthew C.
Harrington Robert L.
Lipka Pamela J.
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