Patent ID: 6702068
Filing Date: 2004-03-09
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A friction device comprising: a brake stack having a front axial end adapted to be positioned adjacent to and for contacting engagement with a plurality of circumferentially spaced pressure application members and a rear axial end adapted to be positioned adjacent to a reaction member, the brake stack including alternating rotor and stator disks mountable with respect to an inner torque tube and an outer wheel for relative rotatable and axial movement, each rotor disk adapted to be coupled to said wheel for rotation therewith and each stator disk adapted to be coupled to said torque tube against rotation relative to said torque tube; the majority of the disks of the brake stack being formed of a material that will deform or flow during an anticipated high energy braking action; the front axial end of the brake stack comprising a first rigid disk capable of evenly distributing the clamping load across the faces of said brake stack when said pressure application members are operated to effect said braking action, and capable of maintaining a clamp load across the brake stack during braking application during a high energy stop that is more uniform than the clamp load across the brake stack that results when using only a pressure plate of steel.