Cooling system for multi-disc brake assembly

Abstract

A multi-disc brake assembly comprising a disc pack may desirably be liquid cooled (i.e. is 'wet') to dissipate the substantial heat generated from braking. In conventional assemblies, coolant fluid is generally delivered in a uniform manner to the discs in the disc pack. However, the heat distribution in the disc pack from braking is not uniform. But wear can be significantly increased where an inadequate amount of coolant is delivered, while drag can be increased unnecessarily where an excessive amount of coolant is delivered. In such an assembly, an improved coolant distribution can be obtained by appropriately varying the size of the numerous orifices which may be used to distribute coolant to the disc interfaces from an axial fluid rail provided in a rotating central shaft. Specifically, the orifices decrease in size from the middle to the ends of the disc pack.