WEDGE UNIT AND BRAKING DEVICE

Abstract

A wedge unit for a braking device with brake lining carriers includes a wedge configured to be displaced in an actuation direction for spreading the brake lining carriers, and an adjusting element configured to displace the wedge, wherein the wedge is displaceable to the adjusting element.

Claims

1.-12. (canceled)

13. A wedge unit for a braking device with brake lining carriers, the wedge unit comprising: a wedge configured to be displaced in an actuation direction for spreading the brake lining carriers; and an adjusting element configured to displace the wedge; wherein the wedge is displaceable relative to the adjusting element.

14. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the wedge is movably mounted on the adjusting element in the transverse direction relative to the actuation direction.

15. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the wedge is mounted pivotably on the adjusting element.

16. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein the adjusting element includes a pressure face which extends transversely to the actuation direction and along which the wedge is mounted displaceably.

17. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pressure face comprises a slip face for the wedge.

18. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein the adjusting element includes a piston rod.

19. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one of the adjusting element and the wedge includes a fork head.

20. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 19, further comprising: a guide device is provided which guides the wedge in the transverse direction relative to the adjusting element.

21. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 20, further comprising: at least one stop is provided which limits the movement of the wedge in a transverse direction.

22. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 21, further comprising: an axial guide for the adjusting element which guides the adjusting element in the actuation direction.

23. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 22, further comprising: a bearing device for mounting the wedge, wherein the bearing device comprises at least one of at least two rollers on a wedge face of the wedge, and a needle bearing.

24. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein the adjusting element includes a piston rod.

25. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the adjusting element and the wedge includes a fork head.

26. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: a guide device is provided which guides the wedge in the transverse direction relative to the adjusting element.

27. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: at least one stop is provided which limits the movement of the wedge in a transverse direction.

28. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: an axial guide for the adjusting element which guides the adjusting element in the actuation direction.

29. The wedge unit as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: a bearing device for mounting the wedge, wherein the bearing device comprises at least one of at least two rollers on a wedge face of the wedge, and a needle bearing.

30. A drum brake comprising: a brake drum; at least two brake lining carriers arranged in the brake drum for carrying brake linings; a wedge unit configured to spread the brake lining carriers, wherein the wedge unit includes a wedge configured to be displaced in an actuation direction for spreading the brake lining carriers; and an adjusting element configured to displace the wedge; and wherein the wedge is displaceable relative to the adjusting element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments which are depicted in the attached diagrammatic figures. The drawings show:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a lateral top view of a wedge unit according to the invention; and

[0026] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a braking device according to the invention.

[0027] The same or equivalent elements are marked with the same reference numerals in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a wedge unit 10 according to the invention of a braking device 100. The wedge unit 10 comprises a wedge 20, the center plane (plane of symmetry) of which is oriented parallel to an actuation direction 12 (axial movement direction, lift direction). The multi-piece wedge unit 10 furthermore comprises an adjusting element 30 for moving the wedge 20 in the actuation direction 12. The adjusting element 30 comprises a pressure plate 32 for moving the wedge 20 substantially in the actuation direction 12, so that the braking device 100 can be brought from an idle position into a braking position. For this, the pressure plate 30 comprises a pressure face 34 which extends substantially vertically to the actuating direction 12. The pressure face 34 cooperates with a corresponding opposite pressure face of the wedge 20.

[0029] The wedge 20 has opposing wedge faces 22 which are coupled via a bearing device 26, in particular a roller bearing, to a brake lining carrier 82 or an actuating piston 84 for actuation of a brake lining carrier 82.

[0030] The wedge 20 is mounted on the adjusting element 30 displaceably in a transverse direction 14 which runs substantially vertically to the actuation direction 12. The transverse direction 14 here in particular runs on a connecting line between the wedge faces 22 of the wedge 20. In this way, on uneven loading of its two wedge faces 22, the wedge may deviate laterally while the adjusting element 30 is guided in the actuation direction 12. This prevents the wedge 20 together with the adjusting element 30 from being positioned obliquely because of the different loads. The lateral displaceability of the wedge 20 relative to the adjusting element 30 thus guarantees that the wedge faces 22 always remain oriented parallel to the corresponding rolling faces 86 of the actuating pistons 84 or brake lining carriers 82, even if the actuating pistons 84 or brake lining carriers 82 are positioned differently on the two sides of the wedge 20. This allows the use of a bearing with a reduced surface pressure, for example a multi-roller bearing as shown in FIG. 1. The bearing device 26 here comprises several, for example two, rollers 28 per wedge face 22.

[0031] At its end facing the wedge 20, the adjusting element 30 has a guide contour 40 for guiding the wedge 20 in the transverse direction 14. The guide contour 40 may in particular be configured such that it prevents or limits a movement of the wedge 20 along the pressure face 34 in a direction running vertically or transversely to the transverse direction 40. The guide contour 40 may for example have one or more limiting walls 44 which extend in the transverse direction 14. In the embodiment shown, the adjusting element 30 at its end facing the wedge 20 has a fork head 42 which mounts the wedge 20 displaceably. The fork head 42 comprises several limiting walls 44 running in the transverse direction 14, between which the wedge 20 is mounted. The limiting walls 44 extend starting from the pressure plate 32, and together with the pressure plate 32 form a slotted recess for the wedge 20.

[0032] Below the pressure plate 32, a piston rod 50 is arranged which can be coupled to an actuating element, in particular a piston rod of a lift cylinder.

[0033] To prevent the wedge 20 from becoming detached from the adjusting element 30, a guide device 60 is provided which allows exclusively a movement of the wedge 20 in the transverse direction 14. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the guide device 60 comprises a pin 62 mounted on the wedge 20 and guided in a recess 64 of the fork head 42. In principle however the reverse arrangement is possible, i.e. the pin may be arranged on the fork head 42 or the adjusting element 30 and the linear recess on the wedge 20. The linear recess 64 runs in the transverse direction 14. End regions of the recess 64 each form a stop 66 which limits the movement of the wedge 20 in the transverse direction 14.

[0034] To ensure an exclusively axial movement of the adjusting element 30, an axial guide 70 is provided for the adjusting element 30. This is dimensioned and configured such that an oblique position of the adjusting element 30 is at least largely prevented.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows, in heavily abstracted form, a braking device or drum brake 100 with a wedge unit 10. The braking device 100 comprises a brake drum 80, in the interior of which the brake pad carriers 82 are pivotably mounted on a brake carrier 90 via linkages 83. The brake carrier 90 is attached to an axle element 88. The brake lining carriers 82 are pressed apart via a wedge unit 10 according to the invention so that the brake linings mounted on the brake lining carriers 82 are pressed against the inside of the brake drum 80.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0036] 10 Wedge unit [0037] 12 Actuation direction [0038] 14 Transverse direction [0039] 20 Wedge [0040] 22 Wedge face [0041] 26 Bearing device [0042] 28 Roller [0043] 30 Adjusting element [0044] 32 Pressure plate [0045] 34 Pressure face [0046] 40 Guide contour [0047] 42 Fork head [0048] 44 Limiting wall [0049] 50 Piston rod [0050] 60 Guide device [0051] 62 Pin [0052] 64 Recess [0053] 66 Stop [0054] 70 Axial guide [0055] 80 Brake drum [0056] 82 Brake lining carrier [0057] 83 Linkage [0058] 84 Actuating piston [0059] 86 Rolling face [0060] 88 Axle element [0061] 90 Brake carrier [0062] 100 Braking device