Brake assembly and method of supplying lubricant in brake assembly

Abstract

A brake assembly includes a housing configured to contain a lubricant at a lubricant level; a shaft provided in the housing; an annular brake group disposed in the housing and surrounding the shaft; an annular piston disposed in the housing and surrounding the shaft and configured to move axially relative to the annular brake pack; a spring disposed in the housing and surrounding the shaft, the spring abutting the piston and configured to act against the piston, and the spring including a lower portion of the spring configured to be disposed below the lubricant level and an upper portion of the spring configured to be disposed below the lubricant level, the upper portion of the spring is configured to be disposed above a lubricant level; and an annular lubricant absorber disposed at the spring and configured to supply lubricant to an upper portion of the spring.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a brake assembly and a method for supplying lubricant in a brake assembly. Background Art

[0002] Vehicles, including work vehicles, may utilize brakes that may engage driveline components of the vehicle to prevent or inhibit movement of the vehicle. The brakes may include a piston that is controllably movable using a spring and hydraulic mechanism to selectively apply pressure to an assembly that alternates friction discs and separator plates to generate a braking force for the vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a brake assembly for a working vehicle, the brake assembly comprising: a housing configured to contain lubricant at a lubricant level; a shaft disposed in the housing; an annular brake group disposed in the housing and surrounding the shaft; an annular piston disposed in the housing and surrounding the shaft and configured to move axially relative to the annular brake group; a spring disposed in the housing and surrounding the shaft, the spring being adjacent to the piston and configured to act against the piston, and the spring comprising a lower portion of the spring and an upper portion of the spring, the lower portion of the spring being configured to be disposed below the lubricant level, and the upper portion of the spring being configured to be disposed above the lubricant level; and an annular lubricant absorber disposed at the spring and configured to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the spring.

[0004] The spring may include at least one conical spring washer. The spring may include two conical spring washers, which are axially stacked to act together against the piston. The lubricant absorber may be disposed between the two conical spring washers and configured to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the two conical spring washers of the spring. The assembly may include a spacer positioned between the two conical spring washers to separate the two conical spring washers. The spacer may include an annular wire disposed at the inner edge of each of the two conical spring washers of the spring. The lubricant absorber may be deformed by the spring when the spring acts against the piston to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the spring. The assembly may also include a first bearing and a second bearing, which support the shaft and are disposed in the housing so that the annular brake group is positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing. The spring may be preloaded with a spring force that acts against the piston. The assembly may further include a hydraulic brake release device operable to selectively counteract the spring force of the spring by applying hydraulic pressure to the piston.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for supplying lubricant in a brake assembly includes: containing lubricant at a lubricant level with a housing of the brake assembly, positioning a shaft in the housing, positioning an annular brake group in the housing and around the shaft, positioning an annular piston in the housing and around the shaft, positioning a spring in the housing and around the shaft, applying a spring force against the piston using the spring, positioning a lower portion of the spring below the lubricant level, positioning an upper portion of the spring above the lubricant level, positioning a lubricant absorber at the spring, and moving lubricant to the upper portion of the spring using the lubricant absorber.

[0006] The method may include moving the piston axially against the spring, compressing the spring as the piston moves axially against the spring, and moving lubricant from a lower portion of the spring to an upper portion of the spring using the lubricant absorber while compressing the spring and while the piston moves axially against the spring. The method may also include positioning the spring in the housing and around the shaft including axially stacking two conical spring washers to act together against the piston in the housing and around the shaft. Positioning the lubricant absorber at the spring may also include positioning the lubricant absorber between the two conical spring washers. The method may also include separating the two conical spring washers with a spacer. The method may also include deforming the lubricant absorber using the two conical spring washers while compressing the spring and while the piston moves axially against the spring. The method may also include supporting the shaft with a first bearing and a second bearing, and positioning the first bearing and the second bearing in the housing so that the annular brake set is positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing. The method may further comprise preloading the spring with a spring force acting against the piston.The method may further comprise selectively counteracting the spring force of the spring by applying hydraulic pressure to the piston using a hydraulic brake release device.

