Abstract:
A connection of a brake lining, preferably a disc brake of a railway vehicle, having a lining mount, wherein the brake lining includes a guide bar on the back side thereof lying in a guide track of the lining mount and held on the lining mount by means of a clamping element of at least one clamping device engaging behind the guide bar under spring load and pressing against the guide track, designed so that the clamping element can be brought out of engagement by an actuating element rotatably or displaceably mounted on the lining mount.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     This patent application is a U.S. National Phase of International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2010/000173, filed 14 Jan. 2010, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2009 006 290.4, filed Jan. 27, 2009, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a connection of a brake lining and a lining mount, which may be used for a disk brake of a rail vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As an integral part of a disk brake of a rail vehicle, brake linings are held on the lining mount by a guide bar provided on the back of the brake lining and corresponding to a guide track introduced into the lining mount. Here the guide track is formed with a dovetailed cross-section, whilst the matching guide bar is enclosed therein. This affords ease of handling, particularly when changing a brake lining, the brake lining in the working position being locked to the lining mount so that the brake lining is captively secured. 
     Due, among other things, to the tolerances, the brake lining is enclosed with some play both in the longitudinal direction of the guide track and also transversely thereto. Vibrations occurring in operational service lead to rattling when the brake lining is in the unbraked position and under corresponding loads ultimately to a wearing of the brake lining, the lining mount and in particular the locking mechanism. This is not conducive to an optimization of the service life, with a resulting impact on operating costs. 
     Although design measures intended to prevent the rattling are known, for example by clamping the brake lining in its longitudinal direction, there is the risk here of the brake linings not bearing flatly against the lining mount. Rather the brake lining may lift off from the lining mount. 
     In addition a clamping of the brake lining is known, in which a clamping spring is provided, which is tensioned by insertion of the brake lining and which therefore may have only a relatively low spring force, this clamping spring acting transversely to the direction of insertion of the brake lining. This makes removal of the brake lining more difficult in that the clamping action of the clamping spring cannot be specifically cancelled. 
     A brake lining usually comprises two half-linings, which within admissible tolerances may be of different widths, so that a clamping of both half-linings cannot be ensured using just one clamping spring. 
     In addition the temperature differences between the brake lining and the lining mount, which occur during braking and which result from differing thermal loads, lead to increased stresses and deformations, which can likewise be an obstacle to a long-lasting working reliability of the components involved. 
     SUMMARY 
     The object of the disclosed embodiments is to further develop a connection of the generic type, so as to improve the functional performance of the brake lining/lining mount unit, to increase the service life and to reduce the operating costs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Exemplary embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings attached, of which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a connection according to the invention. 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  show a section through the connection according to  FIG. 1  in different working positions. 
         FIG. 4  shows a detail of the connection according to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, likewise in a perspective view. 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  each show a cross section through the connection according to  FIG. 5  in different working positions. 
         FIG. 8  shows a detail of the connection according to  FIGS. 5 to 7 . 
         FIG. 9  shows a further exemplary embodiment of the invention in a perspective view. 
         FIGS. 10 and 11  each show a section through the connection according to  FIG. 9  in different working positions. 
         FIG. 12  shows a detail of the invention according to  FIGS. 9 to 11 . 
         FIG. 13  shows a detail of the connection according to the invention in different working positions. 
         FIG. 14  shows a further design variant of the detail according to  FIG. 13 , likewise in different positions, each in a side view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In accordance with at least one disclosed embodiment, the brake lining may be fixed to the lining mount so as to afford a flat bearing contact in the direction of brake application, and a fixing of the brake lining in the lining mount or in the guide track that may be free of play. 
     The clamping element serving to press the guide bar against the guide track, behind which it simultaneously grips, may be spring-loaded, so that the fixing free of play may be to a certain extent damped. The rattling due to vibrations occurring in operational service and hitherto perceived as very disturbing may be thereby effectively prevented. 
     In addition, production tolerances are compensated for. Nevertheless, in the event of a temperature-induced differential expansion of the brake lining and the lining mount an unrestricted dimensional compensation occurs. 
