Spring applied, fluid pressure released brake

Claim 2

A brake for a shaft mounted on a frame and projecting therefrom comprising a rotatable member mounted on said projecting shaft for rotation therewith having an annular brake section, a stationary brake ring mounted on said frame between said frame and said brake member having a face adjacent to one side of said annular brake section, an axially movable brake ring adjacent to the other side of said annular brake section remote from said frame, locking means between said stationary brake ring and said axially movable brake ring to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a cover plate fixed to said stationary brake ring and, with said stationary brake ring, defining an annular chamber within which said annular brake section and said axially movable brake ring are located, spring means having one end thereof abutting a portion of said cover plate which is nonadjustable relative to the remaining portion of said cover plate, the other end of said spring means extending within said annular chamber and coacting between said cover plate and said axially movable brake ring to bias said brake ring against the shaft annular brake section, means to increase the biasing force of said spring means to compensate for any wear between brake rings and said annular brake section, said means comprising means to adjust the cover plate, including said nonadjustable portion of said cover plate and said remaining portion of said cover plate, to any one of a number of fixed positions relative to said stationary brake ring, whereby the distance between said nonadjustable portion of said cover plate and said stationary brake ring may be varied to thereby vary the biasing force of said spring means, and fluid motor means adapted to overcome the bias of said spring means to thereby release the brake.

Claim 3

A brake according to claim 1 wherein said stationary brake ring is provided with radial slots and said movable brake ring is provided with radial projections which cooperate with said slots to comprise said locking means.

Claim 4

A brake according to claim 2 wherein at least some of said radial projections are provided with replaceable side check plates which are engageable with said radial slots.

Claim 5

A brake according to claim 1 wherein the forces of said springs intersect portions of said annular brake section to thereby eliminate brake applying bending forces applied to said movable brake ring.

Claim 6

A brake according to claim 1 wherein said means to increase the biasing force of said spring means comprises shim means between said cover plate and said stationary brake ring to space said cover plate and said movable brake ring a predetermined distance apart when said movable brake ring is biased against said annular brake section whereby removal of said shim means decreases said predetermined distance between said cover plate and the movable brake ring and the spacing between the cover plate and the stationary brake ring to increase the biasing force of said spring means.

Claim 7

A brake according to claim 1 wherein said fluid motor means comprises cylinder means within said stationary brake ring, piston means slidable within said cylinder means, and brake releasing pin means extending between said piston means and said movable brake ring, whereby application of fluid pressure behind said piston moves said movable brake ring away from said annular brake section to thereby release the brake.

Claim 8

A brake according to claim 6 wherein said cylinder means comprises an annular groove in said stationary brake ring and said piston means comprises a flat ring axially slidable within said groove.

Claim 9

A brake according to claIm 1 wherein cooling means are provided for said brake.

Claim 10

A brake according to claim 8 wherein said cooling means comprises a plurality of radially extending passageways through said stationary brake ring and opening into said annular chamber.

Claim 11

A brake for a shaft mounted on a frame and projecting therefrom comprising a rotatable brake member mounted on said projecting shaft for rotation therewith having an annular brake section, a stationary brake ring mounted on said frame between said frame and brake member having a face adjacent to one side of said annular section, an axially movable brake ring adjacent to the other side of said annular section remote from said frame, locking means between said stationary ring and said axially movable brake ring to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a cover plate fixed to said stationary brake ring and, with said stationary brake ring, defining an annular chamber within which said annular brake section and said axially movable brake ring are located, spring means between said cover plate and said axially movable brake ring to bias said brake ring against said annular brake section and to thereby apply the brake to the shaft, means to increase the biasing force of said spring means to its original force to compensate for any wear between said movable brake ring and said annular brake section, said means to increase said force comprising shim means between said cover plate and said stationary brake ring, whereby removal of said shim means decreases the spacing between said cover plate and said stationary brake ring and thereby increases the biasing force of said spring means, fluid motor means comprising cylinder means within said stationary brake ring, piston means slidable within said cylinder means, brake releasing pin means extending between said piston means and said movable brake ring whereby application of fluid pressure behind said piston means moves said movable brake ring away from said annular brake section, and shim means between said brake releasing pin means and said movable brake ring.

Claim 12

A brake for a shaft mounted on a frame and projecting therefrom comprising a rotatable brake member mounted on said projecting shaft for rotation therewith having an annular brake section, a stationary brake ring mounted on said frame between said frame and brake member having a face adjacent to one side of said annular section, an axially movable brake ring adjacent to the other side of said annular section remote from said frame, locking means between said stationary ring and said axially movable brake ring to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a cover plate fixed to said stationary brake ring and, with said stationary brake ring, defining an annular chamber within which said annular brake section and said axially movable brake ring are located, spring means between said cover plate and said axially movable brake ring to bias said brake ring against said annular brake section and to thereby apply the brake to the shaft, means to increase the biasing force of said spring means to its original force to compensate for any wear between said movable brake ring and said annular brake section, said means to increase said force comprising shim means between said cover plate and said stationary brake ring, whereby removal of said shim means decreases the spacing between said cover plate and said stationary brake ring and thereby increases the biasing force of said spring means, fluid motor means comprising cylinder means within said stationary brake ring, piston means slidable within said cylinder means, brake releasing pin means extending between said piston means and said movable brake ring whereby application of fluid pressure behind said piston means moves said movable brake ring away from said annular brake section, and shim means between said brake releasing pin means and said movable brake ring.

