Wedge Actuator Disc Brake Cooling Oil Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wedge operated disc brakes used in heavy braking applications, such as agricultural or industrial tractors, face overheating issues due to the lack of an efficient cooling mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A multi-plate disc brake design that incorporates a ball and ramp type brake actuator with a wedge-shaped actuator member, which supplies cooling oil into the brake housing when engaged and cuts off the coolant flow when disengaged, maximizing cooling efficiency and minimizing drag.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling oil is supplied continuously into the brake housing, then the cooling effect is improved, but the drag increases when the brake is disengaged
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling oil supply is made dynamic rather than continuous. The oil passage in the wedge-shaped actuator member is configured to supply cooling oil only when the brake is engaged (when the passage comes into registry with the supply passage). When the brake is disengaged, the oil supply is automatically cut off, eliminating unnecessary drag while maintaining cooling effectiveness during braking.
2Temperature
If a separate cooling system is added to the brake, then the cooling capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge-shaped actuator member serves dual functions: it actuates the brake mechanism and simultaneously controls the cooling oil supply. The oil passage integrated into the actuator member allows it to function as both a mechanical actuator and a fluid control component, eliminating the need for separate cooling system components and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling oil supply mechanism is merged with the brake actuator mechanism. The actuator member incorporates an oil passage that aligns with the supply passage only during brake engagement, combining the actuation function and cooling control function into a single integrated component rather than separate systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a simple and efficient cooling arrangement that effectively reduces overheating during braking while minimizing coolant flow when not needed, enhancing the performance and longevity of the brake system.
Implementation Method 1
cooling oil is supplied into the brake housing through the wedge-shaped actuator member, when the brake is engaged
Data Source
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AI summary
A multi-plate disc brake has interleaved rotatable and non-rotatable brake discs (11) within a brake housing (13) and a ball and ramp type brake actuator (12) comprising first and second relatively rotatable annular actuator discs (20, 21) with actuator balls (22) therebetween located in circumferentially ramped pockets (20a, 21a) on opposing faces of the actuator discs. A wedge-shaped actuator member (23) has an actuating means (24A, 24B) to displace the actuator member between confronting abutments (20b, 21b) on the respective actuator discs to relatively rotate the discs to cause the balls to rise up the ramped pockets and hence expand the actuator axially to move the brake discs (11) into engagement. Cooling oil is supplied into the brake housing through the wedge-shaped actuator member (23) when the brake is engaged.