     According to an advantageous development of the disclosed embodiments the brake lining may be secured by a locking device in the circumferential direction of a rail wheel, to which the disk brake corresponds, this safeguard being releasable, in order to change the brake lining, for example. 
     In order to allow the unrestricted differential thermal expansion in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the brake lining, which substantially corresponds to the direction of rotation of the associated rail wheel, the clamping element may not be operative in this direction but only transversely thereto and in the direction of brake application, that is to say in the X direction and in the Y direction. 
     For spring-loading of the clamping element, which may be embodied as a clamping lever or a clamping slide, a compression spring may be provided, for example in the form of a coil spring, which may be braced against the clamping element on one side and against the lining mount on the other, the clamping being released by compressing the compression spring, which may be done by an actuating member. 
     The actuating member in the form of a rotatable camshaft or axially displaceable push rod may be supported on the lining mount, the push rod in the bearing contact area with the clamping element comprising a wedge segment, which serves for actuating the clamping element on displacement of the push rod. 
     As mentioned, the brake lining comprises two half-linings, each of which comprises a guide bar, which extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis and which corresponds to the guide track of the lining mount. 
     Although a clamping device may be provided for each brake lining part, these are actuated by a common actuating member, as may be the locking device, and preferably simultaneously. 
     Each of the  FIGS. 1 ,  5  and  9  represents a connection of a brake lining  2  of a disk brake of a rail vehicle and a lining mount  1 , the brake lining  2  being formed in two parts. 
     Each of the brake lining parts  2  may be fixed by a clamping device  3  held against the lining mount  1 , the respective brake lining  2  comprising a guide bar  12  on the back, which may be inserted into a dovetailed guide track  11  of the lining mount  1 . The clamping devices  3  represented in the figures can be actuated by way of an actuating member in the form of a camshaft  4 , which may be supported in bearing blocks  27  of the lining mount  1 . Here the camshaft  4  may be designed for actuating both clamping devices  3 , and using a suitable tool can be rotated by a tool-receiving socket  13 , which may be connected to the end and which in the exemplary embodiments may be of hexagonal shape. 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  and in that in  FIGS. 5 to 8 , the clamping device  3  comprises a clamping lever  6 ,  14 , which in each of the  FIGS. 4 and 8  may be represented as a detail. 
     This two-armed clamping lever  6 ,  14 , embodied as a bell crank, may be provided with a cap  8 , which accommodates a compression spring  7 , which on the other side may be braced against the lining mount  1  and against which the camshaft  4  may be rotatable so that the clamping lever  6 ,  14  disengages. 
     Opposite the compression spring  7 , the clamping lever  6  may be pivotally supported on the lining mount  1 , for which purpose, in the exemplary embodiment in  FIGS. 1-4 , a bearing lug  9 , which engages in a matching recess of the lining mount  1 , may be formed on the clamping lever  6 , a claw  10 , which in the working position grips behind the guide bar  12  and presses against the guide track  11 , being joined to the bearing lug  9 . This can clearly be seen from  FIG. 2 . Here the camshaft  4  may be rotated so that the force of the compression spring  7  acts as clamping force and presses the claw  10  against the guide bar  12 . 
     To release this clamping connection between the brake lining  2  and the lining mount  1 , the camshaft  4  may be rotated correspondingly, so that the formed cam presses the clamping lever  6  in the direction of the lining mount  1  against the force of the compression spring  7 , with the result that the claw  10  may be swivelled out of its operative position, as can be seen from  FIG. 3 . In this position the brake lining  2  can be drawn out of the guide track  11  in the direction of the longitudinal axis. 
     Instead of a bearing lug  9  the clamping lever  14  in the example shown in  FIGS. 5-8  can be pivotally supported on the lining mount  1  by a bearing bolt  15  inserted into a socket  28 . Alternatively bearing bolts  15  can be formed laterally on the clamping lever  14 . The other working parts correspond to those in the exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 1-4 , so that reference may be made to the description of this. 
     Instead of a clamping lever, in the design variant shown in  FIGS. 9-12  a clamping slide  16  may be provided, which on rotation of the camshaft  4 , which bears on the lining mount  1  on the one hand and on an abutting limb  18  of the clamping slide  16  on the other, may be displaced parallel to the base surface of the guide track  11 , but may be spring loaded transversely to the longitudinal axis. 
