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 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 (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 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 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 caliper brake including a housing and a rotating actuator received in a bore in the housing, the rotating actuator having a head positioned within the housing and an outer tapered surface located outside the housing. A lever includes a bore with an inner tapered surface that mates with the outer tapered surface of the rotating actuator. A threaded nut is received over a threaded end portion of the rotating actuate and applies pressure to the lever to rotationally secure it to the rotating actuator. An inner stator is positioned adjacent to the head of the rotating actuator and an outer stator is spaced from the inner stator, the stators being axially movable. A plurality of ramped depressions are provided in both the head and in a backing plate of the inner stator, and a ball is positioned between each of the ramped depressions.

Abstract: A caliper brake including a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle. The mounting bracket includes a pair of laterally spaced holes, and a mounting bolt is received through each hole. Each bolt includes a head and a threaded portion on opposing ends, and a nut is received on each threaded portion. An inner spacer extends between the mounting bracket and the nut on each bolt, and an outer spacer extends between the mounting bracket and the head on each bolt.

Abstract: A caliper brake including a housing and a rotating actuator received in a bore in the housing, the rotating actuator having a head positioned within the housing and an outer tapered surface located outside the housing. A lever includes a bore with an inner tapered surface that mates with the outer tapered surface of the rotating actuator. A threaded nut is received over a threaded end portion of the rotating actuate and applies pressure to the lever to rotationally secure it to the rotating actuator. An inner stator is positioned adjacent to the head of the rotating actuator and an outer stator is spaced from the inner stator, the stators being axially movable. A plurality of ramped depressions are provided in both the head and in a backing plate of the inner stator, and a ball is positioned between each of the ramped depressions.

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 system includes a housing, a bore within the housing, and a piston slidably positioned within the bore. The brake system also includes a spring assembly, a fluid chamber defined by the bore and the piston, and a hydraulic fluid supply network. The spring assembly provides a biasing force to maintain the piston in an actuated position engaging a stator which engages the rotor of a vehicle. The hydraulic fluid supply network provides pressurized fluid to the fluid chamber to selectively overcome the biasing force of the spring assembly and move the piston to an unactuated position to release the rotor. Thus, the caliper brake is spring actuated and hydraulically released.

Abstract: A caliper brake including a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle. The mounting bracket includes a pair of laterally spaced holes, and a mounting bolt is received through each hole. Each bolt includes a head and a threaded portion on opposing ends, and a nut is received on each threaded portion. An inner spacer extends between the mounting bracket and the nut on each bolt, and an outer spacer extends between the mounting bracket and the head on each bolt.

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 system includes a housing, a bore within the housing, and a piston slidably positioned within the bore. The brake system also includes a spring assembly, a fluid chamber defined by the bore and the piston, and a hydraulic fluid supply network. The spring assembly provides a biasing force to maintain the piston in an actuated position engaging a stator which engages the rotor of a vehicle. The hydraulic fluid supply network provides pressurized fluid to the fluid chamber to selectively overcome the biasing force of the spring assembly and move the piston to an unactuated position to release the rotor. Thus, the caliper brake is spring actuated and hydraulically released.

Abstract: A brake (10) for a wheel of a vehicle is slidably mounted to a vehicle frame by mounting sleeves (22). The brake (10) includes a stationary actuator (20) which has a plurality of depressions (38) adapted to receive a plurality of balls (40). The stationary actuator (20) further has a pin hole (34) which receives a pin (36) which correspondingly defines a pivot axis (50). Adjacent to the stationary actuator (20) is a rotating actuator (66) which rotates about an axis (50) and includes a plurality of depressions (78) which are axially aligned with the depressions (38) while in an un actuated state. The brake (10) is actuated by rotation of the rotating actuator (66) which correspondingly moves the balls (40) to progressively more shallow portions of the depressions (38, 78) which acts upon a washer (82) and one or more shims (86) to force a first stator (16) and a second stator (18) together and into contact with a rotor (12).