Double diaphragm brake operator improvements

Claim 2

A brake actuating device having operable connection with the braking mechanism of a vehicle, comprising, a closed housing divided into inner and outer compartments, a pair of flexible diaphragms peripherally secured in the outer compartment, a first pressurized fluid input between the outboard one of said diaphragms and the outboard end of the outer compartment, a first spacing ring between said diaphragms, a second pressurized fluid input between said two diaphragms through the spacing ring therebetween, a brake operating rod surmounted by a diaphragm abutment plate extending axially through the inner and outer compartments and having attachement to the braking mechanism, a movable wall mounted within the inner compartment equipped with a tubular axial extension surrounding and having abutting engagement at its inner end with said rod, an annular member forming the partition between the inner and outer compartments, a power compression spring unit between the said annular member and movable wall, a rod return compression spring between the diaphragm abutment plate and movable wall, an air inlet for introducing compressed air to the inner compartment between the movable wall and the inner end of the housing wherein the improvement comprises a diaphragm retaining ring encircling the peripheries of said diaphragms and first ring spacing same, the width of said retaining ring at least equal to the combined thickness of the two diaphragms, in clamped state, with the first spacing ring clamped therebetween, and said retaining ring positioned inward of a clamp band circumferentially gripping all of said diaphragms, said first spacing ring and said retaining ring therewithin.

Claim 3

A device as in claim 1 wherein the diaphragm abutment plate is arcuate in form over its outboard surface, and the rod return spring cooperates between the diaphragm abutment plate and the movable wall.

Claim 4

In combination, a housing, said housing having inner and other ends with respect to the vehicle brake mechanism, one end of he housing closed by an inner wall member having a central opening therethrough, the other end of said housing closed by an outer wall member, a movable wall within said housing with the outer face thereof next the outer wall member of said housing, a rod connected at one end thereof centrally of said movable wall, extending inwardly of the latter and having a sliding fit through the inner wall member central opening, an air inlet into said housing between the inner wall member and the inner face of the movable wall, whereby to permit pressurization of the movable wall pressurization chamber defined between said movable wall and the inner wall member, an air brake chamber inboard of said housing with the inner wall member of the housing constituting at least in part one of a pair of members defining said air brake chamber therebetween and having continuous, opposed, circumferential flanges thereon, a pair of diaphragms peripherally engaged by said brake chamber defining member flanges, a first pressurized fluid input into the space between the outboard one of said diaphragms and the outer air brake chamber defing member, a second pressurized fluid input between the two diaphragms, and a diaphragm retainer ring encircling the peripheries of said diaphragms, said ring of width at least equal to the thickness of the two diaphragms when the latter are clamped between said flanges, the flanges of said chamber and said diaphragms circumferentially and peripherally gripped by a clamp band, said retainer ring positioned inward of the clamp band and outward of the said diaphragms and flanges.

Claim 5

In combination, a housing, said housing having inner and other ends with respect to the vehicle brake mechanism, one end of he housing closed by an inner wall member having a central opening therethrough, the other end of said housing closed by an outer wall member, a movable wall within said housing with the outer face thereof next the outer wall member of said housing, a rod connected at one end thereof centrally of said movable wall, extending inwardly of the latter and having a sliding fit through the inner wall member central opening, an air inlet into said housing between the inner wall member and the inner face of the movable wall, whereby to permit pressurization of the movable wall pressurization chamber defined between said movable wall and the inner wall member, an air brake chamber inboard of said housing with the inner wall member of the housing constituting at least in part one of a pair of members defining said air brake chamber therebetween and having continuous, opposed, circumferential flanges thereon, a pair of diaphragms peripherally engaged by said brake chamber defining member flanges, a first pressurized fluid input into the space between the outboard one of said diaphragms and the outer air brake chamber defing member, a second pressurized fluid input between the two diaphragms, and a diaphragm retainer ring encircling the peripheries of said diaphragms, said ring of width at least equal to the thickness of the two diaphragms when the latter are clamped between said flanges, the flanges of said chamber and said diaphragms circumferentially and peripherally gripped by a clamp band, said retainer ring positioned inward of the clamp band and outward of the said diaphragms and flanges.

