DESC:TITLE

READY TO FIT MODULAR OIL IMMERSED BRAKE FOR TRACTOR APPLICATIONS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to automobile engineering and particularly relates to a brake system. More particularly this invention relates to a ready to fit modular oil immersed brake for tractor applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tractors have been in use for over 5 decades in India, as agriculture constitutes 70% of the primary occupation in the country. The Indian market, which has always been extremely cost-sensitive, made the vehicle manufacturers think twice before incorporating advancement in technology which in turn reflects on the cost. Keeping the Indian farmer in mind, dry brakes with manual actuation were in use by the early tractor manufacturers. Gradually, the advent of technology from the west combined with the improved exposure of the tractor manufacturers and there was a need for an improvement towards better tractors for varied usage. Also, frequent problems with dry brakes, low lining life and service difficulties necessitated the introduction of oil immersed brakes as an effective replacement.

The oil immersed brake, as the name suggests, requires the assembly to be completely immersed in oil for proper functioning. The selection of friction and friction disc configuration is extremely vital for the oil immersed brake. The co-efficient of friction and thickness of the friction disc demands more number of friction discs in case of oil immersed brakes unlike dry brakes. The friction discs also need to be separated by means of intermediate discs in case of oil immersed brakes. The number of friction discs per brake is also dependent on the tractor weight – a higher weight requires more number of discs. In such cases, it is physically impossible to orient the multiple pairs of friction and intermediate discs for assembly as in the case of dry brakes. This called for split housing oil immersed brakes (first generation) that were necessary to facilitate assembly of friction and intermediate discs.

First Generation split housing oil immersed brake consists of housing, an actuator assembly, intermediate discs, friction discs, and a cover. The housing is first mounted onto the vehicle which is then used to locate and guide the friction (through spline shaft) and intermediate discs along with the actuator assembly. The cover is then used to seal the assembly with a gasket so as to prevent any leakage.

Second Generation split housing oil immersed brake comes with the provision for assembly tool. This calls for 1 friction disc at housing side (blind assembly) and multiple friction disc on other side. Second generation single housing oil immersed brakes consists of of housing, an actuator assembly, intermediate discs, friction discs, Assembly tool, boot, and axle flange (or) customer part. The assembly tools are inserted onto the customer part. The friction discs are assembled with the help of the splined shaft whereas the intermediate discs are assembled by passing them through the assembly tool one after the other alternatively. The actuator assembly along with the boot, the friction disc and intermediate disc are assembled finally along with the housing, which is used to cover the entire assembly and seal it.

The above oil immersed brake configurations (first and second generation) calls for supply of following parts in loose condition.
a) Friction disc.
b) Steel (Intermediate) Disc.
c) Housing with or without boot, actuating unit assembly and linkages (Sub assembly)
d) Cover (Based on the design).
In assembly line, before the assembly of brakes, customer has to remove the actuating unit assembly from housing, clean and assemble the brake system on to the transmission.

Thus the above oil immersed brake configurations (first and second generation) requires
a) Adequate man power.
b) More assembly process.
c) Time
d) Storage of child parts.
e) More number of child parts handling movement.
f) More documentation.
g) More material movement.

Therefore it is the need of the hour in the industry to develop a cost effective and simple oil immersed brake that solves the problem of complicated assembly process, storage of child parts, and increased commerciability due to more man power, more documentation and material movement.

Some of the prior art in this field reveal various improvement made over the years in the art in oil immersed brakes for better working and efficacy.

Indian Patent Application No: 1903/CHE/2007 by this applicant claims a single housing oil immersed brake for tractor comprising a housing , actuator assembly, alternatively assembled plurality of friction disc guided by spline shaft and plurality of intermediate disc guided by assembly tool mounted on to axle flange and boot to form sub assembly. The said sub assembly is mounted on to axle flange by mounting bolts driven in the holes provided in housing. The assembly tool removed after the completion of entire assembly and closed by screw and washer. When turning movement of actuator plates is applied by pull at center of pivoted links, the said turning movement is converted into load parallel to the brake shaft by steel balls rolling up their inclined seats, thus producing the clamping load across friction discs. Initial application of the clamping load causes both the actuator to rotate in same direction until the torque lug of one actuator abuts against the reaction face provided in the housing. Other actuator continues to rotate until a balanced condition is attained when the friction discs slip.

Indian Patent Application No: 2627/DEL/2008 claims an improved hydraulic system for lubrication and cooling of oil immersed brakes in agricultural tractor comprising of a hydraulic lift assembly having a distributor assembly provided with a plurality of valves and galleries wherein a tap off point is located at neutral port positioned above oil sump.

Indian Patent Application No: 2464/MUM/2011 claims a brake control system for trailer vehicle adapted to be hitched on tractor vehicle comprising of pressure control system, quick joiner coupling, a connector, brake cylinder box structure and wheel brake drum. The pressure control system is operated by pressing the lever for providing adequate pressurized oil present in the inbuilt hydraulic system to trolley brake system. Quick joiner coupling carries hydraulic oil to trolley control system & for lifting the trolley from the notch. Spring pipe is a connection between tractor section and trolley section. Brake cylinder box structure is having two cylinders such as master cylinder for delivering pressurized brake fluid to the rear wheel & front wheel brake system and hydraulic cylinder for providing brake fluid to the master cylinder of the trailer respectively. Wheel brake drum applies brakes by pushing the rods to increase additional pressurized oil by touching brake shoes assembly. .

However none of the existing prior art discloses any ready to fit or modular oil immersed brake assembly.

