Patent GB-1490743-A (GB)
Title: Wheel and disc brake assembly
IPC: F16D65/12
Filed: 1974-02-08
Abstract: 1490743 Cooling in multi-disc brake assemblies DUNLOP Ltd 3 Feb 1975 [8 Feb 1974] 05792/74 Heading F2E [Also in Division B7] A wheel and disc brake assembly comprises a plurality of interleaved annular stator and rotor discs 1, 5 the stator discs 1 being keyed by keyways 2 at their inner peripheries to keys 3 of a fixed torque tube 4 and the rotor discs 5 being keyed to keys 182 of the wheel rim 50, heat shield members 13 are provided extending between each adjacent pair of keys 3 between the radially inner periphery of the disc pack and the torque tube 4 to form an air passage between each adjacent pair of keys 3 and the torque tube 4 which passage is isolated from the disc pack 1, 5; a forced draught of cooling air is passed through these passages to remove heat reaching the members 13 from the disc pack 1, 5 but because of the isolation of this air from the disc pack 1, 5 the discs 1, 5 are protected from oxidation. As described, the discs 1, 5 are of carbon reinforced with laminations of carbonized cloth. In the embodiment of Figs. 1, 2, a reaction flange 7 supporting a reaction plate 16 is secured to the axially outer end of the torque tube 4 and circumferentially-spaced hydraulic brake applying piston-cylinder assemblies 9 are provided in a torque plate assembly 10 which supports torque tube 4, thrust from asemblies 9 is transmitted to the disc pack 1, 5 via thrust transmitting rings 11, 12 as described in Specification 1,324,991. The heat shield members 13 which are of sheet metal (although they may be of ceramic material or of carbon fibre reinforced carbon material) abut the assembly 10 and flange 17 at their ends. The sides of the members 13 are engaged in lateral notches 55 in the keys 3. Further, heat shield members 13<SP>1</SP> between notches in keys 182 of the wheel rim 50 to provide cooling air passages at the radially outer periphery of the disc pack. As shown, the torque plate assembly has bores 17 the torque tube 4 has apertures 56 and a disc portion 51 of the wheel has apertures 57 whereby a forced draught of cooling air generated by means such as described in Specification 1,371,336 follows the path indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. An annular shield member 58 fixed to thrust transmitting ring 12 serves as a barrier to indrawn air reaching the outer periphery of the disc pack 1, 5. In the modification of Figs. 3, 4 (not shown) recesses (60) are provided in the reaction flange 7 to replace the apertures (56) in the torque tube (4). The reaction flange (7) is secured to the torque tube (4) by bolts (8). In the modification of Figs. 5, 6 (not shown) each key (3<SP>1</SP>) of the torque tube (4) is hollow and comprises two longitudinal ribs (61) bridged by a metal plate (62). In the modification of Figs. 7, 8 (not shown) bores (63) are provided in the ribs (61) for the passage of cooling air. In the embodiment of Fig. 9 the heat shield members 13 do not extend to the torque plate assembly 10 or to the reaction flange 7. Two series of circumferentially spaced filler pieces 171, 181 are provided disposed in the free spaces adjacent the outer and inner peripheries of the disc pack between the radially outwardly or inwardly projecting torque-transmitting portions of alternate discs. These filler pieces reduce the rate of oxidation of the discs. As shown, the filler pieces will not contact each other when the brake is applied until the discs have worn down to their design limit thickness. Alternatively the filler pieces may be made of crushable material. The filler pieces may be made from such materials as scrap reinforced carbon disc material, high density unreinforced graphite, low density carbon, asbestos or ceramic-based heat material.