Other

Paccar Inc.

Atlas Copco Construction and Mining Technique Ab

Paul J Middelhoven

Mark J Albertson

Eric Johnson

A hydraulic wheel braking system for a vehicle includes wet disc wheel brakes that are applied by a single spring-activated piston within each brake housing. Each piston is selectively and variably disengaged from the brake discs by variable hydraulic pressure acting against the piston in opposition to spring pressure to enable controlled wheel rotation. During vehicle operation, brake fluid pressure at the pistons is controlled by a foot pedal-operated brake valve. A manually-operated parking and control valve assembly can selectively disable the brake valve and relieve hydraulic pressure at the pistons to spring-apply the pistons to the discs. The assembly acts to automatically spring-apply the pistons to the discs upon a loss of brake or transmission clutch fluid pressure.

Fail-safe wheel service brake system

A hydraulic wheel braking system for a vehicle includes wet disc wheel brakes that are applied by a single spring-activated piston within each brake housing. Each piston is selectively and variably disengaged from the brake discs by variable hydraulic pressure acting against the piston in opposition to spring pressure to enable controlled wheel rotation. During vehicle operation, brake fluid pressure at the pistons is controlled by a foot pedal-operated brake valve. A manually-operated parking and control valve assembly can selectively disable the brake valve and relieve hydraulic pressure at the pistons to spring-apply the pistons to the discs. The assembly acts to automatically spring-apply the pistons to the discs uopn a loss of brake or transmission clutch fluid pressure.

An electric-hydrostatically powered vehicle has an electric motor connected through a gear box to a hydrostatic pump which powers the vehicle. The vehicle chassis includes a main frame portion and a removable subframe portion which is resiliently mounted in spaced-apart, overlying relationship on the main frame portion. The subframe provides a platform for mounting the motor, gear box and pump independently of the main frame of the vehicle to define a removable drive module. The subframe provides planar mounting surfaces that enable translational and angular positioning of the motor and gear box in three dimensions to align their shafts. The module is preassembled by mounting the motor and gear box on the platform, aligning and connecting their shafts, and securing the motor and gear box to the platform. Thereafter, the module is installed as a unit into the vehicle, the alignment of the shafts being undisturbed. A three-point resilient mount isolates the subframe from shock and vibrations imparted in the main frame.

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Portland, OR, United States of America

Paul J Middelhoven