[0007] Other features and aspects will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description, claims, and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] A detailed description of the figures is given with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective partial cross-sectional view of a brake assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of a brake assembly in a first state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0011] Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a brake assembly in a second state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] Figure 4 A method of supplying lubricant in a brake assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0013] The same reference numbers are used throughout the various drawings to indicate the same elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] refer to Figure 1-3, illustrates a brake assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The assembly 10 can be used in a work vehicle (not shown) or another vehicle or machine. It should be understood that the work vehicle may include an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, a pneumatic motor or other motor or machine, a hydraulic system, and a drive shaft or other mechanical input device coupled to the assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The assembly 10 of one or more embodiments can be used as a brake (such as a parking brake), a clutch or other component of a work vehicle or other mechanical device.

[0015] The assembly 10 includes a housing 12 which, in the embodiment shown, is arranged such that an axis 18 of the assembly 10 is oriented horizontally and disposed within the housing 12. Figure 2 and Figure 3 As best shown in FIG. 1 , the housing 12 at least partially contains a lubricant 14 such that the lubricant 14 fills the housing 12 to a lubricant level 16 .

[0016] Although not shown, a lubrication system is disclosed for certain embodiments including various fluid flow channels extending from a main reservoir (or another area(s) containing lubricating fluid) toward various moving parts. In some embodiments, the channels may extend from the main reservoir and may differ in number and configuration as well as function. Certain channels may primarily provide a flow path for a pressurized lubricating body from the main reservoir (or other area) to various moving parts (e.g., bearings and moving parts of assembly 10), while other channels may primarily provide an exhaust path for trapped air, and other channels may primarily provide lubricating body drainage.

[0017] The assembly 10 is operable to apply a braking force that resists rotation of the shaft 18, thereby providing a braking force to the work vehicle and preventing or inhibiting movement of the work vehicle in embodiments.

[0018] like Figure 1-Figure 3 As shown, the assembly 10 includes a hub 46 coupled to the shaft 18, an annular brake pack 20. The annular brake pack 20 is disposed around the shaft 18 in the housing 12 and includes a separator plate 48 disposed around the hub 46 and a friction disk 50.

[0019] The assembly 10 includes an annular piston 22 disposed in the housing 12 and surrounding the shaft 18. The piston 22 is configured to move axially relative to the annular brake pack 20.

[0020] The assembly 10 includes a first bearing 40 and a second bearing 42 that support the shaft 18 and are disposed in the housing 12. The annular brake assembly 20 is positioned between the first bearing 40 and the second bearing 42.

[0021] The assembly 10 includes a spring 24 disposed in the housing 12 and surrounding the shaft 18. The spring 24 abuts the piston 22 and is configured to act on or against the piston 22. The spring 24 includes a lower portion 26 configured to be disposed below the lubricant level 16 and an upper portion 28 configured to be disposed above the lubricant level 16.

[0022] In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly 10 is configured as a spring applied and hydraulically released brake assembly, wherein the spring 24 is preloaded with a spring force acting on or against the piston 22, and wherein the assembly 10 includes a hydraulic brake release device, such as Figure 1 , the hydraulic brake release device is operable to selectively counteract the spring force of spring 24, such as by automatic control or remote or local operator control to counteract the spring force of spring 24. It should be understood that in additional embodiments not shown, the assembly 10 includes configurations and functions for operating as a hydraulically applied and spring released brake assembly.

[0023] The hub 46 is mounted to the shaft 18 (such as by a spline connection) or formed integrally with the shaft 18 for rotation with the shaft 18. In the brake assembly 20, the friction disk 50 can rotate with the hub 46 while the separator plate 48 bottoms out to the housing 12 (or bottoms out to another feature that is fixed relative to the rotation of the shaft 18). The piston 22 is configured to move relative to the brake assembly 20 during operation of the assembly 10 and act on or against the brake assembly 20. The piston 22 can contact the separator plate 48 or a braking surface of the brake assembly 20 and cause the separator plate 48 to contact and engage the friction disk 50, thereby generating or applying a braking force to resist rotation of the shaft 18.

