Thin-walled brake diaphragm

• US 6,647,860 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Longwood Industries, Inc. (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Longwood Industries, Inc. (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Haralalka, Niranjan, Savel, Robert M., Burcham, Tracy
• Primary Examiner(s): Look, Edward K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LESLIE, MICHAEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/764,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 921/03.F, 92/98.R, 92/61
• US Class Current: 92/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/081 Single service brake actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 3/02 Diaphragms

Abstract

A fabric reinforced, resilient brake diaphragm for use in a fluid pressure operated braking system is provided. The diaphragm comprises an annular outer flange for engaging the housing of the braking system, a bottom planar wall having an interior surface for engaging the piston of the braking system, an annular sidewall connecting the outer flange and the bottom planar wall and a plurality of spaced planar tabs disposed on the interior surface of the bottom planar wall extending radially from the intersection between the annular sidewall and the bottom planar wall toward the center of the interior surface. The diaphragm has a thin-walled construction with the bottom planar wall and annular sidewall having a thickness of between approximately 0.06 inches and approximately 0.10 inches.

Claims

1. A fabric reinforced, resilient brake diaphragm for use in a fluid pressure operated brake actuator, said actuator comprising a housing containing a piston and said diaphragm, said diaphragm comprising:

an annular outer flange for engaging said housing;

a bottom planar wall having an interior surface for engaging said piston;

an annular sidewall connecting said outer flange and said bottom planar wall; and

a plurality of spaced planar tabs disposed on said interior surface, each of said planar tabs extending radially, from the intersection between said annular sidewall and said bottom planar wall, toward the center of said interior surface.

2. A brake diaphragm as in claim 1, wherein said planar tabs are evenly spaced on said interior surface along said intersection and are four in number.

3. A brake diaphragm as in claim 1, wherein said planar tabs are evenly spaced on said interior surface along said intersection and are three in number.

4. A brake diaphragm as in claim 1, wherein said planar tabs are evenly spaced on said interior surface along said intersection and are two in number.

5. A brake diaphragm as in claim 1, wherein each of said tabs is a rectangle extending radially for approximately one third of the distance from said intersection to the center of said interior surface.

6. A brake diaphragm as in claim 5, wherein the width of each rectangle is approximately one half of the length of each rectangle.