Description:TITLE OF THE INVENTION: AN APPARATUS FOR STEEKING AN OCCLUDING MEMBER IN A SPRING BRAKE ACTUATOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure is generally related to occluding members, in spring brake actuators. Particularly, the present disclosure is related to steeking of occluding members, in spring brake actuators. More particularly, the present disclosure is related to an apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Spring brake actuators typically comprise occluding members (for example, lip seals). Such occluding members: seal air pressure; and prevent leakages. However, there is a drawback of the occluding members not being in tight association, with linear movement facilitating members (for example, bearings/sleeves).
As a result, there are chances of the occluding members becoming disassociated, from guiding members, with which, they are associated. This, in turn, results in depletion of air, to the atmosphere, thereby, causing a vehicle halting member, to be applied.
Once the vehicle halting member is applied, a vehicle cannot move. In such scenarios, the only solution is removal and replacement of the occluding members, leading to unnecessary maintenance costs.
There is, therefore, a need in the art, for: an apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator, which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and shortcomings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator, is disclosed. Said apparatus broadly comprises: an at least an occluding member; and an at least a guiding member.
Said at least one occluding member is configured to broadly comprise a plurality of jutting members. Said plurality of jutting members is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) a circumference of said at least one occluding member.
Said plurality of jutting members is configured to form a steeking mechanism, with a corresponding plurality of jutting members.
One portion of said at least one occluding member is disposed in (or is disposed within) one portion of said at least one guiding member, by stretching of said at least one occluding member and said at least one guiding member.
A retention member is configured to hold said one portion of said at least one guiding member and said one portion of said at least one occluding member.
An at least a vehicle halting member broadly comprises: said at least one occluding member; said at least one guiding member; an at least an enclosing member; an at least a second compression member; an at least a displacing member; an at least a first connecting member; and an at least an internal breathing member.
Said at least one guiding member is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) said at least one displacing member, at one end of said at least one displacing member. Said at least one guiding member guides said at least one displacing member.
Said at least one guiding member also facilitates avoiding of metal-to-metal contact, between said at least one displacing member and said at least one enclosing member, thereby, reducing friction, between said at least one displacing member and said at least one enclosing member.
Said at least one displacing member is sealed, by an at least a first sealing member, while said at least one enclosing member is being sealed, by an at least a second sealing member. Said at least one displacing member is configured to slide over said at least one enclosing member and said at least one first connecting member.
The disclosed apparatus offers at least the following advantages: provides for steeking, between said at least one occluding member and said at least one guiding member; prevents slippages/dislodging; is simple in construction; and is cost-effective.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates an at least an occluding member, of an apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates an at least a guiding member, of an apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates a steeking mechanism, of an apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 illustrates disposing of an apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, within a spring brake actuator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 5 illustrates contact pressure, of an at least an occluding member, of an apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6 illustrates an at least a first sealing member and an at least a second sealing member, of an apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, within a spring brake actuator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 7 illustrates one portion, of an at least an occluding member, of an apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, within a spring brake actuator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 8 illustrates one portion, of an at least a guiding member, and an at least a retention member, of an apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, within a spring brake actuator, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure
 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Throughout this specification, the use of the words “comprise” and “include”, and variations, such as “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and “including”, may imply the inclusion of an element (or elements) not specifically recited. Further, the disclosed embodiments may be embodied, in various other forms, as well.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “apparatus” is to be construed as: “a set of technical components (also referred to as “members”) that are communicatively and/or operably associated with each other, and function together, as part of a mechanism, to achieve a desired technical result”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the words “communication”, “couple”, and their variations (such as communicatively), is to be construed as being inclusive of: one-way communication (or coupling); and two-way communication (or coupling), as the case may be, irrespective of the directions of arrows, in the drawings.
Throughout this specification, where applicable, the use of the phrase “at least” is to be construed in association with the suffix “one” i.e. it is to be read along with the suffix “one”, as “at least one”, which is used in the meaning of “one or more”. A person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the phrase “at least one” is a standard term that is used, in Patent Specifications, to denote any component of a disclosure, which may be present (or disposed) in a single quantity, or more than a single quantity.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “plurality” is to be construed as being inclusive of: “at least one”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “steeking”, and its variations, is to be construed as: “locking; securing; positive locking; and/or the like”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “occluding”, and its variations, is to be construed as: “sealing; and/or the like”.
Throughout this specification, the use of the phrase “spring braking environment”, and “spring brake actuator”, and its variations, is to be construed as being inclusive of: “environments, in commercial vehicles, in which, pneumatic pressure energy is converted into mechanical output force” (for example, in: trucks; buses; and/or the like).