[0024] In an embodiment, the spring 24 includes one or more conical spring washers 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring 24 includes two conical spring washers 32 that are axially stacked to act together against the piston 22. The conical spring washers 32 include one or more conical disc springs, disc springs, or Belleville washers. It should be understood that although two washers 32 are included in the spring 24, more than two washers 32 or one washer 32 may be provided in additional embodiments of the spring 24 and / or the assembly 10. In addition, the spring 24 of additional embodiments not shown may include spring components of other types and configurations for forming the spring 24, including but not limited to coil springs or leaf springs and / or other types of elastic members.

[0025] In an embodiment, the spring 24 is preloaded with a spring force acting against the piston 22. The hydraulic brake release device is operable to selectively counteract the spring force of the spring 24 by applying hydraulic pressure to the piston 22.

[0026] The assembly 10 includes a spacer 34 positioned between the two conical spring washers 32 to separate the two conical spring washers 32. The spacer 34 is or includes an annular wire disposed at the inner edge 36 of each of the two conical spring washers 32 of the spring 24.

[0027] In the illustrated embodiment, the two conical spring washers 32 are oriented in opposite directions. The conical spring washers 32 have a nonlinear spring rate, such that by stacking the conical spring washers 32, the spring 24 provides a more variable rate of spring force without fully compressing the conical spring washers 32, and such that the spring force of the conical spring washers 32 does not substantially change as the conical spring washers 32 approach a flat state (or pass through a flat state such that the distance between the outer edges 52 of the conical spring washers 32 is less than the distance between the inner edges 36).

[0028] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the spring 24 is positioned and configured so that the shaft 18 and the annular flange 54 of the piston 22 pass through the central opening of the conical spring washer 32. The inner diameter of the conical spring washer 32 and the outer diameter of the annular flange 54 are each sized to enable the piston 22 and the annular flange 52 to move relative to the spring 24 while still functioning to maintain the stacked alignment of the conical spring washers 32. The spacer 34 can be configured to be positioned as an annular line around the outer periphery of the annular flange 54. The spacer 34 provides a support surface for the inner edge 36 of the conical spring washer 32 and increases the life of the washer 32.

[0029] In response to the spring 24 acting on the piston 22, the piston 22 is caused to move relative to the brake assembly 20. The housing 12 provides for linear movement of the piston 22 within the housing 12, and also operates to limit the stroke of the piston 22 using one or more contact surfaces or mechanical stops 44 included in the housing 12. When the piston 22 moves from the engaged position away from the brake assembly 20 to the released position (e.g., when operating a hydraulic brake release), the mechanical stop 44 acts to limit the stroke of the piston 22, which beneficially prevents the washers 32 from moving too close together and / or contacting each other at the outer edge 52, and also reduces windage in the assembly 10.

[0030] In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 12 also includes a protrusion 60 that interacts with the gasket 32. The protrusion 60 is formed on the housing 12 adjacent the outer edge 52 of the gasket 32 ​​to provide a support surface for the gasket 32. The protrusion 60 also provides a rolling contact point for the gasket 32 ​​and prevents the gasket 32 ​​from entering the housing 12, thereby increasing the life of the gasket 32.

[0031] The assembly 10 includes an annular lubricant absorber 30 disposed at the spring 24. The lubricant absorber 30 of certain embodiments supplies lubricant 14 to the upper portion 28 by wicking the lubricant 14 from the lower portion 26. The annular lubricant absorber 30 includes a lower absorber portion 70 configured to be disposed below the lubricant level 16 and an upper absorber portion 72 configured to be disposed above the lubricant level 16. In certain embodiments, the lubricant 14 moves from the lower absorber portion 70 to the upper absorber portion 72. In certain embodiments, the lubricant absorber 30 is configured to absorb, retain, and / or allow movement or containment of the lubricant 14, and / or facilitate wicking of the lubricant 14 upward from or below the lubricant level 16. In embodiments, the lubricant absorber 30 contacts and / or abuts the spring 24. Therefore, the lubricant absorber 30 is configured to supply lubricant 14 to the upper portion 28 of the spring 24. In an embodiment, the lubricant absorber 30 is porous and / or deformable. The lubricant absorber 30 is disposed between two conical spring washers 32 and is configured to supply lubricant 14 to the upper portion 28 of the two conical spring washers 32.