Therefore it is the need of the hour in the industry to develop a ready to fit oil immersed brakes (modular brakes). This invention eventually addresses the above and proves to be cost effective and eases the assembly.

Further it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the objects of this invention have been achieved by providing a novel compact ready to fit modular oil immersed brake for tractor applications which is unique in nature unlike existing oil immersed brakes as described in the above prior art. Various changes may be made in and without departing from the concept of the invention. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing and modifying other methods and structures for carrying out the same purpose of the present invention. Further, features of some stages disclosed in this application may be employed with features of other stages. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the terminology of the following claims and the legal equivalents thereof.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

This invention may be summarized, at least in part, with reference to its objects.

The foremost object of the present invention is to present a novel, compact ready to fit modular oil immersed brake for tractor applications.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ready to fit modular oil immersed brake which when compared with first and second generation oil immersed brake, ensures easy and faster way of assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ready to fit modular oil immersed brake which can be supplied as a complete brake set.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ready to fit modular oil immersed brake which can be manufactured at an affordable cost.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ready to fit modular oil immersed brake where addition of multiple friction disc at housing end is possible.

Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention embodies a ready to fit modular oil immersed brake that can be used in tractors. The present invention consists of a ready to fit modular oil immersed brake which consists of a housing, an actuating unit assy, an intermediate disc, a friction disc, a sleeve, a circlip, a gasket, a cover plate, set screws and a boot.

.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will be more readily apparent by persons skilled in the art when considered in reference to the following description and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings listed below

Figure 1 is an exploded view illustrating the present invention modular oil immersed brake parts.

Figure 2 is a diagram of ten parts of the present invention.

Figure 3 depicts the assembly procedure of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and is provided in the context of particular applications of the invention and their requirements. The present invention can be configured as follows:

Construction

As shown in Figure 1, the present invention modular oil immersed brake parts and the function are as follows:

Number Component Function – Generic
1 Housing Accommodates the parts 2 to 10. Provides braking face.
2 Actuating unit assy Actuates the brakes by generating clamp force. Provides braking face.
3 Intermediate disc Separates friction disc. Provides brake face.
4 Friction disc Provides friction during braking.
5 Sleeve Orients friction disc splines. Connects friction disc and spline shaft.
6 Circlip Prevents sleeve from coming out of the assembly.
7 Gasket. To avoid oil leak (seals housing and cover plate).
8 Cover plate. Closes the housing. Provides braking face.
9 Set Screws To keep cover plate in-tact with housing.
10 Boot To arrest oil leak.

Connectors

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the brakes will be supplied as an assembly as shown in Figure 3. The sleeve in the brake assembly orients the friction disc spline. Customer can orient the spline of the sleeve in brake assembly to the spline shaft of the tractor and slide the brake assembly on to the spline shaft. Once the brake assembly is inserted in the tractor spline shaft mounting bolts can be fastened and external linkages can be assembled.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the same can be used for various brake sizes. Various combination of the number of friction discs (at housing side and transmission slide) is possible. The splines of the sleeves are provided only in functional area.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the same is proposed without cover plate.

Various changes may be made in and without departing from the concept of the invention. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing and modifying other methods and structures for carrying out the same purpose of the present invention. Further, features of some stages disclosed in this application may be employed with features of other stages. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the terminology of the following claims and the legal equivalents thereof.

Dated this 20th day of June 2016
N. Surya Senthil – IN/PA-736
For JUS MAXIMA LAW OFFICES
To (Agent for Applicant)
The Controller of Patents
Patent Office in Chennai
,CLAIMS:CLAIMS

We claim:

1. A ready to fit modular oil immersed brake assembly for tractor applications comprising of
a housing (1),
a actuating unit assy (2),
a intermediate disc (3),
a friction disc (4) ,
a sleeve (5),
a circlip (6),
a gasket (7),
a cover plate (8),
a set screws (9),
a boot (10),
a friction disc spline (11)
a friction disc spline shaft (12)
characterised in that the sleeve (5) orients the friction disc spline (4) to the friction disc spline shaft (12) of the tractor and slides the brake assembly onto the friction disc spline shaft (12), the brake assembly being inserted into the friction disc spline shaft (12), by fastening of mounting bolts and assembling of external linkages.

2. A ready to fit modular oil immersed brake assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (1) contains within it the actuating unit assy (2), the intermediate disc (3), the friction disc (4), the sleeve (5), the circlip (6), the gasket (7), the cover plate (8), the set screws (9), the boot (10) and provides the braking face.

3. A ready to fit modular oil immersed brake assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuating unit assy (2) actuates the brake assembly by generating clamp force and provides the braking face.

4. A ready to fit modular oil immersed brake assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the intermediate disc (3) separates the friction disc (11) and provides the braking face.

5. A ready to fit modular oil immersed brake assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the friction disc (4) provides friction during braking.

6. A ready to fit modular oil immersed brake assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sleeve (5) orients the friction disc splines (11) and connects the friction disc (4) and the friction disc spline shaft (12).

7. A ready to fit modular oil immersed brake assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the circlip (6) prevents the sleeve (5) from coming out of the brake assembly.

8. A ready to fit modular oil immersed brake assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gasket (7) and the boot (10) avoids oil leaks.

9. A ready to fit modular oil immersed brake assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover plate (8) closes the housing (1) and the set screws (9) keeps the cover plate (8) intact with housing (1).

Dated this 20th day of June 2016
N. Surya Senthil – IN/PA-736
To For JUS MAXIMA LAW OFFICES
The Controller of Patents (Agent for Applicant)
Patent Office in Chennai