Patent ID: 6260668
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: B60T,F16D,Y10T

Abstract:
A brake system for braking an output shaft rotated by a drive gear train driven by an electric motor capable of generating a maximum drive torque at the output shaft, said output shaft being connected to a plurality of axles each for driving a corresponding wheel of a vehicle having a fluid system for providing a fluid under pressure to operate fluid powered components of the vehicle, said brake system comprising:a brake device comprising a rotatably mounted brake shaft and brake elements capable of applying a maximum braking torque to said brake shaft; anda reduction gear train for transmitting torque between said output shaft and said brake shaft, said reduction gear train comprising a brake gear fixed to said brake shaft for rotation therewith, and an output gear fixed to said output shaft for rotation therewith;wherein said reduction gear train provides a reduction gear ratio sufficient to reduce said maximum drive torque to a drive torque at said brake shaft substantially less than said maximum braking torque;wherein said brake elements comprise at least one stationary disc held against rotation relative to a housing, at least one rotating disc mounted on said brake shaft for rotation therewith, and at least one compression element for pressing together said stationary disc and said rotating disc to provide a braking torque;wherein said stationary and rotating discs are enclosed in a housing having a cooling inlet and a cooling outlet;wherein said fluid system comprises a pump for pressurizing said fluid and a container for containing a supply of said fluid, said pump and said container being remote from said housing;and wherein said fluid system further comprises a conduit for supplying a cooling flow of said fluid from said pump to said cooling inlet and a conduit for returning a flow of said cooling fluid from said cooling outlet to said container.