IMPROVED BRAKE ASSEMBLY AND ROTARY CAM MEMBER THEREFORE

Abstract: An improved brake assembly (200) having an increased initial brake lining (20, 20′) thickness (T₂) is provided by said assembly having an improved "S" shaped rotary cam member (l50) having a web-like cross sectional configuration in a region of contact with respective free-ends (24, 24′) of respective pivotly mounted support members (4, 4′) for linings (20, 20′) enabling support members (4, 4′) to pivot about a pivot pin (8) and cause free-ends (24, 24′) to move closer to each other in a brake disengaged condition enabling a substantial increase in the brake lining thickness while maintaining an initial desired clearance (C) between linings (20, 20′) and surrounding brake drum (2) in the brake disengaged condition.

Description: INTRODUCTION This invention relates generally to an improved brake assembly of the type employing an "S" shaped rotary cam member and frictional linings for braking a rotating brake drum and more particularly where the cam member is provided with an improvement enabling an attractive increase in the thickness of the brake linings providing the assembly with an attractively extended working life. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Brake assemblies employing various types of rotary cam members for urging a frictional lining against a rotating brake drum to stop the drum from rotating have been known for many years particularly in vehicular applications where the brake drum is a part of the vehicle wheel assembly such as disclosed in United States Patents l,865,042 and 3,837,446, the disclosures of which are included herein by reference. Of particular interest to this invention are brake assemblies employing a rotary cam member having an "S" shaped configuration such as disclosed in United States Patent 3,497,037, assigned to the assignee of the present invention and the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. Such assemblies generally feature a pair of apposed brake shoes comprising support arms pivotally mounted at one end and having apposed spaced-apart free-ends with each having a layer of frictional material secured to a side thereof facing towards the brake drum. The rotary cam member has a central rotational axis intermediate the support member free-ends and resilient biasing means, such as coiled springs, are employed to urge the support member free-­ ends against the cam member. The cam member is commonly mounted on a shaft journaled for rotation that has a suitable crank arm secured to it that is operatively connected to the brake such as by mechanical linkage or air or hydraulic cylinder components. Engagement of the brake by the operator causes the crank arm to rotate the shaft and the cam member which, in turn, spreads the support members apart for a distance to insure frictional engagement between the brake linings and brake drum sufficient to stop its rotation. The working life of the assembly is a function of both the wearability of the frictional lining and its thickness of which the latter is addressed by the present invention. The maximum initial thickness of the frictional lining for a given brake drum is the distance between the support members and the brake drum reduced by an initial desired clearance between the lining and the brake drum when the brake is in a disengaged condition. With the brakes disengaged, the support member free-ends generally lie on opposite sides of the cam member in a plane through its rotational axis. The maximum distance between the support members and the brake drum in the brake disengaged condition is determined by the breadth of the cam member in a region adjacent to and bridging its rotational axis. Heretofore, such "S" shaped cam members have had a generally disc shaped cross-section including the region adjacent to and bridging their rotational axis resulting in a relatively broad breadth which, since disc drums generally have historically established fixed diameters, results in a smaller distance between the support members and the brake drum in the brake disengaged condition which in turn limits the initial thickness of the brake linings. The present invention addresses the problem of providing brake linings of increased thickness for conventional brake drums for brake assemblies utilizing "S" shaped cam members and provides a means of substantially increasing their thickness without altering the function of the cam nor the displacements involved in providing effective braking which, in turn, provides the brake assembly with attractively extended working life. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved brake assembly employing a rotary "S" shaped cam member. It is another object of this invention to provide an improved brake assembly utilizing an "S" shaped cam member that has been altered to provide brake linings of increased thickness for attractively extending the working life of the assembly. It is still another object of this invention to provide an improved brake assembly for braking conventional brake drums that utilize a rotary "S" shaped cam member that is adapted to enable a substantial increase in thickness of the brake linings without affecting braking ability of the assembly. It is yet another object of this invention to provide an improved rotary "S" shaped cam member for use in brake assemblies for enabling an attractive increase in the thickness of frictional linings used in the assembly without affecting braking ability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE l shows a cut-away side elevation view of a prior-art brake assembly employing a conventional "S" shaped rotary cam member; FIGURE 2 shows a partial side elevation view of the brake assembly of FIGURE l in which the conventional rotary cam member has been rotated by application of the brake; FIGURE 3 shows a transverse view of a portion of the brake assembly of FIGURE l; FIGURE 4A shows a side elevation view of the conventional "S" shaped cam member of FIGURE l; FIGURE 4B shows a side elevation view of an embodiment of an improved "S" shaped rotary cam member of the invention; FIGURE 4C shows a transverse sectional view of the improved "S" shaped rotary cam member of FIGURE 4B; and FIGURE 5 shows a side elevation view of an embodiment of the improved brake assembly of the invention employing the improved rotary cam member of FIGURES 4B and 4C. DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Brake assembly l00 of FIGURE l is a conventional type brake assembly commonly employed for example for braking a vehicular wheel. Assembly l00 has a pair of apposed arcuate brake shoes 4 and 4′ respectively comprising support members 6 and 6′ that are pivotly mounted at pin 8 at one end and have respective apposed spaced-apart free-ends l0 and l0′ at the opposite end. Preferably, rollers 24 and 24′ are respectively rotatably mounted at free-ends l0 and l0′ of support members 6 and 6′ for engagement with the rotary cam member and the words "free-end" as used herein includes such rollers where utilized in the assembly. Brake assembly l00 is used to brake generally circular rotary brake drum 2 which includes a central opening 33 in plate 34 thereof for receiving the axle shaft and which is held stationary to the axle by suitable bolts l2. Brake assembly l00 is surrounded by circular rotary brake drum 2 and remains stationary while brake drum 2 rotates about brake shoes 4 and 4′. Support members 6 and 6′ have respective transverse flanges 22 and 22′ to which are respectively secured dual brake lining pads 20 and 20′ on the side thereof facing towards brake drum 2. Dual brake lining pads 20 and 20′ are made from a suitable friction material well known to those skilled in the art of braking rotary brake drum and which are secured to support flanges 22 and 22′ by bonding or rivets or other suitable techniques well known to those skilled in the art. Assembly l00 includes a conventional rotary "S" shaped cam member l4 well known to those skilled in vehicular brake assembly art. Cam member l4 has a central rotational axis "A" shown in FIGURE 5 that is disposed intermediate free-ends l0 and l0′ in the brake disengaged condition. Cam member l4 is mounted on and is rotated by shaft l6 shown in FIGURES l and 3. Rollers 24 and 24′ of brake shoes 4 and 4′ are respectively urged against opposite sides of cam member l4 by suitable resilient biasing means such as coiled springs l8 having their opposite ends secured to support members 6 and 6′ of brake shoes 4 and 4′ as shown in FIGURE l. It can readily be seen from FIGURE l that as cam member l4 rotates clockwise, free-ends l0 and l0′ are forced-apart from each other while brake shoes 4 and 4′ pivot about pin 8 which in turn urges dual brake lining pads 20 and 20′ outwardly against brake drum 2 for a distance sufficient to insure stopping brake drum 2 from rotating. Assembly l00 is shown in a brake disengaged condition in FIGURE l and in a brake engaged condition in FIGURE 2. In FIGURE l, here is an initial desired clearance "C" between dual brake lining pads 20 and 20′ and brake drum 2 in the brake disengaged condition. Rotary cam member l4 is rotated by any suitable means operable to rotate cam member in the rotary direction and angular required to effectively stop drum 2 from rotating upon engagement of the braking by an operator. As viewed in FIGURES l and 2, cam member l4 rotates clockwise from a brake disengaged condition in FIGURE l to a brake engaged condition in FIGURE 2. As evident in FIGURE 2, cam member l4 is able to rotate even further in a clockwise direction to make up for wear of brake pads 20 and 20′. Although suitable mechanical linkages or hydraulic or pneumatic systems may be used to rotate cam member l4 in response to engagement of the brake, a commonly employed pneumatic system is shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 for illustrative purposes. In FIGURE 3, cam member l4 is secured to one end of shaft l6. Shaft l6 is rotatably mounted to housing 36 by spaced-apart bearings 38 which in turn is secured to plate 34 of brake drum 2 by suitable bolts 37. Suitable seals 40 may be included for protecting bearings 38 from contamination. The opposite end of shaft l6 contains splines 42 to which one end of eccentric crank arm 28 is secured and held axially by suitable means such as "C" clip 46. The opposite end of arm 28 is pivotly connected to rod 30 which is caused to move reciprocally by pneumatic bellows 32 shown in FIGURES l and 2. Thus, engagement of the brake provides pneumatic pressure within bellows 32 which causes rod 30 to move towards the viewer's right between FIGURES l and 2 which in turn rotates crank arm and shaft l6 and cam member l4 clockwise and vice versa when the brakes are disengaged. Such air actuated brake assemblies are commonly employed in truck applications. Cam member l4, shown in greater detail in FIGURE 4A, is of the conventional type hereinbefore used having a generally disc shaped transverse cross-section at any point as shown in FIGURE 3. Cam member l4 has a pair of diametrically apposed arms 48 and 50 which respectively spiral in the same rotational direction outwardly away from central rotational axis "A" of cam member l4 and shaft l6 to respective peripheral ends 56 and 58. Arms 48 and 50 are oriented and are provided with respective diametrically apposed convex curved surfaces 52 and 54 facing in the same rotational direction that are adapted to respectively engage rollers 24 and 24′ of free-ends l0 and l0′ of support member 6 and 6′ and to move brake shoes 4 and 4′ away from each other the required distance upon engagement of the brake. The minimum breadth of width of cam member l4 in a region "R" of contact between cam member l4 bridging rotational axis "A" and rollers 24 and 24′ is determinative of thickness "T", of brake pads 20 and 20′ as shown in FIGURE l when the brakes are in a disengaged condition. The minimum breadth of cam member l4 at axis "A′ is represented by the distance 2d, which is relatively large due to the disc shaped construction heretofore historically used for such "S" shaped cam members. The initial maximum thickness T₁ of brake pads 20 and 20′ is generally the maximum distance between the outward facing surfaces of flanges 22 and 22′ of support members 6 and 6′ brake drum 2 reduced by a desired initial clearance "C′ when the brakes are in a disengaged condition with the maximum distance between flanges 22 and 22′ and brake drum 2 being a function of the breadth of cam member l4 in the region "R" of contact hereinbefore described. FIGURES 4B and 4C show an embodiment l50 of an improved rotary "S" shaped cam member that is adapted to enable a substantial increase in the thickness of the brake lining pads of assembly l00. As shown in FIGURE 4B, the breadth of cam member l50 in region "R" of contact with rollers 24 and 24′ bridging rotational axis "A" has been reduced from the conventional disc shaped cross-­ section to a web shaped configuration such as web 6 shown in section 80-80 of FIGURE 4C having a minimum width 2d₂ at axis "A′ that is substantially smaller than width 2d₁ previously described. Web 60 has apposed surfaces 63 and 65 which face away from each other and extend outwardly away from axis "A" and merge respectively with initial convex surfaces 52 and 54 at a distance sufficiently inward of peripheral ends 56 and 58 to insure the outward displacements of brake shoes 4 and 4′ caused by rotation of cam member l50 remain substantially the same towards the latter part of the braking stroke. Due to its thinness, web 60 includes at least one transverse flange 62 adapted to provide web 60 with strength sufficient for suitable operation of cam member l50 in brake assemblies of the type herein described. Web 60 may have flanges 62 and 68 at its opposite edges to provide a "U" type cross section or have a flange 68 without flanges 62. Preferably, however, web 60 has at least transverse flange 62 as the end thereof spaced apart from shaft l6. Although flange 62 may have any suitable shape provided it imparts web 60 the strength required, flange 62 preferably has an "S" shaped configuration as shown in FIGURE 4B and is preferably integral with web 60. Improved rotary "S" shaped cam member l50 is shown disposed intermediate free-ends l0 and l0′ of brake shoes 4 and 4′ of brake assembly 200 in FIGURE 5. It can immediately be seen that providing cam member l50 with a web shaped configuration in region "R" of contact with free-ends l0 and l0′ in the brake disengaged condition has enabled free-ends l0 and l0′ (including rollers 24 and 24′) to move towards each other by the distance 2d₁ - 2d₂ which in turn has enabled support members 6 and 6′ to pivot about pin 8 and move towards each other to enable the thickness of frictional brake pads 20 and 20′ to be increased to thickness T₂ while maintaining initial clearance "C" between pads 20 and 20′ and brake drum 2. Illustratively, altering the transverse cross section of rotary "S" shaped cam members from the conventional disc shape to a web shaped configuration in previously described region "R" of contact bridging rotational axis "A" has enabled the breadth or width at the rotational axis "A" to be reduced typically by more than one-half such as a reduction from one inch to l/4 inch. The ability to substitute the improved rotary "S" shaped cam member having a web like transverse cross section in the region of contact between the brake shoe free-ends in the brake disengaged condition in brake assemblies utilizing conventional rotary "S" shaped cam members enables a substantial and attractive increase in the thickness of frictional brake linings used in the assembly and provides the assembly with an attractively extended working life.

Claims: 1. An improved brake assembly (200) for braking a rotary brake drum (2), said assembly of the type including: a pair of apposed brake shoes comprising respective support members (4, 4′) pivotally mounted at one end in stationary relationship relative said brake drum (2) and having respective spaced-apart free-ends (l0, l0′) and a frictional brake lining (20, 20′) secured thereto on a side thereof facing towards said brake drum (2), a rotary cam member (l50) mounted for rotation about a central rotational axis thereof intermediate said support member free-ends (l0, l0′), means (l8) resiliently urging said support member free-ends (l0, l0′) against the cam member (l50), said cam member (l50) having a generally "S" shaped configuration having a pair of diametrically apposed arms respectively spiraling in the same rotational direction outwardly away from the cam member rotational axis to respective peripheral ends (56, 58) thereof to provide respective convex cam surfaces (52, 54) oriented to urge said support member free-ends (l0, l0′) away from each other for a distance that insures frictional engagement between said brake linings (20, 20′ ) and said brake drum sufficient to stop said brake drum (2) from rotating upon rotation of the cam member (l50) from an initial brake disengaged rotational position in response to engagement of the brake and where the maximum distance between the respective support member (4, 4′) and the brake drum (2) in the brake disengaged condition is a function of the breadth (2d₁) of the cam member (l50) between the support member free-ends (l0, l0′) in a region (R) of contact therebetween bridging said rotational axis and the initial maximum thickness (T2) of the respective brake lining (20, 20′) is governed by the distance between the respective support member and the brake drum reduced by an initial desired clearance (C) between the brake lining and the brake drum in the brake disengaged condition, wherein the improvement is characterized by: said assembly (l50) having extended working life provided by said brake linings having an increased maximum initial thickness (T2) by reason of an increase in the distance between the respective support members and the brake drum provided by said cam member having a web shaped transverse cross-section in said region (R) adapted to reduce the breadth (2d₁) of the cam member between the support member free-ends (l0, l0′) in the brake disengaged condition and having at least one flange (62) transverse to said web adapted to provide said web with sufficient strength for insuring suitable operation of the assembly. 2. An improved rotary cam member (l50) for use in a brake assembly (200) for braking a rotary brake drum (2), said assembly (200) of the type including: a pair of brake shoes comprising respective support members (4, 4′) pivotally mounted at one end in stationary relationship relative said brake drum (2) and having respective spaced-apart free-ends (l0, l0′) and a frictional lining (20, 20′) secured thereto on a side thereof facing towards the brake drum (2), said cam member (l50) mounted for rotation about a central rotational axis thereof intermediate said support member free-ends (l0, l0′), means (l8) resiliently urging said support members (4, 4′) against the cam member (l50), said cam member (l50) having a generally "S" shaped configuration having a pair of diametrically apposed arms respectively spiraling in the same rotational direction outwardly away from the cam member rotational axis to respective peripheral ends (56, 58) thereof to provide respective convex cam surfaces (52, 54) oriented to urge said support member free-ends (l0, l0′) away from each other for a distance that insures frictional engagement between said brake linings (20, 20′ ) and said brake drum (2) sufficient to stop said brake drum (2) from rotating upon rotation of the cam member (l50) from an initial brake disengaged rotational position in response to engagement of the brake and where the maximum distance between the respective support members and the brake drum in the brake (2d₁) disengaged condition is a function of the breadth of the cam member (l50) between the support member free-ends in a region (R) of contact therebetween bridging said rotational axis and the initial maximum thickness (T2) of the brake linings (20, 20′) is governed by the distance between the respective support members and the brake drum reduced by an initial desired clearance (C) between the brake linings (20, 20′) and the brake drum (2) in the brake disengaged condition, wherein the improvement is characterized by said cam member (l50) having a web shaped transverse cross-­ section in said region (R) adapted to reduce the breadth (2d₁) of the cam member between the support member free-­ ends in the brake disengaged condition and having at least one flange (62) transverse to said web adapted to provide said web with sufficient strength for insuring suitable operation of the assembly thereby enabling an increase in the maximum distance between the support members and the brake drum in the brake disengaged condition which in turn enables an increase in the maximum initial thickness (T2) of the brake linings for providing the assembly with an extended working life.

Inventors: CLARK, JAMES ROBERT
Applicants: EATON CORPORATION
Application year: 1986
Main classification: F16D65
IPC codes: F16D65, F16D51