SPRING BRAKE ACTUATOR FOR USE IN A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE AND COMMERCIAL VEHICLE THEREWITH

Abstract

A spring brake actuator for a commercial vehicle includes a service brake portion (4) and a spring brake portion (6) that has a housing (8, 108) with a first end (10, 110) proximal to the service brake portion (4), a wall section (12, 112) extending from the first end (10, 110), a second end (14, 114) distal to the service brake portion (4), and a locking mechanism (16, 116) for locking the first and second ends (10, 110, 14, 114) to the wall section (12, 112). The locking mechanism (16, 116) is arranged between the wall section (12, 112) and the second end (14, 114) of the housing (8, 108).

Claims

1. A actuator (2) for a commercial vehicle, the spring brake actuator (2) comprising a service brake portion (4) and a spring brake portion (6), the spring brake portion (6) having a housing (8, 108) with a first end (10, 110) proximal to the service brake portion (4), a wall section (12, 112) extending from the first end (10, 110), a second end (14,114) being distal to the service brake portion (4), and a locking mechanism (16, 116) for locking the first and second ends (10, 110, 14,114) to the wall section (12, 112), wherein the locking mechanism (16, 116) is arranged between the wall section (12, 112) and the second end (14, 114) of the housing (8, 108).

2. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 1, further comprising: a spring brake portion piston (18) located in the housing (8, 108) for applying a braking force, the spring brake portion piston (18) including a piston pipe (20) configured to transfer the braking force to the service brake (4), and a compression spring (22) located between the second end (14, 114) of the housing (8, 108) and the spring brake portion piston (18), the compression spring (22) being operative to push the spring brake portion piston (18) away from the second end (14, 114).

3. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 1, wherein the second end (14, 114) comprises a base plate (24, 124) for enclosing the housing (8, 108) at the second end (14, 114).

4. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 3, wherein the spring brake actuator (2) comprises a brake release device (28) having a brake release bolt (30) for moving the spring brake portion piston (18) against a force of the compression spring (22) towards a release state, and wherein the base plate (24, 124) comprises a threaded boss (34, 134) for receiving a threaded portion (36) of the brake release bolt (30) therein.

5. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 4, wherein the threaded boss (34, 134) is arranged at an outside surface (38, 138) of the base plate (24, 124).

6. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 3, wherein the wall section (112) comprises a circumferential flange (140), the circumferential flange (140) and the base plate (124) each having at least one bore (142) arranged therein, wherein the locking mechanism (116) comprises at least one bolt nut (144) being guided through the at least one bore (142), for mounting the base plate (124) to the wall section (112).

7. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism (16) comprises a circumferential projection (46) arranged at the base plate (24), for crimping the base plate (24) around a circumferential flange (40) arranged at the wall section (12).

8. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 3, wherein the locking mechanism (16, 116) comprises a twist lock connection, for mounting the base plate (24, 124) to the wall section (12, 112).

9. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 3, wherein at least one seal (50, 150) is arranged between the base plate (24, 124) and the wall section (12, 112).

10. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 3, wherein the first end (10, 110) comprises a cover surface (52), the cover surface (52) being arranged opposite from the base plate (24, 124), and wherein the cover surface (52) is substantially flat.

11. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 10, wherein the cover surface (52, 152) comprises a boss (54, 154) for accommodating a piston pipe (20).

12. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 10, wherein the spring brake actuator (2) comprises a flange (56, 156), the flange (56, 156) being attached to the cover surface (52, 152) at the second end (14, 114), the flange (56, 156) at least partially forming a service brake housing (58).

13. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the flange (56, 156) and a boss (54, 154) is welded to the cover surface (52, 152) of the housing (8, 108).

14. The spring brake actuator (2) according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the housing (8, 108), the flange (56, 156), and the base plate (24, 124) comprises sheet metal.

