Patent ID: 8776957
Filing Date: 2014-07-15
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
1. A brake retractor assembly for a vehicle such as an agricultural vehicle, the brake assembly comprising: a brake housing and a brake cover defining a friction chamber; a brake piston being arranged within the friction chamber and coupled to the brake cover by a bolt, the bolt including a first end attached to the brake cover and a second end coupled to the brake piston, the second end of the bolt having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion engages a first side of the brake piston and the second portion passes through the brake piston via a second bore and is retained to the brake piston at an opposing second side of the brake piston and is fixedly retained to the brake piston; a spacer disposed adjacent to a first bore, wherein the first portion of the second end of the bolt is axially spaced from the brake cover by a distance exceeding an axial height of the spacer, the distance exceeding the axial height of the spacer defining an optimal running clearance; wherein the first portion of the second end of the bolt includes a flange, wherein the flange engages the first side of the brake piston and cooperates with the retained second portion of the second end of the bolt to couple the second end of the bolt to the brake piston such that axial movement of the brake piston is limited to axial movement of the bolt, wherein the brake piston is prevented from moving away from the bolt thereby maintaining desired running clearances; at least one spring arranged coaxially around the bolt and located between the flange of the first portion of the second end of the bolt and the spacer, the spring biasing the first portion of the second end of the bolt to a biased position defined by the first portion of the second end of the bolt being axially spaced from the brake cover by a distance exceeding the axial height of the spacer by an amount equal to the optimal running clearance; an actuation system coupled to apply an axial force to the brake piston; and at least one brake disk having braking surfaces provided within the friction chamber between the brake piston and the brake cover, wherein activation of the actuation system results in axial movement of the brake piston in a first direction until the braking surfaces of the brake disk engage the brake piston and the brake cover, wherein deactivation of the actuation system results in axial movement of the brake piston in a second direction, wherein the braking surfaces of the brake disk disengage the brake piston and the brake cover, wherein axial movement of the brake piston in the second direction is limited by the fixed retention of the bolt to the brake piston; wherein running clearances are defined between the braking surfaces, the brake piston, and the brake cover when the actuation system is disengaged, the sum of the running clearances being equal to the optimal running clearance.