Brake assembly with new locking mechanism
First Claim
1. An air-applied, mechanically-held brake assembly for the brake of a vehicle, comprising:
- a housing having a first end wall, a second end wall, and an interior wall dividing the housing into first and second compartments intermediate the interior wall and the first and second end walls, respectively;
a hollow first rod extending reciprocably through the first end wall for connection to the brake;
a first pressure-responsive member operating within the first compartment to define a first pressure chamber between the first member and the interior wall and fixed to the first rod to move the first rod in a first direction to apply the brake responsive to the supply of fluid pressure to the first chamber,first means biasing the first rod in the opposite direction to release the brake responsive to the exhaust of fluid pressure from the first chamber;
a hollow second rod mounted on the interior wall and extending into the hollow first rod;
a third rod reciprocable within the hollow second rod;
a second pressure-responsive member operating within the second compartment to define a second pressure chamber between the second member and the second end wall and arranged to move the third rod in the first direction responsive to the supply of fluid pressure to the second chamber;
second means biasing the third rod in the other direction responsive to the exhaust of fluid pressure from the second chamber;
expander means on the second rod;
wedging means carried by the third rod for disposal about the expander means so as to be expanded into locking engagement with the hollow first rod as the third rod moves in the second direction;
means in the housing through which air under pressure may be supplied to the first pressure chamber to move the first rod in the one direction to apply the brake and exhausted from the first pressure chamber to permit the first rod to be moved by the first biasing means in the other direction to release the brake; and
means through which air under pressure may be exhausted from the second pressure chamber to permit the second biasing means to move the third rod in the other direction to lock the brake and supplied to the second pressure chamber to compound the force of air under pressure in the first pressure chamber and overcome the second biasing means in order to move the third rod in the one direction to unlock the brake.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed is an air-applied, mechanically-held brake assembly and a vehicle air brake system employing the same. The brake assembly applies and releases the brake upon the supply and exhaust, respectively, of air from a first pressure chamber. The brake assembly locks and unlocks the brake in an applied position by the exhaust and supply, respectively, of air from a second pressure chamber. The locking mechanism of the brake assembly is designed to compound the force of the fluid pressure in the first pressure chamber with the force of the fluid pressure supplied to the second pressure chamber when unlocking the brake to compensate for back pressure.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An air-applied, mechanically-held brake assembly for the brake of a vehicle, comprising:
-
a housing having a first end wall, a second end wall, and an interior wall dividing the housing into first and second compartments intermediate the interior wall and the first and second end walls, respectively; a hollow first rod extending reciprocably through the first end wall for connection to the brake; a first pressure-responsive member operating within the first compartment to define a first pressure chamber between the first member and the interior wall and fixed to the first rod to move the first rod in a first direction to apply the brake responsive to the supply of fluid pressure to the first chamber, first means biasing the first rod in the opposite direction to release the brake responsive to the exhaust of fluid pressure from the first chamber; a hollow second rod mounted on the interior wall and extending into the hollow first rod; a third rod reciprocable within the hollow second rod; a second pressure-responsive member operating within the second compartment to define a second pressure chamber between the second member and the second end wall and arranged to move the third rod in the first direction responsive to the supply of fluid pressure to the second chamber; second means biasing the third rod in the other direction responsive to the exhaust of fluid pressure from the second chamber; expander means on the second rod; wedging means carried by the third rod for disposal about the expander means so as to be expanded into locking engagement with the hollow first rod as the third rod moves in the second direction; means in the housing through which air under pressure may be supplied to the first pressure chamber to move the first rod in the one direction to apply the brake and exhausted from the first pressure chamber to permit the first rod to be moved by the first biasing means in the other direction to release the brake; and means through which air under pressure may be exhausted from the second pressure chamber to permit the second biasing means to move the third rod in the other direction to lock the brake and supplied to the second pressure chamber to compound the force of air under pressure in the first pressure chamber and overcome the second biasing means in order to move the third rod in the one direction to unlock the brake. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification