Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4633979?dq=4182933
Timestamp: 2014-03-10 16:56:55
Document Index: 3132684

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 12', 'art 14', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 14', 'art 12', 'art 14', 'art 12', 'art 14', 'arts 12', 'arts 12']

Patent US4633979 - Simplified disc brake - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA simplified disc brake is provided, particularly for small gearboxes in the nature of transmissions and transaxles. The gearbox includes a housing having an output shaft extending therefrom with a brake disc mounted on the shaft for rotatable and limited longitudinal movement. The housing has a structurally...http://www.google.com/patents/US4633979?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4633979 - Simplified disc brakeAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS4633979 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 06/721,043Publication dateJan 6, 1987Filing dateApr 8, 1985Priority dateApr 8, 1985Fee statusLapsedAlso published asCA1264445A1Publication number06721043, 721043, US 4633979 A, US 4633979A, US-A-4633979, US4633979 A, US4633979AInventorsDouglas F. EdwardsOriginal AssigneeThe J. B. Foote Foundry Co.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (7), Referenced by (24), Classifications (18), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSimplified disc brakeUS 4633979 AAbstract A simplified disc brake is provided, particularly for small gearboxes in the nature of transmissions and transaxles. The gearbox includes a housing having an output shaft extending therefrom with a brake disc mounted on the shaft for rotatable and limited longitudinal movement. The housing has a structurally integral brake puck pocket holding a first brake puck facing toward an inside surface of the brake disc. The housing also has a structurally integral second brake puck pocket holding a second brake puck opposite the first and facing toward an outside surface of the brake disc. The housing forms two spaced passages communicating with portions of the second brake puck pocket and holding pins positioned to move longitudinally toward the second brake puck to move it toward the brake disc. A mounting bolt is also supported by the housing between the two brake pin passages and a brake lever is pivotally mounted on the bolt and engageable with outer ends of the pins to move them toward the second brake puck when the lever is pivoted to set the brake. The housing also has a structurally-integral protective wall outside the brake disc.
I claim: 1. In combination, a housing having an upper part and a lower part non-integrally meeting along a mating line, an output shaft extending from the housing at the mating line, a brake disc rotatable with said output shaft, a first brake puck, said upper housing part having a first upper recess with an open lower end, said lower housing part having a first lower recess with an open upper end communicating with the lower open end of said upper recess to form a first puck pocket, a second brake puck, said upper housing part having a second upper recess with a lower open end, said lower housing part having a second lower recess with an upper open end communicating with the lower open end of said second upper recess to form a second puck pocket, said first puck pocket positioning said first brake puck in a position facing toward an inside surface of said brake disc which faces toward said housing, said second puck pocket positioning said second brake puck in a position facing toward an outside surface of said brake disc which faces away from said housing, with said first and second brake pucks being in alignment on opposite sides of said brake disc, said upper housing part having a pin passage communicating with said second upper recess, said lower housing part having a pin passage communicating with said second lower recess, pins in said passages, longitudinally movable therein, and positioned to move said second brake puck against the outer surface of said brake disc when said pins are moved toward said second brake puck, a mounting bolt having a shank and an enlarged head, said upper and lower housing parts having enlarged recesses communicating with one another at the mating line of said parts to receive and hold said head of said bolt, and said upper and lower housing parts having notches communicating with one another at the mating line to receive and hold said shank of said bolt, and a brake lever mounted on said mounting bolt and engagable with outer ends of said pins to move said pins when said lever is moved on said mounting bolt.
2. The combination according to claim 1 characterized by said housing having a structurally-integral protective wall extending across said brake disc outside the outer surface of said brake disc.
3. In combination, a housing having an upper part and a lower part non-integrally meeting along a mating line, an output shaft extending from the housing at the mating line, a brake disc rotatable with said output shaft, a first brake puck, said upper housing part having a first upper recess with an open lower end, said lower housing part having a first lower recess with an open upper end communicating with the lower open end of said upper recess to form a first puck pocket, a second brake puck, said upper housing part having a second upper recess with a lower open end, said lower housing part having a second lower recess with an upper open end communicating with the lower open end of said second upper recess to form a second puck pocket, said first puck pocket positioning said first brake puck in a position facing toward an inside surface of said brake disc which faces toward said housing, said second puck pocket positioning said second brake puck in a position facing toward an outside surface of said brake disc which faces away from said housing, with said first and second brake pucks being in alignment on opposite sides of said brake disc, said upper housing part having a pin passage communicating with said second upper recess, said lower housing part having a pin passage communicating with said second lower recess, pins in said passages, longitudinally movable therein, and positioned to move said second brake puck against the outer surface of said brake disc when said pins are moved toward said second brake puck, a mounting bolt having a shank, said upper and lower housing parts having notches communicating with one another at the mating line to receive and hold said shank of said bolt, said upper and lower housing parts having a structurally-integral, protective wall forming a vertical, open-ended chamber with a main wall of said housing, said protective wall extending across the entire brake disc outside the outer surface of said brake disc, and a brake lever mounted on said mounting bolt and engagable with outer ends of said pins to move said pins when said lever is moved on said mounting bolt.
4. The combination according to claim 3 characterized by said upper housing part having a first enlarged recess with a lower open end, said lower housing part having a second enlarged recess with an upper open end communicating with the lower open end of said first enlarged recess, said mounting bolt having an enlarged head received in said first and second enlarged recesses, said enlarged recesses communicating with said notches of said upper and lower housing parts.
This invention relates to a simplified disc brake mechanism, particularly for use with smaller gearboxes in the nature of transmissions and transaxles.
Disc brakes for gearboxes as used on small vehicles such as riding lawn mowers, snowmobiles, snow throwers, golf carts, garden tillers, and the like have heretofore been known. However, such brakes have been comparatively expensive, employing brake puck holders of relatively complicated shapes, and a number of additional components. Such brakes are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,485,329, and 4,113,069, for example.
The present invention provides a simplified disc brake for a gearbox having a housing with an output shaft extending therefrom. A brake disc is mounted on the output shaft for rotatable movement therewith and for limited longitudinal movement. The housing has a first structurally-integral brake puck pocket holding a first brake puck facing toward an inside surface of the brake disc. The housing also has a second structurally-integral pocket holding a second brake puck facing an outside surface of the brake disc, in a position aligned with the first brake puck. The two pockets are formed by recesses in upper and lower parts of the housing which communicate with one another to form the complete pockets. The housing parts also have enlarged recesses and notches to receive and position the head and shank of a mounting bolt extending from the housing. Each of the housing parts also has a passage communicating with the second brake puck pocket with the passages holding brake pins which can be longitudinally moved toward and away from the second puck in the second pocket. A brake lever is pivotally mounted on the bolt and engages outer ends of the pins to move them toward the second brake puck to apply the brakes when the lever is pivoted on the bolt.
The housing can also have a structurally integral protective wall outside the brake disc to protect it and also to protect the operator and others from possible injury from the rotating disc.
The simplified disc brake does not require any separate brake puck holders of complicated shapes and also utilizes fewer, relatively simple components in the nature of the brake pins to actuate the brake pucks.
It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide an improved simplified brake for a small gearbox.
Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified brake for a small transmission or transaxle which is lower in cost.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a simplified disc brake for a gearbox having a housing forming a protective wall outside the brake disc.
FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic side view in elevation of a gearbox, specifically a small transmission, embodying a simplified brake in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in horizontal section, taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2; and
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, exploded view in perspective of the gearbox housing and brake of FIGS. 1-3.
Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, a gearbox embodying the invention is shown in the form of a transmission housing 10 which includes an upper housing part 12 and a lower housing part 14. An input shaft 16 extends upwardly from the upper housing part 12 and an intermediate shaft 18 and an output shaft 20 are located at the mating line of the housing parts. A brake disc 22 is keyed or otherwise affixed to an outer end of the output shaft 20 for rotatable movement therewith and for short, longitudinal movement with respect thereto. The brake disc 22 is located in a vertical, open-ended chamber 24 which is formed by a main wall 26 of the housing and a thinner, protective outer wall 28 which is connected at one end to the main wall by a thickened end wall 30. The end wall 30 has a vertical slot 32 into which an edge portion of the brake disc 22 extends.
A puck pocket or retainer 34 formed in the main wall 26 holds a first brake puck 36 which extends slightly into the slot 32 adjacent an inner face of the brake disc 22. As shown in FIG. 4, in particular, the brake puck 36 is in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped. The puck pocket 34 is formed by an upper recess 34a formed in the upper housing part 12 with a lower open end aligned with an upper open end of a lower recess 34b formed in the lower housing part 14.
A puck pocket or retainer 38 is also formed in the end wall 30 and holds a second brake puck 40 which is similar to the puck 36 but also has a backing plate 42. The puck pocket 38 is formed by an upper recess 38a formed in the upper housing part 12 with a lower open end aligned with an upper open end of a lower recess 38b formed in the lower housing part 14.
The upper housing part 12 also has a hole or passage 44 (FIGS. 3 and 4) communicating with the upper recess 38a and the lower housing part 14 has a hole or passage 46 communicating with the lower recess 38b. Brake pins 48 and 50 are located in the holes or passages 44 and 46 for slidable, longitudinal movement with respect thereto. The pins have rounded outer ends 52 and 54 and squared inner ends 56 and 58 which engage the backing plate 42.
The mating edges of the upper and lower housing parts 12 and 14 have enlarged, semi-circular recesses 60 and 62 therein along with upper and lower semi-circular notches 64 and 66. A mounting bolt 68 has a head 70 received in the semi-circular recesses 60 and 62 and a shank 72 received in the notches 64 and 66. The outer end of the shank 72 is threaded at 74 and receives a washer 76 and a nut 78 which hold a brake lever 80 on the shank 72 for pivotal movement thereon.
The lower end of the brake lever 80 has an upper angular portion or surface 82 which is positioned to engage the rounded end 52 of the brake pin 48 and a lower angular portion or surface 84 which is positioned to engage the outer rounded end 54 of the lower brake pin 50 when the brake lever 80 is mounted on the mounting bolt 68 with an opening 86 of the lever received on the shank 72 of the bolt. The angular portions 82 and 84 meet at an apex 88 extending through the mounting hole 86 and angularly located with respect to the longitudinal extent of the lever 80. The lever 80 also includes an outwardly extending arm 90 having a connecting hole 92 near an outer end thereof. The hole can receive a linkage 94 (FIG. 1) which can be connected to suitable mechanism near the operator's seat, in the case of a small, riding vehicle, to move the lever 80 and set the brake. When the lever is moved counterclockwise, from the position shown in FIG. 1, the inner surfaces of the angular portions 82 and 84 force the pins 48 and 50 inwardly to move the backing plate 42 and the outer brake puck 40 inwardly. The puck 40 thereby engages the outer surface of the disc 22 and forces it slightly longitudinally on the shaft 20 to engage the inner puck 36 and to set the brake.