Claim 6

A device as in claim 3 wherein a spacing ring is positioned between said paired diaphragms, the second pressurized fluid input between the two diaphragms is through said sPacing ring and said retainer ring encircles both said diaphragms and ring spacing same, the width of said retainer ring at least equal to the combined thickness of the two diaphragms, in clamped state, with the spacing ring clamped therebetween.

Claim 7

In combination, a housing said housing having inner and outer ends with respect to a vehicle brake mechanism, one end of the housing closed by a first inner wall member having a central opening therethrough, the other end of said housing closed by an outer wall member, a movable wall within said housing with the outer face thereof next the outer wall member of said housing, a rod connected at one end thereof centrally of said movable wall, extending inwardly of the latter and having a sliding fit through the first inner wall member central opening, an air inlet into said housing between the first inner wall member and the inner face of the movable wall, whereby to permit a pressurization of a movable wall pressurization chamber defined between said movable wall and the first inner wall member, an air brake chamber inboard of said housing with the first inner wall member of the housing constituting at least in part one of a pair of members defining said air brake chamber therebetween and having continuous, opposed, circumferential flanges thereon; a pair of diaphragms peripherally engaged by said chamber defining member flanges, a first pressurized fluid input into the space between the outboard one of said diaphragms and the first inner wall member, a second pressurized fluid input between the two diaphragms, a brake operating push rod operably connected with the inboard diaphragm on the side thereof inboard of the chamber moving in and out corresponding to the action of the inboard diaphragm, a diaphragm return spring within the non-pressurized inboard segment of the chamber, the operable connection of the push rod with the inboard diaphragm comprising a circular diaphragm abutment plate, said plate arcuate outboard in transverse section and having a circumferential spring retainer groove formed in the inboard face thereof, and a second inner wall member constituting the other wall of the chamber and means on the outboard face of the second inner wall member adapted to contact the peripheral inboard face of the diaphragm abutment plate before same contacts the second inner wall member as the inboard diaphragm moves inwardly to operate the brake, wherein the improvement comprises a clamp band removably and substantially circumferentially gripping the flanges of the members defining the chamber and the peripheries of the diaphragms therebetween, and a diaphragm retainer ring encircling the peripheries of said diaphragms, said ring of width at least equal to the thickness of the two diaphragms when the latter are clamped between said flanges, said ring positioned inboard of the clamp band and outboard of the diaphragms and flanges.

Claim 8

In combination, a housing said housing having inner and outer ends with respect to a vehicle brake mechanism, one end of the housing closed by a first inner wall member having a central opening therethrough, the other end of said housing closed by an outer wall member, a movable wall within said housing with the outer face thereof next the outer wall member of said housing, a rod connected at one end thereof centrally of said movable wall, extending inwardly of the latter and having a sliding fit through the first inner wall member central opening, an air inlet into said housing between the first inner wall member and the inner face of the movable wall, whereby to permit a pressurization of a movable wall pressurization chamber defined between said movable wall and the first inner wall member, an air brake chamber inboard of said housing with the first inner wall member of the housing constituting at least in part one of a pair of members defining said air brake chamber therebetween and having continuous, opposed, circumferential flanges thereon; a pair of diaphragms peripherally engaged by said chamber defining member flanges, a first pressurized fluid input into the space between the outboard one of said diaphragms and the first inner wall member, a second pressurized fluid input between the two diaphragms, a brake operating push rod operably connected with the inboard diaphragm on the side thereof inboard of the chamber moving in and out corresponding to the action of the inboard diaphragm, a diaphragm return spring within the non-pressurized inboard segment of the chamber, the operable connection of the push rod with the inboard diaphragm comprising a circular diaphragm abutment plate, said plate arcuate outboard in transverse section and having a circumferential spring retainer groove formed in the inboard face thereof, and a second inner wall member constituting the other wall of the chamber and means on the outboard face of the second inner wall member adapted to contact the peripheral inboard face of the diaphragm abutment plate before same contacts the second inner wall member as the inboard diaphragm moves inwardly to operate the brake, wherein the improvement comprises a clamp band removably and substantially circumferentially gripping the flanges of the members defining the chamber and the peripheries of the diaphragms therebetween, and a diaphragm retainer ring encircling the peripheries of said diaphragms, said ring of width at least equal to the thickness of the two diaphragms when the latter are clamped between said flanges, said ring positioned inboard of the clamp band and outboard of the diaphragms and flanges.