Abstract: A system for impeding air or liquid penetration through an entry into the interior of a structure includes a door mounted to a door frame. The door frame includes at least one integral cavity. The system also includes a dual-sealing system between the door and the door frame. The dual-sealing system includes an inner seal and an outer seal. A drainage cavity is defined by a region bounded by the inner seal, the outer seal, the door, and the door frame. A gap is formed in the outer seal that permits equalization of pressure of the cavity with external atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: A system for impeding air or liquid penetration through an entry into the interior of a structure includes a door mounted to a door frame. The door frame includes at least one integral cavity. The system also includes a dual-sealing system between the door and the door frame. The dual-sealing system includes an inner seal and an outer seal. A drainage cavity is defined by a region bounded by the inner seal, the outer seal, the door, and the door frame. A gap is formed in the outer seal that permits equalization of pressure of the cavity with external atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The brake housing (12) comprises a first portion (14), a second portion (16), and a demountably coupled cylinder block (18). The first and second portions (14, 16) comprise respective openings (40, 68) through which a rotating component passes. The portions (14) and (16) are coupled together to define an internal space about a portion of the rotating body. One or more cylinder blocks (18) are formed separately of the first and second portions (14, 16) and directly demountably coupled to the first or second portions. Each cylinder block (18) is provided with a first surface (28) that faces the portion (14, 16) to which the cylinder block is coupled. Each block (18) is also provided with one or more cavities (20) that open onto an opposite surface (22) of the cylinder blocks (18) for receiving respective pistons (24). The blocks (18) can be fixed at any location inside the housing (12) to meet the requirements of the associated brake assembly at hand.

Abstract: A housing (10) for a braking system (56) comprises a casing (12) defining a cavity (14) for housing one or more friction pads (15). The casing (12) is composed of a plurality of separate walls including a circumferential wall (16), back wall (18), and a front wall (20). The circumferential wall (16) is provided with an internal fluid flow path (36) and a fluid inlet (38) and fluid outlet (40) which communicate with the fluid flow path (36). When a supply (45) of fluid is connected with the fluid inlet (38) and outlet (40) via a fluid circuit (43), fluid is circulated through the fluid flow path (36) to cool the housing (10).

Abstract: Fluid cooled wet brake system comprises a sealed housing containing a volume of lubricating oil, a disc disposed in the housing and adapted for fixing to a rotating body such as a wheel hub, and one or more stators. The stators are rotationally fixed but slidably mounted within the housing and can be pushed into contact with respective braking surfaces of the discs by conventional brake pistons. The stators are provided with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and one or more fluid flow paths extending between the inlet and the outlet through which a cooling fluid flows.

Abstract: A brake actuator includes an annular housing (10b) having first and second opposite radial faces (A and B). Cavities are formed in the housing (10b), some opening onto face (A) and some onto radial face (B). Two pistons (16) are disposed in each of the cavities and are movable under the influence of fluid pressure exerted from within the respective cavities to a braking position where the pistons (16) extend axially away from the cavity. The piston (16) bear against a backing plate of respective brake pads (68) forcing the brake pads (68) against brake discs (54 and 56). By providing cavities on both faces (A and B) of the housing (10b), an actuator can simultaneously apply brake pads to two spaced apart rotating discs (54 and 56). A plurality of actuators can be coupled together to act on a plurality of axially spaced apart brake discs to form a multi-pad multi-brake system.

Abstract: A brake shoe (10) for a drum brake system (40) is provided with a brake lining (12) having a friction surface (14) which faces braking surface (60) of a brake drum (38). The lining (12) is characterized by the provision of one or more grooves (16) extending across the friction surface (14). The shoe (10) may be incorporated in a cooled drum brake system (10) in which cooling is provided by ventilation holes in the drum (38). Cooling may be further enhanced by the provision of ventilation holes (66) in a back plate (46) of the system (40). In an alternate system, cooling is provided by sealing the drum (38) to form a space for holding a volume of oil.

Abstract: An energy converting brake system 10 comprises a brake 12 comprising a cooling circuit 18 through which a brake cooling fluid flows. The cooling fluid is passed through heat exchanger 22 which also includes a thermoelectric conversion device 26. Heat from the cooling fluid is dissipated in the heat exchanger 22 through the thermoelectric conversion device 26, which in turn generates an electric current. The electric current can be stored in a storage device 28.

Abstract: A housing (10) for a braking system (56) comprises a casing (12) defining a cavity (14) for housing one or more friction pads (15). The casing (12) is composed of a plurality of separate walls including a circumferential wall (16), back wall (18), and a front wall (20). The circumferential wall (16) is provided with an internal fluid flow path (36) and a fluid inlet (38) and fluid outlet (40) which communicate with the fluid flow path (36). When a supply (45) of fluid is connected with the fluid inlet (38) and outlet (40) via a fluid circuit (43), fluid is circulated through the fluid flow path (36) to cool the housing (10).