From the above, it will be seen that the brake in accordance with the invention is of relatively simple construction and low in cost. The puck pockets 34 and 38, being structurally integral with the housing parts 12 and 14, eliminate the complicated puck holders heretofore required. The pin openings 44 and 46 along with the recesses 60, 62 and the notches 64, 66 for the mounting bolt 68 also eliminate additional components. Besides the usual brake pucks 36 and 40, along with the backing plate 42, the only additional components required are the relatively simple brake pins 48 and 50, the mounting bolt 68, along with the nut and washer, and the brake lever 80. The structurally integral wall 28 of the housing also provides protection for both the brake disc 22 and the operator or other people.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS2815104 *Dec 9, 1954Dec 3, 1957Deere Mfg CompanyParking lock for brake mechanismUS3035664 *Aug 28, 1957May 22, 1962Bendix CorpDisc brakeUS3463274 *Sep 26, 1967Aug 26, 1969Kelsey Hayes CoDisk brake assembly and mounting means thereforUS3703944 *Jun 1, 1970Nov 28, 1972Kelsey Hayes CoDisk parking and service brake having servo action on parking brake onlyUS4008114 *Sep 15, 1975Feb 15, 1977Midwestern Manufacturing CompanyMachine for wrapping tape on a pipe including improved means of controlling the tension on the tapeUS4102440 *Apr 11, 1977Jul 25, 1978Airheart Products, Inc.Cam operated disc brakeUS4113069 *May 26, 1977Sep 12, 1978Craft Jacob ASmall transmission with brake* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4903546 *Jun 22, 1988Feb 27, 1990Mtd Products Inc.Transmission housing with a brake attachedUS4966574 *Jun 6, 1989Oct 30, 1990Tecumseh Products CompanyTransaxleUS5000056 *Jul 27, 1989Mar 19, 1991Dana CorporationInternal disc brake for transaxleUS5195386 *Nov 20, 1991Mar 23, 1993Tecumseh Products CompanyBrake lever arrangementUS5203434 *Jun 21, 1991Apr 20, 1993Dana CorporationMounting structure for cone brakeUS5226673 *Aug 30, 1991Jul 13, 1993Cech Donald EBraking assembly and methodUS5351974 *Sep 23, 1992Oct 4, 1994Cech Donald EIn-line skate braking assembly and methodUS5689955 *Jun 17, 1996Nov 25, 1997Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipHydrostatic transaxle having improved brake designUS5752707 *Jul 24, 1996May 19, 1998David Geoffrey PeckCuff-activated brake for in-line roller skateUS6301884Jun 22, 2000Oct 16, 2001Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipBrake design for a hydrostatic transaxleUS6454673Oct 12, 2000Sep 24, 2002Tecumseh Products CompanySelf adjusting wet brake for use with a transmission or transaxleUS6526749Nov 29, 2001Mar 4, 2003Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipHydrostatic transmissionUS6550243Jun 13, 2001Apr 22, 2003Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipHydrostatic transmissionUS6672057Sep 13, 2002Jan 6, 2004Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipHydrostatic transmissionUS6729443Apr 11, 2002May 4, 2004Tecumseh Products CompanyBrake for a transaxleUS6941753Nov 6, 2003Sep 13, 2005Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipHydrostatic transmissionUS7036311Dec 3, 2004May 2, 2006Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipHydrostatic transmissionUS7065964Dec 3, 2004Jun 27, 2006Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipHydrostatic transmissionUS7134276May 11, 2005Nov 14, 2006Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipCylinder block brake for a hydrostatic drive apparatusUS7487636Oct 11, 2006Feb 10, 2009Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipHydraulic drive apparatusUS7926266Feb 6, 2009Apr 19, 2011Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipHydraulic drive apparatusUS7926624May 4, 2007Apr 19, 2011Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipCylinder block brakeUS8381517Apr 14, 2011Feb 26, 2013Hydro-Gear Limited PartnershipHydraulic drive apparatusEP1249629A2 *Apr 11, 2002Oct 16, 2002Tecumseh Products CompanyDisc brake for small utility vehicle transaxle* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification188/72.7, 192/70.23, 188/73.31, 188/71.1International ClassificationF16D65/14, B60T1/06, F16D55/30, F16D55/28Cooperative ClassificationF16D55/28, F16D2121/14, F16D65/18, F16D2125/36, B60T1/065, F16D55/30European ClassificationF16D65/18, B60T1/06C, F16D55/30, F16D55/28Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMar 21, 1995FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 19950111Jan 8, 1995LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesAug 16, 1994REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedJun 25, 1990FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Jan 3, 1989ASAssignmentOwner name: DANA CORPORATION, 4500 DORR ST., A CORP. OF VA, OHFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:FOOTE INDUSTRIES, INC.;REEL/FRAME:005013/0742Effective date: 19871030Apr 8, 1985ASAssignmentOwner name: J. B. FOOTE FOUNDRY CO., THE, FREDERICKTOWN, OH AFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:EDWARDS, DOUGLAS F.;REEL/FRAME:004394/0313Effective date: 19850325RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google