[0032] In some embodiments, the lubricant absorber 30 supplies lubricant 14 to the upper portion 28 when the spring 24 acts against the piston 22. The lubricant absorber 30 of at least one embodiment is deformed by the spring 24 when the spring 24 acts against the piston 22 to supply lubricant 14 to the upper portion 28 of the spring 24. Compression of the spring 24 (such as by moving the two conical spring washers 32 toward each other) acts to compress, reduce the size of, or otherwise deform the lubricant absorber 30. The compression or deformation of the lubricant absorber 30 causes the lubricant 14 to flow out of the lubricant absorber 30, including causing the lubricant 14 to flow to the upper portion 28 of the spring 24. When the spring 24 is decompressed (such as by moving the piston 22 axially away from the spring 24), the lubricant absorber 30 expands or increases in volume to absorb additional lubricant 14.

[0033] Reference now Figure 4, a method 100 of supplying lubricant 14 in a brake assembly 10 is provided. The method 100 includes, at step 110, containing lubricant 14 at a lubricant level 16 with a housing 12 of the assembly 10. The method 100 also includes, at step 112, positioning a shaft 24 in the housing 12, and at step 114, positioning an annular brake assembly 20 in the housing 12 and around the shaft 24. The method 100 also includes, at step 116, positioning an annular piston 22 in the housing 12 and around the shaft 24, and at step 118, positioning a spring 24 in the housing 12 and around the shaft 24. The method 100 also includes, at step 120, applying a spring force with the spring 24 against the piston 22, at step 122, positioning a lower portion 26 of the spring 24 below the lubricant level 16, at step 124, positioning an upper portion 28 of the spring above the lubricant level 16, and at step 126 positioning a lubricant absorber 30 at the spring 24. The method 100 also includes moving the lubricant 14 to the upper portion 28 of the spring 24 using the lubricant absorber 30 at step 128 .

[0034] The method 100 of the additional embodiment includes moving the piston 22 axially against the spring 24, compressing the spring 24 as the piston 22 moves axially against the spring 24, and moving the lubricant 14 from the lower portion 26 of the spring 24 to the upper portion 28 of the spring 24 while compressing the spring 24 and while the piston 22 moves axially against the spring 24.

[0035] The method 100 of an additional embodiment includes axially stacking two conical spring washers 32 to act together against the piston 22 in the housing 12 and around the shaft 24. The method 100 of an additional embodiment includes positioning the lubricant absorber 30 between the two conical spring washers 32. The method 100 of an additional embodiment includes separating the two conical spring washers 32 with a spacer 34. The method 100 of an additional embodiment includes deforming the lubricant absorber 30 with the two conical spring washers 32 when the spring 24 is compressed and the piston 22 moves axially against the spring 24. The method 100 of an additional embodiment includes supporting the shaft 24 with a first bearing 40 and a second bearing 42, and positioning the first bearing 40 and the second bearing 42 in the housing 12 so that the annular brake group 20 is positioned between the first bearing 40 and the second bearing 42. The method 100 of an additional embodiment includes preloading the spring 24 with a spring force that acts against the piston 22. The method 100 of an additional embodiment includes utilizing a hydraulic brake release device to selectively counteract the spring force of the spring 24 by applying hydraulic pressure to the piston 22 .

