Abstract: A spring applied, hydraulically released brake includes a housing having an open end adapted to align with a vehicle surface and an internal ring extending from an inner perimeter of the housing; a piston; a disc stack including a thicker stationary disc including a tab with a hole therethrough, the hole receiving a slotted spring pin, the slotted spring pin slidably receiving a pin spring over a portion thereof; and a spring assembly adapted to urge the piston into contact with the thicker stationary disc to establish a default position of the brake; where, in a released position of the brake, the piston is not in contact with the thicker stationary disc, and the pin spring urges the thicker stationary disc into contact with the internal ring of the housing to thereby prevent the thicker stationary disc from free floating.

Abstract: A spring applied, hydraulically released brake includes a housing having an open end adapted to align with a vehicle surface and an internal ring extending from an inner perimeter of the housing; a piston; a disc stack including a thicker stationary disc including a tab with a hole therethrough, the hole receiving a slotted spring pin, the slotted spring pin slidably receiving a pin spring over a portion thereof; and a spring assembly adapted to urge the piston into contact with the thicker stationary disc to establish a default position of the brake; where, in a released position of the brake, the piston is not in contact with the thicker stationary disc, and the pin spring urges the thicker stationary disc into contact with the internal ring of the housing to thereby prevent the thicker stationary disc from free floating.

Abstract: A spring applied hydraulic released brake includes a brake housing including a pair of stator assemblies, a pair of piston-spring assemblies, each of the piston-spring assemblies including a piston assembly, a spring assembly adapted to apply spring force to the piston assembly to thereby engage the piston assembly with a first stator assembly of the pair of stator assemblies in a default position of the brake, and an end cap adjuster providing an opposing surface against which the spring assembly is biased, the end cap adjuster including a body portion having an end cap threading therearound generally corresponding with a housing threading within the brake housing.

Abstract: A hydraulic caliper assembly includes a caliper brake housing including two opposing pairs of two piston assemblies, each of the pairs of two piston assemblies adapted to place a respective stator assembly of a pair of stator assemblies in a braking position, where the caliper brake housing is a unitary, cast component having an internal fluid porting system fluidly coupling each of the piston assemblies with a source of hydraulic fluid, and where each of the piston assemblies have a common configuration.

Abstract: A hydraulic caliper disc brake includes an opposing pair of pistons adapted to act on an opposing pair of washers adapted to act on an opposing pair of stator assemblies, each of the pistons comprising a spherical piston face, each of the washers comprising a spherical washer face abutting a respective one of the spherical piston faces, and a straight washer face opposite the spherical washer face and abutting a respective one of the stator assemblies.

Abstract: A caliper brake (10) includes a housing (12) formed of a first housing portion (16) and a second housing portion (18). Each of the first housing portion and second housing portion include a channel (104) extending therethrough. The channels (104) include pins (102) for receiving one or more shims (94) thereon. Brake (10) includes a first stator assembly (60) and a second stator assembly (64) that are separated by a first distance when no shims (94) are on the pins (102). The first stator assembly (60) and the second stator assembly (64) are separated by a second distance less than the first distance when one or more shims (94) are on the pins (102).

Abstract: A spring applied hydraulic released brake includes a brake housing including a pair of stator assemblies, a pair of piston-spring assemblies, each of the piston-spring assemblies including a piston assembly, a spring assembly adapted to apply spring force to the piston assembly to thereby engage the piston assembly with a first stator assembly of the pair of stator assemblies in a default position of the brake, and an end cap adjuster providing an opposing surface against which the spring assembly is biased, the end cap adjuster including a body portion having an end cap threading therearound generally corresponding with a housing threading within the brake housing.

Abstract: A hydraulic caliper assembly includes a caliper brake housing including two opposing pairs of two piston assemblies, each of the pairs of two piston assemblies adapted to place a respective stator assembly of a pair of stator assemblies in a braking position, where the caliper brake housing is a unitary, cast component having an internal fluid porting system fluidly coupling each of the piston assemblies with a source of hydraulic fluid, and where each of the piston assemblies have a common configuration.

Abstract: A stator pad assembly includes a backing plate including a plate slot extending to a plate slot end, the backing plate carrying a stator lining including a lining slot extending to a lining slot end, the lining slot being generally positioned with a portion of the plate slot such that the plate slot end and the lining slot end are of similar position, and the plate slot defining a tool-engaging surface adapted to receive a tool to thereby cause the stator pad assembly to travel.

Abstract: A brake (10,100) includes a piston (14,112) housing one or more springs (16,114) therein. The one or more springs (16,114) are adapted to urge an extension (30,140) of the piston (14,112) into contact with a disc stack (22,122) in a default position of the brake (10,100). Piston body (18,112) may be latitudinally offset from disc stack (22,122) by a distance (39,141). The brake (10,100) includes a manual release feature (70/72, 176).

