Track brake apparatus with sliding shoes and wear plates for preventing excessive movement of the shoes in the direction of vehicle movement

A brake apparatus that is designed to brake a drag race vehicle that is movable within a track of an amusement ride. The braking apparatus includes a pair of braking units that each include movable portions that are movable toward each other so as to clamp onto a guide plate that is being carried by the vehicle as it moves along the track. This clamping onto the guide plate results in slowing and eventual stopping of the vehicle. The braking units are movable by means of inflatable bladders into the braking position. The braking units are mounted on metallic cross beams which are fixedly mounted to the track. The movable portions of the braking units are slidably mounted on the metallic cross beams. Longitudinal movement of the movable portions, which occurs during the braking position, is to evenly apply pressure against each of the metallic cross beams. Each of the braking units are continuously spring biased toward the non-braking position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The field of this invention is directed to a brake apparatus which is 
designed to be mounted in conjunction with a fixed structure where the 
brake apparatus, when activated, functions to slow and stop a movable 
structure that is moving relative to the fixed structure. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
Wherever there is a movable structure that is to be moved in conjunction 
with a fixed structure, there must be employed some type of a braking 
apparatus to stop the movable structure. An example of such a structure 
would be within an amusement ride such as a drag race type of amusement 
ride. In this type of amusement ride, a vehicle within which is to be 
located a human, is accelerated rapidly a certain distance down a track. 
The vehicle is tied to the track so that it cannot leave the track. At the 
end of the acceleration distance, it is then desired to slow and 
eventually stop the vehicle. In such a ride, it is desirable to not leave 
the braking to the occupant of the vehicle with instead the braking 
occurring automatically. The brake apparatus is mounted in conjunction 
with the track. 
In the past, it has been common to utilize track mounted braking units in 
conjunction with an amusement ride. One such amusement ride has been a 
roller coaster. However, roller coasters do not only go in a straight line 
direction but also go around curves. Therefore the problem encountered by 
roller coaster type brakes is different than brake apparatuses which are 
designed to be used in conjunction with a straight line type of amusement 
ride. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A primary objective of the present invention is to construct a brake 
apparatus that is intended to be used in conjunction with a straight line 
amusement ride where a vehicle moves in a straight line from a start 
position to a finish position. 
Another objective of the present invention is to construct a brake 
apparatus that is to operate in a fail safe manner to slow and eventually 
stop a movable vehicle within an amusement ride where the vehicle moves in 
a straight line from a start position to a finish position. 
The structure of the present invention is directed to a brake apparatus 
that is to be mounted in conjunction with a track with the vehicle being 
movable on that track from a start position to a finish position. The 
vehicle includes a guide blade that is movable within the track. A series 
of brake apparatuses are to be mounted in conjunction with this track in a 
spaced apart relationship from each other. These brake apparatuses are 
mounted within the deceleration portion of the track. Each brake apparatus 
is to be basically identical with each brake apparatus including a pair of 
brake units. Included within each brake unit is a pair of inflatable 
bladders. Inflating of each bladder by air will result in movable portions 
of each brake unit being moved toward each other. On the outer face of 
each movable portion is a brake shoe with the brake shoes of the opposing 
brake units pressing against the guide blade. This pressure will result in 
slowing and eventual stopping of the vehicle. Upon release of the air 
pressure from the bladders a leaf spring assembly will cause the movable 
portion of each brake unit to move to a non-braking position. Each brake 
apparatus is mounted on a plurality of metallic cross beams mounted within 
the track. During braking, the movable portion of the brake apparatus will 
have a tendency to move longitudinally in the same direction the guide 
blade is moving. The movable portions of the braking unit apply pressure 
to a wear plate mounted on each metallic cross beam. The structure that 
contacts each wear plate of each braking unit is adjustable so as to 
evenly divide the pressure of this force between the metallic cross beams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
There is formed a channel 20 within a cement base 22. This cement base 22 
is to be of an extended lineal length. Typical length would be 370 feet. 
An amusement ride vehicle, with a human occupant, is to be accelerated 
along the channel 20 for about 175 feet. This leaves about 195 feet to 
slow the vehicle until it actually comes to a stop. In order to slow the 
vehicle there is utilized the brake apparatus 24 of this invention. 
The vehicle (not shown) is to have mounted on its under-side a guide blade 
26. The guide blade 26 is fixedly mounted to the tubular frame 28 of the 
vehicle. Attachment to the tubular frame 28 of the guide blade 26 is 
accomplished by means of a mounting bracket assembly 30. Mounted on the 
guide blade 26 is a retainer bar 32. The retainer bar 32 is fixedly 
mounted to the guide blade 26 by means of a threaded bolt 36. The threaded 
bolt 36 passes through a hole formed within the guide blade 26. The 
retainer bar 32 is located within a retaining channel 34 formed within a 
track 38. The upper end of the retaining channel 34 is partially closed by 
a pair of top plates 40 and 42. The function of the retainer bar 32 is to 
keep the guide blade 26 engaged at all times within the track slot 44. If 
there is any attempt by the vehicle and the frame 28 to rise in an upward 
direction away from the cement base 22, the retainer bar 32 will come in 
contact with the undersurface of the top plates 40 and 42 which will keep 
the guide blade 26 captured within the track slot 44. 