     For this purpose a compression spring  7  may be likewise provided, which bears on the lining mount  1  on the one hand and on the clamping slide  16  on the other, for which purpose the latter comprises a centering stud  17 , on which areas of the compression spring  7  are guided. On the lining mount  1  the compression spring  7  may be braced against a steady  29 , which may be bolted to the bearing blocks  27 . 
     Whereas  FIG. 10  shows the clamping position, in which the brake lining  2  may be firmly clamped to the lining mount  1  by the clamping slide  16 ,  FIG. 11  represents a position in which the brake lining  2  may be withdrawn, that is to say the clamping slide  16  here may be disengaged. The clamping slide  16 , which can be seen as a detail in  FIG. 12 , moreover also comprises a formed-on claw  10 , which grips behind the guide bar  12  and presses into the guide track  11 . 
     A locking device  5  may be provided for securing the brake lining  2  against displacement on the lining mount  1  in the area of the insertion aperture for the brake lining  2  on the lining mount  1 . 
     Two design variants of this locking device  5  are represented in  FIGS. 13 and 14 . Here the respective a) and b) figures show the lining mount  1  with brake lining  2  connected, whilst the respective c) and d) figures represent the lining mount  1  without the brake lining  2  clamped on. 
     The locking device  5  visible in  FIG. 13 , which in the a) and c) figures is shown in cross section and in the b) and d) figures is shown as a side view, comprises a swivelling bolt  19 , which may be pivotally supported on a pivot bearing  23  of the lining mount  1  and opposite may be held against the lining mount  1  by a shackle  22 . This shackle  22  in the form of a U-shaped spring element secures the swivelling bolt in the closed position, on opening of which a dead point of the shackle  22  has to be overcome, which when closing produces a snap effect. 
     To unlock, the camshaft  4  may be rotated, an eccentric  20  held torsionally secure thereon acting on a formed-on lug  21  of the swivelling bolt  19  and swivelling the latter out of its locking position, as represented in  FIG. 13   a ) and b), into an open position corresponding to  FIG. 13   c ) and d). 
     In the design variant shown in  FIG. 13  two eccentrics  20  are provided, which are arranged at an angle to one another and between which the lug  21  may be positioned. This ensures that the camshaft  4  may be situated in the correct position. It is also easy to recognize in which direction the clamping and locking are released. 
     In the locking position ( FIGS. 13 and 14 , a) and b) in each case) the swivelling bolt  19  may be situated in front of the insertion aperture of the guide track  11 , so that the enclosed guide bar  12  may be securely enclosed in the displacement direction, that is to say in the direction of the longitudinal axis. 
     In the example shown in  FIG. 14  a torsionally secured side bar  25  may be arranged on the camshaft  4  and carries a drive pin  24 , which engages in an elongated hole  26  of the swivelling bolt  19 . When the camshaft  4  rotates, the drive pin  24  presses the swivelling bolt  19  out of its locking position, so that the insertion aperture to the guide track  11  may be open, for changing the brake lining  2 , for example. 
     Instead of the arrangement of the shackle  22  shown in  FIG. 1 , the closed side of which faces outwards, an arrangement shown in  FIG. 9  may be chosen, in which the closed side faces inwards, so that an actuation of the swivelling bolt  19  may be possible solely via a rotation of the camshaft  4 , whilst the actuation of the swivelling bolt  19  in the example in  FIG. 1  is also perfectly possible via a tilting of the shackle  22  through an external action of a tool. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
           1  lining mount 
           2  brake lining 
           3  clamping device 
           4  camshaft 
           5  locking device 
           6  clamping lever 
           7  compression spring 
           8  cap 
           9  bearing lug 
           10  claw 
           11  guide track 
           12  guide bar 
           13  tool socket 
           14  clamping lever 
           15  bearing bolt 
           16  clamping slide 
           17  centering stud 
           18  abutting limb 
           19  swiveling bolt 
           20  eccentric 
           21  lug 
           22  shackle 
           23  pivot bearing 
           24  drive pin 
           25  side bar 
           26  elongated hole 
           27  bearing block 
           28  socket 
           29  steady