Alliedsignal Inc.

The Bendix Corporation

Allied Corporation

Bendix Westinghouse Limited

Other

Alistair G Taig

Donald D Johannesen

David D Jordan

Robert W Jackson

Kenneth S Towers

Seong K Rhee

Kevin B Parks

Paul J Grabill

James K Roberts, Deceased

Thomas G Lankford

Richard N DeHays

Peter D Morgan

An ultrasonic pump having a first housing connected to a second housing to create a cavity therebetween. The first housing has a central stem that extends into the cavity with a passage for connecting the cavity with an outlet port. The second housing has an inlet port for communicating hydraulic fluid to the cavity. A plurality of piezoelectric disc are located on the stem by a first diaphragm to defined a actuation chamber within the cavity. The first diaphragm engages the first housing and stem to isolate the piezoelectric disc from hydraulic fluid supplied to the cavity and place a predetermined axial force on the piezoelectric disc. A second diaphragm located in the first and second housing has first and second surfaces which are substantially equal distances from the passage and the inlet port. Thereafter, air is bleed from the cavity to assure that only hydraulic fluid is present in the cavity. The piezoelectric disc are connected to a source of electrical energy and in response to an excitation signal develop a fluctuating force. The fluctuating force has an axial component and a radial component and the axial component alone is communicated to the first diaphragm. After the axial component of the fluctuating force overcomes the predetermined axial force, the fluid pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the cavity changes as a function of the axial component force. This change in fluid pressure causes sequential movement of first and second surfaces of the second diaphragm toward the inlet port and passage and as a result hydraulic fluid is transmitted from the cavity through the passage to the outlet port.

Piezoelectric booster pump for a braking system

The ultrasonic hydraulic booster pump (10, 150) comprises a backing plate housing (11) defining a cavity (14) closed at one end (13) by an end cap (18), the end cap (18) having an inlet port (20) and the backing plate housing (11) having an outlet port (16). A diaphragm (35). (30) having a plurality of openings (33) is mounted between the end cap (18) and a spacer member (35) located within the cavity. A plurality of annular shaped piezoelectric rings or discs (60) are located within a ring housing (40) disposed within the spacer member A plug member (50) with a through opening (52) extends through a central through opening (44) in the ring housing (40) and includes a valve seat (58) disposed closely adjacent a solid central portion (34) of the diaphragm (30) , and the end cap (18) includes a valve seat (22) disposed closely adjacent the opposite side of the diaphragm (30). An alternating voltage applied to the piezoelectric rings (60) causes excitation thereof and resonance of the diaphragm (30) so that hydraulic fluid is pumped from the inlet port (20) and out the outlet port (16). The ultrasonic hydraulic booster pump (150) provides increased or boost pressure in a hydraulic braking system (100).

Ultrasonic hydraulic booster pump and braking system

The apply and release hydraulic parking valve (20, 120) comprises a housing (40, 140) having therein a bore (42) with first (52, 152) and second (54, 154) reservoir grooves communicating with one or more reservoir ports (46, 146A, 146B), a supply groove (63) communicating with a supply port (47, 147), and apply (44, 144) and release ports (48, 148) communicating with said bore (42, 142). A spool valve (60, 160) is located slidably within the bore (42), the spool valve (60, 160) activated by a lever (31, 131) received within an opening (67, 167) of the spool valve (60, 160). One end of the spool valve (60, 160) has a pair of washers (74, 76) disposed thereabout with a spring member (80, 180) located about the spool valve (60, 160) and between the washers (74, 76), and a stop sleeve (82, 182) located about the spool valve (160, 60). The spool valve (60, 160) includes a chamfered groove (61) engaging a check valve (50, 150) within the supply port (47, 147). Displacement of the lever (31, 131) effects axial displacement of the spool valve (60, 160) which opens the check valve (50, 55) to permit hydraulic fluid pressure to be communicated to the bore (42) and with the apply and release ports (44, 144, 48, 148) corresponding to the direction of axial displacement of the spool valve (60, 160).

