Vehicle Patents (Class 188/173)
  • Patent number: 11808330
    Abstract: An electromechanical brake pressure generator including a threaded drive system. The system includes a rotatable spindle nut, a axially displaceable spindle cooperating with a thread of the spindle nut, and a hydraulic piston which at least partially radially surrounds the spindle and the spindle nut and is rotatably fixedly connected to the spindle and which carries out an axial piston stroke as a result of the rotation of the spindle nut. The system includes a housing which at least partially surrounds the hydraulic piston and forms a hydraulic cylinder, and an axial recess, in the hydraulic cylinder, which forms an anti-twist protection together with a torque support formed at the hydraulic piston and using which the hydraulic piston and the spindle are secured against twisting during a rotation of the spindle nut, the recess forming a sliding surface for the torque support of the hydraulic piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Mark Boehm, Claus Oehler
  • Patent number: 11639166
    Abstract: A spring brake actuator for applying a brake of a vehicle includes a housing containing a diaphragm that separates the housing into first and second chambers. A clutch actuator device is for selectively compressing a compression spring such that the spring brake actuator is operable in a plurality of states including a parking state, driving state, and a braking state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TSE Brakes, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl Gaufin
  • Patent number: 11608247
    Abstract: An elevator system caliper brake includes first and second brake levers each with a brake pad wherein the brake levers move the brake pads relative to one another along an actuation axis. The first brake lever is rotatably mounted at a stationary first mounting point at a housing of the brake, and the second brake lever is rotatably mounted at a second mounting point on an intermediate lever that is rotatably mounted at the brake housing. A tension element can be moved approximately parallel to an actuation axis and is connected to the brake levers at mounting points between the respective brake pads and the brake lever mounting points. A closing spring moves the first and second brake levers to decrease the distance between the brake pads and a linear spindle drive connected to the intermediate lever selectively counteracts the closing spring to increase the distance between the brake pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventor: Josef Husmann
  • Patent number: 11001239
    Abstract: An electric brake system that appropriately brakes a rotary body of a human powered vehicle in various situations is applicable to a human powered vehicle and includes a brake device including an electric actuator operated by electric power from a power supply, and a braking portion driven by the electric actuator to brake a rotary body of the human powered vehicle, a state detector detecting a state of the human powered vehicle other than an operation of the brake device performed by a user, and a control unit controlling the brake device so that the braking portion brakes the rotary body based on a detection result of the state detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Takahashi, Hitoshi Takayama, Masahiko Fukuda, Masahiro Nakakura
  • Patent number: 10562506
    Abstract: A brake pressure control unit for a motor vehicle brake system, having an electric motor, the rotational movement of which is transformed by a ball screw drive into a translational movement of a piston, in order for it to be possible to build up a defined brake pressure in a wheel brake independently of the actuation of a brake master cylinder. The electric motor is received in a first housing and the piston is received in a second housing which is arranged diametrically with respect to the first housing, and a third housing with two diametrical end surfaces is arranged between the first and the second housing, on which end surfaces the first and the second housing are fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Pierre Schmitt, Johannes Görlach, Svend Pakleppa, Kristijan Tarandek, Theo Baukholt
  • Patent number: 10167171
    Abstract: An elevator with a brake device for braking a car and/or keeping it stationary on at least one braking rail. The brake device has at least two brake shoes situated opposite from each other, and at least one brake clamp with two clamp arms for opening and closing clamp jaws acting on the brake shoes. In certain embodiments, only one of the clamp arms is connected to the car in pivoting fashion via a bearing with a pivot axle that is affixed to the car, oriented parallel to the direction of travel. In certain embodiments, the brake clamp is supported on the car in such a way that the clamp jaws, by pivoting together in the same direction, are able to follow a movement that is forced on a brake shoe due to local position deviations of the associated braking rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Wittur Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Ladner, René Holzer, Karl Kriener, Bernd Winkler, Erich Berghammer
  • Patent number: 10012270
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an actuation mechanism for applying a mechanical diode clutch. The actuation mechanism includes a capsule including a cylindrical body defining an interior chamber, the cylindrical body defining a first opening at a first end and a second opening at a second end thereof. The actuation mechanism also includes a pin having a body and a radially-extending arm, the pin being retained within the interior chamber of the capsule. An apply spring is coupled at one end to the pin and a return spring is retained within the interior chamber of the capsule. The return spring is disposed between the pin on one end and the cylindrical body on the opposite end thereof. The return spring substantially surrounds the apply spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC.
