초록 ▼

An axially asymmetrical vibration-reducing torque tube radially surrounds an axle and axially spans brake disks with intervening ones of the brake disks angularly fixed to a torque tube. The torque tube is a hollow generally annular member having an axis, a radially outwardly flared portion near one

An axially asymmetrical vibration-reducing torque tube radially surrounds an axle and axially spans brake disks with intervening ones of the brake disks angularly fixed to a torque tube. The torque tube is a hollow generally annular member having an axis, a radially outwardly flared portion near one end to facilitate axially fixing end one of the disks, a flange near the other end thereof adapted to fix the torque tube to the stationary member, and a radially inwardly extending annular support flange intermediate the one and other end for augmenting the support of the tube on the stationary member. Cut-outs in support flange impart dynamic asymmetry to the torque tube and displace its elastic center off-axis of the brake discs, reducing the brake vibration amplitudes. A brake actuating mechanism is operable upon command to axially force the pressure plate toward the end plate compressing the brake disks therebetween.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A multi-disk brake and wheel assembly, comprising:a cantilevered wheel axle;a wheel rim journalled for rotation about the wheel axle;a plurality of brake disks radially surrounding the wheel axle, alternate ones of the brake disks radially fixed to the wheel rim for rotation therewith;an end disk

1. A multi-disk brake and wheel assembly, comprising:a cantilevered wheel axle;a wheel rim journalled for rotation about the wheel axle;a plurality of brake disks radially surrounding the wheel axle, alternate ones of the brake disks radially fixed to the wheel rim for rotation therewith;an end disk at one axial end of the plurality of brake disks;a pressure plate at the opposite axial end of the plurality of brake disks;an axially asymmetrical torque tube radially surrounding the wheel axle and axially spanning the plurality of brake disks, intervening ones of the plurality of brake disks being angularly fixed to the torque tube, the torque tube being fixed at one end to a braking structure and having the end disk fixed thereto at the other end thereby axially sandwiching the plurality of brake disks between the end disk and the pressure plate, and the torque tube including an annular radially inwardly extending support flange axially intermediate the torque tube ends for supportingly engaging the wheel axle, the support flange including a plurality of holes, at least two of said holes have different areas, thereby imparting asymmetry to the support flange and to the torque tube; anda brake actuating mechanism operable upon command to axially force the pressure plate toward the end disk compressing the plurality of brake disks therebetween. 2. The multi-disk brake and wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein certain ones of said holes are circular and at least one of which is non-circular and arcuate. 3. The multi-disk brake and wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of holes are non-uniformly angularly disposed. 4. A torque tube for angularly fixing alternate disks in a multi-disk brake assembly and limiting axial movement of the alternate disks, as well as disks intervening the alternate disks, the torque tube comprising a generally cylindrical annular member formed as a volume of revolution about an axis and symmetrically deviating from the volume of revolution by having a plurality of ribs for keying the alternate disks to limit rotation thereof, a plurality of flanges being arranged in groups in positions on the annular member with at least one of the groups of flanges having a radially outward flared portion and being positioned near one end for angularly and axially fixing an end one of the disks to axially confine said multi-disk brake assembly, a plurality of fastener receiving apertures near an opposite end of the torque tube for fixing the torque tube to a braking structure, the torque tube further asymmetrically deviating from axial symmetry to impart asymmetric dynamic stiffness to the torque tube, and a radially inwardly extending annular support flange located along the axis for augmenting the support of the tube on the braking structure, the torque tube asymmetrically deviating from symmetry with respect to the axis of the torque tube solely within the support flange, wherein the support flange includes a plurality of holes, at least two of said holes have different areas, thereby imparting asymmetry to the support flange and to the torque tube. 5. The torque tube of claim 4, wherein the torque tube elastic center is located off the axis of revolution. 6. The torque tube of claim 4, wherein least one of said holes is non-circular and arcuate. 7. The torque tube of claim 4, wherein at least some of said plurality of holes are non-uniformly angularly disposed. 8. A torque tube for angularly fixing alternate disks in a multi-disk brake assembly and limiting axial movement of the alternate disks, as well as disks intervening the alternate disks, the torque tube comprising a hollow generally annular member having an axis, a radially outwardly flared portion near one end to facilitate axial fixing of an end one of the disks, a flange near the other end disk thereof adapted to fix the torque tube to a stationary member, a radially inwardly extending annular support flange intermediate the one a nd other end disks for augmenting the support of the tube on the stationary member and for displacing the torque tube elastic center from the axis, and wherein the support flange has a radially inner surface for engaging a wheel axle and a web portion radially outward of the surface including a plurality of holes, certain ones of which are circular and at least one of which is non-circular and arcuate, thereby imparting asymmetry to the support flange and to the torque tube. 9. The torque tube of claim 8, wherein at least two of said plurality of holes have different areas, thereby imparting asymmetry to the support flange and to the torque tube. 10. The torque tube of claim 8, wherein at least some of said plurality of holes are non-uniformly angularly disposed for imparting asymmetry to the support flange and to the torque tube.