Apply and release hydraulic parking valve

The caliper support key (40) provides a low spring load/high damping support for a caliper (12) mounted on a support member (14). The caliper (12) includes at each circumferential side a recess (20) which may receive a protrusion (16, 18) from the support member (14). At one side of the caliper (12), the support key (40) is located between the protrusion (16) and recess (20). The support key (40) comprises a generally H-shaped key support member (40) receiving at one side thereof the protrusion (16) and the other side a stepped opening (49) defining portions of a first (50) and a second (52) cavity. A plunger (60) of the caliper support key (40) engages a surface (21) of the recess (20) in the caliper (12) and extends through the first cavity (50) and into the second cavity (52) with a small clearance (72) therebetween. A composite sealing ring ( 75) is disposed about the plunger (60) and engages the surface of the first cavity (50). A resilient spring (73) is located between the sealing ring (75) and a pair of flanges (64, 66) of the plunger (60) in order to bias the sealing ring (75) inwardly of the stepped opening (49). A fluid (79) is located within the stepped opening (49) of the caliper support key member (40) to provide a return, high damping force against said plunger (60).

Caliper support key

The disc brake with variable width caliper and powered actuation comprises first and second bridge members (14, 15) connected to two movable members (20, 30) extending over the periphery of the rotor (51). An inboard end of each movable member includes threads having threadably mounted thereon a nut (28, 29). The nut has ratchet teeth on one axial end which engage ratchet teeth (10A, 11A) of an associated actuator sleeve (10, 11) disposed slidably about the movable member. Each sleeve includes gear teeth (10C, 11C) about its circumference. The second bridge member is mounted slidably upon the movable members. The teeth of the sleeves are engaged by a rack member (110). A piston (117) includes an arm (125) connecting the piston with a rack (130) of the rack member so that hydraulic pressure effect displacement of the piston and a lateral displacement of the rack. The lateral movement of the rack thereby effects rotation of the sleeves which, through the engaged ratchet teeth (10A, 11A) causes the nuts to rotate and effect translational movement of the movable members. The nuts (28, 29) translate along the movable members, displace the second bridge member and a friction lining mechanism (16) against the rotor, and by reaction, the movable members bring a friction lining of the first bridge member into engagement with the other face of the rotor.

Disc brake with variable width caliper and powered actuation

The disc brake (10, 106, 108, 206) with powered integral parking mechanism comprises a twin piston disc brake (106, 108, 206) having a screw member (22, 24; 122, 124; 222, 224) and nut (28, 29; 228, 229) adjuster mechanism. The twin pistons (16, 18; 216, 218) receive service braking hydraulic pressure to effect a service braking application, and also may be displaced mechanically for a parking application by way of the rack (80, 180) and pinion (47, 48; 247, 248) parking mechanism that is operated by hydraulic pressure. The rack (80, 180) and pinion (47, 48; 247, 248) parking mechanism may be located within the caliper housing (20, 220) such that the rack (80) extends between respective drive pinions (47, 48) located about the screw members (22, 24) in order to effect rotation of the screw members (22, 24) in opposite directions, or the rack (280) may extend longitudinally across the same side of both drive pinions (247, 248) to effect rotation of the drive pinions ( 247, 148) and associated screw members (222, 224) in the same direction of rotation. The drive pinions (47, 48; 247, 248) have ratchet teeth (49) which engage corresponding ratchet teeth (39) on screw member flanges (32, 34) such that during release the height (B) of a flange ratchet tooth (39) determines the running clearance of the disc brake pads.

Disc brake with powered integral parking mechanism

The disc brake (100) with variable width caliper comprises first and second bridge members (14, 15) which are connected with a pair of movable members (20, 30) extending over the periphery of the rotor (51). Each of the movable members (20, 30) is mounted upon an anchor extension (37A, 38A). An inboard end of each movable member (20, 30) includes threads (26, 36) upon which is threadably mounted a nut (28, 29). The nut (28, 29) has rachet teeth (12, 13) on one axial end which engage rachet teeth (10A, 11A) of an associated actuator sleeve (10, 11) disposed slidably about the movable member (20, 30). The second bridge member (15) is mounted slidably upon the movable members (20, 30). The actuator sleeves (10, 11) may be rotated by an actuator mechanism (70) which, through the engaged rachet teeth (10A, 11A; 12, 13), causes the nuts (28, 29) to rotate and effect translational movement of the movable members (20, 30). The actuator sleeves (10, 11) engage roller thrust bearings (44, 45) which, as the nuts (28, 29) change their positions along the movable members (20, 30), displace the second bridge member (15) and a friction lining mechanism (16) against the rotor (51), and by reaction, the movable members (20, 30) bring a friction lining mechanism (17) of the first bridge member (14) into engagement with the other face of the rotor (51). The second bridge member (15) may include one or more bores (50) each receiving therein a piston (52) and actuatable by hydraulic fluid.