    Inventors: Paul A Richardson, Jeremy Turner
  • Patent number: 9145282
    Abstract: The invention relates to a friction brake (1), in particular for elevators, comprising at least two pivotally mounted brake levers (2), which each have a brake lining (6) and are arranged opposite each other in the form of a brake caliper. An actuator (5) is provided for actuating the friction brake (1). In order to avoid uneven loading of the opposing brake levers (2), the actuator (5) is designed in such a way that the force (FA) exerted by the actuator (5) acts substantially perpendicularly to a brake application force (FZ) exerted by the brake levers (5). Furthermore, a spreading mechanism (9, 26) is provided, by means of which the brake application force (FZ) can be regulated by the force (FA) exerted by the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: RG MECHATRONICS GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Schautt, Michael Ries
  • Patent number: 8220599
    Abstract: Brake equipment, for an elevator installation, includes: a static element; a movable element movable relative to the static element in a first degree of freedom, wherein selectably a first frictional contact is produced in a first contact surface between the static element and the movable element by a controllable normal force acting in a second degree of freedom, and a first friction force opposes movement of the movable element relative to the static element; and a relative element, wherein a second frictional contact is produced in a second contact surface between the movable element and the relative element by the normal force, and a second friction force opposes movement of the movable element relative to the relative element. The relative element is movable in the first degree of freedom relative to the static element between a normal position and a braking position and is resiliently biased into the normal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Daniel Fischer
  • Patent number: 8104589
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic brake actuator for a vehicle can include an electric motor configured to operate at about 28 Vdc, and to operate at about 2 Amps or less to hold a vehicle brake in a disengaged position. A hydraulic master piston can be operatively coupled to the electric motor, the hydraulic master piston configured to slidingly move within a master cylinder fillable with a hydraulic fluid such that advancement of the master piston within the master cylinder varies the hydraulic pressure supplied to the vehicle brake. The electric motor and hydraulic master cylinder are configured to fit within a wheel hub corresponding to the vehicle brake, the motor configured to operate the hydraulic master piston to vary the hydraulic pressure applied to the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Whittaker Corporation
    Inventors: Xavier Ollat, Yingpei Guo, Robert Lotter
  • Patent number: 8091691
    Abstract: A disk brake for a traction machine having a damping height of a damping mechanism that can be adjusted integrally. According to one embodiment, a disk brake includes: a static iron core; a spring and a coil assembly in the static iron core; a dynamic iron core assembly including a dynamic iron core, a dynamic disk, and first and second friction rotors configured to fit with the dynamic iron core and the dynamic disk; a plurality of connecting bolts; a plurality of spacers; a damping mechanism on the dynamic iron core assembly, the damping mechanism including a plurality of damping components on the dynamic iron core; an adjusting toothed belt assembly coupled to the damping components and banded to a circumferential outer surface of the dynamic iron core; and an adjusting bracket on the dynamic iron core and coupled to the adjusting toothed belt assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Suzhou Torin Drive Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yesheng Qu, Jianwen Cao, Wenna Fang, He Zhang, Wei Zhou
  • Publication number: 20110000751
    Abstract: An electromagnetic brake system and brake for controlling motion between a first machine body (32) and a second machine body (34) is provided. The electromagnetic brake system and brake include an interior core member (36), the interior core member coupling with the first body (32). The electromagnetic brake includes an outer exterior member (38), the outer exterior member enclosing the interior core member, the outer exterior member coupling with the second body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventors: J. David Carlson, Fernando D. Goncalves
  • Publication number: 20100012446
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic brake system for a vehicle can include at least one hydraulic piston that exerts a force on a brake pad in a direction away from a brake disk and opposite to a force exerted, e.g., by a spring, on the brake pad in a direction toward the disk. A hydraulic pressure actuator can in one embodiment actuate the hydraulic piston to hold the brake in a disengaged position. A controller can in one embodiment actuate the hydraulic pressure actuator to advance the brake pad into engagement with the disk to exert a braking force based on a brake command signal, and can in one embodiment actuate the hydraulic pressure actuator to retract the brake pad from engagement with the disk upon receipt of a brake release signal. In one embodiment, the brake pad can move into engagement with the brake disk when an emergency (e.g., a loss of power or hydraulic pressure) occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: WHITTAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xavier Ollat, Yingpei Guo, Robert Lotter