Throughout this specification, the use of the word “jutting”, and its variations, is to be construed as: “projecting; protruding; and/or the like”.
Throughout this specification, the words “the” and “said” are used interchangeably.
Throughout this specification, the phrases “at least a”, “at least an”, and “at least one” are used interchangeably.
Throughout this specification, the disclosure of a range is to be construed as being inclusive of: the lower limit of the range; and the upper limit of the range.
Also, it is to be noted that embodiments may be described as a method. Although the operations, in a method, are described as a sequential process, many of the operations may be performed in parallel, concurrently, or simultaneously. In addition, the order of the operations may be re-arranged. A method may be terminated, when its operations are completed, but may also have additional steps.
An apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator (also referred to as “apparatus”), is disclosed. As illustrated, in Figure 1, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, said apparatus broadly comprises an at least an occluding member (11; for example, a lip seal).
The at least one occluding member (11) is configured to broadly comprise a plurality of jutting members (11a). The plurality of jutting members (11a) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) a circumference of the at least one occluding member (11).
In another embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least one occluding member (11) is configured to comprise between about six jutting members and about ten jutting members. The jutting members (for example, six in number) are latitudinally disposed on (or are latitudinally disposed at, or are latitudinally associated with) the circumference of the at least one occluding member (11), in an equidistant fashion.
The plurality of jutting members (11a) is configured to form a steeking mechanism, with a corresponding plurality of jutting members (12a; as illustrated, in Figure 2). The corresponding plurality of jutting members (12a) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) a circumference of an at least a guiding member (12; for example, a bearing/sleeve; as illustrated, in Figure 2).
As illustrated, in Figure 3 and Figure 7, one portion (11b) of the at least one occluding member (11) is disposed in (or is disposed within, or is associated with) one portion (12b) of the at least one guiding member (12), by stretching of the at least one occluding member (11) and the at least one guiding member (12).
An at least a retention member (12c; Figure 3 and Figure 8) is configured to hold the one portion (12b) of the at least one guiding member (12) and the one portion (11b) of the at least one occluding member (11).
Interference or stretch, between the one portion (12b) of the at least one guiding member (12), and the one portion (11b) of the at least one occluding member (11), is diametrically about 5 mm minimum, with percentage of stretch ranging between about 3% and about 8%.
Figure 4 illustrates disposing of the disclosed apparatus, within a spring brake actuator. The spring brake actuator broadly comprises: an at least a vehicle slowing member (1; for example, a service brake); and an at least a vehicle halting member (2; for example, a parking brake).
The at least one vehicle slowing member (1) broadly comprises: an at least a blockading member (3; for example, a diaphragm), which generates force, for vehicle braking; an at least a valve opening and closing member (4; for example, a push rod), which also generates force, along with the at least one blockading member (3), for said vehicle braking; an at least a supporting member (5; for example, a non-pressure plate); an at least a first compression member (6; for example, a spring); and an at least a second connecting member (13; for example, a clevis).
The at least one blockading member (3) is disposed between the at least one vehicle slowing member (1) and the at least one vehicle halting member (2). The at least one blockading member (3) is traversed (for example, in a latitudinal direction), by the at least one valve opening and closing member (4).
The at least one first compression member (6) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the at least one valve opening and closing member (4), at an outer surface (or at an outer periphery) of the at least one valve opening and closing member (4). The at least one second connecting member (13) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the at least one valve opening and closing member (4), at one end of the at least one valve opening and closing member (4).
The at least one vehicle halting member (2), on the other hand, broadly comprises: an at least an enclosing member or a housing (7; for example, a shell); an at least a second compression member (8; for example, a spring); an at least a displacing member (9; for example, a ram); an at least a first connecting member (10; for example, a flange); the at least one occluding member (11); the at least one guiding member (12); and an at least an internal breathing member (14).
The at least one second compression member (8) is compressed, between the at least one enclosing member (7) and the at least one displacing member (9). The at least one guiding member (12) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the at least one displacing member (9), at one end of the at least one displacing member (9).
The at least one displacing member (9) is sealed, by an at least a first sealing member (11c; Figure 3 and Figure 6). Likewise, the at least one enclosing member (7) is sealed, by an at least a second sealing member (11d; Figure 3 and Figure 6).
For example, the at least one guiding member (12) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the at least one displacing member (9), at the one end of the at least one displacing member (9), by press fitting.
