Brake System For Mine Trucks

Abstract

A brake system for a piece of equipment includes a series of rotors and stators, and a first brake actuator including at least one first piston positioned within a first chamber such that pressurization of the first chamber causes the at least one first piston to operatively engage at least one of rotors or stators such that the rotors and stators are compressed together and thereby create braking torque, and may also include a second brake actuator including at least one spring operatively coupled to at least one second piston positioned within a second chamber such that depressurization of the second chamber causes the at least one second piston to operatively engage at least one of the rotors or stators such that the pluralities of rotors and stators are compressed together and thereby create braking torque.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brake system for a piece of equipment having a frame and a shaft rotatable relative to the frame, the brake system comprising:
 a series of rotors and stators, including a plurality of rotors configured to be operatively coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate with the shaft relative to the frame, and a plurality of stators configured to be operatively coupled to the frame and configured to be fixed against rotation relative to the frame; and   a first brake actuator including at least one first piston positioned within a first chamber such that pressurization of the first chamber causes the at least one first piston to operatively engage at least one of the rotors or stators such that the rotors and stators are compressed together and thereby create braking torque.   
     
     
         2 . The brake system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second brake actuator including at least one spring operatively coupled to at least one second piston positioned within a second chamber such that depressurization of the second chamber causes the at least one second piston to operatively engage at least one of the rotors or stators such that the rotors and stators are compressed together and thereby create braking torque.   
     
     
         3 . The brake system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rotors or stators comprises a monolithic piece. 
     
     
         4 . The brake system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rotors or stators comprises carbon-carbon. 
     
     
         5 . The brake system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stators are arranged in an alternating sequence with the plurality of rotors. 
     
     
         6 . The brake system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hub configured to be mounted to the shaft for rotation therewith, wherein the plurality of rotors are configured to be operatively coupled to the shaft via the hub.   
     
     
         7 . The brake system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of rotors includes at least one of a key or a keyway and the hub includes at least one of the other of a key or a keyway for engaging the at least one key or keyway of the rotors for causing the plurality of rotors to rotate with the hub and the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The brake system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a housing configured to be mounted to the frame and fixed against rotation relative thereto, wherein each of the plurality of stators includes at least one of a notch or a ridge and the housing includes at least one of the other of a notch or a ridge for engaging the at least one notch or ridge of the stators for fixing the plurality of stators against rotation relative to the frame.   
     
     
         9 . The brake system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a load distribution plate positioned between the at least one first piston and the series of rotors and stators for providing an even compression of the pluralities of rotors and stators when the at least one first piston operatively engages the at least one of the rotors or stators.   
     
     
         10 . The brake system of  claim 1 , wherein the pluralities of rotors and stators are configured to be free from oil flow. 
     
     
         11 . A piece of equipment comprising:
 a frame;   a shaft rotatable relative to the frame; and   a brake system comprising:
 a series of rotors and stators, including a plurality of rotors operatively coupled to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft relative to the frame, and a plurality of stators operatively coupled to the frame and fixed against rotation relative to the frame; and 
 a first brake actuator including at least one first piston positioned within a first chamber such that pressurization of the first chamber causes the at least one first piston to operatively engage at least one of the rotors or stators such that the rotors and stators are compressed together and thereby create braking torque for resisting rotation of the shaft relative to the frame. 
   
     
     
         12 . The piece of equipment of  claim 11 , wherein the brake system further comprises:
 a second brake actuator including at least one spring operatively coupled to at least one second piston positioned within a second chamber such that depressurization of the second chamber causes the at least one second piston to operatively engage at least one of the rotors or stators such that the rotors and stators are compressed together and thereby create braking torque for resisting rotation of the shaft relative to the frame.   
     
     
         13 . The piece of equipment of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft is an axle. 
     
     
         14 . The piece of equipment of  claim 11 , wherein the shaft is a spindle. 
     
     
         15 . The piece of equipment of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one wheel mounted to the shaft and rotatable therewith.   
     
     
         16 . The piece of equipment of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the rotors or stators comprises a monolithic piece. 
     
     
         17 . The piece of equipment of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the rotors or stators comprises carbon-carbon. 
     
     
         18 . The piece of equipment of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of stators are arranged in an alternating sequence with the plurality of rotors. 
     
     
         19 . A brake system for a piece of equipment having a frame, the brake system comprising:
 a series of rotors and stators, including a plurality of rotors configured to be rotatable relative to the frame, and a plurality of stators configured to be operatively coupled to the frame and configured to be fixed against rotation relative to the frame; and   a first brake actuator including at least one first piston positioned within a first chamber such that pressurization of the first chamber causes the at least one first piston to operatively engage at least one of the rotors or stators such that the rotors and stators are compressed together and thereby create braking torque.   
     
     
         20 . The brake system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a second brake actuator including at least one spring operatively coupled to at least one second piston positioned within a second chamber such that depressurization of the second chamber causes the at least one second piston to operatively engage at least one of the rotors or stators such that the rotors and stators are compressed together and thereby create braking torque.