[0036] Without in any way limiting the scope, interpretation, or application of the claims appearing below, a technical effect of one or more exemplary embodiments disclosed herein is to provide a lubricant absorber 30, an assembly 10, and a method for supplying lubricant 14 to a spring 24, thereby reducing heat caused by friction, preventing fretting and other wear, and increasing the life of the spring 24 and / or other components of the assembly 10 without requiring large, expensive, or complex pumps, lubricant passages, or other conventional mechanisms. In addition, a technical effect of one or more exemplary embodiments disclosed herein is to provide a lubricant absorber 30, an assembly 10, and a method 100 for supplying lubricant 14 to an upper portion 28 of a spring 24, thereby reducing heat caused by friction, preventing fretting and other wear, and increasing the life of the spring 24 and / or other components of the assembly 10 without requiring large, expensive, or complex pumps, lubricant passages, or other conventional mechanisms. Another technical effect of one or more exemplary embodiments disclosed herein is to provide a lubricant absorber 30, an assembly 10, and a method 100 for allowing lubricant 14 to move through the lubricant absorber 30 so that the lubricant 14 is provided to a position above the lubricant level 16, thereby reducing heat caused by friction, preventing micromotion and other wear, and increasing the life of the spring 24 and / or other components of the assembly 10 without requiring large, expensive or complex pumps, lubricant passages, or other conventional mechanisms. Another technical effect of one or more exemplary embodiments disclosed herein is to utilize the compression of the spring 24 or the relative movement of the (multiple) conical spring washers 32 to move or pump the lubricant 14 through the lubricant absorber 30 to move or supply the lubricant 14 to the upper portion 28 of the spring 24, thereby reducing heat caused by friction, preventing micromotion and other wear, and increasing the life of the spring 24 and / or other components of the assembly 10 without requiring large, expensive or complex pumps, lubricant passages, or other conventional mechanisms. Any and all elements, features, components, functions, or details of any embodiment of the assembly 10 may be included to form one or more embodiments of the method 100 according to the present disclosure. Furthermore, any and all steps, features, components, functions, or details of any embodiment of method 100 may be included to form one or more embodiments of assembly 10 according to the present disclosure.

[0037] As used herein, "such as" is used to list examples non-exhaustively and has the same meaning as alternative illustrative phrases such as "including," "including but not limited to," and "including without limitation." Unless otherwise limited or modified, a list of elements separated by a conjunction (e.g., "and") and preceded by the phrase "one or more" or "at least one" represents a configuration or arrangement that potentially includes a single element of the list or any combination thereof. For example, "at least one of A, B, and C" or "one or more of A, B, and C" represents the possibility of only A, only B, only C, or any combination of two or more of A, B, and C (e.g., A and B; B and C; A and C; or A, B, and C).

[0038] Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as "above," "below," "upward," "downward," "top," "bottom," and the like are used descriptively with respect to the drawings and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, the teachings may be described herein in terms of functional and / or logical block components and / or various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such block components may include any number of hardware, software, and / or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions.

[0039] Terms of degree such as “substantially,” “substantially,” or “approximately” are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to a reasonable range outside a given value or direction, such as general tolerances or positional relationships associated with the manufacture, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.

[0040] Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above, these descriptions should not be viewed in a limiting sense. Rather, other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A brake assembly for a working vehicle, the brake assembly comprising: a housing configured to contain lubricant at a lubricant level; a shaft disposed in the housing; an annular brake assembly disposed in the housing and surrounding the shaft; an annular piston disposed in the housing and surrounding the shaft and configured to move axially relative to the annular brake assembly; a spring disposed in the housing and surrounding the shaft, the spring abutting the piston and configured to act against the piston, and the spring comprising a lower portion of the spring configured to be disposed below the lubricant level and an upper portion of the spring configured to be disposed above the lubricant level; as well as An annular lubricant absorber is disposed at the spring and is configured to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the spring.

2. The brake assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The spring comprises at least one conical spring washer.

3. The brake assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The spring comprises two conical spring washers which are axially stacked to act together against the piston.

4. The brake assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The lubricant absorber is disposed between the two conical spring washers and is configured to supply lubricant to the upper portions of the two conical spring washers of the spring. 5 . The brake assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a spacer positioned between the two conical spring washers to separate the two conical spring washers.

6. The brake assembly according to claim 5, wherein: The spacer comprises an annular wire arranged at the inner edge of each of the two conical spring washers of the spring.

7. The brake assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The lubricant absorber is deformed by the spring when the spring acts against the piston to supply lubricant to the upper portion of the spring.

8. The brake assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The assembly includes a first bearing and a second bearing supporting the shaft and disposed in the housing such that the annular brake set is positioned between the first bearing and the second bearing.

9. The brake assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The spring is preloaded with a spring force acting against the piston.

10. The brake assembly of claim 9, further comprising a hydraulic brake release device operable to selectively counteract the spring force of the spring by applying hydraulic pressure to the piston.

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