Abstract:
Latching mono-stable brakes which are held disengaged from braking surfaces by the energization of electromagnets, and are engaged with the braking surfaces by deenergization of the electromagnets and the magnetic forces of permanent magnets. The brakes are particularly applicable to linear braking in such vehicles as elevators, trains, trams, cable cars and the like. They may also be applicable to vehicle brakes which act on rotating braking surfaces. They may be actuated in response to excessive speed, particularly when installed in vehicles such as elevators. They may be unlatched as needed by reenergization of the electromagnets. Various features of such brake mechanisms are disclosed, including guided mountings; scissors-like mountings; combined mechanical servo and magnetic actions; multi-brake equalization mechanism; pivotally mounted actuation and release brake units; braking action on rails, rods, cables, and the like; details of magnetic pole piece construction to accommodate various braking surfaces being engaged; elliptically shaped electromagnet windings having different numbers of layers of windings on diametrically opposite sides; magnetic flux concentrators/dispersers formed on the ends of magnet pole pieces; and other features.
Abstract:
In an automatic boot mounting method or an apparatus for practicing the method, a wheel cylinder is held at a predetermined position, and a boot is mounted on the tapered shaft portion of an inserter. The small-diameter shaft portion of the inserter is held with an inserter moving device with the large-diameter shaft portion of the inserter faced to the cylinder body. With the inserter set along the central axis of the cylinder body, the boot is moved to the large-diameter shaft portion of the inserter by a guide plate. The inserter is moved along the central axis of the cylinder body by the inserter moving device until the end face of the large-diameter shaft portion abuts against the end face of the protrusion end portion of the piston. A first air supplying device supplies air into the boot, to inflate the boot, to fit the large-diameter sealing portion of the boot in a seal groove formed in the cylinder body, and a second air supplying device supplies air into the hydraulic pressure chamber in the cylinder body, to move the piston thereby to fit the small-diameter sealing portion of the boot in a sealing groove formed in the piston. Thus, the large-diameter sealing portion and the small-diameter sealing portion of the boot can automatically be fitted in the sealing grooves formed in the cylinder body and the piston.
Abstract:
The drum-in-hat assembly (10) comprises a disc brake (12) mounted slidably relative to a backing plate (18) which includes an opening (19) through which extends a reverse scissors actuator (40) for the drum brake (30) of the assembly (10). The drum brake (30) includes a pair of arcuate drum brake shoes (32, 34) supported relative to the backing plate (18), with the shoes (32, 34) having a pair of opposed brake shoe ends (36, 38) engaged by the actuator (40). The actuator (40) comprises a pair of levers (42, 46) pivotably attached to one another with each lever (42, 46) having a second lever end (48, 58) engaging a respective end (38, 36) of an associated brake shoe, wherein the second lever end (48, 58) has either a slot (49) or an edge (59) located laterally away from the other and engaging the associated brake shoe end (38, 36). The actuator (40) is free to float relative to the backing plate (18), and the levers (42, 46) are located within a housing (70) attached to the backing plate (18).
Abstract:
A hydraulic brake actuator which includes a cylinder, two pistons which are in the cylinder and which are movable apart by hydraulic pressure in the cylinder, a toothed rod which is engaged with one piston and which is movable to a limited extent axially relatively thereto, and a pawl which is secured to the other piston and which is engaged with the toothed rod, the rod and the pawl permitting the two pistons to move apart, but to move towards each other only to a limited extent.
Abstract:
The invention is drum brake assembly having a dual brake actuator. A piston-cylinder assembly forms the primary brake actuator, and a lever member, together with the piston-cylinder assembly, forms a composite structure which acts as a secondary brake actuator. The lever member pivots about an axis substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum, and the lever member is contained within the drum brake assembly. The piston-cylinder assembly is operable independent of the composite structure to actuate the brake.