The at least one guiding member (12) guides the at least one displacing member (9). The at least one guiding member (12) also facilitates avoiding of metal-to-metal contact, between the at least one displacing member (9) and the at least one enclosing member (7), thereby, reducing friction, between the at least one displacing member (9) and the at least one enclosing member (7).
The at least one displacing member (9) is configured to slide over the at least one enclosing member (7) and the at least one first connecting member (10).
The at least one occluding member (11) is disposed on (or is disposed at, or is associated with) the at least one guiding member (12), to form the steeking mechanism.
Figure 5 illustrates contact pressure of the at least one occluding member (11). The contact pressure is configured to ensure that the at least one occluding member (11) does not become disassociated, from the at least one guiding member (12).
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure: the contact pressure, in respect of the at least one displacing member (9) and the at least one occluding member (11), ranges between about 10 bar and about 13 bar, while that, in respect of the at least one enclosing member (7) and the at least one occluding member (11) ranges between about 10 bar and about 15 bar.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, each jutting member, among the plurality jutting members (11a), is of: breadth that ranges between about 3 mm and about 8 mm; and thickness that ranges between about 2 mm and about 5 mm.
In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure: the at least one first sealing member (11c) is of thickness that ranges between about 1.4 mm and about 2.2 mm, while that of the at least one second sealing member (11d) ranges between about 1.2 mm and about 2 mm.
In operation, when air is applied, the at least one blockading member (3) and the at least one valve opening and closing member (4) convert pneumatic energy to mechanical force, leading to compression of the at least one second compression member (8). The force generated is sealed, by the at least one occluding member (11). When the pneumatic energy is exhausted, the generated force is transferred, to apply the at least one vehicle halting member (2).
A person skilled in the art will appreciate the fact that the apparatus and its various components may be made of any suitable materials known in the art. Likewise, a person skilled in the art will also appreciate the fact that the configuration of the apparatus and its various components may be varied, based on requirements.
The disclosed apparatus offers at least the following advantages: provides for steeking, between the at least one occluding member (11) and the at least one guiding member (12); prevents slippages/dislodging; is simple in construction; and is cost-effective.
It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the above description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting. Various modifications, additions, alterations, and improvements, without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the disclosure, may be made, by a person skilled in the art. Such modifications, additions, alterations, and improvements should be construed as being within the scope of this disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 - At Least One Vehicle Slowing Member
2 - At Least One Vehicle Halting Member
3 - At Least One Blockading Member
4 - At Least One Valve Opening and Closing Member
5 - At Least One Supporting Member
6 - At Least One First Compression Member
7 - At Least One Enclosing Member
8 - At Least One Second Compression Member
9 - At Least One Displacing Member
10 - At Least One First Connecting Member
11 - At Least One Occluding Member
11a - Plurality of Jutting Members
11b - One Portion of At Least One Occluding Member
11c - At Least One First Sealing Member
11d - At Least One Second Sealing Member
12 - At Least One Guiding Member
12a - Corresponding Plurality of Jutting Members
12b - One Portion of At Least One Guiding Member
12c - At Least One Retention Member
13 - At Least One Second Connecting Member
14 - At Least One Internal Breathing Member , Claims:1. An apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator, comprising:
an an at least an occluding member (11), said at least one occluding member (11) being configured to comprise a plurality of jutting members (11a), with:
one portion (11b) of said at least one occluding member (11) being disposed in one portion (12b) of an at least a guiding member (12); and
an at least a vehicle halting member (2) comprising: said at least one occluding member (11); said at least one guiding member (12); an at least an enclosing member (7); and an at least a displacing member (9);
said plurality of jutting members (11a) that is configured to form a steeking mechanism, with a corresponding plurality of jutting members (12a);
a retention member (12c) that is configured to hold said one portion (12b) of said at least one guiding member (12) and said one portion (11b) of said at least one occluding member (11); and
said at least one displacing member (9), with:
said at least one guiding member (12) being associated with said at least one displacing member (9);
said at least one displacing member (9) being sealed, by an at least a first sealing member (11c);
said at least one enclosing member (7) being sealed, by an at least a second sealing member (11d); and
said at least one displacing member (9) being configured to slide over said at least one enclosing member (7).
2. The apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
said at least one occluding member (11) comprises between six jutting members and ten jutting members.
3. The apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator, as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein:
stretch, between said one portion (12b) of said at least one guiding member (12), and said one portion (11b) of said at least one occluding member (11), is diametrically a minimum of 5 mm.
4. The apparatus, for the steeking of occluding members, in a spring brake actuator, as claimed in claim 3, wherein: percentage of stretch ranges between 3% and 8%.