Disc brake

Claim 2

A brake comprising a rotor having means for coupling to a shaft, a plurality of rotor discs, cooperating means on said discs and said rotor for mounting the rotor discs on the rotor for rotation therewith but permitting axially sliding movement of the rotor discs relative to said rotor, a stator including a housing that receives said rotor and said rotor discs, a plurality of stator discs in said housing and being interleaved with said rotor discs, said rotor discs and said stator discs comprising a disc assembly that has a primary stator disc, an abutment in said housing, spring means interposed between said primary stator disc and a part of said housing for biasing said disc assembly against said abutment when the brake is engaged, a piston in said housing and having an annular skirt engaging said primary stator disc and being in surrounding relation to the rotor discs, said piston skirt having at least one axial slot, torque pin means radially outwardly of said skirt and attached to said housing, a plurality of said stator discs projecting through said slot for engagement with said torque pin means such that the stator discs are axially slidable on said torque pin means but are retained non-rotatably in said housing, said piston being axially movable upon application of fluid pressure thereto to shift said primary stator disc away from said abutment and in opposition to said means, thereby to release said brake.

Claim 3

A brake accordinG to claim 1 in which said primary stator disc is an end-most of said stator discs.

Claim 4

A brake according to claim 1 in which said torque pin means has springs thereon that are interposed between adjacent stator discs.

Claim 5

In a hydraulic brake having a rotor, rotor discs rotatably mounted on the rotor, a stator including stator discs interleaved with the rotor discs and torque pins attached to the peripheries of the stator discs to prevent rotation of said stator discs but permitting axial sliding movement thereon, spring means normally biasing the rotor and stator discs axially into frictional engagement to provide a brake-engaged condition, and a piston operable by hydraulic fluid in opposition to said spring means and having an annular skirt engaging one of said stator discs to shift said one stator disc axially and release said frictional engagement, said skirt having axially extending slots through which a plurality of said stator discs project to permit engagement thereof with said torque pins.

Claim 6

In a hydraulic brake having a rotor, rotor discs rotatably mounted on the rotor, a stator including stator discs interleaved with the rotor discs and torque pins attached to the peripheries of the stator discs to prevent rotation of said stator discs but permitting axial sliding movement thereon, spring means normally biasing the rotor and stator discs axially into frictional engagement to provide a brake-engaged condition, and a piston operable by hydraulic fluid in opposition to said spring means and having an annular skirt engaging one of said stator discs to shift said one stator disc axially and release said frictional engagement, said skirt having axially extending slots through which a plurality of said stator discs project to permit engagement thereof with said torque pins.

Claim 7

In a hydraulic brake according to claim 4, said torque pins having a coil spring interposed between two adjacent stator discs.

Claim 8

In a hydraulic brake according to claim 4, said rotor and rotor discs having a splined connection.

Claim 9

A brake comprising a rotor having an output shaft portion for removable coupling to a unit to be driven and an input shaft portion for removable coupling to a power input unit, axially shiftable rotor discs on said rotor in splined connection therewith, a stator including a housing that receives said rotor, said housing comprising a power plate at one end thereof and presenting an annular abutment surface, a plurality of axially shiftable stator discs in said housing and being interleaved with said rotor discs, said rotor discs and stator discs comprising a disc assembly, spring means normally biasing said disc assembly into brake engaged position, an annular chamber in said power plate surrounding said abutment surface, an annular piston in said chamber and having an annular skirt surrounding said rotor discs and engaging one of the stator discs of said disc assembly at an end opposite from said abutment surface, said disc assembly being axially intermediate said piston and said spring means and including at least a second end stator disc disposed for engagement with said abutment surface, said skirt also surrounding and extending axially along said last mentioned stator disc, said piston being operable in opposition to said spring means to release said brake, a bearing in said housing and journalling said rotor at said output shaft portion thereof, said bearing being axially spaced from said disc assembly, and means for mounting said housing on the unit to be driven and on the power input unit, torque absorbing means in said housing, said last mentioned stator disc including a radially projecting portion for engaging the torque absorbing means, and said skirt having an opening therein providing clearance for said radially projecting portion.

Claim 10

A brake comprising a rotor having an output shaft portion for removable coupling to a unit to be driven and an input shaft portion for removable coupling to a power input unit, axially shiftable rotor discs on said rotor in splined connection therewith, a stator including a housing that receives said rotor, said housing comprising a power plate at one end thereof and presenting an annular abutment surface, a plurality of axially shiftable stator discs in said housing and being interleaved with said rotor discs, said rotor discs and stator discs comprising a disc assembly, spring means normally biasing said disc assembly into brake engaged position, an annular chamber in said power plate surrounding said abutment surface, an annular piston in said chamber and having an annular skirt surrounding said rotor discs and engaging one of the stator discs of said disc assembly at an end opposite from said abutment surface, said disc assembly being axially intermediate said piston and said spring means and including at least a second end stator disc disposed for engagement with said abutment surface, said skirt also surrounding and extending axially along said last mentioned stator disc, said piston being operable in opposition to said spring means to release said brake, a bearing in said housing and journalling said rotor at said output shaft portion thereof, said bearing being axially spaced from said disc assembly, and means for mounting said housing on the unit to be driven and on the power input unit, torque absorbing means in said housing, said last mentioned stator disc including a radially projecting portion for engaging the torque absorbing means, and said skirt having an opening therein providing clearance for said radially projecting portion.

Claim 11

A brake comprising housing means for receiving a rotor, axially shiftable rotor disc means within said housing and connectable with said rotor for rotation therewith and for relative axial movement with respect thereto, a plurality of axially shiftable stator discs in said housing and interlleaved with said rotor disc means, said rotor disc means and said stator discs comprising a disc assembly, spring means engaging a first stator disc and normally biasing said disc assembly into brake engaged position, piston means in said housing and including means extending axially along peripheral edges of said rotor disc means and at least a second of said stator discs and engaging said first stator disc of the disc assembly for releasing the brake upon actuation of the piston means, torque absorbing means in said housing, said stator discs including radially projecting portions for engaging said torque absorbing means, and said axially extending means of said piston means providing clearance For said radially projecting stator disc portions.

Claim 12

A brake comprising housing means for receiving a rotor, axially shiftable rotor disc means within said housing and connectable with said rotor for rotation therewith and for relative axial movement with respect thereto, a plurality of axially shiftable stator discs in said housing and interlleaved with said rotor disc means, said rotor disc means and said stator discs comprising a disc assembly, spring means engaging a first stator disc and normally biasing said disc assembly into brake engaged position, piston means in said housing and including means extending axially along peripheral edges of said rotor disc means and at least a second of said stator discs and engaging said first stator disc of the disc assembly for releasing the brake upon actuation of the piston means, torque absorbing means in said housing, said stator discs including radially projecting portions for engaging said torque absorbing means, and said axially extending means of said piston means providing clearance For said radially projecting stator disc portions.

Claim 13

A brake according to claim 8, wherein said piston means includes annularly arranged portions and said axially extending means includes annularly arranged portions engaging said first stator disc.

Claim 14

A brake according to claim 9, wherein said spring means includes a plurality of annularly arranged coil springs engaging said first stator disc oppositely from said piston means.