FRICTION BRAKE OR CLUTCH ARRANGEMENT

• US 3,618,726 A
• Filed: 04/22/1970
• Issued: 11/09/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eisuke Sugahara
• Original Assignee: Eisuke Sugahara
• Inventors: Sugahara, Eisuke
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Application Number:
  US05/030,873
• Time in Patent Office: 566 Days
• Field of Search: 192/79,85AT,88B,17T 188/366
• US Class Current: 192/79
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/046 and causing purely radial movement
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 49/14 shaped as a fluid-filled flexible member actuated by variation of the fluid pressure

Abstract

A drum may be coupled to a wheel by means of friction shoes circumferentially distributed on the drum and mounted on carriers which may be pressed radially inward against an outer friction face of the wheel by an inflatable tube interposed between the carriers and the drum. Each carrier is guided by an axially elongated, square bar secured between two radial flanges of the drum and movably confined between radial guide walls of the carrier. The central portion of a plate spring having the shape of a wide V is mounted on each end of the bar, and the terminal spring portions engage an inner circumferential wall of the carrier to bias the friction shoe associated with the carrier away from the wheel. The springs prevent slipping engagement between the shoes and the friction face of the wheel when pressure fluid is released from the inflatable tube.

Claims

1. In a brake or clutch arrangement including i. a first coupling member mounted for rotation about an axis and having a face exteNding about said axis;

ii. a second coupling member having a face extending about said axis spacedly opposite said face of said first member;

iii. a plurality of carriers secured on one of said members against angular movement relative to said one member about said axis;

iv. fluid-operated pressure means interposed between said face of said one member and each of said carriers for moving said carrier toward said face of the other member; and

v. a friction element mounted on each carrier for engagement with said face of the other member upon said moving of the carriers, the improvement in each carrier which comprises;

a. two walls circumferential relative to said axis and connected in radially offset relationship to bound a casing, one of said walls being adjacent said face of said one member and the other wall being adjacent said face of the other member and carrying friction element;

b. an elongated bearing bar circumferentially guided in said for radial movement between said walls and partly projecting from said casing, a projecting part said one member and the other wall being adjacent said face of the other member and carrying said friction element;

b. an elongated bearing bar circumferentially guided in said casing for radial movement between said walls and partly projecting from said casing, a projecting part of said bar being secured to said one member; and

c. yieldably resilient means interposed in said casing between said bar and said one wall for biasing said casing radially away from said face of the other member, 1. said yieldably resilient means including a plate spring having a central portion mounted on said bearing bar and two terminal portions engaging said one wall, 2. said plate spring having two opposite major surfaces, 3. the major surfaces of said central portion of the plate spring extending in respective parallel planes transverse to the major surfaces of said terminal portions, 4. said central portion being apertured and receiving said bearing bar in the aperture thereof.

2. In an arrangement as set forth in claim 1, said bearing bar having a planar face extending in the direction of said movement of the bar, and said casing including a guide wall extending between said circumferential walls and slidably engaging said planar face during said movement of the bar.

3. the major surfaces of said central portion of the plate spring extending in respective parallel planes transverse to the major surfaces of said terminal portions,

4. In an arrangement as set forth in claim 1, said terminal portions extending from said central portion toward said one wall in a radial direction and in opposite respective circumferential directions.

5. In an arrangement as set forth in claim 4, said one member being formed with a radial flange, having an opening, said part of the bearing bar being received in said opening, said bearing bar being formed with a shoulder adjacent said part thereof, and said central portion being interposed between said shoulder and said flange for longitudinally securing said bearing bar relative to said one member.

6. In an arrangement as set forth in claim 5, said central portion resiliently urging said shoulder away from said flange, respective spaced parts of said central portion abuttingly engaging said shoulder and said flange.