Horton Manufacturing Company Inc.

Horton Industries, Inc.

Leonid Dayen

Charles D Raines

James V Hanks

Hugh K Schilling

A brake is disclosed for the end of a shaft such as a motor shaft including a bowl-shaped housing secured to a bowl-shaped cylinder and sandwiching a pressure plate therebetween. A torque plate is reciprocally mounted and rotatably related to the housing by dowel pins which are reciprocally received in sleeve bearings and is biased by springs sandwiched between the torque plate and the housing and retained on spring pins. The torque plate includes circumferentially spaced integral lugs which extend through openings formed in the pressure plate and abut with a push plate of a reciprocal piston. A drive disc which is rotatably related but axially movable relative to the shaft to be braked is located radially inwardly of the lugs and is sandwiched between the torque plate and the pressure plate. The piston is also bowl-shaped and includes a circular plate terminating in an axially extending flange which is reciprocally received in an axially extending flange of the cylinder to define a pressure chamber. The housing and cylinder are closed to seal the internal components of the brake to allow ease of cleaning and to allow its use in food environments and in gas environments.

Brake

A device for enhancing the cooling of a friction disc according to the preferred embodiment of the teachings of the present invention is shown for use with a rotational control apparatus shown in its preferred form as a brake. Due to the rotation of the friction disc, a forward flow of air is created by air flowing into entry ports into an air cooling chamber formed in the friction disc and past the periphery of the friction disc to the atmosphere. The present invention directs cooling air radially inward into the friction disc at least in one radial segment of the friction disc at a time in a direction counter to the forward flow of air to enhance the cooling of the friction disc especially at relatively low RPM. Specifically, the device of the present invention includes in its most preferred form a wire guard housing including a plurality of circular wires which are arranged in a parallel spaced relation and secured to the periphery of the external housing in which the friction disc is mounted for rotation. A squirrel cage type fan is mounted to the wire guard housing for drawing air from the atmosphere and directing it under pressure inwardly into the friction disc.

Device for enhancing cooling

An end pivot webguide which may be economically fabricated from stock material and eliminating many cast components is disclosed including pivot arms formed from bar stock and roller frames formed from angle stock. The pivot arms are formed by drilling passages including annular shoulders for receiving radial ball bearings in the bar stock for rotatably mounting first and second pivot pins. The use of radial ball bearings allows the pivot pins to accept thrust forces in an axial direction such that the webguide of the present invention utilizes four bearings of identical type rater than six bearings of three different types as in prior webguides. The pivot arm is symetrical such that one of the pivot pins may be nonrotatably secured to the webguide base and the other pivot pin may be nonrotatably secured to the roller frame. Bearings in the guide rolls rotatably mount the guide rolls on screws removably and nonrotatably secured to the roller frames. Different sized guide rolls may then be utilized by simply selecting corresponding sized angle stock forming the roller frames.

End pivot webguide

A rotational control apparatus is shown in its most preferred form as a clutch-brake including an improved housing having a cylindrical body portion and first and second housing ends removably secured thereto. The body portion includes an axially extending annular member intersecting with a radially extending annular member. The radially extending annular member forms an interface surface and a surface for reciprocal receipt of a piston inside the axially extending annular member and forms a mounting flange outside the axially extending annular member for securing axially extending bolts threadably received in the second housing end. The first housing end includes an axially extending projection having surfaces for receipt in the axially extending annular member and for reciprocal receipt of the piston. The clutch-brake in its most preferred form further includes an improved friction interface disc including a stamped flat ring portion secured to a second flat ring portion of a cast friction interface element in a spaced condition to form spaced cutouts for heat ventilation. The improved friction interface disc allows easy and inexpensive cast components eliminating casting cores for heat ventilation access between the interface surfaces of the interface disc.

Rotational control apparatus

A rotational control apparatus is shown in its most preferred form as a clutch-brake including an improved housing having a cylindrical body portion and first and second circular shaped ends removably secured thereto. The body portion includes an axially extending annular member intersecting with a radially extending annular member. The radially extending annular member forms an interface surface and a surface for reciprocal receipt of a piston inside the axially extending annular member and forms a mounting flange outside the axially extending annular member for securing axially extending studs threadably received in the second housing end. The first housing end includes an axially extending projection having surfaces for receipt in the axially extending annular member and for reciprocal receipt of the piston. The first housing end includes first and second L-shaped, oppositely directed bushings having their first legs rotatably received but axially fixed on the output shaft and having their second legs capturing an annular shoulder formed in a circular opening of the first housing end.