Abstract: A brake actuator includes an annular housing (10b) having first and second opposite radial faces (A and B). Cavities are formed in the housing (10b), some opening onto face (A) and some onto radial face (B). Two pistons (16) are disposed in each of the cavities and are movable under the influence of fluid pressure exerted from within the respective cavities to a braking position where the pistons (16) extend axially away from the cavity. The piston (16) bear against a backing plate of respective brake pads (68) forcing the brake pads (68) against brake discs (54 and 56). By providing cavities on both faces (A and B) of the housing (10b), an actuator can simultaneously apply brake pads to two spaced apart rotating discs (54 and 56). A plurality of actuators can be coupled together to act on a plurality of axially spaced apart brake discs to form a multi-pad multi-brake system.

Abstract: A park brake (14) is incorporated into a housing (10) of a disc brake system (12). The housing (10) is in the form of an annular ring having a plurality of cavities (16) for housing service brake pistons which act on brake pads (18) to selectively force the brake pads (18) onto a brake disc to produce a surface brake effect. The park brake (14) includes an actuator (23) supported by the housing (10) which is switchable between an applied state where it forces the brake pad (18) into contact with the brake disc of the system (10) independent of the action of the service brake pistons to produce a park brake effect, and a released state where the actuator (23) allows the brake pad (18) to become disengaged from the brake disc. The. actuator (23) includes a hydraulically operated park brake piston (27) having a rod (24) extending therefrom. The rod (24) is slidably retained within a hole (26) formed in the housing (10) and is arranged to abut or otherwise apply force to the brake pad (18).

Abstract: A heat shield (10) for a brake piston (12) comprises a ring (14) made of a thermal insulating material. The ring (14) includes a radially inner circumferential wall (20), a radially outer circumferential wall (22), and at one axial end (24), a planar annular shield surface (26) that extends between the inner wall (20) and outer wall (22). A bead (28) extends radially inward from an inside surface of wall (20). The bead (28) sits within a groove (30) formed about the outer circumferential wall (16) of the piston (12) to effectively couple the ring (14) to the piston (12). When so coupled, the planar annular shield surface (26) is co-planar with an annular piston surface (52) formed at an open end (18) of the piston (12).

Abstract: A hydraulic brake system (10) for operating service brakes (12, 14) and (16) is provided with first and second master cylinders (20, 22) which feed into input ports (26) and (28) of a valve (24). Duplicate hydraulic circuits (30 ) and (34) are coupled with respective output ports (32) and (36) of the valve (24). Each of the hydraulic circuits (30) and (34) also includes a common circuit portion comprising a selective valve (44) and common line (42) leading to brake (16). The system (10) also includes hand brake (18) which is electrically deployed and manually released. A controller (52) controls operation of the system (10) to switch between master cylinders (20) and (22 ), and hydraulic circuits (30) and (34), depending on sensed fluid pressure. In the event of switching both master cylinders (20) and (22) to one of the hydraulic circuits (30) or (34), and a controller continuing to sense low fluid pressure, the common circuit is isolated.

Abstract: A brake system (10) for a rotating component (12), the brake system including a plurality of discs (14) coupled to said component (12) to rotate with said component (12) about an axis, each disc (14) having first and second opposite radial surfaces (22a, 22b), and a plurality of brake plates (16) fixed against rotation but linearly movable relative to said discs (14) parallel to said axis, each brake plate (16) having a braking surface (20). The discs (14) and brake plate (16) juxtaposed so that at least one of the radial surfaces (22) of each disc (14) is facing the braking surface (20) of a brake plate (16). At least one of the facing braking surface (20) and the radial surface (22) is provided with a plurality of grooves (24, 26). The grooves (24, 26) orientated to provide fluid flow paths across at least one of said facing braking surface (20) and radial surface (22).

Abstract: A brake shoe (10) for a drum brake system (40) is provided with a brake lining (12) having a friction surface (14) which faces braking surface (60) of a brake drum (38). The lining (12) is characterised by the provision of one or more grooves (16) extending across the friction surface (14). The shoe (10) may be incorporated in a cooled drum brake system (10) in which cooling is provided by ventilation holes in the drum (38). Cooling may be further enhanced by the provision of ventilation holes (66) in a back plate (46) of the system (40). In an alternate system, cooling is provided by sealing the drum (38) to form a space for holding a volume of oil.

Abstract: A brake plate (10) adapted for use in a wet brake system (24) having at least one disc rotatable about its axis through a volume of a liquid, said brake plate (10) including at least a plate body (12); a braking surface (14) on one radial face (16) of said plate scraper (18) extends axially beyond the braking surface (14) and a second position where said scraper (18) is retracted axially to lie substantially flush with or below the braking surface (14).

Abstract: A brake system (10) for a rotating component (12), the brake system including a plurality of discs (14) coupled to said component (12) to rotate with said component (12) about an axis, each disc (14) having first and second opposite radial surfaces (22a, 22b), and a plurality of brake plates (16) fixed against rotation but linearly movable relative to said discs (14) parallel to said axis, each brake plate (16) having a braking surface (20). The discs (14) and brake plate (16) juxtaposed so that at least one of the radial surfaces (22) of each disc (14) is facing the braking surface (20) of a brake plate (16). At least one of the facing braking surface (20) and the radial surface (22) is provided with a plurality of grooves (24, 26). The grooves (24, 26) orientated to provide fluid flow paths across at least one of said facing braking surface (20) and radial surface (22).