  • Publication number: 20100012445
    Abstract: An electro-hydraulic brake actuator for a vehicle can include an electric motor configured to operate at about 28 Vdc, and to operate at about 2 Amps or less to hold a vehicle brake in a disengaged position. A hydraulic master piston can be operatively coupled to the electric motor, the hydraulic master piston configured to slidingly move within a master cylinder fillable with a hydraulic fluid such that advancement of the master piston within the master cylinder varies the hydraulic pressure supplied to the vehicle brake. The electric motor and hydraulic master cylinder are configured to fit within a wheel hub corresponding to the vehicle brake, the motor configured to operate the hydraulic master piston to vary the hydraulic pressure applied to the brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: WHITTAKER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xavier Ollat, Yingpei Guo, Robert Lotter
  • Patent number: 7419033
    Abstract: An emergency brake device for an elevator includes a brake shoe portion provided inside a sheave 1 or deflector sheave of an elevator and having a brake shoe 5a at a lower end of the brake shoe portion, the brake shoe generating a braking force due to friction upon abutting an inner wall of an outer peripheral frame of the sheave or deflector sheave at a time of braking, the brake shoe portion having built therein spring mechanisms 51, 52 provided between the brake shoe and king pins 5f1, 5f2, which are offset in a rotation direction of the sheave or deflector sheave with respect to a centerline passing through a rotation shaft of the sheave or deflector sheave and are fixed on a bearing 1b side of the rotation shaft, the spring mechanisms each absorbing a force generated between the brake shoe and the king pin due to the braking force and being connected to the king pin at one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishiki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ito
  • Patent number: 7014019
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake actuator, especially for a rail vehicle brake, comprising an accumulation brake unit having an energy accumulator for storing and supplying energy for applying the brake, preferably in the event of safety braking and/or park braking, and a locking device for locking and unlocking the energy accumulator. After the release of the locking device, an inertia weight from part of the energy released from the energy accumulator can be subjected to a rotational movement for damping purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme fur Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Rita Krug, Ulf Friesen, Josef Staltmeir
  • Patent number: 6840354
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake actuator, especially for a rail vehicle brake, comprising a service brake unit with a brake force generator for applying and/or releasing the brake, an accumulator brake unit with an energy accumulator device for accumulating and delivering energy for applying the brake as an operative emergency brake and/or as a parking brake, and a force conversion device for converting the energy that is provided by the brake force generator and/or the energy accumulator device into a brake application movement. The invention provides that the brake actuator has an additional energy accumulator device for accumulating and delivering energy for applying and/or releasing the brake. The additional energy accumulator device and the brake force generator can be designed in such a way that the force required of the brake force generator during a braking operation in order to generate a defined brake application force level that is greater than zero but less than the maximum brake force is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Grundwürmer, Josef Staltmeir, Manfred Vohla
  • Patent number: 6817453
    Abstract: A remote brake release for elevator drive machine brakes includes a release lever attached to a shaft coupled by a clutch to a bellcrank. The clutch is normally engaged and can be a spring clutch or a friction type disc clutch. Movement of the lever to rotate the shaft moves the bellcrank which is coupled to a brake release mechanism. A solenoid is actuated to disengage the clutch preventing release of the brake. The solenoid can be connected to a control circuit responsive to a speed of rotation of the drive machine motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Robert J. Koeppe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6722477
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake actuator, especially a brake actuator for rail vehicle brake calipers for a disc brake. Said brake actuator comprises a service brake unit with an electromotive drive system for clamping and releasing the brake, a safety brake unit with a pre-loaded spring device for clamping the brake, and a brake spindle for converting the movements of the electromotive drive system into a translatory movement for activating a brake clamping mechanism; especially for activating brake calipers. The invention is characterized in that the pre-loaded spring device and the brake spindle are positioned coaxially in relation to each other and are mechanically series-connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Wolfsteiner, Erich Fuderer, Josef Staltmeir