Claim 13

A brake according to claim 10 wherein said stationary brake ring is provided with radial slots and said movable brake ring is provided with radial projections which cooperate with said slots to comprise said locking means.

Claim 14

A brake according to claim 11 wherein at least some of said radial projections are provided with replaceable side check plates which are engageable with said radial slots.

Claim 15

A brake according to claim 10 wherein said rotatable brake member is axially movable with respect to said projecting shaft.

Claim 16

A brake according to claim 10 wherein said cylinder means comprises an annular groove in said stationary brake ring and said piston means comprises a flat ring axially slidable within said groove.

Claim 17

A brake according to claim 10 wherein cooling means are provided for said brake.

Claim 18

A brake according to claim 15 wherein said cooling means comprises a plurality of radially extending passageways through said stationary brake ring and opening into said annular chamber.

Claim 19

A brake for a shaft mounted on a frame and projecting therefrom comprising a rotatable brake member mounted on said projecting shaft for rotation therewith and for axial movement with respect to said shaft, said brake member having an annular brake section, a stationary brake ring mounted on said frame between said frame and said brake member having a face adjacent to one side of said annular section, an axially movable brake ring adjacent to the other side of said annular section remote from said frame, locking means between said stationary brake ring and said axially movable brake ring to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a cover plate fixed to said stationary brake ring and, with said stationary brake ring defining an annular chamber within which said annular brake section and said axially movable brake ring are located, spring means between said cover plate and said axially movable brake ring to biaS said axially movable brake ring against said annular brake section and to thereby apply the brake to the shaft, said annular chamber having an axial dimension which is sufficient to establish clearance between said cover plate and said movable brake ring when said annular brake section is engaged by said movable brake ring, said clearance defining the brake release and brake application stroke of said axially movable brake ring, said stroke being increased by wear between said stationary brake ring and said annular brake section and between said annular brake section and said axially movable brake ring with a corresponding decrease in the biasing force exerted by said spring means, means to reestablish said biasing force and to reduce said stroke to its initial extent comprising removable shim means between said cover plate and said stationary brake ring.

Claim 20

A brake for a shaft mounted on a frame and projecting therefrom comprising a rotatable brake member mounted on said projecting shaft for rotation therewith and for axial movement with respect to said shaft, said brake member having an annular brake section, a stationary brake ring mounted on said frame between said frame and said brake member having a face adjacent to one side of said annular section, an axially movable brake ring adjacent to the other side of said annular section remote from said frame, locking means between said stationary brake ring and said axially movable brake ring to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a cover plate fixed to said stationary brake ring and, with said stationary brake ring defining an annular chamber within which said annular brake section and said axially movable brake ring are located, spring means between said cover plate and said axially movable brake ring to biaS said axially movable brake ring against said annular brake section and to thereby apply the brake to the shaft, said annular chamber having an axial dimension which is sufficient to establish clearance between said cover plate and said movable brake ring when said annular brake section is engaged by said movable brake ring, said clearance defining the brake release and brake application stroke of said axially movable brake ring, said stroke being increased by wear between said stationary brake ring and said annular brake section and between said annular brake section and said axially movable brake ring with a corresponding decrease in the biasing force exerted by said spring means, means to reestablish said biasing force and to reduce said stroke to its initial extent comprising removable shim means between said cover plate and said stationary brake ring.

Claim 21

A brake according to claim 17 wherein fluid motor means is provided to overcome the bias of said spring means to thereby release the brake.

Claim 22

A brake according to claim 18 wherein said fluid motor means comprises cylinder means within said stationary brake ring, piston means slidable within said cylinder means, and brake releasing pin means extending between said piston means and said movable brake ring, whereby application of fluid pressure behind said piston moves said movable brake ring away from said annular brake section to thereby release said brake.

Claim 23

A brake according to claim 19 wherein said cylinder comprises an annular groove in said stationary brake ring and said piston means comprises a flat ring axially slidable within said groove.

Claim 24

A brake according to claim 17 wherein said stationary brake ring is provided with radial slots and said movable brake ring is provided with radial projections which cooperate with said slots to comprise said locking means.

Claim 25

A brake according to claim 21 wherein at least some of said radial projections are provided with replaceable side check plates which are engageable with said radial slots.

Claim 26

A brake according to claim 17 wherein cooling means are provided for said brake.