15. A commercial vehicle comprising the spring brake actuator (2) of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the drawings,

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a spring brake actuator according the concept of the invention in a sectional view;

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a spring brake actuator comprising an alternative embodiment of a spring brake portion housing in a sectional view,

[0025] FIGS. 3a, 3b, 4a and 4b show detailed views of base plates of spring brake actuators according to the concept of the invention; and

[0026] FIGS. 5 and 6 show spring brake portion housings according to the concept of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a spring brake actuator 2. The spring brake actuator 2 comprises a service brake portion 4 and a spring brake portion 6. The spring brake portion 6 has a housing 8. The housing 8 comprises a first end 10 being proximal to the service brake portion 4. The housing 8 furthermore comprises a wall section 12 extending from the first end 10.

[0028] Moreover, the housing 8 comprises a second end 14 being distal to the service brake portion 4. The housing 8 furthermore comprises a locking mechanism 16. The locking mechanism 16 is arranged between the wall section 12 and the second end 14.

[0029] The spring brake actuator 2 furthermore comprises a spring piston 18 located in the housing 8 for applying and braking force. The spring brake portion piston 18 comprises a piston pipe 20. The piston pipe 20 is configured to transfer the braking force to the service brake portion 4. The spring brake actuator 2 furthermore comprises a compression spring 22 located between the second end 14 of the housing 8 and the spring brake portion piston 18. The compression spring 22 is effective to push the spring brake portion piston 18 away from the second end 14. The second end 14 comprises a base plate 24 for enclosing the housing 8 at the second end 14. The spring brake actuator 2 furthermore comprises a brake release device 28.

[0030] The brake release device 28 comprises a brake release bolt 30 for moving the spring brake portion piston 18 against a force of the compression spring 22 towards a release state. The base plate 24 comprises a threaded boss 34 for receiving a threaded portion 36 of the brake release bolt 30 therein. Hence, a rotation of the brake release bolt 30 leads to an axial movement of the brake release bolt 30 within the spring brake actuator 2.

[0031] The threaded boss 34 is arranged at the outside surface 38 of the base plate 24. The threaded boss 34 is attached to the base plate 24 by means of welding. The locking means 16 comprises a circumferential protection 46 arranged at the base plate 24. The circumferential protection 46 allows for a crimping of the base plate 24 around a circumferential flange 40 arranged at the wall section 12. The locking mechanism 16 may also comprise a twist lock connection for mounting the base plate 24 to the wall section 12, this configuration, however, is not shown in the figures.

[0032] A seal 50 is arranged between the base plate 24 and the wall section 12. The first end 10 of the spring brake portion housing 8 comprises a cover surface 52. The cover surface 52 is arranged opposite from the base plate 24. The cover surface 22 is substantially flat. The cover surface 52 comprises a boss 54 for accommodating the piston pipe 20.

[0033] Additionally, the spring brake actuator 2 comprises a flange 56. The flange 56 is attached to the cover surface 52 at the second end 14. The flange 56 at least partially forms a service brake portion housing 58. The flange 56 and/or the boss 54 are attached to the cover surface 52 of the housing 8 by means of welding. The service brake portion 4 comprises a diaphragm 62 acting on a service brake portion piston 64. Pressurized air is introduced in the service brake portion housing 58 by means of a pressure inlet 68.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the spring brake actuator 2 having an alternative embodiment of a spring brake portion housing 108. The housing 108 comprises a first end 110 being proximal to the service brake portion 4 and a wall section 112 extending from the first end 110. The housing 108 furthermore comprises a second end 114 being distal to the service brake portion 4 and a locking mechanism 116. The locking mechanism 116 is arranged between the wall section 112 and the second end 114 of the housing 108. The second end 114 comprises a base plate 124 for enclosing the housing 108 at the second end 114.

