Quick change combination wheel and brake assembly

Abstract

A quick mounting combined wheel and brake assembly, includes a hub for mounting on a vehicle axle for rotatably mounting a wheel and at least one component of a brake assembly, a quick connect device for detachably mounting the hub on the axle, a brake assembly having a stationary component mounted on the hub, and a rotating component mounted on and rotatable with the wheel, and a brake actuator mounted in the axle and extendable into the hub for actuating the brake assembly

I claims  
     
         1 . A dry couple in wheel brake assembly, comprising: 
 a hub adapted for detachably mounting on an axle of a vehicle with a single retaining nut;    a wheel mounted for rotation on said hub: 
 at least a stationary component of a brake assembly mounted on said hub; and,  
 a rotating component of a brake assembly mounted on and rotatable with said wheel; and  
 a brake actuator mounted on said hub for actuating said brake assembly.  
   
     
     
         2 . A brake assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said rotating component is a disc.  
     
     
         3 . A brake assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said disc is detachably mounted to an inner lip within an inner surface of the rim of the wheel.  
     
     
         4 . A brake assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said rotating component is a disc detachably mounted within an inner portion of the rim of the wheel.  
     
     
         5 . A brake assembly according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 said stationary component is a caliper assembly including a support member mounted to the hub and extending to a side of the axis of said axle, and  
 a caliper unit mounted on said support member.  
 
     
     
         6 . A brake assembly according to  claim 5  wherein said support member comprises an elongated support housing defining a pair arms and is mounted to said hub and having a portion that extends into a slot in said axle;  
     
     
         7 . A brake assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said caliper assembly comprises a self contained hydraulic actuating system which comprises: 
 a cylinder in said support housing having a free piston mounted therein;  
 a plurality of pistons in each of said caliper units; and  
 a cylinder in said support housing having a free piston mounted therein;  
 a plurality of pistons in each of said caliper units; and  
 hydraulic fluid passages communicating between said cylinder and said pistons.  
 
     
     
         8 . A brake assembly according to  claim 7  wherein said free piston is positioned for engagement and actuation when said hub is detachably mounted on an axle of a vehicle.  
     
     
         9 . A brake assembly according to  claim 4  wherein said actuator comprises: 
 a U shaped support member having arms extending on opposite sides of said disc; and  
 a cylinder on each of said arms for biasing a friction pad into engagement with a surface of said disc.  
 
     
     
         10 . A brake assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said brake actuator comprises: 
 a support member having portions extending on opposite sides of said disc;  
 at least one brake pad carried by said support member and positioned on each side of said disc; and,  
 an electric motor for biasing each of said brake pad into engagement with a surface of said disc.  
 
     
     
         11 . A combined wheel and brake assembly, comprising: 
 a hub adapted for detachably mounting on an axle of a vehicle;    a quick connect device for detachably retaining said hub on said axle;    a wheel mounted for rotation on said hub: 
 at least a stationary component of a brake assembly mounted on said hub; and,  
 a rotating component of a brake assembly detachably mounted on and rotatable with said wheel; and  
 a self contained brake actuation system mounted on said hub for actuating said brake assembly.  
 for rotatably mounting an axle for mounting a wheel hub; a quick connect device for detachably mounting said hub on said axle;  
   
     
     
         12 . A brake assembly according to  claim 11  wherein said rotating component is a disc detachably mounted within an inner portion of the wheel rim.  
     
     
         13 . A brake assembly according to  claim 12  wherein: 
 said stationary component is a caliper assembly including a support member mounted to the hub and extending to a side of the axis of said axle, and  
 a caliper unit mounted on said support member.  
 
     
     
         14 . A brake assembly according to  claim 13  wherein said caliper assembly comprises a self contained hydraulic actuating system which comprises: 
 a cylinder in said support housing having a free piston mounted therein;  
 a plurality of pistons in each of said caliper units; and hydraulic fluid passages communicating between said cylinder and said pistons.  
 
     
     
         15 . A brake assembly according to  claim 11  wherein said brake actuator comprises: 
 a support member having portions extending on opposite sides of said disc;  
 at least one brake pad carried by said support member and positioned on each side of said disc; and,  
 an electric motor for biasing each of said brake pad into engagement with a surface of said disc.  
 
     
     
         16 . A quick mounting combined wheel and brake assembly, comprising: 
 a hub adapted for detachably mounting on a suspension of a vehicle;    a quick connect device for detachably retaining said hub on said suspension;    a wheel having a rim mounted for rotation on said hub: 
 at least one stationary component of a brake system mounted on said hub;  
 at least one rotating component of a brake system detachably mounted on the rim of said wheel; and  
 a self contained brake actuator mounted on said hub for actuating said brake assembly.  
 for rotatably mounting an axle for mounting a wheel hub; a quick connect device for detachably mounting said hub on said axle;  
   
     
     
         17 . A process according to  claim 16  wherein 
 said stationary component is a caliper assembly including a support member mounted to the hub and extending to a side of the axis of said axle, and  
 a caliper unit mounted on said support member.  
 
     
     
         18 . A brake assembly according to  claim 17  wherein said rotating component is a disc detachably mounted within an inner portion of the wheel rim.  
     
     
         19 . A brake assembly according to  claim 18  wherein said brake actuator comprises: 
 a support member having portions extending on opposite sides of said disc;  
 at least one brake pad carried by said support member and positioned on each side of said disc; and,  
 an electric motor for biasing each of said brake pad into engagement with a surface of said disc.  
 
     
     
         20 . A brake assembly according to  claim 13  wherein said caliper assembly comprises a self contained hydraulic actuating system which comprises: 
 a cylinder in said support housing having a free piston mounted therein;  
 a plurality of pistons in each of said caliper units; and  
 hydraulic fluid passages communicating between said cylinder and said pistons.