Differential for a parking brake assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9587692-B2
Application number	US-201514676346-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2015
Priority date	Apr 1, 2015
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

The present teachings relate to a brake assembly, and more particularly to a differential for a brake assembly that is unlocked or open in one configuration and locked or closed in another configuration. The brake assembly comprises a differential and one or more output shafts. During rotation of at least one of the one or more output shafts a brake apply is created or released. During creation of the brake apply, the differential distributes a rotational force to each of the one or more output shafts until at least one of the one or more output shafts experiences higher resistance and then the differential re-distributes the rotational force to at least one of the one or more output shafts with lower resistance. During release of the brake apply, the differential distributes an opposing rotational force equally to each of the one or more output shafts.

First claim

I claim:

1. A brake assembly comprising:
i. a differential; and
ii. a pair of output shafts,
wherein during rotation of at least one of the output shafts a brake apply is created or released,
wherein during creation of the brake apply, the differential is unlocked and distributes a rotational force to both of the output shafts until one of the output shafts experiences a higher resistance than the other of the output shafts and then the differential re-distributes the rotational force to the other of the output shafts with lower resistance, and
wherein during release of the brake apply, the differential is locked so that an opposing rotational force is distributed equally to both of the output shafts.

2. The brake assembly of claim 1 , wherein the differential includes one or more carriers and one or more output gears selectively engaging the one or more carriers,
wherein during the release of the brake apply, at least one of the one or more output gears engage at least one of the one or more carriers to lock the differential so that the opposing rotational force is distributed equally to both of the output shafts regardless if one of the output shafts realizes higher resistance than the other of the output shafts.

3. The brake assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the one or more output gears include detents and at least one of the one or more carriers include notches,
wherein during the release of the brake apply, the detents of at least one of the one or more output gears engage the notches of a corresponding one of the one or more carriers so that the differential locks and the opposing rotational force is distributed equally to each of the output shafts.

4. The brake assembly of claim 2 , wherein each of the output shafts include a hub with one or more hub projections, and each of the one or more output gears includes one or more grooves engaging the hub projections,
wherein,
i. during the creation of the brake apply, the hub projections move the one or more output gears away from the one or more carriers so that the one or more output gears are free of engagement with the one or more carriers, and
ii. during the release of the brake apply, the hub projections cause the one or more output gears to move towards a corresponding one of the one or more carriers until one or more of the output gears engage the one or more carriers.

5. The brake assembly of claim 4 , wherein the hub of each of the output shafts includes a stopper,
wherein during creation of the brake apply, the one or more hub projections cause the one or more output gears to move away from the one or more carriers until the one or more output gears are near or contact a corresponding stopper.

6. The brake assembly of claim 2 , wherein the differential includes two carriers that are in communication with each other via one or more pinion gear shafts.

7. The brake assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the output shafts are in communication with a piston, and each of the pistons are moveable along a piston axis so that during the creation of the brake apply, at least one of the pistons push a brake pad against a rotor to create the brake apply.

8. The brake assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the output shafts are in communication with a corresponding worm wheel, and each of the worm wheels are in communication with a corresponding spindle, and each of the spindles are in communication with a corresponding spindle nut, and each of the spindle nuts are in communication with a corresponding piston,
wherein the corresponding worm wheels, spindles, and spindle nuts cooperate to transfer the rotational force or the opposing rotational force from a corresponding one of the output shafts into a linear force to move the corresponding piston along a piston axis.

9. The brake assembly of claim 4 , wherein the one or more hub projections are helically-shaped.

10. The brake assembly of claim 8 , wherein each of the output shafts include a worm, and each of the worms are in communication with a corresponding one of the worm wheels.

11. The brake assembly of claim 2 , wherein the one or more output gears include helical teeth engaging helical teeth of one or more pinion gears,
wherein,
i. during the creation of the brake apply, the one or more pinion gears cause the one or more output gears to move away from the one or more carriers so that the one or more output gears are free of engagement with the one or more carriers, and
ii. during the release of the brake apply, the one or more pinion gears cause the one or more output gears to move towards a corresponding carrier until one or more of the output gears engage the one or more carriers.

12. The brake assembly of claim 11 , wherein each of the output shafts include a hub with one or more hub projections that are straight-shaped,
wherein during the creation of the brake apply, the one or more output gears are moved along the straight-shaped hub projections away from a corresponding one of the carriers, and during the release of the brake apply, the one or more output gears move along the straight shaped-hub projections towards a corresponding one of the carriers.

13. The brake assembly of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the one or more output gears includes four detents, and at least one of the one or more carriers include four corresponding notches.

14. The brake assembly of claim 4 , wherein the one or more grooves are helically-shaped so that during creation or release of the brake apply, the one or more output gears can move along the helically shaped hub projections.

15. The brake assembly of claim 6 , wherein the differential includes one or more pinion gears that rotate about the corresponding pinion gear shafts.

16. A brake assembly comprising;
a. a parking brake assembly comprising:
i. a differential including:
1. a pair of opposing carriers each of which include one or more notches; and
2. a pair of moveable output gears in selective engagement with the pair of carriers, each of the moveable output gears include one or more detents;

ii. a pair of output shafts in communication with the differential,

wherein during the creation of a brake apply, a motor supplies a rotational unlocking force to the differential and during release of the brake apply, the motor supplies a rotational locking force to the differential,
wherein during creation of the brake apply, the differential distributes the rotational unlocking force to each of the pair of output shafts until one of the pair of output shafts experiences higher resistance and then the differential re-distributes the rotational unlocking force to the other of the pair of output shafts with lower resistance, and
wherein during the release of the brake apply, the one or more detents of at least one of the pair of output gears engage the one or more notches of at least one of the pair of carriers so that the differential distributes the rotational locking force equally to each of the output shafts.

17. The brake assembly of claim 16 , wherein each of the pair of output shafts include a hub with one or more hub projections, and each of the pair of output gears includes one or more grooves slidably engaging the one or more hub projections,
wherein during the creation of the brake apply, each of the pair of output gears are moved along the one or more hub projections away from as corresponding one of the pair of carriers so that each of the pair of output gears are free of engagement with the pair of carriers, and
wherein during the release of the brake apply, one or both of the p

Assignees

• Akebono Brake Ind

Inventors

• Gutelius Kenneth Eric

Classifications

• F16D2125/48

  with parallel stationary axes, e.g. spur gears · CPC title

• F16D2121/24

  using motors · CPC title

• F16D2125/52

  with non-parallel stationary axes, e.g. worm or bevel gears · CPC title

• F16D65/18 Primary

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

• F16D55/226 Primary

  in which the common actuating member is moved axially {, e.g. floating caliper disc brakes} · CPC title