[0035] The base plate 124 comprises a threaded boss 134 for receiving a threaded portion 36 of the brake release bolt 30 therein. The threaded boss 134 is arranged at the outside surface 138 of the base plate 124. The threaded boss 134 is attached to the base plate 124 by means of welding. The wall section 112 comprises a circumferential flange 140. The flange 140 and the base plate 124 each comprise at least one bore 142 (see FIG. 4a) arranged therein. The locking mechanism 116 comprises at least one bolt nut 144 being guided through the bores 142, for mounting the base plate 124 to the wall section 112. In FIG. 2, four bolt nuts 144 are shown. Furthermore, a seal 150 is arranged between the base plate 124 and the wall section 112. The housing 108 and/or the base plate 124 comprise or are made of sheet metal. The cover surface 152 comprises a boss 154 for accommodating the piston pipe 20. Attached to the cover surface 152 is a flange 156.

[0036] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a base plate 24. The base plate 24 comprises a concentric bead 26 extending towards the interior of the housing 8. The base plate 24 furthermore comprises a circumferential protection 46. Additionally, the threaded boss 34 is shown, which is attached to the base plate 24 by means of welding. The base plate 24 furthermore comprises a seal holder 66 for accommodating the seal 50.

[0037] FIGS. 4a and 4b show an alternative embodiment of the base plate 124. Such base plate 124 comprises a concentric bead 126 and a threaded boss 134 which are similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 3a and 3b. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, the base plate 124 of FIGS. 4a and 4b comprises bores 142. The bores 142 are arranged coaxially around a central axis 170.

[0038] FIGS. 5 and 6 show different embodiments of spring brake portion housings 8, 108. Both embodiments comprise wall sections 12, 112 and first ends 10, 110, as well as second ends 14, 114. The first ends 10, 110 are opposite from the second ends 14, 114. At the first ends 10, 110, cover surfaces 52, 152 are arranged. The cover surfaces 52, 152 are substantially flat. Attached to the cover surfaces 52, 152 is a flange 56, 156. The flange 56, 156 is part of a service brake portion housing 58. Furthermore, the housing 8, 108 both comprise port opening 60, 160. Such port opening 60, 160 are also arranged at the flanges 56, 156. The housings 8, 108 furthermore comprise bosses 54, 154.

[0039] Making reference to FIG. 5, the spring brake portion housing 8 comprises a circumferential collar 40 for enabling a crimping connection with the base plate 24. FIG. 6 shows a circumferential flange 140 at the second end for providing a bolt nut connection with the base plate 124.

[0040] While the above description pertains to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope and fair meaning of the accompanying claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0041] 2 spring brake actuator

[0042] 4 service brake portion

[0043] 6 spring brake portion

[0044] 8 spring brake portion housing

[0045] 10 first end

[0046] 12 wall section

[0047] 14 second end

[0048] 16 locking mechanism

[0049] 18 spring brake portion piston

[0050] 20 piston pipe

[0051] 22 compression spring

[0052] 24 base plate

[0053] 26 concentric bead

[0054] 28 brake release device

[0055] 30 brake release bolt

[0056] 34 threaded boss of base plate

[0057] 36 threaded portion of brake release bolt

[0058] 38 outside surface of base plate

[0059] 40 circumferential collar

[0060] 46 circumferential projection of base plate

[0061] 50 seal

[0062] 52 cover surface

[0063] 54 boss of cover surface

[0064] 56 flange

[0065] 58 service brake portion housing

[0066] 60 port opening

[0067] 62 diaphragm

[0068] 64 service brake portion piston

[0069] 66 seal holder

[0070] 68 pressure inlet

[0071] 108 spring brake portion housing

[0072] 110 first end

[0073] 112 wall section

[0074] 114 second end

[0075] 116 locking mechanism

[0076] 124 base plate

[0077] 126 concentric bead

[0078] 134 threaded boss of base plate

[0079] 138 outside surface of base plate

[0080] 140 circumferential flange

[0081] 142 bore

[0082] 144 bolt nut

[0083] 150 seal

[0084] 152 cover surface

[0085] 154 boss of cover surface

[0086] 156 flange

[0087] 160 port opening

[0088] 166 seal holder

[0089] 170 central axis