Brake device

Claim 2

A brake device comprising a rotary disc having a peripherally extending groove, said groove being configured to taper radially inwardly and opening radially outwardly, a pair of arcuate shoes arranged in end-to-end relation extending conformably along and spacedly within said groove, pivot means connecting together one pair of ends of said shoes for relative swinging movement of the shoes toward each other into braking engagement within the groove and away from each other out of said braking engagement, operating means interconnecting the other pair of shoe ends for moving the latter toward and away from each other, and reinforcing means comprising cam means operatively associated in camming engagement with said pivot means to move said shoes radially inwardly responsive to angular shoe displacement about the disc axis for enhancing the braking action of said shoes.

Claim 3

A brake device according to claim 1, said operating means comprising fluid actuable piston and cylinder means, and resilient means biasing said piston and cylinder means toward a position of shoe movement away from each other.

Claim 4

A brake device according to claim 2, said piston and cylinder means being offset from said groove and shoes, and comprising a yoke anchored to one of said shoes extending toward the other of said shoes, a cylinder carried by said yoke and having one end opening toward said one shoe, a piston slidable in said cylinder through said one cylinder end, and connection means connecting said piston to the other of said shoes, whereby reciprocatory sliding movement of said piston effects shoe movement toward and away from each other.

Claim 5

A brake device according to claim 2, said piston and cylinder means being offset from said groove and shoes for increased cooling remote from the heat of said shoes and disc.

Claim 6

A braking device according to claim 1, said shoes being substantially semicircular and combining for substantially circular braking engagement in said groove.

Claim 7

A brake device according to claim 5, said shoes being generally wedge-shaped in section for conforming braking engagement in said groove.

Claim 8

A brake device according to claim 1, in combination with resilient means urging said pivot means relative to said cam against the direction of angular shoe displacement for release of said braking action.

Claim 9

A brake device according to claim 7, said resilient means being operatively connected between said pivot means and cam.

Claim 10

A brake device comprising a rotary disc having a peripherally extending groove, said groove being configured to taper radially inwardly and opening radially outwardly, a pair of arcuate shoes arranged in end-to-end relation extending conformably along and spacedly within said groove, pivot means connecting together one pair of ends of said shoes for relative swinging movement of said shoes toward each other into braking engagement within said groove and away from each other out of said braking engagement, operating means interconnecting the other pair of shoe ends for moving the latter toward and away from each other, reinforcing means operatively associated with said shoes to move the latter radially inwardly responsive to angular shoe displacement about the disc axis for enhancing the braking action of said shoes, said disc being provided with a second peripherally extending groove alongside of said first-mentioned groove, said second groove tapering radially inwardly and opening radially outwardly, a second pair of arcuate shoes arranged in end-to-end relation conformably along and in spaced relation within said second groove, and second pivot means connecting together one pair of ends of said second shoes for relative swinging movement of said second shoes toward each other into braking engagement Within said second groove and away from each other out of said braking engagement, said operating means interconnecting the other pair of ends of said second pair of shoes for moving the latter toward and away from each other, and said reinforcing means being operatively associated with said second pair of shoes to move the latter radially inwardly responsive to angular displacement of said second shoes about the disc axis for enhanced braking action of said second pair of shoes.

Claim 11

A brake device comprising a rotary disc having a peripherally extending groove, said groove being configured to taper radially inwardly and opening radially outwardly, a pair of arcuate shoes arranged in end-to-end relation extending conformably along and spacedly within said groove, pivot means connecting together one pair of ends of said shoes for relative swinging movement of said shoes toward each other into braking engagement within said groove and away from each other out of said braking engagement, operating means interconnecting the other pair of shoe ends for moving the latter toward and away from each other, reinforcing means operatively associated with said shoes to move the latter radially inwardly responsive to angular shoe displacement about the disc axis for enhancing the braking action of said shoes, said disc being provided with a second peripherally extending groove alongside of said first-mentioned groove, said second groove tapering radially inwardly and opening radially outwardly, a second pair of arcuate shoes arranged in end-to-end relation conformably along and in spaced relation within said second groove, and second pivot means connecting together one pair of ends of said second shoes for relative swinging movement of said second shoes toward each other into braking engagement Within said second groove and away from each other out of said braking engagement, said operating means interconnecting the other pair of ends of said second pair of shoes for moving the latter toward and away from each other, and said reinforcing means being operatively associated with said second pair of shoes to move the latter radially inwardly responsive to angular displacement of said second shoes about the disc axis for enhanced braking action of said second pair of shoes.

Claim 12

A brake device according to claim 9, said reinforcing means comprising a specifically configured cam engageable with said pivot means to effect said radial displacement.

Claim 13

A brake device according to claim 11, in combination with resilient means urging said pivot means relative to said cam against the direction of angular shoe displacement for release of said braking action.

Claim 14

A brake device according to claim 9, said operating means comprising fluid actuable piston and cylinder means, and resilient means biasing said piston and cylinder means toward a position of shoe movement away from each other.

Claim 15

A brake device according to claim 13, said piston and cylinder means being offset from said grooves and shoes for increased cooling remote from the heat of said shoes and disc.

Claim 16

A brake device according to claim 9, said shoes being substantially semicircular and combining for substantially circular braking engagement in said grooves.

Claim 17

A brake device according to claim 15, said shoes being generally wedge-shaped in section for conforming engagement in said grooves.