Abstract: A brake (10) includes a housing (12) formed from a first housing portion (14) capable of receiving a second housing portion (16). The first housing portion (14) houses a piston (18) and a plurality of springs (20), and the second housing portion (16) houses an alternating arrangement of discs (52) for enacting a braking function. The second housing portion (16) further includes torque pin holes (80) for receiving torque pins (82) therein. Each torque pin (82) is secured with a plug (84) to secure stationary discs (54A, 54B, 54C) in place. The stationary discs (54A, 54B, 54C) have extending ears (74) positioned between torque pin grooves (76), which further receive the torque pins (82).

Abstract: A brake assembly adapted to be mounted to the flange of an axle housing. The brake assembly includes a stationary plate having a plurality of threaded holes therein. The brake assembly also includes a mounting sleeve positioned adjacent to the axle housing flange opposite the stationary plate. A plurality of holes are provided through the mounting sleeve and are aligned with the threaded holes in the stationary plate. A bolt is received through each of the holes in the mounting sleeve and the aligned holes in the axle housing flange and the threaded holes in the stationary plate to secure the brake to the axle housing. The mounting sleeve may be provided in two or more separate pieces in order to facilitate installation.

Abstract: A parking brake system includes an engine oil pressure switch normally controlling the activation of a parking brake. The controller is actuated to temporally ignore a communication from the engine oil pressure switch so that the brake may be released even when the engine is disabled.

Abstract: A caliper brake (10) is adapted to act upon a stator (40) to engage a rotor of a vehicle. A housing (11) carries both a spring applied hydraulically released piston assembly (12) and a pressure intensifying piston assembly (14). The assemblies (12, 14) are in fluid communication with each other. The assembly (12) includes a piston (18) and a spring assembly (20) which urges the piston (18) into a first position engaging the stator (40). The piston assembly (14) includes a pressure intensifying (PI) piston (64) which is in a first position when the piston (18) is in the first position. When the PI piston (64) moves from a first position to a second position, the fluid acts upon the piston (18) thereby disengaging the piston (18) from the stator (40).

Abstract: A brake assembly adapted to be mounted to the flange of an axle housing. The brake assembly includes a stationary plate having a plurality of threaded holes therein. The brake assembly also includes a mounting sleeve positioned adjacent to the axle housing flange opposite the stationary plate. A plurality of holes are provided through the mounting sleeve and are aligned with the threaded holes in the stationary plate. A bolt is received through each of the holes in the mounting sleeve and the aligned holes in the axle housing flange and the threaded holes in the stationary plate to secure the brake to the axle housing. The mounting sleeve may be provided in two or more separate pieces in order to facilitate installation.

Abstract: A two-stage slave cylinder including a housing and a bore extending within the housing. An outer piston is slidably positioned within the bore in the housing, and an outer piston chamber is defined by the bore and the outer piston. The outer piston chamber is connected to a hydraulic fluid source by a fluid passageway. A biasing mechanism acts to bias the outer piston in an unactuated position unless a force is exerted on the outer piston that is greater than the biasing force. A bore is provided in the outer piston, and an inner piston is slidably positioned therein. An inner piston chamber is defined by the bore and the inner piston, and an opening is provided in the outer piston to connect the outer piston chamber to the inner piston chamber. A valve assembly is provided within the opening in the outer piston to control the flow of fluid between the outer piston chamber and the inner piston chamber.

Abstract: A hydraulic caliper brake including a housing having a first half and a second half and a bridge connecting the housing halves. Each half of the housing includes a bore having a fluid chamber and a piston therein. The caliper brake also includes a fluid network having an inlet port and a bleed port in the first half of the housing, a first channel extending through the bridge and in fluid communication with the inlet port and the fluid chamber in the second half of the housing, and a second channel extending through the bridge and in fluid communication with the fluid chamber in the second half of the housing and the bleed port. A dual-flow passage is provided and is in fluid communication with the fluid chamber in the first half of the housing and the second channel. The fluid chamber in the first half is not in fluid communication with the first channel.

Abstract: A ball ramp brake including a housing, a disc assembly within the housing, and an annular rotatable actuator to actuate the brake by compressing the disc assembly. The rotatable actuator includes a plurality of depressions oriented circumferentially therein which become progressively shallower in a first circumferential direction. A plurality of depressions are circumferentially oriented in a surface of the housing and become progressively shallower in a second circumferential direction. The depressions in the actuator and the depressions in the housing each have a first angle of depression that is steeper than a second angle of depression. A boot seal may be provided between the fluid chamber of an actuating cylinder and the inner area within the housing to prevent fluid leakage. In addition, a cooling chamber may be provided in the housing to improve the brakes efficiency.

Abstract: A caliper brake including a pair of opposed service stators and a hydraulic service piston positioned adjacent to each service stator. The caliper brake also includes a pair of opposed parking stators and a spring applied hydraulic release parking piston positioned adjacent to each parking stator. The service stators and the parking stators are independently movable to apply a braking force to a rotor positioned therebetween. The service stators and parking stators may be positioned on first, second and third torque pins, and may share one of the torque pins.