DIFFERENTIAL FOR A PARKING BRAKE ASSEMBLY

• US 20160290424A1
• Filed: 04/01/2015
• Published: 10/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Company Limited (Akebono Brake Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Akebono Brake Industry Company Limited (Akebono Brake Corporation)
• Inventors: Gutelius, Kenneth Eric
• Granted Patent: US 9,587,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/24 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/48 with parallel stationary axes, e.g. spur gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/52 with non-parallel stationary axes, e.g. worm or bevel gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 55/226 in which the common actuating member is moved axially , e.g. floating caliper disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/18 adapted for drawing members together , e.g. for disc brakes
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/183 with force-transmitting members arranged side by side acting on a spot type force-applying member

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.

Claims

1. ) A brake assembly comprising:

i. a differential; and

ii. one or more output shafts,

wherein during rotation of at least one of the one or more output shafts a brake apply is created or released,

wherein 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, and

wherein during release of the brake apply the differential distributes an opposing rotational force equally to each of the one or more 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 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 so that the differential can distribute the opposing rotational force equally to each of the one or more 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 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 can distribute the opposing rotational force equally to each of the one or more output shafts.

4. ) The brake assembly of claim 2, wherein each of the one or more output shafts includes 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 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 release of the brake apply, the hub projections 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.

5. ) The brake assembly of claim 4, wherein each of the hubs includes a stopper,

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

8. ) The brake assembly of claim 7, wherein the one or more output shafts are in communication with one or more corresponding worm wheels, and the one or more worm wheels are in communication with one or more spindles, and the one or more spindles are in communication with one or more spindle nuts, and the one or more spindle nuts are in communication with the one or more pistons,

wherein the one or more worm wheels, spindles, and spindle nuts cooperate to transfer rotational force supplied by the one or more output shafts into linear force to move the one or more pistons along the 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 one or more output shafts include a worm, and each worm is in communication with a corresponding worm wheel.

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 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 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 one or more output shafts includes a hub with one or more hub projections that are straight-shaped,

wherein during creation of the brake apply, the one or more output gears are moved along the straight-shaped hub projections away from the one or more carriers, and during release of the brake apply, the one or more output gears move along the straight shaped-hub projections towards a corresponding carrier.

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 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 can distribute 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 includes 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 creation of the brake apply, each of the pair of output gears are moved along the one or more hub projections away from a 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 release of the brake apply, one or both of the pair of output gears are moved along the one or more hub projections towards a corresponding one or both of the pair of opposing carriers until one or both of the pair of output gears engage a corresponding one or both carriers of the pair of carriers.

18. ) The brake assembly of any of claim 16, wherein the brake assembly includes one or more brake pads in communication with one or more piston assemblies, the one or more piston assemblies each include at least one moveable piston in communication with at least one worm wheel,

wherein each of the pair of output shafts are in communication with one of the one or more piston assemblies, and each of the one or more pistons are moveable along a piston axis so that during creation of the brake apply, at least one of the one or more pistons push the at least one brake pad against a rotor to create the brake apply.

19. ) The brake assembly of claim 18, wherein the at least one worm wheel is in communication with one or more spindles, and the one or more spindles are in communication with one or more spindle nuts, and the one or more spindle nuts are in communication with the one or more pistons,

wherein the one or more worm wheels, spindles, and spindle nuts cooperate to transfer the rotational unlocking force, the rotational locking force, or supplied by at least one of the pair output shafts into a linear force to move the one or more pistons along the piston axis.

20. ) The brake assembly of claim 16, wherein the one or more output gears include helical teeth engaging helical teeth of one or more pinion gears,

wherein,

i. during 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 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.