  • Patent number: 6543587
    Abstract: A vehicle brake assembly has a rotor that mounts to a shaft of the vehicle for rotation with it. The rotor has an annular braking surface. A hydraulic piston is non-rotatably mounted to the vehicle. The piston is movable axially relative to the rotor and has a braking surface for frictional engagement with the braking surface of the rotor when hydraulic fluid pressure is supplied to the piston. A coil body having an electromagnetic coil is axially movable relative to the rotor. A coil plate is mounted adjacent the coil body and is attracted to the coil body when electrical power is supplied to the coil. A coil spring is mounted between the coil plate and the coil body. The coil spring moves the coil plate away from the coil body causing braking action when the electrical power is removed from the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Stromag, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Albrecht
  • Patent number: 6131704
    Abstract: Rail brake (1) for an elevator, comprising a brake body attached to the elevator car, a clamp part comprising jaws (3,4) that engage a guide rail (2) via braking surfaces during braking. A spring (10) generates a load on the clamp part to press the braking surfaces against the guide rail, and a magnet whose force produces an effect reverse to that of the spring releases the braking surfaces from the guide rail. The clamp part is floatably suspended relative to the brake body. The motion of the clamp part relative to the brake body is controlled by the guide rail (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Kone Oy
    Inventors: Tarvo Viita-Aho, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 6033042
    Abstract: A friction brake system in a vehicle has a spring apply force, a pressure release force and a solenoid release force. The solenoid release force is determined by the electrical dynamic brake capacity available at the vehicle powertrain. Under full braking conditions, when the electric dynamic brake absorption capacity is high, the solenoid release force is high and vice versa. The overall brake force requested is established by an operator input signal. The amount of dynamic braking, the amount of pressure release force and the amount of spring apply force are determined by the requested braking effort from the operator and the amount of dynamic braking that can be absorbed in an energy storage unit associated with the powertrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Donald Klemen
  • Patent number: 5803211
    Abstract: A brake system for gradual, uniform and jerk-free deceleration of a load, such as a railway car, can have a motor which is operable to store force in a spring and which force is applied in a force-transmitting chain including a measuring spring to a brake element. The displacement of the measuring spring is translated into a displacement of the wiper of a variable resistor connected in a common adjustable branch of a Wheatstone bridge with a setpoint resistor and with an inverse characteristic resistor. The two latter resistors have pairs of terminals to which control currents are applied and a switch is provided to alternatively shunt one or the other of the two pairs of terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: Richard Wilke
  • Patent number: 5620077
    Abstract: The actuator uses an electric motor to drive a recirculating ball screw thread connection, to hold a brake-actuation spring at bay. After the spring has been compressed to the brakes-off position, the electric motor is de-energized. Then, the screw-thread connection is prevented from rotating and backing off, by virtue of the fact that the electric motor is connected to the screw thread via a high-reduction worm gear-box, which will not reverse-drive. An electric clutch is included between the screw-thread connection and the gear-box, the clutch being held, electrically, in the locked or drive condition while the brake is required to be held off. The brake is applied by releasing or de-energizing the clutch to the non-drive or free condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Electric Vehicle Controllers Ltd.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Richard
  • Patent number: 5429339
    Abstract: A rope traction device used as a winding instrument for a moving scaffold and other construction, loading and unloading and conveying machines, includes a sheave which is rotated by a motor through a speed reduction gear and around which a part of a traction rope is wound, and is movable along the rope by rotating the sheave. The sheave is provided with a rope groove formed by a pair of parallel and planar side plates substantially along the entire circumference of the sheave for receiving a part of the rope therein and resiliently pressing the rope on its side portions. The rope traction device includes an improved brake system according to which slots elongated in the circumferential direction are formed in each clutch member and each slot has a greater depth axially in the central portion thereof than in other portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Nihon Biso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 5322306