Each brake apparatus 24 will generally be about five feet in length. Each 
brake apparatus 24 is mounted on a plurality of metallic cross beams 46 
with three in number of the metallic cross beams 46 being shown. The 
metallic cross beams 46 are securely mounted into the cement base 22 by 
means of threaded bolts 48. The metallic cross beams 46 are intended to be 
evenly spaced apart. In between the underside of each metallic cross beam 
46 and the cement base 22 there may be incorporated a series of washers 
forming a spacer 50. It is the function of the spacers 50 to locate the 
metallic cross beams 46 precisely level and slightly off the surface of 
the cement base 22. 
Secured as by welding to each metallic cross beam 46 is a pair of plates 
52. Each pair of plates 52 for each metallic cross beam 46 is located in 
an aligned manner forming a space there between. It is within that space 
that the guide blade 26 is conducted and is actually to be centrally 
conducted. Since there are three in number of the metallic cross beams 46, 
it is to be understood that there will actually be three in number of the 
plates 52 located on each side of the track slot 44. 
Fixedly mounted to the plates 52 and located on one side of the track slot 
44 is the channel 54. On the remaining three in number of the plates 52 
located on the opposite side of the track slot 44 there is fixedly mounted 
a similarly shaped channel 56. The outer surface of the channels 54 and 56 
each define a flat surface. Abutting against the flat surface of the 
channels 54 and 56 is an inflatable bladder 58 with it being understood 
that there is a separate bladder for each channel 54 and 56. One end of 
the inflatable bladder 58 is completely closed by means of plates 60 and 
62 which are tightly bolted together by threaded bolts 64. The opposite 
end of the inflatable bladder 58 is mounted on a fitting 66. The fitting 
66 internally includes a series of through holes 68. The sidewall of the 
inflatable bladder 58 is tightly clamped onto the fitting 66 by clamp 
plates 70 and 72. The clamp plates 70 and 72 are secured together by means 
of threaded bolts 74. The threaded bolts 74 function to tightly mount the 
wall of the inflatable bladder 58 onto the fitting 66. 
Pressurized air is to be supplied from tube 76 and through holes 68 of 
fitting 66 into the interior chamber 78 of the inflatable bladder 58. This 
will cause the inflatable bladder 58 to expand. This will also cause 
U-shaped plate 80 to be moved away from channel 54 or channel 56. The 
U-shaped plates 80 actually move toward each other. Fixedly mounted to the 
inside surface of each of the U-shaped plates 80 is a wear plate 82 which 
is intended to diminish the wear on the wall of the inflatable bladder 58. 
The wear plate 82 is to abut directly against the inflatable bladder 58. 
The top plate 40 is fixedly mounted by supports 41 onto one U-shaped plate 
80 with top plate 42 being fixedly mounted by supports 43 onto the other 
U-shaped plate 80. Mounted on the exterior surface of U-shaped plate 80 is 
a brake shoe 84. Expansion of the inflatable bladders 58 will cause the 
brake shoes 84 to be moved toward each other within the brake apparatus. 
This will result in the brake shoes 84 to be pressed on opposite sides of 
the guide blade 26. 
The brake shoes 84 will be located in the braking position for the guide 
blade 26 prior to entry of the guide blade 26 between the brake shoes 84. 
The guide blade 26 will be guided into entry between the brake shoes 84 by 
flared ends 86. Once the guide blade 26 is no longer located between the 
brake shoes 84, the air pressure that is supplied within the interior 
chamber 78 is now decreased which will result in the inflatable bladders 
58 being capable of being collapsed. The collapsing is caused by leaf 
spring 88. There is a leaf spring 88 for each U-shaped plate 80. The leaf 
spring 88 is mounted at its center to the plate 52 that is mounted on the 
metallic cross beam 46 that is located in the middle of the three in 
number of the metallic cross beams 46. This mounting is accomplished by 
threaded bolts 124 and bracket 126. The bracket 126 is welded to plate 52. 
The ends of the leaf spring 88 are mounted by brackets 90 to U-shaped 
plate 80. 
The brackets 90 are fixedly mounted by threaded bolts 94 and 96 to the 
U-shaped plate 80. It is to be understood that there is a pair of brackets 
90 for each U-shaped plate 80. It is also to be understood that each 
U-shaped plate 80 is capable of a limited amount of movement on the 
metallic cross beams 46. It is this movement which is due to the inflation 
of the inflatable bladders 58 which will result in the brake shoes 84 
coming into contact with the guide blade 26. Upon deflation of the 
inflatable bladders 58, the force of the leaf spring 88 will move the 
U-shaped plate 80 away from the guide blade 26 and move the brake shoes 84 
further apart. The bias of the leaf springs 88 is continuous in the 
direction away from guide blade 26. The expansion of each of the 
inflatable bladders 58 must overcome the force of its respective leaf 
spring 88 when moving of the U-shaped plates 80 outward into the braking 
position. 