Disc brake with variable width caliper

The parking brake system (10) includes a spring operated actuator (30) which includes a screw (37) having thereabout a nut (38) affixed to a laterally movable cap (32) biased by springs (34, 35) within the actuator (30). The screw (37) is connected with a gear mechanism (40) that can rotate a flywheel (60) connected selectively with an electric motor (20). The screw (37) of the spring operated actuator (30) is connected with flexible drive mechanisms (50) that are connected with brakes (18, 19) of the vehicle. The spring operated actuator (30) is in a compressed mode when the brakes (18, 19) have not been applied for parking. When the vehicle operator activates the parking brake system (10), spring expansion causes the movable cap (32) and nut (38) to move laterally which causes the screw (37) and gear mechanism (40) to rotate so that the flywheel (60) is also rotated. As the springs ( 34, 35) expand, the kinetic energy stored within the flywheel (60) is fed back into the parking brake system (10) to effect full application of the brakes (18, 19).

Mechanical energy storage for vehicle parking brakes

The reversing mechanism (10, 200) for the motor drive comprises an electric motor (39) which drives a shaft (41) having mounted thereon a first gear (44) and a shifting mechanism in the form of a flywheel (100). The first gear (44) engages a second gear (37) which engages a third gear (38), the second (37) and third (38) gears being mounted upon a carrier mechanism (12) and each engageable with a driven gear (31). The carrier mechanism (12) is engaged by a cam mechanism (60). The shifting mechanism (100) engages an axial mechanism (70) which when displaced by the shifting mechanism (100) causes the cam mechanism (60) to rotate. Rotation of the cam mechanism (60) causes displacement of the carrier mechanism (12) so that one of said second (37) and third (38) gears disengages the driven gear (31) and the other of the second (37) and third (38) gears engages the driven gear (31) in order to effect a reverse direction of rotation of the driven gear (31) when the motor (39) recommences operation. The reversing mechanism (10, 200) may be utilized in an electrically actuated parking brake system.

Reversing mechanism for a motor drive

The electrically actuated braking system (10) comprises a controller mechanism (14) that may be activated by a switch (12). The controller mechanism (14) sends a signal to an electric drive motor (20), and receives braking force signals from a sensor (16) connected to one of two braking members (18, 19) connected with the drive motor (20). The drive motor (20) is operated by the controller mechanism (14) in order to rotate a drive member (31) of a load-equalizing differential (30), the load-equalizing differential (30) being connected by a flexible drive connection mechanism (50) with the braking members (18, 19). The load-equalizing differential (30) comprises the drive member (31) having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart openings (34) each of which receives therein a ball member (36, 36A). Disposed about the drive member (31) and balls (36, 36A) and facing each other are two plates (40, 42) each of which is connected with a segment of the flexible drive connection mechanism (50). Each plate (40, 42) has series of ramps (44) and cam tracks (46) which are shaped complementary to the ramps (44) and cam tracks (46) of the other plate (40, 42). Rotation of the drive member (31) by the drive motor (20) causes rotation of the plates (40, 42) so that equal torque may be applied, via the flexible drive connection mechanism (50), to the braking members (18, 19).

Electrically actuated braking system

The electrically operated drum brake (10) comprises an electric motor assembly (80, 180) disposed between opposing ends (62, 72) of two brake shoes (12, 14), the electric motor assembly (80, 180) replacing both the hydraulic wheel cylinder and the parking brake strut and lever. The electric motor assembly (80, 180) comprises a housing (82, 182) having an interior opening (84, 184) in which is disposed an electric motor (86, 186). The electric motor (86) drive a planetary gear assembly (91) which operates a screw mechanism (102) that engages an end (72) of an adjacent brake shoe (14), the housing (82) engaging the other brake shoe (12). An alternative embodiment includes an electric motor (186) which drives a bearing drive member (198), the bearing drive member (198) having a bearing track (200) which receives a plurality of bearing balls (205). The bearing balls (205) engage a fixed bearing track (187) on the housing ( 182) and also a curved surface (202) on a rotatable bearing member (201). The rotatable bearing member (201) engages a screw mechanism (204) so that when rotation of the bearing balls (205) causes rotation of the rotatable bearing member (201), the screw mechanism (204) is displaced against a brake shoe (14) and, by reaction, the housing (182) is displaced against the other brake shoe (12).

