Brake disc assembly for a wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9587690-B2
Application number	US-201414783946-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2014
Priority date	Apr 12, 2013
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

A brake disc for providing a braking surface on a rotating body, such as a railway wheel is provided. The brake disc includes a plurality of arcuate segments ( 126 ) arranged to form a ring and a plurality of joining elements ( 38 ) for connecting the segments to adjacent segments. Each segment includes: an inner side configured to contact a surface of a wheel; an outer side having a braking surface for contacting a braking mechanism; at least one socket ( 140 ) on each radial end ( 142 ) of the segment ( 126 ) for receiving one of the plurality of joining elements ( 38 ); and a groove on the inner side of the segment configured to receive a coupling member to form a pivot joint ( 58 ) for positioning the segment ( 126 ) on the surface of the wheel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A brake disc comprising:
a plurality of arcuate segments arranged to form a ring and a plurality of joining elements for connecting the segments to adjacent segments, wherein each segment comprises:
an inner side configured to contact a surface of a wheel;
an outer side comprising a braking surface for contacting a braking mechanism;
at least one socket on each radial end of the segment for receiving one of the plurality of joining elements; and
a groove on the inner side of the segment configured to receive a head portion of a coupling member to form a pivot joint between adjacent segments for positioning the segment on the surface of the wheel.

2. The brake disc of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of joining elements is slidably received within a respective socket.

3. The brake disc of claim 2 , wherein a depth of each socket is greater than a length of the joining elements, thereby allowing the joining element to slide entirely into the socket.

4. The brake disc of claim 1 , further comprising at least one protrusion extending from the inner side of the segment for directing cooling air to the inner side of the segment.

5. The brake disc of claim 4 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a radial fin extending between an inner circumferential side and an outer circumferential side of the segment.

6. The brake disc of claim 1 , wherein each segment comprises two sockets on each radial end of the segment.

7. The brake disc of claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint is a condyloid joint.

8. The brake disc of claim 1 , wherein the pivot joint is a ball and socket joint.

9. The brake disc of claim 1 , wherein the brake disc comprises six segments.

10. The brake disc of claim 1 , wherein adjacent segments are separated by a radial gap, and wherein the segments are movable, with respect to the joining elements, to change a width of the radial gap.

11. The brake disc of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of transverse through holes extending between the inner side and the outer side of the segment configured to receive fasteners to connect the segment to the wheel.

12. The brake disc of claim 1 , wherein the groove comprises a concave surface extending inwardly from the inner side of the segment.

13. A brake assembly comprising:
a wheel having a central hub, an outer rim, and a body extending between the hub and the rim, the body having a front side surface and a rear side surface;
a front brake disc connected to the front side surface of the body;
a rear brake disc connected to the rear side surface of the body; and
a plurality of coupling members extending between the front brake disc and the rear brake disc, each coupling member comprising a head portion at each longitudinal end thereof,
wherein each brake disc comprises a plurality of arcuate segments arranged to form a ring and a plurality of joining elements for connecting the segments to adjacent segments and wherein each segment comprises:
an inner side configured to contact the front side surface or rear side surface of the body of the wheel;
an outer side comprising a braking surface for contacting a braking mechanism;
at least one socket located on each radial end of the segment for receiving the joining element; and
a groove on the inner side of the segment configured to receive the head portion of one of the plurality of coupling members to form a pivot joint between adjacent segments for positioning the segment on the front side surface or the rear side surface of the wheel.

14. The brake assembly of claim 13 , wherein each coupling member further comprises a shaft extending between the head portions of the coupling member.

15. The brake assembly of claim 13 , wherein the groove of each segment defines an ellipsoid cavity configured to receive the head portion of one of the coupling members to form a condyloid joint.

16. The brake assembly of claim 13 , wherein the groove of each segment defines a partially spherical cavity configured to receive the head of one of the coupling members to form a ball and socket joint.

17. The brake assembly of claim 13 , wherein each coupling member extends through a hole in the body of the wheel, and wherein one end of the coupling member is inserted in a groove of a segment of the front brake disc and the other end of the coupling member is inserted in a groove of a corresponding segment of the rear brake disc.

18. The brake assembly of claim 13 , wherein each segment further comprises at least one transverse through hole extending between the inner side and the outer side of the segment, and wherein the assembly further comprises a fastener inserted through each through hole for connecting the front brake disc to the rear brake disc through a corresponding through hole in the body of the wheel.

19. The brake assembly of claim 18 , wherein each segment comprises two transverse through holes located on a center axis of the segment.

20. The brake disc assembly of claim 13 , wherein the groove comprises a concave surface extending inwardly from the inner side of the segment.

21. The brake assembly of claim 20 , wherein the head portion of each coupling member comprises a convex outer surface with a which corresponds to the concave surface of the groove and which is configured to be inserted into the groove of the segment.

Assignees

• Wabtec Holding Corp

Inventors

• Boffelli Roberto

Classifications

• F16D65/847

  with open cooling system, e.g. cooled by air · CPC title

• F16D2065/132

  layered · CPC title

• F16D2065/1392

  Connection elements · CPC title

• F16D65/124 Primary

  adapted for mounting on the wheel of a railway vehicle · CPC title

• F16D2065/1328

  internal cavities, e.g. cooling channels · CPC title