Mechanical brake

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10473174-B2
Application number	US-201715837296-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2017
Priority date	Dec 16, 2016
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

There is provided an apparatus for applying a braking force to a brake disc using a brake pad. The apparatus comprises a lever configured to rotate about a first fulcrum, and a pressing member attached to said lever and for urging a brake pad against a brake disc. A component is arranged and configured to ensure that said pressing member has a circular translational movement upon rotation of said lever, and a rotatable input member is configured to rotate a first member. In use, rotation of said first member causes movement of an actuating member along an first axis (A), and said axial movement of said actuating member causes said lever to rotate about said first fulcrum for applying a braking force to said brake disc.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for applying a braking force to a brake disc using a brake pad, comprising:
a lever configured to rotate about a first fulcrum;
a pressing member attached to said lever and for urging a brake pad against a brake disc;
a link member attached to said pressing member and configured to rotate about a second fulcrum in such a manner that said brake pad remains substantially parallel to said brake disc while said lever rotates about said first fulcrum;
a rotatable input member configured to rotate a first member, wherein, in use, rotation of said first member causes movement of an actuating member along an first axis (A), and said axial movement of said actuating member causes said lever to rotate about said first fulcrum for applying a braking force to said brake disc; and
a return drive comprising:
a first movable member configured to move a limited and predetermined distance along a second axis (B) between a first stop and a second stop; and
a second movable member interference fit into said first movable member and operatively connected to said lever such that rotation of said lever about said first fulcrum causes said second movable member to move along said second axis (B); wherein:
upon rotation of said lever in a first rotational direction, said first movable member and said second movable member move together until said first movable member reaches said first stop, at which point any further rotation of said lever in said first rotational direction will cause said second movable member to overcome said interference fit and slide through said first movable member; and
upon rotation of said lever in a second, opposite rotational direction, said first movable member and said second movable member move together until said first movable member reaches said second stop.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a portion of said link member between its attachment to said pressing member and said second fulcrum is of the same length and remains parallel with a corresponding portion of said lever that is between its attachment to said pressing member and said first fulcrum.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said pressing member follows a circular translational movement upon rotation of said lever about said first fulcrum.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
said first member comprises a first plate in an opposed relationship with a second plate, and said second plate is operatively connected to said actuating member such that axial movement of said second plate causes a corresponding axial movement of said actuating member; and
said first plate and said second plate are configured such that, in use, rotation of said first plate causes axial movement of said second plate so as to cause corresponding axial movement of the actuating member;
said first plate is rotatably movable about said first axis (A,A′) and fixed against movement along said first axis (A,A′); and
said second plate is axially movable along said first axis (A,A′) but fixed against rotational movement about said first axis (A,A′).

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , wherein a cam ball is received in a cavity between said first plate and said second plate, and one of said first plate and said second plate comprises a ramped surface such that, in use, rotation of said first plate causes said cam ball to ride up the ramped surface and exert an axial force on said second plate so as to cause corresponding axial movement of the actuating member.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising a resilient member positioned between the second plate and a portion of a stationary housing, wherein the resilient member is configured to urge the second plate away from the actuating member once the braking force applied by rotation of the rotatable input member is removed, so as to, in use, move the brake pad away from the brake disc and maintain the brake pad in its released position.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 , further comprising a sensor configured to monitor the axial position of said second plate and a control system configured to receive position data corresponding to the axial position of said second plate from said sensor, and determine whether said brake pad is engaged or not using said position data.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the actuating member protrudes through a stationary housing and comprises a screw portion that extends into the housing and is threaded onto a nut that is attached to and axially movable with the second plate, wherein the actuating member is releasable from its connection to said link member, such that the actuating member, upon being released from its connection to the link member, can be rotated and the amount by which the actuating member protrudes from the housing can be adjusted to account for wear of the friction surface of the brake pad.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said return drive further comprises a resilient member configured to urge said first movable member towards said second stop, wherein the force required to overcome the interference fit between said first movable member and said second movable member is greater than the force exerted by said resilient member on said first movable member when said first movable member reaches said second stop.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to monitor the axial position of said first movable member, and a control system configured to receive position data corresponding to the axial position of said first movable member from said sensor, and determine whether said brake pad is engaged or not using said position data.

11. An apparatus for applying a braking force to a brake disc using a brake pad, comprising:
a lever configured to rotate about a first fulcrum;
a pressing member attached to said lever and for urging a brake pad against a brake disc;
a resilient member attached to or associated with said lever and configured to urge the pressing member towards a brake disc;
a rotatable input member configured to rotate a first member, wherein, in use, rotation of said first member causes movement of an actuating member along an first axis (A′), and said axial movement of said actuating member causes said lever to rotate about said first fulcrum for applying a braking force to said brake disc; and
a return drive comprising:
a first movable member configured to move a limited and predetermined distance along a second axis (B) between a first stop and a second stop; and
a second movable member interference fit into said first movable member and operatively connected to said lever such that rotation of said lever about said first fulcrum causes said second movable member to move along said second axis (B); wherein:
upon rotation of said lever in a first rotational direction, said first movable member and said second movable member move together until said first movable member reaches said first stop, at which point any further rotation of said lever in said first rotational direction will cause said second movable member to overcome said interference fit and slide through said first movable member; and
upon rotation of said lever in a second, opposite rotational direction, said first movable member and said second movable member move together until said first movable member reaches said second stop.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said resilient member is configured to urge the pressing member towards a brake disc throughout the entire range of travel of the lever.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein

Assignees

• Ratier Figeac Sas

Inventors

• Prouzet Bertrand

Classifications

• F16D2125/64

  Levers · CPC title

• F16D55/2245

  in which the common actuating member acts on two levers carrying the braking members, e.g. tong-type brakes (similar brakes for rail vehicles B61H5/00) · CPC title

• F16D2066/003

  Position, angle or speed · CPC title

• F16D65/18

  adapted for drawing members together {, e.g. for disc brakes} · CPC title

• F16D2125/582

  Flexible element, e.g. spring, other than the main force generating element · CPC title