Warner Electric Technology, Inc.

Ti Interlock Limited

Ian Nigel Hakon

Richard Wayne Mayberry

Brenton Charles Bluhm

Richard Carl McConkie

Guy Robert Mason

Ryan Shey Davis

Simon Paul Dommett

Peter R Davies

A liquid cooled brake is provided having an improved housing that provides strong yet lightweight structural support. The brake includes end plates disposed about a driven shaft and axially spaced from one another. A plurality of axially extending pins connect the end plates. A friction plate is coupled to the driven shaft for rotation therewith and is axially movable relative to the driven shaft. Another friction plate defines a fluid jacket and is coupled to the pins. The friction plate is fixed against rotation, but axially movable, relative to the pins. A pressure plate is configured for selective movement towards the friction plates. Support columns are disposed radially outwardly of each pin and fixed to the end plates The support columns prevent undue strain on the pins. Ventilated guards may also be located between each pair of columns to limit access to internal working components of the brake.

Liquid cooled brake with support columns

An industrial brake is provided through which tension and emergency braking are initiated at opposite axial ends of the brake in order to improve packaging and maintenance of the brake and to enable the addition of an emergency brake function to existing tension brakes without substantial modifications to the brake. The brake includes a housing disposed about a driven shaft and friction plates coupled to the housing and the shaft respectively. One friction plate comprises a liquid cooled fluid jacket. One end cap assembly is disposed at one axial end of the housing and provides a tension brake function. Another end cap assembly is disposed at the opposite axial end of the housing and provides an emergency brake function.

Dual actuator friction brake assembly

A fluid jacket for a disc brake is provided that promotes a balanced flow of cooling fluid throughout the fluid jacket to most effectively remove heat from the disc brake. The fluid jacket includes an annular body configured for engagement with a friction surface. The annular body defines a plurality of concentric flow passages. The annular body further defines first and second axial flow passages in fluid communication with first and second flow passages, respectively of the plurality of concentric flow passages, with the first and second flow passage separated by a third concentric flow passage. The annular body further defines a radial flow passage extending between the first and second axial flow passages, and a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the radial flow passage.

Balanced flow cooling water jacket

A clutch or brake unit is described with an automatic wear adjustment mechanism. Clutches and brakes operate by the engagement of friction members (4,6) which experience wear in use requiring a larger stroke of the unit to effect engagement. This results in delayed clutch or brake operation which can be a serious disadvantage where prompt action is required. Conventionally this wear has been compensated by replacement of the worn friction members or by manual adjustment of them resulting in temporary disablement of the unit and requiring service personnel time. In the inventive unit, friction members (4,6) are mounted between pressure members (10,2) and an actuator (12) operates against a backing member (15) to effect clutch or brake actuation and de-activation by movement of the friction members towards and away from each other, and the position of at least one of the pressure members is adjusted automatically in response to wear of the friction members. Sprags, ratchet mechanisms, screw threads and tension springs are alternatively described for adjusting this position and the wear can be sensed by a proximity switch or microswitch. Pneumatic and hydraulic mechanisms are also described.

Brake or clutch unit wear adjustment means

A cutting or bending machine has a combined clutch and brake mechanism cooled by air flow from an electrically powered impeller. A guide duct directs the air flow substantially uniformly through the entire volume of the combined clutch and brake mechanism, preferably to the outer peripheral edges of the mechanism, so that generated heat is dissipated continuously and the machine can be operated more productively. The impeller fan and the guide duct may direct the air flow either axially or radially of the mechanism and the air flow may be either inwardly or outwardly of the mechanism.

Growing community of inventors

Bedford, United Kingdom

Ian Nigel Hakon