Claim 27

A brake according to claim 23 wherein said cooling means comprises a plurality of radially extending passageways through said stationary brake ring and opening into said annular chamber.

Claim 28

A brake for a shaft mounted on a frame and projecting therefrom comprising a rotatable member mounted on said projecting shaft for rotation therewith having an annular brake section, a stationary brake ring mounted on said frame between said frame and said brake member having a face adjacent to one side of said annular brake section, an axially movable brake ring adjacent to the other side of said annular brake section remote from said frame, locking means between said stationary brake ring and said axially movable brake ring to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a cover plate fixed to said stationary brake ring and, with said stationary brake ring, defining an annular chamber within which said annular brake section and said axially movable brake ring are located, spring means between said cover plate and said axially movable brake ring to bias said brake ring against the annular brake section, means to increase the biasing force of said spring means to compensate for any wear between said brake rings and said annular brake section, said means to increase the biasing force comprising shim means between said cover plate and said stationary brake ring to space said cover plate and said movable brake ring a predetermined distance apart when said movable brake ring is biased against said annular brake section whereby removal of said shim means decreases said predetermined distance between said cover plate and the movable brake ring and the spacing between the cover plate and the stationary brake ring to increase the biasing force of said spring means and fluid motor means adapted to overcome the bias of said spring means to thereby release the brake.

Claim 29

A brake for a shaft mounted on a frame and projecting therefrom comprising a rotatable member mounted on said projecting shaft for rotation therewith having an annular brake section, a stationary brake ring mounted on said frame between said frame and said brake member having a face adjacent to one side of said annular brake section, an axially movable brake ring adjacent to the other side of said annular brake section remote from said frame, locking means between said stationary brake ring and said axially movable brake ring to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a cover plate fixed to said stationary brake ring and, with said stationary brake ring, defining an annular chamber within which said annular brake section and said axially movable brake ring are located, spring means between said cover plate and said axially movable brake ring to bias said brake ring against the annular brake section, means to increase the biasing force of said spring means to compensate for any wear between said brake rings and said annular brake section, said means to increase the biasing force comprising shim means between said cover plate and said stationary brake ring to space said cover plate and said movable brake ring a predetermined distance apart when said movable brake ring is biased against said annular brake section whereby removal of said shim means decreases said predetermined distance between said cover plate and the movable brake ring and the spacing between the cover plate and the stationary brake ring to increase the biasing force of said spring means and fluid motor means adapted to overcome the bias of said spring means to thereby release the brake.

Claim 30

A brake for a shaft mounted on a frame and projecting therefrom comprising a rotatable member mounting on said projecting shaft for rotation therewith having an annular brake section, a stationary brake ring mounted on said frame between said frame and said brake member having a face adjacent to one side of said annular brake section, an axially movable brake ring adjacent to the other side of said annular brake section remote from said frame, locking means between said stationary brake ring and said axially movable brake ring to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a cover plate fixed to said stationary brake ring and, with said stationary brake ring defining an annular chamber within which said annular brake section and said axially movable brake ring are located, spring means having one end thereof abutting a portion of the cover plate which is nonadjustable relative to the remaining portion of the cover plate, the other end of said spring means extending within said annular chamber and coacting between said cover plate and said axially movable brake ring to bias said brake ring against the annular brake section, said means to increase the biasing force comprising shim means between said cover plate and said stationary brake ring to space said cover plate and said movable brake ring a predetermined distance apart when said movable brake ring is biased against said annular brake section, whereby removal of said shim means decreases said predetermined distance between said cover plate and the movable brake ring and the spacing between the cover plate and the stationary brake ring to increase the biasing force of said spring means, and fluid motor means adapted to overcome the bias of said spring means to thereby release the brake.

Claim 31

A brake for a shaft mounted on a frame and projecting therefrom comprising a rotatable member mounting on said projecting shaft for rotation therewith having an annular brake section, a stationary brake ring mounted on said frame between said frame and said brake member having a face adjacent to one side of said annular brake section, an axially movable brake ring adjacent to the other side of said annular brake section remote from said frame, locking means between said stationary brake ring and said axially movable brake ring to prevent relative rotation therebetween, a cover plate fixed to said stationary brake ring and, with said stationary brake ring defining an annular chamber within which said annular brake section and said axially movable brake ring are located, spring means having one end thereof abutting a portion of the cover plate which is nonadjustable relative to the remaining portion of the cover plate, the other end of said spring means extending within said annular chamber and coacting between said cover plate and said axially movable brake ring to bias said brake ring against the annular brake section, said means to increase the biasing force comprising shim means between said cover plate and said stationary brake ring to space said cover plate and said movable brake ring a predetermined distance apart when said movable brake ring is biased against said annular brake section, whereby removal of said shim means decreases said predetermined distance between said cover plate and the movable brake ring and the spacing between the cover plate and the stationary brake ring to increase the biasing force of said spring means, and fluid motor means adapted to overcome the bias of said spring means to thereby release the brake.