초록 ▼

Improvement in a drag brake assembly for a power take-off unit, for use on trucks and the like, including a first reaction member axially located on an output shaft thereon; a brake disc rotatably affixed to and axially movable on the output shaft; a second reaction member forming an inner surface p

Improvement in a drag brake assembly for a power take-off unit, for use on trucks and the like, including a first reaction member axially located on an output shaft thereon; a brake disc rotatably affixed to and axially movable on the output shaft; a second reaction member forming an inner surface portion of one of the bearing caps; and a spring member interposed between the first reaction member and the brake disc, for normally biasing the brake disc into an engaged position wherein the brake disc engages the second reaction member inner surface portion, with the brake disc including a first frusto-conical outer surface portion and the second reaction member inner surface being provided with a complementary second frusto-conical surface, with the engagement therebetween keeping the output shaft from rotating.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. In a power take-off including: a. a rigid housing; b. a first bearing end cap located on one end of said housing; c. a second bearing end cap located on another end of said housing; d. an input gear rotatably journalled, relative to said housing, between said end caps; e. an

What is claimed is: 1. In a power take-off including: a. a rigid housing; b. a first bearing end cap located on one end of said housing; c. a second bearing end cap located on another end of said housing; d. an input gear rotatably journalled, relative to said housing, between said end caps; e. an output shaft, rotatably journalled in said end caps, within said housing and extending from one of said end caps; f. a clutch assembly connected between said input gear and said output shaft, said clutch assembly being operable in either an engaged condition, wherein said input gear is connected to drive said output shaft, or a disengaged condition, wherein said input gear is not connected to drive said output shaft, said clutch assembly being responsive to the application of pressurized fluid for being operated in said engaged condition; g. a drag brake assembly being operable in either an engaged condition, wherein said drag brake assembly retards rotation of said output shaft, or a disengaged position, wherein said drag brake does not retard rotation of said output shaft, said drag brake assembly being responsive to the application of pressurized fluid for being operated in said disengaged condition; and h. a conduit for selectively applying pressurized fluid to both said clutch assembly and said drag brake assembly, an improvement in said drag brake assembly comprising: i. a first reaction member located on said output shaft; j. a driven member rotatably affixed but axially movable relative to said output shaft; k. a second reaction member, said second reaction member being said first bearing end cap, a portion of an inner surface of said first bearing end cap being frusto-conical and adapted to engage said driven member when said drag brake assembly is in said engaged condition to retard rotation of said output shaft; and I. a spring member, interposed between said first reaction member and said driven member for biasing said driven member into engagement with said second reaction member, thereby retarding rotation of said output shaft, wherein said driven member takes the form of an annular brake disc having a cylindrical axial extension on one side thereof which, together with an adjacent portion of said output shaft forms an annular chamber. 2. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 1, wherein said annular brake disc has a first frusto-conical outer surface portion. 3. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 2, wherein said first frusto-conical outer surface portion is circumferentially continuous. 4. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 1, wherein said frusto-conical inner surface portion of said first bearing end cap is substantially complementary with said first frusto-conical surface portion. 5. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 4, wherein said frusto-conical inner surface portion of said first bearing end cap is circumferentially continuous. 6. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 1, wherein said driven member includes a cone-type outer surface portion. 7. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 6, wherein said cone-type outer surface portion is circumferentially continuous. 8. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 6, wherein said frusto-conical inner surface portion of said first bearing end cap is substantially complementary with said cone-type outer surface portion. 9. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 8, wherein said frusto-conical inner surface portion is circumferentially continuous. 10. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 1, wherein one of said first and second bearing end caps includes a central aperture, with one end of said output shaft extending therethrough. 11. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 1, further including a generally cylindrical brake piston, having a hub portion located on said output shaft, adapted to move axially with respect thereto while sealingly fitting within said annular chamber. 12. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 11, wherein said brake piston is movable between an engaged position, wherein an annular cavity, between said brake disc and said brake piston, is not pressurized, and a disengaged position-, wherein said annular cavity is pressurized. 13. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 12, wherein in said disengaged position, said pressurized fluid overcomes the bias of said spring member, thereby axially moving said brake disc out of contact with said second reaction member and thus permitting rotation of said output shaft. 14. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 13, wherein in said engaged position, the bias of said spring member overcomes the fluid pressure within said cavity, thereby axially moving said brake disc into contact with said second reaction member and thus retarding rotation of said output shaft. 15. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 1, wherein said first bearing end cap is comprised of cast iron. 16. The improved drag brake assembly of claim 1, wherein said annular brake disc is comprised of heat-treated cast iron. 17. A power take-off including: a. a rigid housing; b. a first bearing end cap located on one end of said housing; c. a second bearing end cap located on another end of said housing; d. an input gear rotatably journalled, relative to said housing, between said end caps; e. an output shaft, rotatably journalled in said end caps, within said housing and extending from one of said end caps; f. a clutch assembly connected between said input gear and said output shaft, said clutch assembly being operable in either an engaged condition, wherein said input gear is connected to drive said output shaft, or a disengaged condition, wherein said input gear is not connected to drive said output shaft, said clutch assembly being responsive to the application of pressurized fluid for being operated in said engaged condition; g. a drag brake assembly being operable in either an engaged condition, wherein said drag brake assembly retards rotation of said output shaft, or a disengaged position, wherein said drag brake does not retard rotation of said output shaft, said drag brake assembly being responsive to the application of pressurized fluid for being operated in said disengaged condition; and h. a conduit for selectively applying pressurized fluid to both said clutch assembly and said drag brake assembly, an improvement in said drag brake assembly comprising; i. a first reaction member located on said output shaft; j. a driven member rotatably affixed but axially movable relative to said output shaft; k. a second reaction member, said second reaction member being said first bearing end cap, a portion of an inner surface of said first bearing end cap being frusto-conical and adapted to engage said driven member when said drag brake assembly is in said engaged condition to retard rotation of said output shaft; and l. a spring member, interposed between said first reaction member and said driven member for biasing said driven member into engagement with said second reaction member, thereby retarding rotation of said output shaft, wherein said driven member takes the form of an annular brake disc having a central hub portion that is axially movable relative to said output shaft and wherein said central hub portion includes an axial slot and said output shaft includes a radially-extending pin portion, said pin portion freely extending into said slot and thereby coupling said brake disc for conjoint rotation with said output shaft while simultaneously permitting axial movement of said brake disc via axial movement of said slot portion relative to said pin.