Reduced friction wet disc brake

Details Reduced friction wet disc brake Reduced friction wet disc brake

2000-01-27

2001-10-23

Oberleitner, Robert J. (Department: 3613)

Brakes

Wheel

Axially movable brake element or housing therefor

C188S26400E, C188S170000, C192S083000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06305505

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a wet disc brake wherein the friction losses during non-braking time periods are greatly reduced when compared to the prior art.
Wet disc brakes are utilized in many heavy braking applications. In a typical wet disc brake, a rotor, is connected to a wheel, or shaft to be braked. The rotor includes disc portions which are rotating within a viscous fluid filled chamber. A stator surrounds the rotor disc portions. The stator includes discs which are selectively driven into contact with the rotor discs. The friction between the stator discs and the rotor discs slows rotation of the rotating stator. The rotor discs also rotate when braking is not occurring within the viscous fluid. This results in relatively high friction losses during non-braking time periods as the rotor discs rotate within the fluid.
The present invention is directed to a unique method of reducing these friction losses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, the rotor disc is comprised of two parts, wherein a free part remains stationary within the fluid during non-braking times. When braking does occur, the free part is brought into contact with a rotating disc part, and rotates with the rotor. In this way, friction losses are greatly reduced. In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, the rotor carries a supply of a fluid. The fluid is directed to create a fluid bearing between the free part and the rotating part of the disc. This fluid bearing allows the free part to remain stationary within the fluid chamber relative to the rotating disc part.
When the rotor is rotating, and braking is not occurs fluid is directed to the fluid bearing. Thus, the free part is biased away from the rotating part, and it does not rotate. Instead, the free part remains stationary within the fluid chamber and there is greatly reduced friction between the rotor disc and the fluid in the chamber.
However, when braking does occur, the flow of fluid to the fluid bearing is stopped. A bias, such as a spring, biases the free part back into contact with the rotating part. The two then rotate as a unit. At that time, the discs on the stator are also actuated to engage the rotor discs, and slow rotation of the rotating part.
The present invention thus discloses a unique method of reducing friction losses within a wet disc brake. These and other features of the present invention can be best understood from the following specification and drawings. The following is a brief description of the drawing.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3166167 (1965-01-01), Kinsman
patent: 3862675 (1975-01-01), Blatter et al.
patent: 4287978 (1981-09-01), Staub, Jr.
patent: 4901830 (1990-02-01), Dolby
patent: 5123508 (1992-06-01), Pederson
patent: 5174420 (1992-12-01), DeWald et al.
patent: 5207305 (1993-05-01), Iverson
patent: 5253737 (1993-10-01), Klaue
patent: 6095298 (2000-08-01), Kinsman

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