A coupling clutch according to the teachings of the present invention is shown in its most preferred form as including first and second hubs having first and second splined interface discs received thereon. The first interface disc is biased away from the second interface disc and is movable towards the second interface disc by a piston reciprocally mounted to a housing and rotatably mounted to the first interface disc by a bearing mounted therebetween. The splines between the second interface disc and the second hub allow the second interface disc to cant to compensate for axial angular misalignment of the first and second hubs. The housing is further rotatably mounted to the second interface disc. A radially extending, annular lip is provided on the housing which is axially captured between a shoulder and a retaining ring provided on the first hub. Bushing bumpers are provided between the lip and the shoulder and between the retaining ring and the lip. Thus, axial movement of the housing is prevented with respect to the hub. In its most preferred form, the first disc includes a multiplicity of ball-receiving cavities and the second disc includes a carrier member having a multiplicity of balls allowing the same degrees of registry of the first and second discs during clutch activation.

Coupling clutch

A rotational control apparatus is shown in its most preferred form according to the teachings of the present invention as a combination clutch/brake. The clutch/brake includes an interfacing member formed by first and second pressure plates rotatably mounted but reciprocally related with respect to each other. The interfacing member is reciprocated between one of first and second disk packs by an actuating rod reciprocally mounted in the housing and interconnected to ears formed on the second pressure plate. The actuating rods are reciprocated by actuation canisters located on opposite ends thereof. Each of the actuation canisters includes a piston which is reciprocated by a fluid chamber and a spring located in the fluid chamber. In the first preferred form, the springs of the canisters have a compressional force which are equal and less than required to actuate the clutch/brake such that in the absence of fluid pressure, the actuating rod and interfacing member is in a normal, neutral condition. In another preferred form, the spring of one of the canisters has a compressional force sufficient to actuate the clutch/brake in a normal set condition. Fluid pressure may be electively introduced into the fluid chamber to assist the actuation force spring to return the piston to its set condition and at greater actuation forces.

A coupling clutch is shown in its most preferred form as including first and second hubs having first and second splined interface discs received thereon. The first interface disc is biased away from the second interface disc and is movable towards the second interface disc by a piston reciprocally mounted to a housing and rotatably mounted to the first interface disc by a bearing mounted therebetween. The splines between the second interface disc and the second hub allow the second interface disc to cant to compensate for axial angular misalignment of the first and second hubs. The housing is further rotatably mounted to the second interface disc. A radially extending, annular lip is provided on the housing which is axially captured between a shoulder and a retaining ring provided on the first hub. Bushing bumpers are provided between the lip and the shoulder and between the retaining ring and the lip. Thus, axial movement of the housing is prevented with respect to the hub. In its most preferred form, the first disc includes a multiplicity of ball-receiving cavities and the second disc includes a carrier member having a multiplicity of balls allowing the same degrees of registry of the first and second discs during clutch activation.

Coupling clutch having axially captured, rotatable housing

A coupling clutch according to the teachings of the present invention is shown in its most preferred form as including first and second hubs having first and second splined friction discs received thereon. The first friction disc is biased away from the second friction disc and is movable towards the second friction disc by a piston reciprocally mounted to a housing and rotatably mounted to the first friction disc by a bearing mounted therebetween. The second friction disc is substantially prevented from sliding on the splines with the second hub. The splines between the second friction disc and the second hub allow the second friction disc to cant to compensate for axial angular misalignment of the first and second hubs. The guard is shown according to the teachings of the present invention in its most preferred form as including a plurality of ring members held in a spaced relation by bars. The ring members have a shape complementary to and for receipt on a first shell of a housing. The bars are received within apertures formed in the first shell and are captured therein when the second shell is secured to the first shell. The guard is then self-contained, self-aligned, and cannot be removed without disassembly of the housing.