    Abstract: A vehicle for conveying trolleys have driving wheels activated by a control assembly to engage and advance one or a series of trolleys. A reel assembly is detachably engageable with the leading trolley and supports a first anchoring line which secures the trolleys to the vehicle and a second control line which is connected to the control assembly and which made be pulled or tensioned to control operation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Rosecall Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: John J. Coleman
  • Patent number: 5031880
    Abstract: A rope traction device used as a winding instrument for a moving scaffold and other construction, loading and unloading and conveying machines includes a sheave which is rotated by a motor through a speed reduction gear and around which a part of a traction rope is wound, and is movable along the rope by rotating the sheave. The sheave is provided with a rope groove formed by a pair of side plates substantially along the entire circumference of the sheave for receiving a part of the rope therein and resiliently pressing the rope on its side portions. In one aspect of the invention, the rope traction device includes an improved brake system according to which slots elongated in the circumferential direction are formed in each clutch member and these slots have a larger width axially in the central portion thereof than in other portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1991
    Assignee: Nihon Biso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 5014828
    Abstract: The electromagnetic brake comprises an electromagnet and a movable armature attracted by this electromagnet when the latter is energized and separated from the latter by spring means when the electromagnet is not energized. The electromagnet and the armature are each mounted hingeably between two pivoting arms carrying jaws intended to clamp an element to be braked. The brake comprises, moreover, a damping device offering resistance to the movements of the armature relative to the electromagnet so as to control and slow down the speed at which the brake is applied and released. The damping device is integrated inside the assembly consisting of the armature and the electromagnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Moteurs Leroy-Somer
    Inventor: Ferdinand Baldassarre
  • Patent number: 4895227
    Abstract: Braking unit for vehicle, of the type comprising an axial actuating helical spring maintained in release position, against its elastic reaction force, through a screw-nut system rotatively driven by an electric motor, the spring acting upon the brake through the intermediary of a hydraulic master cylinder of which the piston is axially connected to an abutment ring of the spring also mechanically connected, via a screw-nut system to the rotor of an electric motor, such an unit being applied to a spring braking system for a vehicle possibly with a built-in park brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1990
    Assignees: Wabco Westinghouse Equipements Ferroviaires, Regie Autonome des Transports Prisiens "RATP"
    Inventors: Michel Grenier, Jean-Etienne De La Gorce, Daniel Cieplinski, Gerard Leturgie, Yvers Thurin, Laurent Meret, Christian Doireau
  • Patent number: 4819564
    Abstract: A conveying installation with a linear motor drive including a stator placed along a travel path and at least one conveyor unit guided along the stator in a constrained manner. The stator is divided into a plurality of stator portions. To each stator portion is assigned a braking device whose operation is dependent upon the current supply to a stator. The conveyor units are guided spaced apart by a predetermined distance. If the current supply fails, the braking devices are actuated and stop the movements of the conveyor units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Scharf GmbH
    Inventors: Curt Brandis, Heinrich Schulze-Buxloh, Siegfried Pirags
  • Patent number: 4805740
    Abstract: A brake system for a rail vehicle provides a strain-gauge sensor in the brake-force path to be connected in a Wheatstone bridge control together with a variable resistance for setting the desired brake force. The latter includes an infrared photo FET bridged by a parallel-fixed resistor and forming another branch of the bridge, the photodiode being controlled by the vehicle operator. The Wheatstone bridge controls a motor connected by a spindle drive to the actuator for the brake mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1989
    Inventors: Richard Wilke, Helmut Korthaus
  • Patent number: 4760895