With the brake shoes 84 in contact with the guide blade 26, there is a 
natural tendency for the U-shaped plates 80 and the brackets 90 to be 
carried along with the guide blade 26, in other words move lineally 
relative to the cement base 22. In order to prevent this movement, there 
is mounted a stop block 98 on the U-shaped plate 80. The stop block 98 is 
mounted directly adjacent the metallic cross beam 46 that is located at 
the end of the brake apparatus 24 which first engages with the guide blade 
26. Looking at the drawings in FIG. 2, the stop block 98 is mounted 
directly adjacent and on the right side of the metallic cross beam 46 that 
is at the right side of FIG. 2. Mounted on the metallic cross beam 46 by 
threaded bolts 100 is a wear plate 102. Each time the braking apparatus 24 
applies a braking force against the guide blade 26, the stop block 98 will 
be moved sharply against the wear plate 102. Eventually over time, this 
will cause the wear plate 102 to be damaged and will require replacement. 
The wear plate 102 is used so as to prevent this damage from occurring to 
the metallic cross beam 46. It is far more desirable to replace the wear 
plate 102 than replace a metallic cross beam 46. 
At the metallic cross beam 46 located at the approximate middle of the 
longitudinal length of the brake apparatus 24, there is located a stop 
block 104. The stop block 104 is also fixedly secured to the U-shaped 
plate 80. It is to be understood that there is a stop block 104 for each 
U-shaped plate 80. It should also be noted that there is a stop block 98 
for each U-shaped plate 80. However, the stop blocks 104 include threaded 
bolts 106 that protrude from the stop blocks 104. The heads of the 
threaded bolts 106 are designed to come into contact with a wear plate 
108. Wear plate 108 is basically identical to wear plate 102 with wear 
plate 108 being mounted by threaded bolts 110 to the metallic cross beam 
46 that is mounted in the middle of the brake apparatus 24. It is the 
function of the wear plate 108 to protect the metallic cross beam 46 from 
being damaged by the braking force. The threaded bolts 106 are to be 
adjusted in position so that these threaded bolts 106 contact the wear 
plate 108 at precisely the same time that the stop blocks 98 contact the 
wear plate 102. This means braking force will be divided so that not all 
the force is being transmitted to the wear plate 102 but also part of that 
braking force is being transmitted to the wear plate 108. 
The metallic cross beam 46 that is located at the left side of FIG. 2 has a 
stop block 112 mounted to the U-shaped plate 80. The stop block 112 has a 
plurality of threaded bolts 114 protruding therefrom. These threaded bolts 
114 are to engage with a wear plate 116 which is fixedly mounted by 
threaded bolts 118 to the metallic cross beam 46 that is located at the 
left side of FIG. 2. Again, the threaded bolts 114 are to be adjusted so 
that such contact the wear plate 116 at precisely the same time that 
threaded bolts 106 contact wear plate 108 and stop block 98 contacts wear 
plate 102. The reason for the threaded bolts 106 and 114 is that the 
threaded bolts 106 and 114 are to compensate for minor variations in 
mounting positions of the different metallic cross beams 46 when mounted 
on the cement base 22. Stop block 98 does not need threaded bolts since 
stop blocks 104 and 112 are adjusted relative to stop block 98. It is to 
be noted that the braking force that is encountered by the brake apparatus 
24 is to be divided equally between each metallic cross beam 46. This 
division of force is desirable so that the wear encountered by the 
metallic cross beams 46 is not concentrated at a particular metallic cross 
beam 46. 
After the vehicle has come to a stop, it will be necessary to move the 
vehicle back to the starting position. At that particular time the guide 
blade 26 will be moved from left to right in FIG. 2 through the brake 
apparatus 24. Although the brake apparatus 24 should be in the non-braking 
position as shown in FIG. 4, there is a possibility that the guide blade 
26 will come into momentary contact with one of the brake shoes 84. In 
that particular time, there will be a tendency for the brake apparatus 24 
to be moved toward the right in FIG. 2. It is desirable to prevent this 
movement and to do so there is mounted a stop block 120 on each U-shaped 
plate 80. Each stop block 120 has a plurality of threaded bolts 122 
extending therefrom which are to come into contact with the metallic cross 
beam 46 that is located in the middle of the longitudinal length of the 
brake apparatus 24. In this particular situation, there is no need to be 
concerned with excessive wear. Therefore wear plates are not required 
since the brake apparatus 24 is not in the braking position. Threaded 
bolts 122 can be adjusted to come into contact with their respective 
metallic cross beam 46 only after a few thousands of an inch in movement 
of the U-shaped plate 80 and the lineal direction is the reverse of the 
accelerating lineal direction of the vehicle.