Electrically operated drum brake

The electrically operated disc brakes (10, 210) may include a high efficiency screw and nut mechanism (60) and/or a one-way clutch mechanism (230). The high efficiency screw and nut mechanism (60) includes a screw (86) with a screw thread (89) that has a predetermined pitch, and at least one nut (77, 97) disposed about the screw (86) and having an interior opening (78, 98) with a nut thread (79, 99) therein. The pitch of the nut thread (79, 99) is equal to the pitch of the screw thread (89), and the pitch diameter of the nut thread (79, 99) is greater than the pitch diameter of the screw thread (89). The screw (86) is driven by the electric motor (40) of the disc brake (10, 210). The one-way clutch mechanism (230) includes a sun gear drive member (252) which has oppositely disposed radial drive slots (257) through which extends a drive pin (243) that extends transversely through the drive shaft (241) of the electric motor (240). The sun gear drive member (252) is journalled within a cage member (281) which has oppositely disposed radial cage slots (282) into which extends the drive pin (243). The radial cage slots (282) are in circumferential non-alignment with the radial drive slots (257) of the sun gear drive member (252). The sun gear drive member (252) includes cam surfaces (253) receiving roller bearings (290) thereat, the roller bearings (290) extending through oppositely disposed openings (284) within the cage member (281) to engage an interior surface (297) of an annular housing (295). The clutch mechanism (230) permits the sun gear drive member (252) to be rotated in both directions by the drive shaft (241), but when reaction forces attempt to reverse rotation of the drive member (252) and electric motor (240), the clutch mechanism (230) locks and prevents such reverse rotation.

One-way clutch preventing back drive of reversible motor

The electrically actuated cable mechanism (10) comprises a housing (12) disposed about the cable (15) and having a movable conduit (20) extending from one end and a stationary conduit (30) extending from the other end, each conduit (20, 30) being disposed about the cable (15). Located between the conduits (20, 30) and engaging the movable conduit (20) is a hollow screw (25) which is disposed about the cable (15). The hollow screw (25) has a non-circular end (27) received in a complementary shaped opening (18) of the housing (12) in order to prevent rotation of the hollow screw (25). An electric motor (40) drives rotatably a nut (35) which engages threads of the screw (25) so that rotation of the nut (35) by the motor (40) causes axial displacement of the hollow screw (25) and a corresponding displacement of the movable conduit (20) relative to the stationary conduit (30) and housing (12), which by reaction, causes the cable (15) to be displaced. The cable (15) may be attached to parking brake mechanisms of a vehicle.

Electrically actuated cable

The electrically actuated disc brake (10) comprises a caliper (12) having a bore (16) receiving therein an actuating mechanism (90), and an electric motor (40) attached to the caliper housing (12). The actuating mechanism (90) comprises a planetary gear mechanism (50) which includes a sun gear (52), planetary gears (54), and a pair of ring gears (70, 80). An actuator sleeve (68) is disposed about the ring gears (70, 80) and contains a helical groove (69) disposed opposite a complementary-shaped helical groove (89) in a rotatable ring gear (80). The helical grooves (69, 89) receive therebetween a bearing mechanism (85) biased by a spring (87) toward a fixed stop (86) located within the helical grooves (69, 89). Operation of the electric motor (40) effects rotation of the rotatable ring gear (80) and axial displacement of the actuator sleeve (68) into engagement with a thrust pad (96) located adjacent one of the friction elements (18) so that the caliper (12), by reaction, displaces the other friction element (20) into engagement with the rotor (22).

Electrically actuated disc brake

The electrically operated drum brake (10) comprises an electric motor assembly (80, 180) disposed between opposing ends (62, 72) of two brake shoes (12, 14), the electric motor assembly (80, 180) replacing both the hydraulic wheel cylinder and the parking brake strut and lever. The electric motor assembly (80, 100) comprises a housing (82, 182) having an interior opening (84, 184) in which is disposed an electric motor (86, 186). The electric motor (86) drives a planetary gear assembly (91) which operates a screw mechanism (102) that engages an end (72) of an adjacent brake shoe (14), the housing (82) engaging the other brake shoe (12). An alternative embodiment includes an electric motor (186) which drives a bearing drive member (198), the bearing drive member (198) having a bearing track (200) which receives a plurality of bearing balls (205). The bearing balls (205) engage a fixed bearing track (187) on the housing ( 182) and also a curved surface (202) on a rotatable bearing member (201). The rotatable bearing member (201) engages a screw mechanism (204) so that when rotation of the bearing balls (205) causes rotation of the rotatable bearing member (201), the screw mechanism (204) is displaced against a brake shoe (14) and, by reaction, the housing (182) is displaced against the other brake shoe (12).

Growing community of inventors

South Bend, IN, United States of America

Alistair G Taig