Abstract:
A drum brake arrangement for vehicle axles has an axle body and a support plate connected thereto. A bearing lever is fixed to the support plate. A brake camshaft has a first and a second end and is actuatable by a brake cylinder. The brake camshaft has a brake cam connected to the first end. A support bearing and another bearing for rotatably supporting the brake cam shaft on the axle body are provided. A slack adjuster is connected to the second end of the brake camshaft and has a housing with a cylindrical bore. The slack adjuster has a worm gear, connected to the brake camshaft, for adjusting the drum brake according to wear of the brake pads. The worm gear has a first profiled section extending parallel to its axis. The brake camshaft has a second profiled section extending parallel to its axis. The first and second profiled sections mesh with one another for fastening the worm gear on the brake camshaft. The slack adjuster has a bearing ring supported in the housing for receiving the bearing lever. The bearing ring has an outer mantle surface and is connected to the bearing lever. The worm gear has an outer mantle surface resting on a cylindrical inner surface of the cylindrical housing bore. The outer mantle surface of the worm gear and the bearing ring together constitute the bearing.
Abstract:
In an automatic boot mounting method or an apparatus for practicing the method, a wheel cylinder is held at a predetermined position, and a boot is mounted on the tapered shaft portion of an inserter. The small-diameter shaft portion of the inserter is held with an inserter moving device with the large-diameter shaft portion of the inserter faced to the cylinder body. With the inserter set along the central axis of the cylinder body, the boot is moved to the large-diameter shaft portion of the inserter by a guide plate. The inserter is moved along the central axis of the cylinder body by the inserter moving device until the end face of the large-diameter shaft portion abuts against the end face of the protrusion end portion of the piston. A first air supplying device supplies air into the boot, to inflate the boot, to fit the large-diameter sealing portion of the boot in a seal groove formed in the cylinder body, and a second air supplying device supplies air into the hydraulic pressure chamber in the cylinder body, to move the piston thereby to fit the small-diameter sealing portion of the boot in a sealing groove formed in the piston. Thus, the large-diameter sealing portion and the small-diameter sealing portion of the boot can automatically be fitted in the sealing grooves formed in the cylinder body and the piston.
Abstract:
A magnetic latching mechanism and method having permanent magnets and electromagnets arranged to alternately magnetically latch one member to either of two other members using the magnetic flux of the permanent magnets. The magnetic flux of the electromagnets is used to modify the permanent magnetic flux to cancel its magnetic latching to one of the other members and attract the one member to the other of the other members so that the one member is moved to disengage from the one member and engage that other member. The electromagnets are then deenergized and only the permanent magnets' magnetic flux magnetically latches the one member to that other member. The process is reversed to move the one member back into latching engagement with the member with which it in disengaged, magnetically released, relation. The mechanism is disclosed as being used to actuate and release parking brakes by acting on a parking brake actuating arm to move, latch and release that arm. Mechanical assist mechanisms are also disclosed which may be used to assist in the magnetic force instigated movements as needed.
Abstract:
A brake actuator has a housing containing tappets operable by a cam to apply brake shoes against a rotary brake drum. The housing defines a cavity to which lubricant is admitted. A flexible element which is not compressed at the maximum positive system lubricant pressure and is disposed within the cavity and subject to lubricant pressure. The element is movable during outward movement of the tappets to compensate for any increase in volume of the cavity caused by tappet outward movement. This avoids the occurrence of negative pressure in the cavity.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a vacuum-operated servo-brake comprising, in a casing consisting of a shell (10) and a cover (12), a piston (20) separating leaktightly two inner chambers (22, 24), a valve means controlled by a rod (32) projecting from the casing in order to ensure the operation of the servo-brake, and a prestressed spring (34) for returning the piston (20) to its rest position substantially abutting the cover (12), the spring (34) bearing on the shell (10). According to the invention, the spring (34) comprises a mechanism enabling its extension to be limited when the shell (10) and the cover (12) are not fixed to each other.