Coupling clutch and a self-contained, non-removable guard

A rotational control apparatus is shown according to the teachings of the present invention in its most preferred form as a brake. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes an improved drive disc having an improved ventilated hub and an improved, ventilated friction disc slideably mounted thereon. The hub includes a generally cylindrical portion having axially extending cooling air bores extending therethrough and axially extending fins extending from the opposite axial ends thereof. The friction disc includes first and second, identical, interchangeable component discs interconnected together by columns projecting from the inner surface of the component discs which abut together and form radially extending fins having circumferentially aligned air passageways formed therein. Thus, air can flow through the air entry ports formed adjacent the center of the component discs radially between the component discs and also circumferentially through the air passageways allowing a mixing and turbulence of cooling air increasing friction disc heat transfer and cooling. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus further includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced fins which interconnect the piston and the friction lining pressure plate and also aid in cooling. The axially extending fins of the hub direct and force air through the hub cooling air bores and between the pressure plate and piston to allow increased apparatus heat transfer and cooling.

A dual-rotary union, rotational isolation adapter according to the teachings of the present invention is disclosed bridging between a rotary union in fluid communication with a source of fluid pressure and a rotation control apparatus portion rotatable with respect to a shaft. In the present invention, an adapter body is rotatably and removeably secured to the end of the shaft. In its most preferred form, the adapter body is rotatably mounted by a pin threadably received in the end of the shaft and rotatably mounted by a bearing received within a first cavity formed in the adapter body. In its most preferred form, the rotary union is received within a second cavity formed in the adapter body opposite the first cavity. Thus, the adapter body is rotatable with respect to and rotatably isolated from the source of fluid pressure by the rotary union. Additionally, the adapter body is simultaneously rotatable with respect to and rotatably isolated from the shaft by the bearing rotatably mounting the shaft securement pin. Fluid communication can then be provided between the rotational control apparatus portion and the rotary union for activating the rotational control apparatus portion. Thus, the body portion rotates with the rotational control apparatus portion and is rotatably independent from the shaft and the source of fluid pressure.

Dual-rotary union, rotational isolation adapter

An external, multi-caliper brake for positive torque controlling as well as for controlling the rotation of a shaft is shown in the preferred brake embodiment of this invention as having a hub arranged to be mounted to the shaft with a longitudinally centrally located, finned friction disc mounted to the hub. A brake housing supports multiple brake calipers which are shown as including diaphragm operated, fluid pressure actuated pistons carrying brake pads which are caused to frictionally engage with the friction disc to rotationally control the shaft. The preferred friction disc is formed of two opposed, interlaced, internally finned component discs to create a serpentine, radial and circumferential, air cooling path for the friction disc and provide better heat transfer and brake efficiency. Another embodiment includes double fins to better cool not only the friction disc but the external calipers themselves. The calipers include quick brake pad change apparatus by use of pinned pad supports and positioning bosses.

Torque and/or rotational control apparatus

A self-contained fan clutch including a housing in which is contained a rotatable drive disc driven by a source of power connected to the housing and the drive disc. Also mounted within the housing is an annular piston having an annular piston portion reciprocable within a cylinder member, the piston portion carrying a friction facing engageable with the driven drive disc when the piston is actuated within the cylinder. The piston divides the cylinder into a high pressure side and a low pressure side with the piston, piston portion and cylinder carried by the housing with the housing having a series of fan blades mounted thereon. The cylinder member mounts a reciprocal pump plunger actuated by a cam mounted on the driven drive disc for pressurizing the high pressure side of the cylinder which causes the friction facing of the piston portion to engage the drive disc and be rotated together with the housing and fans thereon. The pump plunger is actuated by a thermal sensor pill. Also included is apparatus for relieving pressure in the high pressure side of the cylinder and shunting it to the low pressure side of the cylinder thereby causing the piston to shift to the high pressure side by reason of springs carried by the housing and piston whereby the friction facing is relieved from the drive disc and the housing and fan thereon ceases to rotate.

Self-contained fan clutch

A caliper brake including a base having a single pole extending therefrom with a pair of identically formed opposed arms pivotally mounted on the pole. On one end of each of the arms is pivotally mounted a brake shoe, and the other ends of the arms have an air bladder interposed therebetween for moving the brake shoes together. Each of the arms carries an adjustable pin engageable with a central stop pin mounted on the base and extending centrally between the arms for orienting the arms relative to a disc positioned between the shoes for braking of the disc. An air bladder is mounted between the other ends of the arms for pivoting the arms and moving the brake shoes together, the bladder having an intrinsic spring return properties which separate the brake shoes when the air bladder is deactivated.

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, MN, United States of America

Leonid Dayen