    Abstract: A spring applied force actuator having an output member movable from a first position to a second output position, a first power spring by which can be generated on the output member an output force when the member is in its second position, first power means by which potential energy can be generated in the first spring therein to be held until the spring is released to apply its stored force as an output force on the output member, a second spring release of potential energy stored in which moves the output member from its first position to its second output position, and second power means by which the output member can be moved back from its second output position to its first position thereby, at the same time, generating in the second spring the potential energy subsequently to move the output member back to its second output position upon the subsequent release of that second spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Brake and Signal Company Limited
    Inventor: David J. Wickham
  • Patent number: 4716980
    Abstract: An electric rider vehicle control system is disclosed which includes a dead man brake that is normally set to prevent coasting, and controls which release the brake and permit normal transport operation of the vehicle at multiple speeds by an operator on the operator's platform. The controls also include a selector switch for selecting between such normal operation and another mode in which the brake is held in a release position by an electrical solenoid, the first controls are disabled or bypassed, and the propulsive drive is operated by jogging control switches mounted on the sides of the vehicle for convenient manipulation by an operator walking alongside. An adjustable hydraulic snubber also is provided to control brake application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: The Prime Mover Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Butler
  • Patent number: 4651852
    Abstract: An electrically-controlled force-exerting actuator comprising a force-applying power spring arranged to exert a force on an output member, a force-applying control spring arranged with respect to the power spring such that the force exerted by the control spring is detracted from the force exerted by the power spring to determine the residual force exerted on the output member by the power spring, and an electric motor operable to vary the detractive force exerted by the control spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Brake and Signal Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: David J. Wickham, Jack Washbourn, Howard F. Cogan
  • Patent number: 4601449
    Abstract: An electric pipe snubber has an annular housing, fixed to a supporting surface, surrounding a pipe and a plurality of brake means fixed to the housing radially disposed about the pipe, which are biased towards and engage a serrated section on the pipe, and a means for electromagnetically releasing the brake means to permit axial displacement of the pipe relative to the annular housing. The brake means have teeth on the end thereof which mesh with the serrations on the pipe. A pipe support system using a series of the electric pipe snubbers along a length of pipe has a control means which releases the brakes of one of the series of the snubbers while the remainder of the series restrain the pipe from axial displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: John E. Sharbaugh
  • Patent number: 4557355
    Abstract: An electromechanically reciprocable load has a driving spring tending to displace it from a retracted position into a working position upon the release of a locking brake. The spring force is opposed by the countervailing force of an electric motor which, during the working stroke, is progressively reduced in keeping with the diminishing force of the relaxing spring. When the load includes a caliper of a power brake arresting a rotary element in its working positon, the motor is controlled by a bridge circuit with two potentiometers whose wipers are entrained, with a relative lag, by the load so as to establish a variable null position advancing with progressive wear of the brake linings in order to keep constant the travel of the load during a return stroke brought about by the energization of the electric motor with an overriding signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Inventors: Richard Wilke, Helmut Korthaus
  • Patent number: 4175645
    Abstract: A brake for a railway vehicle has a transmission whose input is connected to a drive motor and whose rotary output is connected through a free-running stepdown transmission to an eccentric that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the direction of displacement of a follower operatively radially engaged with this eccentric. A pack of springs is braced between an abutment spaced to fix distance from the rotation axis of the eccentric and the follower so that this eccentric can load these springs. One arm of a caliper is connected to the follower and the other end thereof carries a brake pad engageable with a brake disk carried on a wheel. The springs are at maximum compression when the brake is off and vice versa so that if power fails the springs will automatically close the caliper on the brake disk and stop the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1979
    Assignee: Raco-Elektro-Maschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Brinkert
  • Patent number: 4033435
    Abstract: In a brake actuator an electric motor is operable when energized to hold a resilient brake applying assembly in a retracted energy-storing position and to retain the assembly in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1977
    Assignee: Girling Limited
    Inventor: John Patrick Bayliss